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Nasturtium microphyllum
  • Watercress

a perennial member of the Nasturtium genus in the family Brassicaceae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 6
    Zone 6
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Nasturtium microphyllum has 0 edible uses listed
Nasturtium microphyllum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][5][6]. Exceptionally rich in vitamins and minerals, especially iron[7]. The leaves are mainly used as a garnish or as an addition to salads, the flavour is strong with a characteristic hotness[8].

The seed can be sprouted and eaten in salads[8]. A hot flavour.

The seed is ground into a powder and used as a mustard[9][8]. The pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed - an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild but bitter mustard[10].

Unknown part

Condiment

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Nasturtium microphyllum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Antiscorbutic, diuretic, expectorant, purgative, stimulant, stomachic[11][4][12][9]. Use with caution[12].

Unknown part

Antiscorbutic
Diuretic
Expectorant
Purgative
Stimulant
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a pot emmersed to half its depth in water. Germination should take place within a couple of weeks. Prick out seedlings into individual pots whilst they are still small and increase the depth of water gradually until they are submerged. Plant out into a pond in the summer. Cuttings can be taken at any time in the growing season. Virtually any part of the plant, including a single leaf, will form roots if detached from the parent plant[13]. Just put it in a container of water until the roots are well formed and then plant out in shallow water.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Nasturtium microphyllum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Watercress is easily grown when given the correct conditions of slowly flowing clean water, preferably coming from chalky or limestone soils[14]. It prefers to grow in water about 5cm deep[15] with an optimum pH 7.2[7]. Plants can be grown in wet soil if the position is somewhat shaded and protection is given in winter, though the flavour may be hotter[6][15].

Plants are hardy to about -15°c[7], they tolerate somewhat lower temperatures than the closely related N. officinale[7]. Watercress is often cultivated for its edible leaves, there are some named varieties[5][8]. The plant is very sensitive to pollution so a clean source of water is required[7]. Plants will often continue to grow all through mild winters. A fast-growing plant, the stems trail along the ground or float in water and produce new roots at the leaf nodes, thus making the plant very easy to propagate vegetatively[10]. Unfortunately, virus diseases have become more common in cultivated plants and so most propagation is carried out by seed[14]. This is a triploid species. It has hybridised naturally in the wild with the diploid species N. officinale to produce the sterile hybrid N. x sterilis which is also commonly cultivated as a salad crop[14].

The flowers are a rich source of pollen and so are very attractive to bees[3].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Nasturtium microphyllum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Nasturtium microphyllum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Nasturtium microphyllum
Genus
Nasturtium
Family
Brassicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Medicinal uses
[11][4][12][9]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[7]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.5 x 1 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Flies, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Nasturtium lvs.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nasturtium lvs.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Nasturtium lvs.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Nasturtium lvs.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    "image:Nasturtium lvs.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-050-0 (1977-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.57.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.2 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    13. ? Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7158-0789-7 (1982-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.114.2 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. ISBN 0 333 62640 0 (1995-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)

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    Facts about "Nasturtium microphyllum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBrassicaceae +
    Belongs to genusNasturtium +
    Has binomial nameNasturtium microphyllum +
    Has common nameWatercress +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Leaves + and Seed +
    Has edible useCondiment + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bees +, Flies + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageNasturtium lvs.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height0.5 +
    Has mature width1 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiscorbutic +, Diuretic +, Expectorant +, Purgative +, Stimulant + and Stomachic +
    Has primary imageNasturtium lvs.jpg +
    Has search namenasturtium microphyllum + and watercress +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameNasturtium microphyllum +
    Has water requirementsaquatic +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Nasturtium microphyllum +, Nasturtium microphyllum +, Nasturtium microphyllum +, Nasturtium microphyllum +, Nasturtium microphyllum +, Nasturtium microphyllum +, Nasturtium microphyllum +, Nasturtium microphyllum + and Nasturtium microphyllum +