watercress

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• southern watercress
• true watercress
• watercress
• Water-cress

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nasturtium parvifolium
• Crucifera fontana
• Nasturtium officinale subsp. parvifolium
• Nasturtium officinale var. parvifolium
• Sisymbrium officinale var. parvifolium
• Nasturtium officinale var. macrocarpum
• Nasturtium officinale f. subasarifolium
• Cardaminum nasturtium
• Nasturtium siifolium
• Nasturtium fontanum var. longisiliquum
• Baeumerta nasturtium
• Nasturtium officinale var. vulgare
• Radicula nasturtium
• Rorippa nasturtium
• Radicula officinalis
• Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum
• Sisymbrium nasturtium-aquaticum
• Arabis nasturtium
• Rorippa officinalis
• Nasturtium officinale subsp. rotundifolium
• Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum var. longisiliqua
• Radicula nasturtium-aquaticum
• Sisymbrium amarum
• Sisymbrium fluviatile
• Nasturtium officinale var. siifolium
• Nasturtium roridulum
• Nasturtium officinale var. precosium
• Nasturtium officinale var. paucijugatum
• Nasturtium officinale var. platyphyllum
• Nasturtium officinale var. praecox
• Nasturtium alexandrinum
• Nasturtium officinale var. parviflorum
• Nasturtium officinale var. minor
• Cardamine nasturtium-aquaticum
• Cardamine aquatica
• Nasturtium officinale var. asarifolium
• Nasturtium officinale var. intermedium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Nasturtium officinale, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, following the order Brassicales. Finally, it resides within the family Brassicaceae under the genus Nasturtium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Nasturtium officinale, is widely distributed across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence extends further north into the territories of Sweden. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is also well-established in Austria. Additionally, the plant is commonly documented within the borders of Belgium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nasturtium officinale is defined by its strict preference for saturated environments, thriving primarily in aquatic, riparian, and wetland riparian habitats. This plant is highly adaptable to varying vertical gradients, occupying a broad elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 4100 m AMSL. With a calculated mean elevation of 2062.5 m AMSL, it demonstrates a significant capacity to colonize diverse topographic zones, provided there is a consistent presence of flowing or standing water to sustain its specialized growth requirements.

Elevational range max:

4100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2062.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

aquatic, riparian, wetland riparian

Life history

The life history of Nasturtium officinale is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable conditions. This plant exhibits an evergreen nature, maintaining its foliage throughout various stages of its development. Its growth habit is fundamentally defined by its hemicryptophyte life form, which facilitates its ability to colonize and maintain presence in its natural aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats over long periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nasturtium officinale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. The plant typically exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than functioning as a liana or vine. In terms of its ecological positioning, it is a terrestrial species and is not an epiphyte or a parasite, functioning as an independent organism. The plant's stature varies, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.385 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.385 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nasturtium officinale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic strategy for carbon fixation. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional profile and does not function as a nitrogen fixer. Its foliage demonstrates significant morphological variability, with leaf forms described as elliptic and possessing a succulent quality. The leaf dimensions show a wide range, with a mean length of 2.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 25 cm) and a mean width of 4 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm), resulting in a mean leaf size of 14.35 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 422.25 cm²/g, indicating its leaf mass per area and its efficiency in light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

14.35 cm²

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

422.25 cm²/g

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nasturtium officinale is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate efficient breeding. The flowering period typically begins in May and continues through August. These white flowers, which range in length from 0.34 cm to 0.45 cm, utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate pollen transfer; notably, self-fertilization is present within the species. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a dehiscent fruit type known as a capsule. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 1.65 cm (ranging from 1 cm to 2 cm) and a mean width of 0.225 cm (ranging from 0.15 cm to 0.5 cm). Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in length at approximately 1 mm, with a mean mass of 0.0002684166 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00015 g to a maximum of 0.0014 g). Dispersal of the seeds is achieved through unspecialized methods and epizoochorous mechanisms, allowing the plant to spread effectively within its habitat. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.45 cm

Flower length min:

0.34 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.65 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.225 cm

Fruit width min:

0.15 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0014 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0002684166 g

Seed mass min:

0.00015 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nasturtium officinale has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Nasturtium officinale has 85 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glucosinolates, Carotenoids, Flavonoid, Gluconasturtiin, Glucosinolate.

Glucosinolates

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Food chemistry

Carotenoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Heliyon

Flavonoid

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies

Gluconasturtiin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Glucosinolate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

proline

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon

2-Phenylethyl isothiocyanate

1. Dr. Duke

3-Phenylpropionitrile

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Nasturtium officinale has 394 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Biochemistry research international
5. Heliyon

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Heliyon

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Revista de chirurgie, oncologie, radiologie, o. r. l., oftalmologie, stomatologie. Seria: Stomatologie

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Nasturtium officinale has 37 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, hypertension, Staphylococcus aureus, bronchitis.

Oxidative stress

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Chemico-biological interactions
3. Journal of cellular biochemistry
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hyperglycemia

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Nigerian journal of clinical practice

Hypertension

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Nigerian journal of clinical practice

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Nigerian journal of clinical practice
2. Scientific reports

Bronchitis

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Seminars in cancer biology
2. ACS omega

Renal colic

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Asthma

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cauliflower mosaic virus

1. Plant disease

Cucumber mosaic virus

1. Plant disease

Preparations

Nasturtium officinale has 11 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, ethanolic extract, hydroalcoholic extract, Ethanol extracts, Hydroalcoholic Extract.

Extract

1. Research in pharmaceutical sciences
2. Ultrasonics sonochemistry
3. Chemico-biological interactions

Ethanolic extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Advanced biomedical research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Essential oils

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Fruit juice

1. Ultrasonics sonochemistry

Hydro-alcoholic extract

1. Nigerian journal of clinical practice

Hydrophilic extract

1. Journal of nephropathology

Methanolic extracts

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR