Early cress, American land cress
Barbarea verna

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. The leaves are dark smooth and shiny. They come from the ground in many stemmed rings. Each stem has leaflets arranged in 2 rows. There is a large rounded leaflet at the end. The flowering stem can be 60 cm high. The flowers are bright yellow. The seed pods are narrow and like a cylinder. There is a short point at the end.

There are 12 Barbarea species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It will grows in the hills in Malaysia. In Haiti it occurs at 1600 m. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 600 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Britain, Cape Verde, Chile, East Africa, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Germany, Haiti, Hawaii, Indochina, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Moldavia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Portugal, SE Asia, Senegal, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves can be eaten in salads. They are usually boiled in water and then fried. They can be cooked but lose their bulk with cooking. The young flowers can be eaten at bud stage. The seeds can be used for flavouring. The sprouted seeds are eaten in salads.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. It easily self seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Anadndrano an tanety, Bank cress, Land cress, Scurvy grass, Sunnar

Synonyms

Barbarea praecox (Sm.) R. Br.; Erysimum vernum Mill.;