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{{otheruses4|the flowering plants of the genus Tropaeolum, commonly called nasturtiums|the genus of watercresses|Nasturtium (genus)}}

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Tropaeolum
| image = Nasturtium-Tropaeolum.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Tropaeolum majus''
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Brassicales]]*
| familia = [[Tropaeolaceae]]
| genus = '''''Tropaeolum'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L]].
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 80 species, see text.<br>
<small>* In older traditional systems placed<br>
in the [[Geraniales]]</small>
}}

'''Nasturtium''' (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 '''''Tropaeolum''''' ("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.
This genus, 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.

''Tropaeolum'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Dot Moth]] and [[Garden Carpet]]. A very common "pest" found on Nasturtium in particular is the caterpillar of the [[Large White|Large White (Cabbage White) Butterfly]].

The Nasturtiums receive their name from the fact that they produce an oil that is similar to that produced by [[Watercress]] (''Nasturtium officinale''), from the family [[Brassicaceae]].

Nasturtiums are a spring time flower and are impossible to find on [[Valentine's Day]].

==Cultivation and uses==

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.

It is also edible, making for an especially ornamental salad ingredient, and is used in [[stir fry]]. All parts of the plant are edible, not just the flower and leaves. The flowers can be added to salads for an exotic look and taste; they have a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of Watercress. 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. They may also attract beneficial, predatory insects.

See [[list of companion plants]]

== 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 Sparre]]''
*''[[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}}

== External links ==
{{commons|Tropaeolum_majus|Tropaeolum majus}}
* [http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/angio/www/tropaeol.htm The Families of Flowering Plants - Tropaeolaceae]
* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.mcfarlane/ Tropaeolum by J. S. McFarlane]

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