Edit Plant: Tropaeolum

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'''Nasturtium''' ({{pron-en|næˈstɜrʃ(i)əm}})<ref>{{OED|nasturtium}}</ref> literally "nose-twister" or "nose-tweaker"), as a common name, refers to a genus of roughly 80 species of [[Annual plant|annual]] and [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[flowering plant]]s in the genus '''''Tropaeolum''''' ({{pron-en|trɵˈpiː.ələm}},<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607; {{OED|Tropaeolum}}</ref> "trophy"), one of three genera in the family [[Tropaeolaceae]]. It should not be confused with the [[Watercress]]es of the genus ''[[Nasturtium (genus)|Nasturtium]]'', of the [[Brassicaceae|Mustard]] family. The genus ''Tropaeolum'', native to [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]], includes several very popular garden plants, the most commonly grown being ''T. majus'', ''T. peregrinum'' and ''T. speciosum''. The hardiest species is ''T. polyphyllum'' from [[Chile]], the perennial roots of which can survive underground when air temperatures drop as low as -15°C (5°F). They have showy, often intensely bright flowers (the intense color can make [[macrophotography]] quite difficult), and rounded, peltate ([[shield]]-shaped) leaves with the [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]] in the center. The flowers have five petals (sometimes more), a three-carpelled ovary, and a funnel-shaped nectar tube in the back. In cultivation, most varieties of nasturtiums prefer to be grown in direct or indirect sunlight, with a few preferring partial shade. The most common use of the nasturtium plant in cultivation is as an ornamental flower. It grows easily and prolifically, and is a self-seeding annual. All parts of the plant are edible. The flower has most often been consumed, making for an especially ornamental salad ingredient; it has a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of [[watercress]], and is also used in [[stir fry]]. The unripe seed pods can be harvested and pickled with hot vinegar, to produce a condiment and garnish, sometimes used in place of [[capers]], although the taste is strongly peppery. The [[mashua]] (''T. tuberosum'') produces an edible underground [[tuber]] that is a major food source in parts of the [[Andes]]. Nasturtiums are also considered widely useful [[companion plant]]s. They repel a great many [[cucurbit]] pests, like [[squash bug]]s, [[cucumber beetle]]s, and several caterpillars. They had a similar range of benefits for [[brassica]] plants, especially [[broccoli]] and [[cauliflower]]. They also attract black fly [[aphids]], and are sometimes planted in the hope of saving crops susceptible to them (as a [[trap crop]]). They may also attract beneficial, predatory insects. {{Inc| Tropaeolum (from Greek word for trophy; the leaves are shield-shaped and the flowers helmet-shaped). Tropaeolaceae. Nasturtium of gardens (but not of botanists). Climbing or rarely diffuse soft-growing herbs, grown in the garden for their showy flowers. Roots fusiform, sometimes tuberous: lvs. alternate, peltate or palmately angulate, lobed or dissected; stipules none or rarely minute, bristle-like or dissected: peduncles axillary, 1-fld.: fls. irregular, usually orange or yellow, rarely purple or blue, but the garden forms now show a great range of color; sepals 5, connate at their base, posterior produced into a long slender spur; petals 5 or fewer by abortion, usually narrowed into distinct claws, two upper smaller or dissimilar and inserted in the mouth of the spur; stamens 8, free, unequal, with declined usually curving filaments; ovary 3-lobed, 3-celled, ripening into 3 1-seeded indehiscent carpels (these constitute the "seed" of commerce).—About 45 species, S. Amer., chiefly from the cooler parts of Peru and Chile. Monographed in 1902 by Buchenau in Engler's Pflanzenreich hft. 10 (IV. 131). The common species, T. minus and T. majus, are also grown for their young pods and seeds, which are made into pickles. The peppery-tasting leaves are sometimes used like cress, in salads, whence the name "Indian cress" in England. In America this use of the plant is little known. Certain kinds, particularly T. tuberosum, produce edible subterranean tubers. Tropaeolums thrive in any warm sunny fairly moist place. The tops are tender to frost. For early effects, seeds may be started indoors in pots or boxes. The common climbing species are T. majus and T. peltophorum, both of which are very useful for window-boxes, balconies, for covering banks and walls, and for growing amongst shrubbery. The common dwarf species, T. minus, is earlier and usually more floriferous, and is very useful for the front row in the border. On rich soils, nasturtiums produce very heavy foliage that overtops the bloom. T. peregrinum, the canary-bird flower, is grown either indoors or in the open. Probably most species are perennial. Many of them are tuberous and withstand some frost at the root; but the half-hardy species are little known in this country. T. digitatum, Karst. Climber, with root fibrous: lvs. peltate 5-7-lobed: fls. yellow, 1 in. diam., the spur long and red, the petals fimbriate. Venezuela.—T. leptophyllum, Don (T. edule, Paxt.). Climber: lvs. orbicular, with 5 or 6 narrow lfts.: fls. in shape like those of T. majus but smaller, yellow. Produces tuberous edible roots. Chile. P.M. 9:127.—T. Lindenii. Wallis. Beautiful climber with large, peltate, undulate-lobed lvs. that are purplish beneath and beautifully veined with white above: fls. on long pedicels, the long tube red and the calyx-lobes green. Colombia. I.H. 41:17. {{SCH}} }} ==Cultivation== {{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line --> ===Propagation=== {{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line --> ===Pests and diseases=== {{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line --> ==Species== {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-4}} *''[[Tropaeolum adpressum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum aduncum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum albiflorum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum argentinum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum asplundii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum atrocapillare]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum azureum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum beuthii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum bicolor]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum bimaculatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum bogotense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum boliviense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum brachyceras]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum brasiliense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum brideanum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum bridgesii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum buchenaui]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum buchenauianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum calcaratum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum calvum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum capillare]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum carchense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum chilense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum chrysanthum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum chymocarpus]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum ciliatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum cirrhipes]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum coccineum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum cochabambae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum concavum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum concinneum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum canariense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum crenatiflorum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum crenatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum cubio]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum curvirostre]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum cuspidatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum deckerianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum dentatifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum denticualtum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum digitatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum dipetalum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum edule]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum elatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum elegans]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum elzae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum emarginatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum equatoriense]]'' {{col-2-of-4}} *''[[Tropaeolum ferreyrae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum fintelmannii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum flavipilum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum floribundum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum fulvum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum