Nasturtium (genus)
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 Nasturtium microphyllum, a watercress
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Nasturtium nasturtium-aquaticum L. |
- For the common name Nasturtium, see Nasturtium (common name).
Nasturtium is a genus of seven species in the Family Brassicaceae (cabbage family). Six species formally listed here were moved into Rorippa. However, molecular evidence has since shown that the aquatic species (watercresses) with hollow stems (specifically Rorippa microphyllum and R. nasturtium-aquaticum) are more closely related to Cardamine than Rorippa, and these have now been included back in Nasturtium (Al-Shehbaz & Price, 1998). The genus also includes Nasturtium gambellii (S. Wats.) O. Schulz. However, arrangement of species in these two genera remains in flux (ITIS, 2005).
These plants are related to garden cress and mustard, all noteworthy for a peppery, tangy (pungent) flavor and the name comes from the Latin, nasus tortus, meaning "twisted nose", in reference to the effect on the nasal passages of eating the plants. Nasturtium is not related to plants in the genus, Tropaeolum (Tropaeolaceae), popularly known as "nasturtiums".
[edit] References
- Al-Shehbaz, I. and R. A. Price. 1998. Delimitation of the genus Nasturtium (Brassicaceae). Novon, 8: 124-126.
- TSN 23252. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
