Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a species of plant in the Tropaeolaceae, herbaceous, short and branched roots, creeping and fragile stems, pale green or reddish in color, glabrous, succulent, soft and winding.

T. majus has green or greyish green leaves, stems 5-30 cm long and peltate. The leaves are 4-15 cm wide, orbicular in shape with flat, wavy or slightly lobed edges, glabrous and have many radial veins.



Hermaphroditic flowers, resembling small trumpets, 2.5-7 cm wide, yellow or orange or red, 5 sepals 1-2 cm long fused at the base. One of the nectar-bearing sepals is 2.5-4 cm long, straight or slightly curved. Flowers have 8 stamens and an ovary on top with a style and stigma.

The fruit of the schizocarp divides into three wrinkled pepperrps, each carpel with one large seed, ovoid with a prominent longitudinal ridge, pale green in color and turning pale brown when ripe.

This species grows in coastal and disturbed areas especially, scrub land, herbaceous fields, wetlands, river banks, urban bush land, roadsides, railway tracks, elevations up to 3000 meters, in full sun or partial shade, not tolerant against drought.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Brassicales
Family: Tropaeolaceae Juss. ex DC. in Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 1: 683. 1824
Genus: Tropaeolum L. in Sp. Pl.: 345 (1753)
Section: Tropaeolum
Species: Tropaeolum majus L. in Sp. Pl.: errata, last page (1753)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Cardamindum majus (L.) Moench in Suppl. Meth.: 20 (1802)
Tropaeolum elatum Salisb. in Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 275 (1796)
Trophaeum majus (L.) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 97 (1891)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Nasturtium indicum Garsault in Fig. Pl. Méd.: t. 404 (1764)
Tropaeolum atrosanguineum Gordon in Gard. Chron. 1845: 185 (1845)
Tropaeolum chaixianum É.Morren in Belgique Hort. 6: 2 (1856)
Tropaeolum compactum H.Boyce ex J.Dix in Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 2: 690 (1862)
Tropaeolum hortense Sparre in Grana Palynol. 8: 110 (1968)
Tropaeolum hybridum L. in Mant. Pl.: 64 (1767)
Tropaeolum majus var. brunneum Alef. in Landw. Fl.: 105 (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. carneum Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. coccineum Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. coffeinum Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus flore-purpurea Van Houtte in Hort. Belge 1: 21 (1833), contrary to Art. 23.6. (ICN, 2012).
Tropaeolum majus var. haageanum Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. luteum Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. plenum Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. regelianum Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. scheuermannii Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. schillingii Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum majus var. sordidum Alef. (1866)
Tropaeolum naudinii É.Morren (1856)
Tropaeolum pinnatum Andrews in Bot. Repos. 8: t. 535 (1808)
Tropaeolum quinquelobum P.J.Bergius in Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Handl. 27: 32 (1765)
Tropaeolum repandifolium Stokes in Bot. Mat. Med. 2: 346 (1812)
Tropaeolum scheuerianum E.Bouché in Verh. Vereins Beford. Gartenbaues Konigl. Preuss. Staaten, n.s., 2: 19 (1854)
Tropaeolum scheuerianum É.Morren (1856)
Tropaeolum schillingii B.Verl. in P.L.F.de Vilmorin, Fl. Pleine Terre, ed. 2: 189 (1866)
Tropaeolum zanderi A.Dietr. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 22: 370 (1854)
Trophaeum atrosanguineum (Gordon) Kuntze (1891)
Trophaeum chaixianum (É.Morren) Kuntze (1891)
Trophaeum naudinii (É.Morren) Kuntze (1891)
Trophaeum pinnatum (Andrews) Kuntze (1891)
Trophaeum scheunerianum (E.Bouché) Kuntze (1891)
Trophaeum zanderi (A.Dietr.) Kuntze (1891)

PUBLICATIONS

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.

Agnola, P., Chambrin, L., Saboureau, F. & Lebouvier, M. (2026). Atlas de la Flore des Terres australes Françaises: 1-415. Biotope / MNHN.

Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots'. Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.

Barooah, C. & Ahmed, I. (2014). Plant diversity of Assam. A checklist of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms: 1-599. Assam science technology and environment council, India.

