Nasturtium officinale Watercress (Cruciferae)

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Nasturtium officinale
Watercress
(1 Page of 5)

The Nasturtium officinale plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Cruciferae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Watercress. Some home gardeners know the variety as Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum. (L.)Hayek. Sisymbrium nasturtium-aquaticum.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Nasturtium officinale
Common Name:  Watercress
Family:  Cruciferae
Author:  R.Br.

Known Hazards:  Whilst the plant is very wholesome and nutritious, some care should be taken if harvesting it from the wild. Any plants growing in water that drains from fields where animals, particularly sheep, graze should not be used raw. This is due to the risk of it being infested with the liver fluke parasite[5, 244]. Cooking the leaves, however, will destroy any parasites and render the plant perfectly safe to eat[244].

Mature Height:  0.5   Mature Width:  1

Habitat:  Stream margins, ditches, flushes etc with moving water[17, 27], usually in chalk or limestone areas[52].

Medicinal Information: Watercress is very rich in vitamins and minerals, and has long been valued as a food and medicinal plant[254]. Considered a cleansing herb, its high content of vitamin C makes it a remedy that is particularly valuable for chronic illnesses[254]. The leaves are antiscorbutic, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, purgative, hypoglycaemic, odontalgic, stimulant and stomachic[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 222, 238]. The plant has been used as a specific in the treatment of TB[4]. The freshly pressed juice has been used internally and externally in the treatment of chest and kidney complaints, chronic irritations and inflammations of the skin etc[9]. Applied externally, it has a long-standing reputation as an effective hair tonic, helping to promote the growth of thick hair[244]. A poultice of the leaves is said to be an effective treatment for healing glandular tumours or lymphatic swellings[244]. Some caution is advised, excessive use of the plant can lead to stomach upsets[9, 21]. The leaves can be harvested almost throughout the year and are used fresh[238].

For further Nasturtium officinale gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future