NASTURTIUM OFFICINALE

Family and Genus:- See- CRUCIFERAE

Common Names:- Watercress

Homotypic Synonyms:- Radicula officinalis, Rorippa officinalis.

Meaning:- Nasturtium (L) Nose-twist, a name used by the Roman naturalist and

philosopher Pliny.

Officinale (L) Officinal medicine.

General description:- Subglabrous perennial herb.

Stems:-

1) Rather stout, hollow, prostrate and rooting below, ascending to erect above

and up to 40(-100) cm tall.

Leaves:-

1) Pinnatisect with 2-8 pairs of ± elliptical, entire or slightly dentate leaflets.

Flower:-

1) Racemes, elongating in fruit.

2) Petals, 3·5-5(-6) mm, white to pale purplish, about twice as long as the sepals.

3) Pedicels, 8-12 mm, patent or somewhat reflexed.

4) Style, 0·5-1·8(-2) mm.

Fruit:-

1) 10-18 x 2-2.5 mm, cylindrical, often somewhat curved and tomulose.

a) valves, thin, with weak midvein.

2) Seeds, in 2 distinct rows in each loculus, with c. 25 polygonal depressions on

each face, but most with fewer than 12.

Key features:-

1) Seeds, in 2 rows in each loculus, most with fewer than 12 depressions across

the width.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- In slow-running or seeping water at springs, streams, ditches and lake

shores, also in polluted areas. 0-800(-1500) m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. - Widespread in Europe, N. Africa and Anatolia.

Somewhat limited distribution on Crete.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton