Cook's scurvy grass, New Zealand cress
Lepidium oleraceum

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It is a low spreading herb. It has a stout taproot and keeps growing from year to year. The stems are slender. The leaves are alternate. The leaves are fairly narrow with teeth along the edge. The flowers are white. They have four petals. The flowers grow in clusters at the top of the plant.

The plant is almost extinct and needs preservation. There are about 150 Lepidium species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is native to New Zealand. It grows around the coasts. It needs fertile soil. It is salt, drought and wind tolerant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Europe, New Zealand (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

It is eaten as a potherb.

It is cultivated in some places.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Eketera, Heketara, Nau, Ngau, Naunau

Synonyms

Nasturtium oleraceum Kuntze; Thlaspi oleraceum Poir.;