Scientific Name
Nasturtium officinale W. T. Aiton
Synonyms
Family
Brassicaceae
Local Name
Choo
Habit Habitat
A perennial, rhizomatous, branched, aquatic herb, found in sub-tropical and temperate zones.
Taxonomic Features
Leaves compound, lyrate-pinnate, lower stalked with 1-5 leaflets, upper sessile with 5-9 leaflets. Inflorescence a raceme, 10-25 flowered. Flower actinomorphic, small, white, 4mm across. Sepals 2mm long. Petals-4, cruciform, 15-30 per raceme. Fruit a siliquae, sub cylindrical, oblong. Seed many, ovoid.
Flowering Fruiting
March-July
Harvesting Time
June- September
Medicinal Value
Useful in asthma, piles, skin disorders and thyroid gland disorders. It cleans blood and a folk treatment for tuberculosis and internal tumors. Locally a cup of its fresh juice with a teaspoon of lemon juice with common salt is useful in anemia, as a body tonic.
Parts Used
Whole plant
Future Prospective
Collection, Drying, Packing, Herbal Pharmacy, Food Industry.
Plant Images
Nasturtium officinale W. T. Aiton