Nasturtium
Nasturtium
Nasturtium (/næˈstɜːrʃəm/), from the Latin Nasturtium, is a genus of roughly 80 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants. It belongs to the family Tropaeolaceae, native to South and Central America.
Etymology
The term Nasturtium comes from the Latin nasus tortus, meaning "twisted nose", in reference to the effect on the nasal passages of eating the plants.
Description
Nasturtium plants are characterized by their bright, trumpet-shaped flowers and round, peltate (shield-shaped) leaves with the petiole in the center. The flowers are most commonly seen in bright shades of yellow, orange, and red.
Uses
Nasturtiums have a variety of uses in both medicine and culinary arts. In traditional medicine, they have been used to treat a variety of ailments, including respiratory and urinary tract infections. The leaves and flowers are also edible and have a peppery taste, making them a popular addition to salads and other dishes.
Related Terms
- Tropaeolaceae: The botanical family to which Nasturtium belongs.
- Annual plant: A plant that completes its life cycle in one year, a category which some Nasturtium species fall into.
- Perennial plant: A plant that lives for more than two years, a category which some Nasturtium species fall into.
- Herbaceous: Describes a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nasturtium
- Wikipedia's article - Nasturtium
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