Nasturtium (plant genus)

Nasturtium (/nəˈstɜːrʃəm/) is a genus of a small number of plant species in the family Brassicaceae (cabbage family) commonly known as watercress or yellowcress.[2] The best known species are the edible Nasturtium officinale and Nasturtium microphyllum. Nasturtium was previously synonymised with Rorippa, but molecular evidence supports its maintenance as a distinct genus more closely related to Cardamine than to Rorippa sensu stricto.[3][4]

This article is about the genus of watercresses. For the flowering plants of the genus Tropaeolum, commonly called nasturtiums, see Tropaeolum. For other uses, see Nasturtium (disambiguation).

Nasturtium
Nasturtium microphyllum, a watercress, in Hawai'i
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Nasturtium
W.T.Aiton[1]
Species

See text.

These plants are related to garden cress and mustard, noteworthy for a peppery, tangy (pungent) flavor. The name Nasturtium comes from the Latin nasus tortus, meaning "twisted nose", in reference to the effect on the nasal passages of eating the plants. Nasturtium foliage is used as food by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera, including Orthonama obstipata (The Gem).

One species, Nasturtium gambellii, is federally listed in California as an endangered species.[5]

Nomenclature

The genus Nasturtium should not be confused with the ornamental garden plant, usually grown as an annual, that is commonly known as nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). Though not closely related, the leaves of the garden nasturtium also have a peppery taste.

Species

As of June 2022, Plants of the World Online accepts the following species and hybrids:[1]

Plants of the World Online regards Nasturtium africanum as a synonym of Rorippa africana.[7]

References
  1. "Nasturtium W.T.Aiton". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Nasturtium". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  3. Al-Shehbaz, I. A.; Price, R. A. (1998). "Delimitation of the genus Nasturtium (Brassicaceae)]". Novon. 8: 124–126. doi:10.2307/3391978. JSTOR 3391978.
  4. Al-Shehbaz, I. A.; Beilstein, M. A.; Kellogg, E. A. (2006). "Systematics and phylogeny of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae): an overview". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 259 (2–4): 89–120. doi:10.1007/s00606-006-0415-z. S2CID 21816920.
  5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (September 2011). "Rorippa gambellii [Nasturtium gambelii] (Gambel's watercress) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation" (PDF). Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  6. Stace, Clive A. (2019). New Flora of the British Isles (4th ed.). Middlewood Green, Suffolk: C & M Floristics. p. 423. ISBN 978-1-5272-2630-2.
  7. "Nasturtium africanum Braun-Blanq". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
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