Garden cress

Garden cress
Garden Cress
Young plants
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Lepidium
Species: L. sativum
Binomial name
Lepidium sativum
L.
Lepidium sativum.jpg

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) is a fast-growing, edible herb that is botanically related to watercress and mustard, sharing their peppery, tangy flavor and aroma. In some regions, garden cress is known as mustard and cress, garden pepper cress, pepper grass, pepperwort or poor man's pepper.[1][2]

This annual plant can reach a height of 60 cm (~24 inches), with many branches on the upper part. The white to pinkish flowers are only 2 mm (1/12 of an inch) across, clustered in branched racemes.[3][4]

Garden cress can grow almost anywhere.

Contents

Garden cress in agriculture

Garden Cress is commercially grown in England, France, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.[5]

Agriculturally, cress is considered[who?] among the most important species of the genus of the family of mustards. Cultivation of garden cress is practical on both mass scales and on the individual scale. Garden cress is suitable for hydroponic cultivation and thrives in water that is slightly alkaline. In many local markets the demand for hydroponically-grown cress far exceeds available supply.[citation needed] This is partially because cress leaves are not suitable for distribution in dried form, and thus can be only partially preserved. It is common for the consumer to acquire cress as seeds or (in Europe) from markets as a box of young live shoots.[5]

Edible shoots are typically harvested in 1 – 2 weeks, when they are 5–13 cm (2 - 5 inches) tall.[6]

Cress in cookery

Garden cress, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 134 kJ (32 kcal)
Carbohydrates 5.5 g
- Dietary fiber 1.1 g
Fat 0.7 g
Protein 2.6 g
Vitamin A equiv. 346 μg (43%)
Folate (vit. B9) 80 μg (20%)
Vitamin C 69 mg (83%)
Calcium 81 mg (8%)
Iron 1.3 mg (10%)
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database

Garden Cress is added to soups, sandwiches and salads for its tangy flavor.[6] It is also eaten as sprouts, and the fresh or dried seed pods can be used as a peppery seasoning (haloon).[5] In England cut cress shoots are commonly used in sandwiches with boiled eggs, mayonnaise and salt.

Other uses

Garden cress is known as 'Chandrashoor', and the seeds are known as 'Halloon'[7] in India and is commonly used in the system of ayurveda to prevent postnatal complications.[citation needed]

Cress may be given to pet birds such as budgerigars for a healthy and fresh treat.[citation needed]

Lepidium sativum seeds are used medicinally for indigestion and constipation.[8]

References

  1. ^ Cassidy, Frederic Gomes and Hall, Joan Houston. Dictionary of American regional English, Harvard University Press, 2002. Page 97. ISBN 0-674-00884-7, 9780674008847
  2. ^ Staub, Jack E, Buchert, Ellen. 75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden Published by Gibbs Smith, 2008. ISBN 1-4236-0251-X, 9781423602514
  3. ^ Vegetables of Canada. Published by NRC Research Press. ISBN 0-660-19503-8, 9780660195032
  4. ^ Boswell, John T. and Sowerby, James. English Botany: Or, Coloured Figures of British Plants. Robert Hardwicke, 1863. Page 215.
  5. ^ a b c Vegetables of Canada. NRC Research Press. ISBN 0-660-19503-8, 9780660195032
  6. ^ a b Hirsch, David P.. The Moosewood Restaurant kitchen garden: creative gardening for the adventurous cook. Ten Speed Press, 2005. ISBN 1-58008-666-7, 9781580086660
  7. ^ http://www.organicindia.com/PR_OH_chandrashoor.php
  8. ^ Najeeb-Ur-Rehman , Mehmood MH, Alkharfy KM, Gilani AU, "Prokinetic and laxative activities of Lepidium sativum seed extract with species and tissue selective gut stimulatory actions. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Feb 2;

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • garden cress — n. an annual plant (Lepidium sativum) of the crucifer family, sometimes grown as a salad plant …   English World dictionary

  • garden cress — noun cress cultivated for salads and garnishes • Hypernyms: ↑cress • Part Holonyms: ↑common garden cress, ↑garden pepper cress, ↑pepper grass, ↑pepperwort, ↑Lepidium sativum …   Useful english dictionary

  • garden cress — sėjamoji pipirnė statusas T sritis augalininkystė apibrėžtis Vienametis žolinis bastutinių (Brassicaceae) šeimos augalas. Auga labai greitai, dirvai nereiklus. Žiemą galima pasėti ir auginti kambario sąlygomis. Maistui vartojami jauni lapeliai.… …   Žemės ūkio augalų selekcijos ir sėklininkystės terminų žodynas

  • garden cress — sėjamoji pipirnė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Bastutinių šeimos daržovinis, vaistinis augalas (Lepidium sativum), paplitęs šiaurės Afrikoje ir pietų ir pietvakarių Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Lepidium sativum angl. garden cress vok.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • garden cress — noun a type of cress that is grown as a sprouting salad vegetable, often mixed with sprouting mustard. [Lepidium sativum.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • garden cress — noun Date: 1577 an annual herb (Lepidium sativum) of the mustard family sometimes cultivated for its pungent basal leaves …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • garden cress — a peppergrass, Lepidium sativum, used as a salad vegetable. [1570 80] * * * …   Universalium

  • garden cress — noun /kɹɛs/ a plant, Lepidium sativum, whose pungent leaves are used in salads …   Wiktionary

  • Garden cress — Lepidium (E) …   EthnoBotanical Dictionary

  • garden cress — /ˈgadən krɛs/ (say gahduhn kres) noun any of various varieties of Lepidium sativum, a plant of the mustard family widely distributed throughout the world, used in salads …  

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