Garden cress (Lepidium sativum)

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) is a plant species in the Brassicaceae family. It is an annual herb that grows up to 60 cm tall, featuring numerous branches in its upper section and a green appearance. Its small, elliptical flowers—ranging in color from white to bright red—measure 2 mm in diameter and grow in branched clusters. The seeds are enclosed within a covering.

L. sativum is widely cultivated, both on a mass scale and by individuals, using methods such as hydroponics or growth in slightly alkaline water. When consumed raw, this species is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as various dietary minerals. The shoots are typically harvested 1–2 weeks after planting, when they reach a height of 5–13 cm.

Known for its sharp, pungent flavor, the plant is often added to soups, sandwiches, salads, boiled eggs, and mayonnaise. It is also consumed in the form of sprouts, while its seed pods—whether fresh or dried—are used as a piquant seasoning.

Medicinally, the plant has been used to treat dysentery; its sap can be applied to address middle-ear infections, and it is also used to stimulate appetite, induce menstruation, and act as an expectorant.

In its raw state, the plant consists of 89% water, 6% carbohydrates, 1% fiber, 3% protein, and less than 1% fat. A 100-gram serving provides 134 kilojoules of energy and is packed with significant nutrients, including vitamin K (516% of the Daily Value, or DV), vitamin C (83% DV), and vitamin A (43% DV). It also contains dietary minerals such as manganese (26% DV), along with others like potassium and magnesium.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Subfamily: Brassicoideae
Supertribe: Camelinodae
Tribe: Lepidieae
Genus: Lepidium L. in Sp. Pl.: 643 (1753)
Species: Lepidium sativum L. in Sp. Pl.: 644 (1753)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Cardamon sativum (L.) Fourr. in Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon, n.s., 16: 338 (1868)
Lepia sativa (L.) Desv. in J. Bot. Agric. 3: 165 (1815)
Nasturtium sativum (L.) Moench in Methodus: 270 (1794)
Thlaspi sativum (L.) Crantz in Stirp. Austr. Fasc. 1: 21 (1762)
Thlaspidium sativum (L.) Spach in Hist. Nat. Vég. 6: 557 (1838)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Arabis chinensis Rottler ex Wight in Ill. Ind. Bot. 1: t. 12 (1840)
Crucifera nasturtium E.H.L.Krause in J.W.Sturm, Deutschl. Fl. Abbild., ed. 2. 6: 151 (1902)
Lepidium sativum var. australe Alef. in Landw. Fl.: 254 (1866)
Lepidium sativum var. crispum (Medik.) DC. in Syst. Nat. 2: 534 (1821)
Lepidium sativum var. latifolium DC. (1821)
Lepidium sativum var. pallidum Alef. (1866)
Lepidium sativum var. schimperi Thell. in Vierteljahrsschr. Naturf. Ges. Zürich 51: 161 (1906)
Lepidium sativum var. silvestre Thell. (1906)
Lepidium sativum subsp. spinescens (DC.) Thell. (1906)
Lepidium sativum var. spinescens (DC.) Jafri in Fl. W. Pakistan 55: 55 (1973)
Lepidium sativum var. triplocrispum Alef. (1866)
Lepidium sativum var. vulgare Alef. (1866)
Lepidium spinescens DC. (1821)
Nasturtium crispum Medik. in Pfl.-Gatt.: 81 (1792)
Nasturtium hortense Garsault in Fig. Pl. Méd.: t. 401 (1764)
Nasturtium spinescens (DC.) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 937 (1891)
Nasturtium spinosum Desv. ex Thell. (1906)
Thlaspi nasturtium Bergeret ex Steud. in Nomencl. Bot. 1: 473 (1821)

PUBLICATIONS

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VERNACULAR NAME

Arabic: رشاد مزروع - رشاد مزروع
Assamese: Halim Shaak
Bengali: হালিম শাক Halim Shaak
Chinese (simplified): 家独行菜
Chinese (traditional): 家獨行菜
Czech: Řeřicha setá
Dogri: Haleyan
Dutch: Tuinkers
English: Garden cress, Mustard and cress, Garden pepper cress, Pepperwort, Pepper grass, Poor man's pepper, Cress
Finnish: Vihanneskrassi
French: Cresson alénois, Passerage cressonnette, Passerage cultivée
German: Gartenkresse
Gujarati: Asheliyo
Hebrew: שחליים תרבותיים
Hindi: चंद्रसुर - चनसुर - हलीम Chandrasur, Chansur, Halim
Hungarian: Kerti zsázsa
Indonesia: Alim
Italian: Crescione inglese
Japanese: コショウソウ
Kachchhi: Aaserio
Kannada: Alavibija, Allibeeja, Kurtige Gida
Kashmiri: Alian
Konkani: Aaliv
Malayalam: Aashaali
Manipuri: Chantruk
Marathi: Aliv
Nepali: चम्सुर Chamsur
Norwegian: Matkarse
Odia: Halima
Pahadi: Halae
Persian: تارا تزاک Tara Tezak
Polish: Pieprzyca siewna
Portuguese: Mastruço-ordinário
Punjabi: Halon, Sorma, Tejak
Rajasthani: Asaliyo
Russian: Клоповник посевной - кресс-салат
Sanskrit: Chandrashura, Raktaraji
Santali: Halim
Sindhi: Halimu
Slovak: Žerucha siata
Slovenian: Vrtna kreša
Sumatera: Alim
Swedish: Kryddkrasse, Kryddkrassing, Smörgåskrasse, Trädgårdskrasse
Tamil: அலி Ali
Tangkhul: Chamtruk
Telugu: Aadaalu
Tulu: Alvi
Turkish: Tere
Ukrainian: Хрінниця сійна, крес-салат
Urdu: چنسر - حلیم - ہالوں Chansur, Halim, Halon

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