Tropaeolum_majus

Tropaeolum majus

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''Tropaeolum majus'', the garden nasturtium, nasturtium, Indian cress or monk's cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Tropaeolaceae, originating in the Andes from Bolivia north to Colombia. An easily-grown annual or short-lived perennial with disc-shaped leaves and brilliant yellow, orange or red flowers, it is of cultivated, probably hybrid origin. It is not closely related to the genus ''Nasturtium'' .
Shy Nasturtium Native to South and Central America, seen here in a home garden. Plants have showy, often intensely bright flowers, and rounded, shield-shaped leaves with the petiole in the centre. I spoke with the gentleman whose garden this was and he told me these were Tropaeolum majus. All parts of the plant are edible and after he gave me kind permission to take some shots, he and I enjoyed some together before we said cheerio! Australia,Brassicales,Garden,Geotagged,Indian cress,Leaf,Macro,Nasturtium,Spring,Tropaeolaceae,Tropaeolum majus,botany,flower,plant,yellow flowers

Appearance

It is a fast-growing plant, with trailing stems growing to 0.9–1.8 m . The leaves are large, nearly circular, 3 to 15 cm in diameter, green to glaucous green above, paler below; they are peltate, with the 5–30 cm long petiole near the middle of the leaf, with several veins radiating to the smoothly rounded or slightly lobed margin.
Indian Cress (Tropaeolum majus) Indian Cress are grown for their flowers, and also because both their leaves and flowers are edible; they can be used in salads, imparting a delicately peppery taste. The seeds are also edible, and can be used as a caper substitute. Flowers,Geotagged,Indian Cress,The Netherlands,Tropaeolum majus

Naming

The species was originally called ''Nasturtium indicum'' but the plant is not related to the true ''Nasturtium'' genus.

The current genus name ''Tropaeolum'', coined by Linnaeus, means "little trophy". ''Tropaeolum'' is the diminutive form of the Latin ''tropaeum'', itself borrowed from Ancient Greek τρόπαιον : trópaion "trophy".

The Latin specific epithet ''majus'' means "larger" .
Garden Nasturtium flower, Tropaeolum majus Australia,Fall,Geotagged,Indian cress,Tropaeolum majus

Habitat

The garden nasturtium is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the dot moth, the garden carpet moth and the large white or cabbage white butterfly.
Tropaeolum majus, the garden nasturtium, nasturtium It is an edible plant at least anything above ground, even has some medical usage. I use it to decorate Salads, the blossoms give it a lil‘ color touch. Geotagged,Germany,Summer,Tropaeolum majus

Uses

''Tropaeolum majus'' cultivars are widely grown as easy annual plants, for poor, damp soil in full sun. The large seeds are easy to handle individually.

As they do not tolerate heavy frost they are best sown under glass in heat, and planted out after all danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, as they are fast-growing, they may be sown ''in situ'' in May or June.

Many flower colours are available, in the warm spectrum from cream through yellow, orange, red and maroon. Some have highly decorative marbling on the leaves.

The groups Whirlybird Series and Alaska Series have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

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