Watercress
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts
| Common name | Watercress |
| Scientific name | Nasturtium officinale |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Brassicales |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Genus | Nasturtium |
| Type | Aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial |
| Habitat | Slow-moving streams and springs |
| Native range | Europe and Asia |
| Colours | White and green flowers |
| Flowering season | Summer |
| Edible parts | Peppery leaves and mature seeds |
| Special feature | One of the oldest leaf vegetables eaten by people |
The Watercress plant is also known as Nasturtium Officinale. It is a perennial plant and botanically related to Radish, Garden Cress, Wasabi, and Mustard. Watercress is also known as Berros, Agriao, Cresson, Jal-Halim, and Indian cress. It is an aquatic or semi-aquatic plant that grows rapidly and belongs to the order Brassicales, in the family Brassicaceae. The dried leaves of the plant are used in the making of herbal tea. The Watercress plant has antioxidant properties. This plant constitutes nutrients such as copper, iodine, iron, calcium, vitamins A, C, and E, magnesium, folic acid, and phosphorus.
History
In the United Kingdom, in 1808, the watercress plant was cultivated commercially by the horticulturist William Bradbery. It is the most ancient herb used by Greeks, Persians and Romans. Watercress is the oldest leaf vegetable which is consumed by humans since ancient times.
Anatomy
The stem of the watercress plant is hollow and floating. Its leaves are pinnately compound and the flowers of the plant are small in size and produced in clusters. These flowers are white and green in color and they appear in summer season. Its flowers turn into small pods and they contain two rows of seeds. Its leaves have a peppery flavor, these leaves and mature seeds are its edible part. From a central stalk, each leaf consists of lance shaped leaflets.
Habitat
Watercress plant is native to Central Asia, East Asia and Europe. Natural habitats of the plant are slow moving streams and near springs. It grows in shallow running water.
Soil for Planting
The Watercress plant requires well drained and moist potting soil. Soil with high organic content is ideal for the plant. It can survive in a wide variety of soil conditions and prefers a PH of 6.5 to 7.5.
Planting
The Watercress plant grows best in a cool place in deep containers. The planting is done by the sowing seeds ¼ inch deep. Its seeds take 8 to 12 days to germinate. It can also be propagated by stem cuttings.
Watering
The Watercress plant requires regular and deep watering. For good growth it requires constant moisture.
Temperature and Humidity
For germination, the seeds of the watercress plant require wet conditions and cool temperature of 10 to 16 degree C.
Flowering and Maturing Care
When watercress plant is growing outdoors in the ground, it requires organic compost in the soil.
Harvest
Harvesting of the watercress plant is easy because it is harvested by cutting its stem with scissors at waterline.
Pests and Pesticides
Some pests and diseases attack the watercress plant. Pests like spider mites, snails and white fly affect the plant. But they do not cause any serious damage to the plant. Damping off and Crook Root diseases are also common to this plant.
Uses
Watercress has traditionally been used for ailments such as constipation and scurvy. It is used for swollen breathing passage during coughs, flu, lung, swine flu and bronchitis. This plant is used to improve digestion, appetite, to kill germs and also to enhance sexual arousal. By some people it is applied directly to the skin for eczema, warts, earache, arthritis and scabies. In food it is used as a culinary spice and also used in leaf salad. In Japan, its leaves are used in green salads.
Watercress FAQs
Where does watercress grow?
Watercress grows in shallow, slow-moving running water, like streams and springs. It is an aquatic or semi-aquatic plant that grows quickly.
What does watercress taste like?
Watercress leaves have a peppery flavour. People eat them in salads and use them as a spice.
Which parts of watercress can you eat?
You can eat the leaves and the mature seeds. The dried leaves can also be used to make herbal tea.
How is watercress harvested?
It is easy to harvest. You cut the stems with scissors at the waterline.
How fast does watercress grow from seed?
Watercress seeds take 8 to 12 days to sprout. They need wet conditions and cool temperatures of 10 to 16 degrees C.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
