Not to be semantically confused with : the Genus Nasturtium () [in which resides several species of Water-cress, such as Water-cress itself (Nasturtium officinale) (formerly Rorippa nasturtium-aquatica)] which are in the Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae)

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

It is an annual and is not native to the UK, but grown in gardens from where it sometimes escapes. There are many cultivars of this plant sold by horticulturalists. The plant can climb up to 2m given opportunity (such as by means of a fence or by scrambling through taller plants) but is normally found as dwarf to 20cm. The flowers are edible and used as decoration in salads or as a garnish for both savoury dishes and desserts. The leaves and seed pods are also edible (although the seeds themselves are toxic and should not be eaten!), all having a pleasant peppery taste.

The plant is a semi-succulent, with thick, pale-pink juicy stems. The flowers are solitary emerging on longish stalls from leaf-axils. The flower is usually orange, but can be red or yellow with a long spur at the rear and is zygomorphic. The five petals are free (not conjoined).

A GLUCOSINOLATE Nasturtium is widely known as a medicinal plant containing, like plants of the Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae) the glycosides of mustard oils, commonly called Glucosinolates, such as Glucotropaeolin aka BenzylGlucosinolate, which all release toxic hydrogen cyanide when digested. The degradation product of BenzylGlucosinolate, BenzylIsoThiocyanate, is the biologically active moiety. Nasturtiums were so named because of the similarity of these glucosinolates to those in Water-cress (Nasturtium officinale). The coloured flavonoids IsoQuercetin and Kaempferol are also found.