Water cress, Long-style bittercress
Rorippa gigantea

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It is a cress like plant. It is a herb that grows for one or more years. It has a stout taproot. It grows 30 cm high and spreads 200 cm wide. The stems are slightly woody. They are angled and become purple-red when mature. The leaves can be green to purple. The edges can be entire or have teeth. The flower stalks at the top have several white flowers. The petals are 2-3 mm long. The fruit are dark green specialised seed pods. The seeds are orange to red-brown. The pods are sticky when fresh.

There are about 70 Rorippa species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in coastal regions. It can be on cliff tops and tolerate salt spray. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, New Zealand (country/location of origin), Tasmania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cardamine stylosa; Rorippa stylosa (DC.) Allan; Arabis gigantea J.D.Hook.;