funckii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum gaertnerianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum garciae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum glaucescens]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum glaucum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum glaziovii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum gracile]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum guatemalense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum harlingii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hayneanum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hieronymii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hirsutum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hirtifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hjertingii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hookerianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hortense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hughesae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum huigrense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum huynhii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum hybridum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum incisum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum incrassatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum infundibularum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum integrifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum jilesii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum karstenii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum kerneisinum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum killipii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum kingii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum klotzschii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum kuntzeanum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum lasseri]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum lechleri]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum lehmannii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum leichtlinii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum leonis]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum lepidum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum leptoceras]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum leptophyllum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum lindenii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum linearifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum lobbianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum lobbii]]'' {{col-3-of-4}} *''[[Tropaeolum longiflorum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum longifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum looseri]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum luteum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum macrophyllum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum macrophyllum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum maculatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum maculifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum magnificum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum majus]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum marginatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum mathewsii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum menispermifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum mexiae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum meyeri]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum minimum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum minus]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum moritzianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum morreanum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum mucronatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum myriophyllum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum nubigenum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum nuptae-jucundae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum olmosense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum orinocense]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum orthoceras]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum oxalidanthum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum paniculatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum papillosum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum parviflorum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum parvifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum patagonicum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum pellucidum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum peltophorum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum pendulum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum pentagonum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum pentaphyllum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum peregrinum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum pilosum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum piltophorum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum pinnatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum polyphyllum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum popelari]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum porifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum prostratum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum pseudopubescens]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum pubescens]]'' {{col-4-of-4}} *''[[Tropaeolum pulchellum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum purpureum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum quinatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum quinquelobum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum rectangulum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum reichianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum reineckeanum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum repandum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum rhizophorum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum rhomboideum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum sanctae-catharinae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum schlimii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum seemannii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum septangulum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum septemlobatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum sessilifolium]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum smithii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum speciosum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum steyermarkianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum stipulatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum suberosum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum subincrassatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum tenellum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum tenuirostre]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum tenuirostre]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum tomentosum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum traceyae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum trialatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum trialatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum tricolor]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum tricolori-brachyceras]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum trilobum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum trilobum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum tuberosum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum umbellatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum unilobatum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum vargasianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum venezuelae]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum venosum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum violaceum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum violaeflorum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum wagnerianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum warmingianum]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum warscewiczii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum weberbaueri]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum willinkii]]'' *''[[Tropaeolum yarrati]]'' {{col-end}} ==Gallery== {{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery --> <gallery perrow=5> Image:Upload.png| photo 1 Image:Upload.png| photo 2 Image:Upload.png| photo 3 </gallery> ==References== *[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963 <!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 --> <!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 --> <!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 --> ==External links== *{{wplink}} {{stub}} __NOTOC__

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