Watercress | |
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Leaves | |
Flowers | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Brassicales |
Family: | Brassicaceae |
Genus: | Nasturtium |
Species: | N. officinale |
Binomial name | |
Nasturtium officinale | |
Synonyms [2] | |
Synonymy
|
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 vegetables consumed by humans. Watercress and many of its relatives, such as garden cress, mustard, radish, and wasabi, are noteworthy for their piquant flavors.
The hollow stems of watercress float in water. The leaf structure is pinnately compound. Small, white, and green inflorescences are produced in clusters and are frequently visited by insects, especially hoverflies, such as Eristalis flies. [3]
Watercress is listed in some sources as belonging to the genus Rorippa , although molecular evidence shows those aquatic species with hollow stems are more closely related to Cardamine than Rorippa. [4] Despite the Latin name, watercress is not particularly closely related to the flowers popularly known as nasturtiums ( Tropaeolum majus ). T. majus belongs to the family Tropaeolaceae, a sister taxon to the Brassicaceae within the order Brassicales. [5]
In some regions, watercress is regarded as a weed, [6] in other regions as an aquatic vegetable or herb. Watercress has grown in many temperate locations worldwide. [7]
Clear fast-flowing chalk streams are the primary natural habitat for wild watercress in the British Isles. [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] Many settlements in England were named from Old English êacerse (êa..cerse) " water−cress ". [lower-alpha 3] [lower-alpha 5]
In the United Kingdom, watercress was first commercially cultivated in 1808 by the horticulturist William Bradbery along the River Ebbsfleet in Kent. Historically important areas of cultivation also included Hampshire, [lower-alpha 6] Stamford, Lincolnshire, [lower-alpha 7] and St Albans, Hertfordshire. [lower-alpha 8]
Watercress is now grown in several counties of the United Kingdom, most notably Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Hertfordshire. The town of Alresford, near Winchester, is considered to be the nation's watercress capital. [11]
Watercress leaves, stems, and fruit can be eaten raw. [12] Cultivated watercress has the advantage of being free of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica . [lower-alpha 9] [lower-alpha 10]
Ancient Romans thought eating it would cure mental illness. [13] Twelfth-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen thought eating it steamed and drinking the water would cure jaundice or fever. [13] Watercress was eaten by Native Americans. [14] Some Native Americans used it to treat kidney illnesses and constipation, and it was thought by some to be an aphrodisiac. [13] Early African Americans used the plant as an abortifacient; it was believed to cause sterility as well. [13]
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
---|---|
Energy | 46 kJ (11 kcal) |
1.29 g | |
Sugars | 0.2 g |
Dietary fiber | 0.5 g |
0.1 g | |
2.3 g | |
Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
Vitamin A equiv. | 18% 160 μg18% 1914 μg5767 μg |
Thiamine (B1) | 8% 0.09 mg |
Riboflavin (B2) | 9% 0.12 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) | 6% 0.31 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 8% 0.129 mg |
Folate (B9) | 2% 9 μg |
Vitamin C | 48% 43 mg |
Vitamin E | 7% 1 mg |
Vitamin K | 208% 250 μg |
Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
Calcium | 9% 120 mg |
Iron | 1% 0.2 mg |
Magnesium | 5% 21 mg |
Manganese | 11% 0.244 mg |
Phosphorus | 5% 60 mg |
Potassium | 11% 330 mg |
Sodium | 2% 41 mg |
Other constituents | Quantity |
Water | 95 g |
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, [15] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies. [16] |
The new tips of watercress leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, [17] although caution should be used when collecting these in the wild because of parasites such as giardia . [18] Watercress is 95% water and has low contents of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and dietary fiber. A 100-gram serving of raw watercress provides 46 kilojoules (11 kilocalories), is particularly rich in vitamin K (238% of the Daily Value, DV), and contains significant amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium, and manganese (table).
As a cruciferous vegetable, watercress contains isothiocyanates that are partly destroyed by boiling*, while the bioavailability of its carotenoids is slightly increased by cooking. *Steaming or microwave cooking retains these phytochemicals a bit better than boiling. [19]
Watercress cultivation is practical on both a large scale and a garden scale. Being semi-aquatic, watercress is well-suited to hydroponic cultivation, thriving best in water that is slightly alkaline. It is frequently produced around the headwaters of chalk streams. In many local markets, the demand for hydroponically grown watercress exceeds supply, partly because cress leaves are unsuitable for distribution in dried form and can only be stored fresh for about 2–3 days. [20]
Also sold as sprouts, the edible shoots are harvested days after germination. If unharvested, watercress can grow to a height of 50 to 120 centimetres (1 ft 8 in to 3 ft 11 in).
Watercress crops grown in the presence of manure can be an environment for parasites such as the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica . [21]
When introduced into non-native environments watercress can have negative impacts on native species. With the introduction of watercress, the organic matter in the sediment increases which in turn attracts predatory macroinvertebrates that feed on other plants in the environment. [22]
By inhibiting the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2E1, compounds in watercress may alter drug metabolism in individuals on certain medications such as chlorzoxazone. [23]
Due to its fast-growing nature and invasive species status, Nasturtium officinale is prohibited in Illinois. [24]
Brassicaceae or 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 leaves are simple, lack stipules, and appear alternately on stems or in rosettes. The inflorescences are terminal and lack bracts. The flowers have four free sepals, four free alternating petals, two shorter free stamens and four longer free stamens. The fruit has seeds in rows, divided by a thin wall.
