Nasturtium (genus)
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 Nasturtium microphyllum, a watercress
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Nasturtium africanum Braun-Blanq. |
Nasturtium is a genus of five species in the Family Brassicaceae (cabbage family), best known as containing the edible watercresses Nasturtium microphyllum (Rorippa microphylla) and Nasturtium officinale (R. nasturtium-aquaticum). 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 (Al-Shehbaz & Price, 1998; Al-Shehbaz, Beilstein & Kellogg, 2006).
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 is not related to the genus Tropaeolum (Tropaeolaceae), popularly known as "nasturtiums".
[edit] References
- Al-Shehbaz, I. A. and R. A. Price, 1998. Delimitation of the genus Nasturtium (Brassicaceae). Novon 8: 124-126.
- Al-Shehbaz, I. A., M. A. Beilstein, and E. A. Kellogg, 2006. Systematics and phylogeny of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae): an overview. Plant Systematics and Evolution 259: 89–120
- TSN 23252. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- USDA Plant Database for Nasturtium officinale
