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*Nasturtium officinale W.T. Aiton. Common name: Watercress. Phenology: Apr-Jul. Habitat: Streams, springs, seepages. Distribution: Native of Eurasia.

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Synonymy : = Fl4, FNA7, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, Tat, Tn, Va, WH3, WV, Al-Shehbaz & Price (1998); = Roripa nasturtium (L.) Rusby — S13; = Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (L.) Hayek — C, NcTx, Tx, Al-Shehbaz (1988a), Green (1962), Rollins (1993); = Sisymbrium nasturtium-aquaticum L. — S; < Nasturtium officinale W.T.Aiton — G, RAB, W; > Nasturtium officinale W.T.Aiton var. officinale — F; > Nasturtium officinale W.T.Aiton var. siifolium (Rchb.) W.D.J.Koch — F; Nasturtium officinale W.T.Aiton — (basionym)

Links to other floras: = Nasturtium officinale - FNA7

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Great Plains: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily : 7

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image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Reclining, floating, or submerged perennial found in streams, springs and seepages. Native of Eurasia, now found throughout North America.

Stems: Stems grooved, succulent, rooting at nodes.

Leaves: Leaves alternate; petiolate; 2-8 in. long; pinnately divided into 3-11 elliptic to oblong-oval leaflets, the terminal leaflet usually larger than lateral ones; somewhat fleshy.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in compact, branching, terminal racemes; white; less than 1/4 in. tall; consisting of 4 tiny, rounded petals.

Fruits: Fruit narrow, green, slightly curved and erect pod; seeds have sharp, peppery smell.

Comments:

Height: 6-30 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Reclining, floating, or submerged perennial found in streams, springs and seepages. Native of Eurasia, now found throughout North America.

stems: Stems grooved, succulent, rooting at nodes.

leaves: Leaves alternate; petiolate; 2-8 in. long; pinnately divided into 3-11 elliptic to oblong-oval leaflets, the terminal leaflet usually larger than lateral ones; somewhat fleshy.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in compact, branching, terminal racemes; white; less than 1/4 in. tall; consisting of 4 tiny, rounded petals.

fruits: Fruit narrow, green, slightly curved and erect pod; seeds have sharp, peppery smell.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: