Tower cress, Tower mustard, Rock cress
Turritis glabra

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It takes 2 years to complete its life cycle. It grows 50-120 cm tall. The stems are usually unbranched and the lower parts are hairy. The leaves are in a ring at the base and alternate up the stem. These are 5-15 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. The leaves get smaller up the plant. The leaves on the stems are 2-8 cm long. The flowers are pale yellow. The fruit is a pod that is 4 angled and 4-7 cm long. There are many seeds.

There is one Turritis species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Central Asia, China, Europe, Finland, Himalayas, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Russia, Scandinavia, Sicily, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable. It is seasoned with oil, lemon and salt.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Arabetta maggiore

Synonyms

Arabis glabra (Linn.) Bernh.; Arabis perfoliata Lam.; and others