T.E.R:R.A.I.N - Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network

Nasturtium (Genus:Tropaeolum)

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Tropaeolaceae
Genus: Tropaeolum L.
Species: there are about 80 species
Common name: Nasturtium

They have showy, often intensely bright flowers and rounded, peltate (shield-shaped) leaves with the petiole in the center. The flowers have five petals sometimes more), a three-carpelled ovary, and a funnel-shaped nectar tube in the back. All parts of the plant 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 unripe seed pods can be harvested and pickled with hot vinegar, to produce a condiment and garnish, sometimes used in place of capers, although the taste is strongly peppery.

Tropaeolum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Dot Moth and Garden Carpet. A very common caterpillar found on Nasturtium is the caterpillar of the white cabbage butterfly.

Yellow Nasturtium flower


Red Nasturtium fower


A creeping ground cover of Nasturtium at Waiwaka Reserve


A bank smothered with Nasturtium


Nasturtium starting to smother a camellia



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