*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, K3, 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, K1, 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
Links to other floras: = Nasturtium officinale - FNA7
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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Horticultural Information
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.
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