Tropaeolum, commonly known as nasturtium, is a genus of roughly 80 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants. It was named by Carl Linnaeus in his book Species Plantarum, and is the only genus in the family Tropaeolaceae. The nasturtiums received their common name because they produce an oil similar to that of watercress.
Cress, sometimes referred to as garden cress to distinguish it from similar plants also referred to as cress, is a rather fast-growing, edible herb.
Nasturtium is a genus of a small number of plant species in the family Brassicaceae commonly known as watercress or yellowcress. 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 Rorippasensu stricto.
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 are known commonly as yellowcresses.
Barbarea verna is a biennial herb in the family Brassicaceae. Common names include land cress, American cress, bank cress, black wood cress, Belle Isle cress, Bermuda cress, poor man's cabbage, early yellowrocket, early wintercress, scurvy cress, creasy greens, and upland cress. It is native to southern Europe and western Asia, and naturalized elsewhere It has been cultivated as a leaf vegetable in England since the 17th century. As it requires less water than watercress, it is easier to cultivate.
Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots. Leaf vegetables eaten raw in a salad can be called salad greens.
Ipomoea aquatica, widely known as water spinach, is a semi-aquatic, tropical plant grown as a vegetable for its tender shoots. I. aquatica is generally believed to have been first domesticated in Southeast Asia. It is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. It grows abundantly near waterways and requires little to no care.
Chalk streams are rivers that rise from springs in landscapes with chalk bedrock. Since chalk is permeable, water percolates easily through the ground to the water table and chalk streams therefore receive little surface runoff. As a result, the water in the streams contains little organic matter and sediment and is generally very clear.
Lepidium campestre, the field pepperwort, field peppercress, field peppergrass, field pepperweed or field cress, is usually a biennial with some form of annual plant in the Brassicaceae or mustard family, native to Europe, but commonly found in North America as an invasive weed. The most notable characteristic of field pepperweed is the raceme of flowers which forks off of the stem. These racemes are made up of first small white flowers and later green, flat and oval seedpods each about 6 mm long and 4 mm wide. Each seedpod contains two brown, 2.5 mm long seeds.
Kershope Burn is a small river; a tributary of both the Liddel Water and the River Esk; its final destination is the Solway Firth. The early stages begin in the Border Forest, from where it flows in a south westerly direction, followed in its entirety by the border between England and Scotland.
Tropaeolum majus, the garden nasturtium, nasturtium, Indian cress or monk's 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 perennial with disc-shaped leaves and brilliant yellow, orange or red flowers, it is of cultivated, probably hybrid origin. It is not closely related to the genus Nasturtium.
Rocket, eruca, or arugula is an edible annual plant in the family Brassicaceae used as a leaf vegetable for its fresh, tart, bitter, and peppery flavor. Its other common names include "garden rocket", as well as "colewort", "roquette", "ruchetta", "rucola", "rucoli", and "rugula". E. vesicaria is widely popular as a salad vegetable and it is a species of Eruca native to the Mediterranean region.
Gluconasturtiin or phenethyl glucosinolate is one of the most widely distributed glucosinolates in the cruciferous vegetables, mainly in the roots, and is probably one of the plant compounds responsible for the natural pest-inhibiting properties of growing crucifers, such as cabbage, mustard or rape, in rotation with other crops. This effect of gluconasturtiin is due to its degradation by the plant enzyme myrosinase into phenethyl isothiocyanate, which is toxic to many organisms.
Lepidium didymum, the lesser swine-cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae.
Rorippa palustris, marsh yellow-cress, bog yellow-cress or common yellow-cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is widespread and native to parts of Africa, and much of Asia, Europe and Eurasia, North America and the Caribbean. It can also be found in other parts of the world as an introduced species and a common weed, for example, in Australia and South America. It is an adaptable plant which grows in many types of damp, wet, and aquatic habitat. It may be an annual, biennial, or perennial plant, and is variable in appearance as well.
Rorippa subumbellata is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known by the common names Lake Tahoe yellowcress and Tahoe yellow cress. It is known only from the shores of Lake Tahoe, straddling the border between California and Nevada. There are an estimated fourteen populations of the plant still in existence. It grows only on the direct shoreline of the lake, occupying a seven-foot semi-aquatic zone between the high- and low-tide marks. It is directly impacted by recreational activities on the lake, enduring bombardment by boat wakes, trampling, and construction of docks and other structures.
Nasturtium gambellii is a rare species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names Gambel's yellowcress and Gambel's watercress. It is known from three or four scattered occurrences in California. It is also native to central Mexico and Guatemala. Its total U.S. population was last estimated at fewer than 300 individuals. It was federally listed in California, as an endangered species of the United States in 1993.
Nasturtium floridanum, common names Florida yellowcress and Florida watercress, is an aquatic plant species endemic to Florida, though widely distributed within that state. It is found in wet places at elevations less than 50 m.
Rorippa aquatica, the lakecress or lake cress, is a species of freshwater aquatic flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is found in eastern and central North America, generally in the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds. A submerged perennial, it has emergent flowering branches. It is typically found in slow-moving water, such as oxbow lakes. It is used as a foreground aquarium plant, as it is undemanding and very slow-growing.
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