NARROW-FRUITED WATER-CRESS

ONE-ROWED WATER-CRESS

Nasturtium microphyllum

formerly: Rorippa microphylla
Cabbage Family [Brassicaceae]

month8may month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug month8sep month8sept month8oct

status
statusZnative
 
flower
flower8bicolour
 
flower
flower8white
 
inner
inner8yellow
 
morph
morph8actino
 
petals
petalsZ4
 
stem
stem8round
 
stem
stem8hollow
hollow

22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
A tangle of water-plants deep in a ditch.


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Flowers 4-petalled and white with long, curved upwards and narrow seed pods on long stalks.


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Flowers gathered at the top in flattish or slightly rounded 'umbels'. Has larger petals than does Water-cress. Purplish pods growing from centre.


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Flowers white with four petals tapering at their bases. Usually six stamens.


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Stamens growing outwardly (rather than inwardly of Water-cress).


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Six stamens carrying cream-coloured pollen and growing outwardly.


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Seed pods tend towards brown/purple, curve upwards and are narrow with just a single row of seeds in the pod (unlike those of Water-cress which has two rows of seeds in a still cylindrical pod but which is both wider and shorter).


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Seed pods growing longer.


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Stems may be ridged or grooved, Leaves pinnate, well separated, and wrinkly. Underside shown here.


22nd June 2010, Cark, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Leaves stalkless and turn brownish purple in autumn unlike Water-cress whose leaves remain green all year.


Easily mistaken for : Water-cress but that stays green and does not turn purple in autumn, and also has shorter, wider and flattened seed pods containing a double row of seeds rather than the single row of Narrow-fruited Water-cress.

Hybridizes with : Water-cress (Nasturtium officinale) to produce a sterile hybrid called Hybrid Water-cress which usually has sorter and deformed seed pods.

Some similarities to : Fool's-Water-cress but that belongs to the Umbellifer Family, Apiaceae.

Not to be confused with : Winter-cress [another Cabbage Family plant with similar name].

Habitat includes growing in or by slow-flowing fresh-water streams or in mud, often in limy soils.


  Nasturtium microphyllum  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Brassicaceae  

Distribution
 family8Cabbage family8Brassicaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Nasturtium
Nasturtium
(Water-Cresses)

NARROW-FRUITED WATER-CRESS

ONE-ROWED WATER-CRESS

Nasturtium microphyllum

formerly: Rorippa microphylla
Cabbage Family [Brassicaceae]

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