Bosser, J. & al. (eds.) (1987). Flore des Mascareignes 51-62: 1. IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.

Chang, C.S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2014). Provisional checklist of vascular plants for the Korea peninsula flora (KPF): 1-660. DESIGNPOST.

Danihelka, J. Chrtek, J. & Kaplan, Z. (2012). Checklist of vascular plants of the Czech Republic. Preslia. Casopsi Ceské Botanické Spolecnosti 84: 647-811.

Delipavlov, D. & Cheshmedzhiev, I. (eds.) (2011). Opredelitel na rasteniiata v Bulgariia: 1-590. Akad. Isd. Agrar. Univers. Plovdiv.

Dimopoulos, P., Raus, T., Bergmeier, E., Constantinidis, T., Iatrou, G., Kokkini, S., Strid, A., & Tzanoudakis, D. (2013). Vascular plants of Greece. An annotated checklist: 1-372. Botanic gardens and botanical museum Berlin-Dahlem, Berlin and Hellenic botanical society, Athens.

Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2013). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 5: 1-451. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.

Edwards, S., Tadesse, M., Demissew, S. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (2000). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 2(1): 1-532. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.

Fairhurst, W. (2004). Flowering Plants of Ascension island: 1-300. Higham Press, Shirland, Alfreton, England.

Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola. Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2010). Flora of North America North of Mexico 7: 1-797. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.

Galanos, C.J. (2015). The alien flora of terrestrial and marine ecosystems of Rodos island (SE Aegean), Greece. Willdenowia 45: 261-278.

Garcillán, P.P. & al. (2013). Plantas no nativas naturalizadas de la península de Baja California, México. Botanical Sciences 91: 461-475.

Gremmen, N. & Halbertsma, R.L. Gremmen, N. & Halbertsma, R.L. (2009). Alien plants and their impact on Tristan da Cunha 2: 1-307. Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP).

Greuter, W. & Raus, T. (eds.) (2010). Med-Checklist Notulae, 29. Willdenowia 40: 189-204.

Hammel, B.E., Grayum, M.H., Herrera, C. & Zamora, N. (eds.) (2015). Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica. Volumen VIII. Dicotyledóneas (Sabiaceae-Zygophyllaceae). Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 131: 1-657. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Hansen, A. & Sunding, P. (1993). Flora of Macaronesia. Checklist of vascular plants. 4. revised edition. Sommerfeltia 17: 1-295.

Hassler, M. & Muer, T. (2022). Flora Germanica: alle Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands in Text und Bild 2: 865-1712. Verlag Regionalkultur, Uberstadt-Weiher.

Idárraga-Piedrahita, A., Ortiz, R.D.C., Callejas Posada, R. & Merello, M. (eds.) (2011). Flora de Antioquia: Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares 2: 1-939. Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín.

Jørgensen, P.M. & León-Yánez, S. (eds.) (1999). Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 75: i-viii, 1-1181. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Jørgensen, P.M., Nee, M.H. & Beck., S.G. (eds.) (2013). Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 127: 1-1741. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Kravchenko, A.V., Timofeeva, V.V., Rudkocskaya, O.A. & Fadeeva, M.A. (2008). Vascular plant species new and rare to Karelia. Botanicheskii Zhurnal. Moscow & Leningrad 94: 776-788.

Lambion, J., Delvosalle, L. & Duvigneaud, J. (2004). Nouvelle flore de la Belgique du G. D. de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines, ed. 5: 1-1167. Edition du Patrimoine du Jardin botanique national de Belgique.

Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo). Taxonomania 30: 1-307.

López Patiño, E.J., Szeszko, D.R., Rascala Pérez, J. & Beltrán Retis, A.S. (2012). The flora of the Tenacingo-Malinalco-Zumpahuacán protected natural area, state of Mexico, Mexico. Harvard Papers in Botany 17: 65-167.

Muer, T., Sauerbier, H. & Cabrara Calixto, F. (2020). Die Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Madeiras: 1-792. Verlag und Versandbuchhandlung Andreas Kleinsteuber.

Nelson Sutherland, C.H. (2008). Catálogo de las plantes vasculares de Honduras. Espermatofitas: 1-1576. SERNA/Guaymuras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Onana, J.M. (2011). The vascular plants of Cameroon a taxonomic checklist with IUCN assessments: 1-195. National herbarium of Cameroon, Yaoundé.

Orchard, A.E. (ed.) (1994). Oceanic Islands 1. Flora of Australia 49: 1-681. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Parslow, R. & Bennallick, I. (2017). The new flora of the Isles of Scilly: 1-539. Parslow Press.

Pasha, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Retief, E. & Meyer, N.L. (2017). Plants of the Free State inventory and identification guide. Strelitzia 38: 1-1236. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Sauerbier, H., Cabrera Calixto, F. & Muer, T. (2023). Flora Vascular de Canarias: 1-1514. Turquesa.

Schäfer, H. (2021). Flora of the Azores a field guide: 1-445. Margraf Publishers GmbH.

Seregin, A.P. (2014). Flora of Vladimir Oblast, Russia: grid data analysis: 1-441. KMK schientific press, Moscow.

Stace, C. (2019). New Flora of the British Isles ed. 4: 1-1266. C & M Floristics.

Tutin, T.G. & al. (eds.) (1968). Flora Europaea 2: 1-469. Cambridge University Press.

Urziceanu, M. & al. (2020). Updated list of non-native ornamental plants in Romania. Contributii Botanice Universitatea "Babes-Bolyai" din Cluj-Napoca 55: 59-82.

Vladimirov, V., Dane, F. & Kit Tan (2015). New floristic records in the Balkans: 26. Phytologia Balcanica 21: 53-91.

Wagner, W.L., Herbst, D.R. & Sohmer, S.H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, rev. ed., 2: 989-1918. University of Hawai'i Press, Bishop Museum Press.

Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2008). Flora of China 11: 1-622. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

Zervous, S., Raus, T. & Yannitsaros, A. (2009). Additons to the flora of the island of Kalimnos (SE Aegean, Greece). Willdenowia 39: 165-177.

Zuloaga, F.O., Morrone, O. , Belgrano, M.J., Marticorena, C. & Marchesi, E. (eds.) (2008). Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares del Cono Sur. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 107: 1-3348. Missouri Botanical Garden.

de Salas, MF, Baker, ML (2022). A Census of the Vascular Plants of Tasmania, including Macquarie Island: 1-161. Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart. https://flora.tmag.tas.gov.au/resources/census.

VERNACULAR NAME

Afrikaans: Kappertjie, Kappertjies
Catalan: Caputxina
Chinese (simplified): 旱金莲 - 金莲花
Chinese (traditional): 旱金蓮 - 金蓮花
Croatian: Dragoljub
Czech: Lichořeřišnice větší
Danish: Tallerkensmækker
Dutch: Oost-Indische kers
English: Garden nasturtium, Dragoljub, Indian cress, Lark's heel, Monk cress, Nasties, Nasturtium, Tall nasturtium
Estonian: Suur mungalill
Finnish: Isoköynnöskrassi, Koristekrassit
French: Grande Capucine
Galician: Capuchina
German: Große Kapuzinerkresse, Kapuzinerkresse
Guangdong: 旱金蓮
Hawaiian: Pohe haole
Hebrew: כובע הנזיר
Hong Kong: 旱金蓮
Hungarian: Sarkantyúka
Indonesia: Bunga dayang, Nasturtium
Italian: Nasturzio
Japanese: キンレンカ - ノウゼンハレン
Java: Kembang dayang
Korean: 한련
Lithuanian: Didžioji nasturtė
Macao: 旱金蓮
Norwegian: Blomkarse
Polish: Nasturcja większa
Portuguese: Capuchinha, Chagas
Russian: Настурция
Slovak: Kapucínka väčšia
Spanish: Capuchina, Capuchina sudamericana, Espuela de galán, Jacinto, Mastuerzo sudamericano, Taco de reina
Swedish: Indiankrasse
Taiwan: 旱金蓮 - 金蓮花
Turkish: Tropealum
Ukrainian: Красоля велика

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
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