Watercress

July 21st, 2007

Botanical Name : Nasturtium officinale
Family: N.O. Cruciferae
Parts Used: Leaves, flowers, seeds.
Habitat: Europe and Russian Asia.

Description: A hardy perennial found in abundance near springs and open running watercourses, of a creeping habit with smooth, shining, brownish-green, pinnatifid leaves and ovate, heart-shaped leaflets, the terminal one being larger than the rest. Flowers small and white, produced towards the extremity of the branches in a sort of terminal panicle.
The true nasturtium or Indian Cress cultivated in gardens as a creeper has brilliant orange-red flowers and produces the seeds which serve as a substitute for capers in pickles.

The poisonous Marshwort or ‘Fool’s Cress’ is often mistaken for Watercress, with which it is sometimes found growing. It may readily be distinguished by its hemlock-like white flowers, and when out of flower, by its finely toothed and somewhat pointed leaves, much longer than those of the watercress and of a paler green. The Latin name ‘Nasturtium’ is derived from the words nasus tortus (a convulsed nose) on account of its pungency.

Watercress (Nasturtium nasturtium-aquaticum, N. microphyllum, formerly Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennials native from Europe to central Asia and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings. These plants are members of the Family Brassicaceae or cabbage family, botanically related to garden cress and mustard â€” all noteworthy for a peppery, tangy flavor.

The stems of watercress are floating and the leaves are pinnately compound. Watercresses produce small, white and green flowers in clusters.

Nasturtium officinale Ait. f. and Sisymbrium nasturtium-aquaticum L. are synonyms of N. nasturtium-aquaticum. Nasturtium officinale var microphyllum (Boenn. ex Reich.) Thellung is a synonym of N. microphyllum (ITIS, 2004). These species are also listed in some sources as belonging to the genus, Rorippa, although molecular evidence shows that the aquatic species with hollow stems are more closely related to Cardamine than Rorippa (Al-Shehbaz & Price, 1998). Watercresses are not related to the flowers in the genus, Tropaeolum (Family Tropaeolaceae), popularly known as “nasturtiums”.

Huntsville, Alabama is known as the “Watercress Capital of the World”

Paul Brotherton is a well known expert of “Watercress” cooking. Watercress is one of the main ingredients in Vegetable Juice. Watercress is often used in sandwiches, such as those made for afternoon tea.

Cultivation:
Cultivation of watercress is practical on both a large scale and a garden scale. Being semi-aquatic, watercress is well-suited to hydroponic cultivation, thriving best in water that is slightly alkaline. It is frequently produced around the headwaters of chalk streams. In many local markets the demand for hydroponically-grown watercress exceed supplies. This is due in part to the fact that cress leaves are unsuitable for distribution in dried form and can only be stored for a short period.

healthy-looking watercress field

However (in the UK at least), the packaging used by supermarkets using sealed plastic bags under some internal pressure (a plastic envelope containing moisture and pressurised (inflated) to prevent crushing of contents) has allowed the distribution of watercress (and sometimes a mixture of it with other salad leaves). This has allowed national availability with a once purchased storage life of 1 - 2 days in chilled / refrigerated storage.

If unharvested, watercress can grow to a height of 50-120 cm. Also sold as sprouts, the edible shoots are harvested days after germination.

Like many plants in this family, the foliage of watercress becomes bitter when the plants begin producing flowers.

Nutritional value:
Watercress contains significant amounts of iron, calcium and folic acid, in addition to vitamins A and C. In some regions watercress is regarded as a weed, in other regions as an aquatic vegetable or herb. Where watercress is grown in the presence of animal waste, it can be a haven for parasites such as the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica.

Constituents: A sulpho-nitrogenous oil, iodine iron, phosphates, potash, with other mineral salts, bitter extract and water. Its volatile oil rich in nitrogen combined with some sulphur in the sulpho-cyanide of allyl.

Medicinal Action and Uses: Many benefits from eating watercress are claimed, such as that it acts as a mild stimulant, a source of phytochemicals and antioxidants, a diuretic, an expectorant, and a digestive aid. It also appears to have cancer-suppressing properties Watercress is particularly valuable for its antiscorbutic qualities and has been used as such from the earliest times. As a salad it promotes appetite. Culpepper says that the leaves bruised or the juice will free the face from blotches, spots and blemishes, when applied as a lotion.

Dosage: Expressed juice, 1 to 2 fluid ounces.

Watercress has also been used as a specific in tuberculosis. Its active principles are said to be at their best when the plant is in flower.

In Ayurveda Watercress is used in the treatment of the diseases like Anemia, Asthma and Cough, Thyroid gland disorder, Piles, Skin diseases, Rheumatic pains, Malnutrition and during Pregnancy and lactation.

Precautions: The juice extracted from watercress is exceedingly rich in sulphur, which represent more than one third of all other combined minerals and salts present in it.It is however very powerful intestinal cleanser. It should therefore be taken in combination of other juices.

Watercress - healthy eating recipes. Diet cooking. Low fat meal ..

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Old Fashioned Watercress

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watercress

http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/w/watcre09.html

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