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| Nasturtiums | ||||||||||||||||
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T. majus T. minus T. peltophorum T. tuberosum | ||||||||||||||||
| * The APG classification places the Tropaeolaceae in the Brassicales |
Nasturtium (literally "nose-twister"), as commonly used, is the common name of flowering plants in the genus Tropaeolum, the only genus in the family Tropaeolaceae. It is also the systematic name of the genus ''Nasturtium in the family Brassicaceae.
Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum) include several very popular garden plants. These plants have showy flowers and rounded, shield-shaped or peltate leaves with the petiole in the center. The flowers have five petals, or sometimes eight, a three-carpelled ovary, and a funnel-shaped nectar tube in the back. The flowers are often added to salads for an exotic look and taste. They have a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of watercress. The unripe seeds have been used as a substitute for capers.
The Nasturtiums receive their name from the fact that they produce an oil that is considered similar to mustard, which is from the family Brassicaceae.
The genus Nasturtium in the family Brassicaceae currently contains only one species, Nasturtium gambelliiname. Watercress was previously classified in this genus, as Nasturtium officinale, but is currently classifed as Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum.
garden Nasturtium
genus Nasturtium
References