Cardamindum majus Moench

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian cress
• garden nasturtium
• Lark's Heel
• Monk Cress
• Nasties
• Tall Nasturtium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tropaeolum majus var. brunneum
• Tropaeolum majus var. sordidum
• Tropaeolum majus var. luteum
• Tropaeolum majus var. haageanum
• Tropaeolum majus var. coffeinum
• Tropaeolum pinnatum
• Tropaeolum majus var. scheuermannii
• Tropaeolum majus var. carneum
• Tropaeolum quinquelobum
• Tropaeolum majus var. regelianum
• Tropaeolum majus var. schillingii
• Cardamindum majus
• Tropaeolum majus var. plenum
• Tropaeolum compactum
• Trophaeum atrosanguineum
• Tropaeolum hortense
• Trophaeum majus
• Trophaeum pinnatum
• Trophaeum zanderi
• Trophaeum chaixianum
• Trophaeum naudinii
• Trophaeum scheunerianum
• Tropaeolum majus var. coccineum
• Tropaeolum atrosanguineum
• Tropaeolum scheuerianum
• Tropaeolum repandifolium
• Tropaeolum schillingii
• Tropaeolum zanderi
• Tropaeolum chaixianum
• Tropaeolum naudinii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Brassicales. Finally, it falls into the family Tropaeolaceae and is identified by the genus Tropaeolum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, its presence extends into the territory of Belgium. It is also documented to inhabit the areas of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, its range includes the country of Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tropaeolum majus is characterized by a broad adaptive capacity across diverse altitudinal gradients, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2900 m AMSL. While it is frequently found inhabiting lowland environments, the species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, with a mean elevational range centered around 1200 m AMSL. This wide distribution allows the plant to colonize various topographical zones, ranging from coastal lowlands to high-altitude montane regions.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Tropaeolum majus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by producing seeds that remain dormant until favorable conditions return, rather than maintaining persistent vegetative structures. Its deciduousness is variable, often depending on the specific environmental stressors or climatic shifts it encounters during its growth period. Throughout its development, the plant maintains its status as a therophyte, relying on its rapid seasonal growth and subsequent seed dispersal to ensure the continuation of its species.

Deciduousness :

variable

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Tropaeoluim majus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, which functions as an independent, non-parasitic organism. This terrestrial species exhibits a highly variable plant height, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average height of approximately 1.83 m. The shoot development is substantial, with shoot lengths measured between a minimum of 50 cm and a maximum of 500 cm. In terms of its climbing habit, the plant is categorized as self-supporting, though it possesses a prostrate shoot orientation. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, maintaining its life cycle entirely on the ground rather than as a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.83 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot length max:

500 cm

Shoot length min:

50 cm

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tropaeolum majus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. The plant exhibits a distinct leaf morphology, featuring lobed leaf forms arranged in an alternate pattern along the stem. These leaves vary significantly in dimensions, with a minimum length of 4 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 48 cm, while the width fluctuates between a minimum of 4 cm and a maximum of 15 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 17 cm. The average leaf size is approximately 63.32625 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 324.92 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area efficiency. Notably, the species possesses succulent characteristics, which aid in moisture management, yet it does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

48 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

63.32625 cm²

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

17 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

324.92 cm²/g

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tropaeoluim majuus is primarily driven by sexual processes through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering cycle typically begins in February and continues through October, featuring vibrant orange flowers that vary in size, with lengths ranging from 2.5 cm to 6 cm and widths between 4 cm and 6 cm. The pollination syndrome is classified as biotic, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits with a mean length of 1.2 cm and a mean width of 1.2 cm. These fruits are highly productive, yielding a substantial number of seeds per fruit, ranging from 101 to 1000. The resulting seeds are relatively lightweight, with a mean mass of 0.14335 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.1315 g to a maximum of 0.1619 g), and they utilize a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are dispersed via water.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

orange

Flower length max:

6 cm

Flower length min:

2.5 cm

Flower width max:

6 cm

Flower width min:

4 cm

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit length mean:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.1619 g

Seed mass mean:

0.14335 g

Seed mass min:

0.1315 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tropaeolum majus has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, fruit.

Leaf

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology
4. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Flower

1. Planta medica
2. Microorganisms
3. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Fruit

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Chemicals

Tropaeolum majus has 42 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include benzyl isothiocyanate, Glucotropaeolin, 11-Eicosenoic acid, Ash, BENZYL CYANIDE.

benzyl isothiocyanate

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Nutrients
4. Planta medica

Glucotropaeolin

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

11-Eicosenoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BENZYL CYANIDE

1. Dr. Duke

BITC

1. PloS one

Benzyl glucosinolate

1. Planta medica

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Tropaeolum majus has 283 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Diuretic, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Albuminurigenic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Tropaeolum majus has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diuresis, salt stress, Salt Stress, cardiovascular diseases, diuretic effects.

Diuresis

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Salt stress

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Salt stress

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diuretic effects

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastric diseases

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Preparations

Tropaeolum majus has 10 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include HETM, TMRL, aqueous extract, aqueous extracts, ethanol extract.

Hetm

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tmrl

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Ethanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Hydroethanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf extracts

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Methylene chloride and methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology