Nasturtiums

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Nasturtiums
Small nasturtium (Tropaeolum minus)

Small nasturtium ( Tropaeolum minus )

Systematics
Nuclear eudicotyledons
Rosids
Eurosiden II
Order : Cruciferous (Brassicales)
Family : Nasturtiums
Genre : Nasturtiums
Scientific name of the  family
Tropaeolaceae
Yuss. ex DC.
Scientific name of the  genus
Tropaeolum
L.

The nasturtium ( Tropaeolum ) are the only genus of the nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae) within the order of the cruciferous (Brassicales). The medicinal plant of the year 2013 is the great nasturtium .

In English, the genus is commonly referred to as "Nasturtium", which can lead to confusion with the watercress genus of the same name , botanically Nasturtium .

description

There are climbing to creeping, succulent, annual to perennial herbaceous plants . The stems are prostrate or climbing. Some species form root tubers (example: bulbous nasturtiums ). Climbing species have touch-sensitive, twisting petioles . The mostly alternate, sometimes opposite leaves in the lower area are petiolate. The leaf blade is shield-shaped, palmate, deeply lobed to pinnate. Stipules are present or absent.

Nasturtium blossom ( Tropaeolum majus )
Large nasturtium ( Tropaeolum majus ) blossom from the side. The spur and the free petals are clearly visible.

The flowers , which usually stand individually in the leaf axils, are strikingly colored, mostly large, hermaphroditic, zygomorphic and spurred. The calyx consists of five sepals , three of which are fused together to form a long nectar spur. The corolla consists of five free, mostly nailed petals , the two upper ones being smaller than the lower ones. There are eight free, fertile stamens per flower . Three carpels have become a top permanent ovary grown. The style ends in a three-lobed stigma or with three stigmas. Pollination is mostly done by insects ( entomophilia ).

There are schizocarps formed, which fall into three Nüsschen or stone fruit. The embryo is straight with thick, fleshy germ layers ( cotyledons ) and without an endosperm .

The wettability of the leaf surface is poor. Water rolls off in droplets, as can also be observed with lotus flowers , and it takes dirt particles adhering to the surface with it ( lotus effect ).

Tropaeolum ciliatum
Tropaeolum pentaphyllum
Canary nasturtium ( Tropaeolum peregrinum )
Tropaeolum polyphyllum
Tropaeolum tricolor
Tuberous nasturtiums ( Tropaeolum tuberosum )

distribution

They are originally native to South America and Central America , especially in the mountains from Mexico to Central Chile and Argentina. As an ornamental plant , some species are distributed worldwide in temperate zones today.

etymology

The pungent taste of the plants, which is caused by the mustard oil glycosides they contain , gave the cress its name, derived from the Old High German word cresso , 'spicy'. The capuchin part of the name comes from the shape of the flowers, which resemble the hoods of monks' robes.

The generic name Tropaeolum is derived from the Greek term Tropaion , which denoted an ancient symbol of victory, a scaffold that was hung with weapons of defeated opponents. Carl von Linné's leaves were reminiscent of a shield and the flowers of a helmet.

use

Mustard oil glycosides and myrosin cells , erucic acid- containing seed oils and oxalate metabolism , which corresponds to that of the cruciferous plants , are characteristic of the family .

About eight species are cultivated as ornamental plants, one species is grown for food:

  • Great nasturtium ( Tropaeolum majus L. ): ornamental plant. Benzyl mustard oil of the kind has an antibacterial effect and stimulates blood circulation, therefore medicinal use. Also suitable for consumption: young leaves as a seasoning ingredient for salads, flowers as an edible decoration, closed buds and unripe seeds soaked in vinegar and brine as a substitute for capers .
  • Canary nasturtium ( Tropaeolum peregrinum L. ): Annual climbing plant, used as an ornamental plant.
  • Tuberous nasturtiums ( Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pav. ): Tuber is used as food in South America.

Systematics

The former genus Magallana Cav. , which is native to Patagonia and named after Magellan , and the genus Trophaeastrum Sparre are now incorporated into the genus Tropaeolum . Today the family consists only of the genus Tropaeolum with about 90 species (selection):

medicine

The ingredients in nasturtiums, such as mustard oils , are effective against certain viruses, bacteria and yeasts. When applied externally, they stimulate blood circulation. The nasturtium can be used against pain, to improve wound healing, for acne, digestive disorders and combined with horseradish against cystitis and infections of the upper respiratory tract.

According to the S3 guideline for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections , which was updated in 2017 , the use of medicinal products containing nasturtiums for frequently recurring bladder infections can be considered.

Scientists from the University of Würzburg (“Study Group Development History of Medicinal Plant Science ”) voted the large nasturtium as the “ Medicinal Plant of the Year 2013” with reference to the antibiotic mustard oils it contains .

literature

  • Liu Quanru, Lihua Zhou: Flora of China. Vol. 11, page 33: Online. (English)
  • D. Frohne, U. Jensen: Systematics of the Plant Kingdom , 3rd ed., 355 S., G. Fischer, Stuttgart / New York 1985.
  • Vernon Hilton Heywood : Flowering Plants of the World , 336 p., Birkhäuser, Basel / Boston / Stuttgart 1978.

Web links

Commons : Nasturtium Family (Tropaeolaceae)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: nasturtium  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Merriam Webster Dictionary: Nasturdium (accessed March 23, 2016)
  2. ↑ http://www.madaus.de/Kapuzinerkresse.1608.0.html
  3. ↑ http://www.inspiration-natur.net/1137.html
  4. ↑ Rolf Froböse: When frogs fall from the sky. The craziest natural phenomena. Wiley-VCH Verlag, Weinheim 2007, p. 170. ISBN 3-527-31659-0
  5. ↑ Entry on cress. In: Römpp Online . Georg Thieme Verlag, accessed on June 28, 2012.
  6. ↑ Garden cress Lepidium sativum (PDF; 680 kB). Karlsruhe University of Education.
  7. ↑ a b Nasturtium is Medicinal Plant of the Year. ( Memento from February 6, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) University of Würzburg, October 30, 2012.
  8. ↑ Flora of North America: Magnoliophyta: Salicaceae to Brassicaceae, Oxford University Press, March 15, 2010, p. 166.
  9. ^ Tropaeolum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
  10. ↑ Walter Erhardt among others: The great pikeperch. Encyclopedia of Plant Names . Volume 2, page 1795. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2008. ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7
  11. ↑ Heinz Schilcher, Susanne Kammerer: Guide to Phytotherapy. Urban & Fischer Verlag, Munich / Jena 2003, ISBN 3-437-55341-0 , p. 127.
  12. ↑ Ursel Bühring: Practical textbook for modern medicinal plants , Sonntag-Verlag 2005, ISBN 3-8304-9097-6 , p. 343.
  13. ↑ S3 guideline uncomplicated urinary tract infections - update 2017 (interdisciplinary S3 guideline "Epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy, prevention and management of uncomplicated, bacterial, community-acquired urinary tract infections in adult patients", AWMF register no. 043/044)