Water-cress
Water-cress in a stream
Nascent pod, stamens and stigma
Leaves
Young pods
Stem and pods
Commercial Water-cress beds
Effective advertising campaign
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum
Brassicaceae
Late April to October
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Water-cress
It grows both in and beside streams, marshes, ditches,
ponds and canals.
It is grown commercially in lime-rich waters in the South,
particularly Dorset and Hampshire.
Water-cress is a native, perennial, creeping, aquatic
herb, growing up to 60cm.
Flowers are up to 7mm across, with 4 white petals
sometimes turning lilac.
There are 6 stamens with cream anthers.
The stigma is capitate.
The fruiting pods are beaded, up to 5cm and with
2 rows of seeds.
Leaves are pinnate with up to 9 or more leaflets.
Leaflets are roundish when young and more oval and
pointed when older..
Stems are sprawling and hollow.
Water-cress, the commercial salad plant, is made
up of Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum agg.
It is mainly sold as baby-leaf.
In Lancaster watercress from local streams was
sold in the market until the late 1960s.
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Water-cress in a stream
Nascent pod, stamens and stigma
Leaves
Young pods
Stem and pods
Commercial Water-cress beds
Effective advertising campaign
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