African cress, Nigerian watercress
Rorippa madagascariensis

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows from seeds each year. It has a fine taproot. The leaves are in a ring. They have lobes and are divided. They are 3-11 cm long by 2 cm wide. The segments are in 4-6 pairs. There can be rounded teeth along the edge. The end leaflet is usually the largest. The flowers are in dense groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a long seed capsule. It is 7-15 mm long by 1 mm wide. It splits open into 2 valves. There are many seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in humid locations. It is often along river banks and the edges of pools. It is mostly in the lowlands but can be up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw as a salad. It has a peppery flavour. They can be cooked and used in soups.

It is a minor vegetable of local importance.

Edible parts

Vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Nasturtium humifusum Guill. & Perr.; Nasturtium madagascariense DC.; Rorippa humifusa (Guill. & Perr.) Hiern;