Nasturtium
Latin name
Tropaeolum majus
Family
Tropaeolaceae
Other names
Indian Cress, Capucine cress
Flowering season
June to October
English distribution
It is grown throughout the country as a gardenplant.
The escape is also found throughout the country.
For a map see the National Biodiversity Network gateway
Habitat
It is a neophyte which was first grown in the UK in the 1680s
known in the wild since around 1910.
It grows from seed and discarded plants and may persist for
several years on waste ground.
Description
Nasturtium is a scrambling or trailing annual herb growing
up to 1m.
The flowers are up to 8cm and colouful, ranging from red
to orange to yellow.
Leaves are almost round, deep green and up to 20cm.
It is grown in gardens and allotments as a flower and as a cullinary
herb. All parts of the plant are edible and are added to salads
and stir fries (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeolum).
It tastes slightly peppery and a little like Watercress, which is
perhaps why their common name is the Latin name for Watercress.
Nasturtiums are also grown as companion plants, because
they repel pests of cucumber, squashes and brassicas.
They are also grown as trap crops, because they attract blackfly
aphids, perhaps luring them from other crop plants.
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Nasturtium with Borage in an allotment
Orange flower
Yellow variety
Stamens, anther
Leaves