Is watercress and Nasturtium the same thing?
Is watercress and Nasturtium the same thing?
Watercress is a Eurasian plant in the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that has been eaten as a vegetable for centuries. Nasturtium is a yellow or orange flowered plant, genus Tropaeolum majus (plant family Tropaeolaceae). Nasturtiums are native to the west coast of South America .
What plant family is watercress?
Mustards
Watercress/Family
Watercress is a member of the mustard family, which includes many well-known leafy and tuberous vegetables such as collared greens, kale, turnips, and radishes, as well as many problematic weeds such as garlic mustard. It is widely cultivated and is the same watercress commonly used as a salad green.
Can you eat the flowers on watercress?
The entire watercress plant is edible – leaves, stalks and even the flowers. Only the roots are best discarded as they don’t taste great! The flowers aren’t often seen in the watercress bags sold in supermarkets.
What is watercress called in the USA?
Watercress, (Nasturtium officinale), also called cress, perennial aquatic plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), native to Eurasia and naturalized throughout North America.
Is watercress good for kidneys?
Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Stomach or intestinal ulcers: Don’t use watercress if you have stomach or intestinal ulcers. Kidney disease: Don’t use watercress if you have kidney disease.
What food is watercress found in?
Watercress is part of the fruit and vegetable food group, with 80g (one cereal bowl full) providing one of the ‘at least five a day’ portions recommended by the Department of Health to help reduce the risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease and many other chronic conditions.
Can you eat too much watercress?
Watercress is suitable for all ages, except for those with kidney stones or who are at risk of kidney stones. This is because watercress contains a lot of oxalates, compounds that can cause stones to form. For this reason, it’s important not to eat too much watercress, or ask a health professional for advice.
Which is healthier spinach or watercress?
Compared to spinach and kale, watercress is lower in calories but also lower in most nutrients.
Is watercress a superfood?
Atop the list? Watercress, long known as a superfood because it packs large amounts of a wide variety of these important substances, with a score of 100. The next five in the elite category: Chinese cabbage (91.99), chard (89.27), beet greens (87.08), spinach (86.43) and chicory (73.36).
Is watercress anti inflammatory?
Watercress also contains dietary nitrates, which boost blood vessel health by reducing inflammation and decreasing the stiffness and thickness of your blood vessels ( 21 ).
Is watercress a laxative?
Promotes healthy bowel regularity – crops known as ‘bitters’ which have a sharp, pungent taste or smell, like the peppery flavour of watercress, help to promote healthy and regular bowel movements and reduce bowel restrictions such as constipation.
How is the Watercress related to the nasturtiums?
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. Despite the Latin name, watercress is not particularly closely related to the flowers popularly known as nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus).
What is the scientific name of the Watercress?
nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus. If you have ever looked for nasturtium in the index of plant book, you will have wondered why nasturtium is the scientific name of watercress and the common name of Tropaeolum. Watercress is a Eurasian plant in the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that has been eaten as a vegetable for centuries.
How did Linnaeus come up with the name watercress?
Linnaeus named watercress Nasturtium officinale. “Officinale” means “of the office,” that is, the cress you can buy in shops, the commercially important cress. The common name drifted from nasturtium or nasturtian to be watercress.
What kind of seeds do Nasturtium officinale have?
Fruit is a slender pod, ½ to 1¼ inches long with a short abrupt beak, straight to slightly curved, spreading to somewhat ascending. Seeds are oval, reddish brown, arranged in 2 rows. Formerly known as Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum, this is the same Watercress found in your local grocer’s produce department.