Nasturtium (popular name)
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About 80 species, including:
* In older traditional systems placed |
Nasturtium (literally "nose-twister"), as a common name, is a genus of roughly 80 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants Tropaeolum, one of three genera in the family Tropaeolaceae. This genus, native to South America and Central America, includes several very popular garden plants, the most commonly grown being T. majus, T. peregrinum and T. speciosum. The hardiest species is T. polyphyllum from Chile, the perennial roots of which can survive underground when air temperatures drop as low as -15°C.
They have showy flowers and rounded, peltate (shield-shaped) leaves with the petiole in the center. The flowers have five petals (sometimes more), a three-carpelled ovary, and a funnel-shaped nectar tube in the back. The flowers can be added to salads for an exotic look and taste; they have a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of Watercress. The unripe seeds, when pickled, have been used as a substitute for capers. The mashua (T. tuberosum) produces an edible underground tuber that is a major food source in parts of the Andes.
See also
The Nasturtiums receive their name from the fact that they produce an oil that is similar to that produced by Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) from the family Brassicaceae. For the systematic name Nasturtium, see Nasturtium (scientific name).
External links
- The Families of Flowering Plants - Tropaeolaceae (http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/angio/www/tropaeol.htm)
- Tropaeolum by J. S. McFarlane (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.mcfarlane/)
- Tropaeolum by Zephyrus (in Japanese) (http://homepage1.nifty.com/heartsease/topics/tropaeolum/tropaeolum.htm)
Nasturtium.jpg