''Nasturtium'' () is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of a small number of plant species in the family

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous plants, while some are shrubs. The le ...

(cabbage family) commonly known as watercress or yellowcress. The best known species are the edible ''

Nasturtium officinale Watercress or yellowcress (''Nasturtium officinale'') is a species of aquatic flowering plant in the cabbage family Brassicaceae. Watercress is a rapidly growing perennial plant native to Europe and Asia. It is one of the oldest known leaf ve ...

'' and '' Nasturtium microphyllum''. ''Nasturtium'' was previously synonymised with ''

Rorippa ''Rorippa'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe through central Asia, Africa, and North America. ''Rorippa'' species are annual to perennial herbs, usually with yellow flowers and a peppery flavour. They ar ...

'', but molecular evidence supports its maintenance as a distinct genus more closely related to ''

Cardamine ''Cardamine'' is a large genus of flowering plants in the mustard family, Brassicaceae, known as bittercresses and toothworts. It contains more than 200 species of annuals and perennials. Species in this genus can be found worldwide, except the ...

'' than to ''Rorippa'' ''

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...

''. These plants are related to

garden cress Cress (''Lepidium sativum''), sometimes referred to as garden cress (or curly cress) to distinguish it from Cress (disambiguation), similar plants also referred to as cress (from old Germanic ''cresso'' which means sharp, spicy), is a rather fas ...

and

mustard Mustard may refer to: Food and plants * Mustard (condiment), a paste or sauce made from mustard seeds used as a condiment * Mustard plant, one of several plants, having seeds that are used for the condiment ** Mustard seed, seeds of the mustard p ...

, noteworthy for a peppery, tangy (pungent) flavor. The name ''Nasturtium'' comes from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

''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

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...

s of certain

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

, including ''

Orthonama obstipata ''Orthonama obstipata'', the gem, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. It is a cosmopolitan species. In continental Europe though in the northeast, its range does not signific ...

'' (The Gem). One species, '' Nasturtium gambellii'', is federally listed in

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

as an

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

Nomenclature

The genus ''Nasturtium'' should not be confused with the ornamental garden plant, usually grown as an

annual Annual may refer to: * Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year **Yearbook ** Literary annual * Annual plant * Annual report * Annual giving * Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco * Annuals (b ...

, that is commonly known as nasturtium (''

Tropaeolum majus ''Tropaeolum majus'', the garden nasturtium, nasturtium, Indian cress or monks cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Tropaeolaceae, originating in the Andes from Bolivia north to Colombia. An easily-grown annual or short-lived pere ...

''). Though not closely related, the leaves of the garden nasturtium also have a peppery taste.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...

accepts the following species and hybrids: *''

Nasturtium floridanum ''Nasturtium floridanum'', common names Florida yellowcress and Florida watercress, is an aquatic plant species endemic to Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the we ...

'' (Al-Shehbaz & Rollins) Al-Shehbaz & R.A.Price – Florida watercress or Florida yellowcress *'' Nasturtium gambellii'' (S.Watson) O.E.Schulz ( orth. var. ''N. gambelii'') – Gambel's watercress or Gambel's yellowcress *'' Nasturtium microphyllum'' (Boenn.) Rchb. – onerow watercress or onerow yellowcress *''

'' W.T.Aiton – watercress or yellowcress * ''Nasturtium'' × ''sterile'' (Airy Shaw) Oefelein – ''N. officinale'' × ''N. microphyllum'', hybrid watercress Plants of the World Online regards ''

Nasturtium africanum ''Nasturtium africanum'', the Moroccan watercress, is an aquatic plant endemic to Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranea ...

'' as a synonym of ''

Rorippa africana ''Rorippa'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe through central Asia, Africa, and North America. ''Rorippa'' species are annual to perennial herbs, usually with yellow flowers and a peppery flavour. They ar ...

''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q161068 Brassicaceae genera