Tropaeolum majus (Garden Nasturtium, Indian Cress or Monks Cress) is a flowering plant in the family Tropaeolaceae, originating in the Andes from Bolivia north to Colombia. It is of cultivated, probably hybrid origin, with possible parent species including T. minus, T. moritzianum, T. peltophorum, and T. peregrinum. It is not closely related to the genus Nasturtium (which includes watercress).
Tropaeolum majus is an easily grown, and fast growing, herbaceous annual plant with trailing stems growing to 1m long or more. The leaves are large, nearly circular, 3 to 15cm in diameter, green to glaucous green above and paler below. The leaves are peltate, with a 5-30cm long petiole near the middle of the leaf, with several veins radiating to the smoothly rounded, or slightly lobbed, margin. The flowers are 2.5-6cm in diameter, with five petals, eight stamens, and a 2.5-3cm long nectar spur at the rear. The flowers vary from yellow to orange to red, frilled and often darker at the base of the petals. The fruit is 2cm broad, three-segmented, each segment with a single large seed 1-1.5cm long.
Tropaeolum majus cultivars are widely grown as easy annual plants, for poor, damp soil in full sun. The large seeds are easy to handle individually. As they do not tolerate heavy frost they are best sown under glass in heat, and planted out after all danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, as they are fast-growing, they may be sown in situ in May or June. Many flower colors are available, in the warm spectrum from cream through yellow, orange, red and maroon. Some have highly decorative marbling on the leaves.
Tropaeolum majus also exhibit Das Elisabeth Linné-Phänomen, or the Elizabeth Linnæus Phenomenon. This is the name given to the phenomenon of "flashing flowers". Especially at dusk, the orange flowers may appear to emit small "flashes". Once believed to be an electrical phenomenon, it is today thought to be an optical reaction in the human eye caused by the contrast between the orange flowers and the surrounding green. The phenomenon is named after Elisabeth Christina von Linné, one of Carl Linnaeus's daughters, who discovered it at age 19.
Tropaeolum majus is widely cultivated, both as an ornamental and medicinal plant, as well as a food source for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the dot moth and the garden carpet moth. A common pest found on nasturtiums is the caterpillar of the large white or cabbage white butterfly. All of the above-ground parts of the plants are edible. The flower has most often been consumed, making for an especially ornamental salad ingredient; it has a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of watercress, and is also used in stir fry. The flowers contain about 130 mg vitamin C per 100 grams (3.5 oz.), about the same amount as is contained in parsley. Moreover, they contain up to 45 mg of lutein per 100 gr, which is the highest amount found in any edible plant. The unripe seed pods can be harvested and dropped into spiced vinegar to produce a condiment and garnish, sometimes used in place of capers. The groups Whirlybird Series and the Alaska Series have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Tropaeolum majus has become naturalized in parts of the United States, such as California, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia, as well as parts of Europe such as Gibraltar, and Asia, Africa, and Australia. It is also listed as an invasive species in several areas, including Hawaii, Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, and Australia.
Article excerpt is from Wikipedia.org under the Creative Commons License
Image is reused under the GNU Free Documentation License
Add comment
Comments