Watercress

A detailed Summary of Watercress

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is one of the oldest plants known to man.. A Greek

proverb went "eat cress and gain more wit" because it was thought to be a brain stimulant.

Watercress has been used not only to sharpen mental acuity, but as an antiscorbutic in ancient

days. The Romans introduced it in Europe. It was much cultivated in the middle ages as the

basic ingredient in a salve thought to be effective with sword wounds. Since the Roman times

watercress has been recognized as an important salad plant. It was also eaten to prevent scurvy

because it is rich in vitamin C and minerals. General Peter Muhlenberg recognized it growing

wild in streams at Valley Forge in 1777 and recommended it for the army encamped there. It

was a much sought after ingredient for salads in the early spring because its vitamin-rich leaves

served as an antidote to winter diets lacking green vegetables. Strangely enough watercress has

been considered an effective hair tonic when used externally and the juice from the crushed

leaves were recommended for clearing blemishes and freckles.

Watercress is a part of the mustard family, a common name for the large family of

infestation, which can easily occur if cattle or sheep are grazed anywhere near water that flows

sort still found naturalized in streams in eastern parts of the country. It had no commercial name

as this will be clear of pollutants. The plants not only thrive better in it but they generally

gardeners have the best luck planting the seeds indoors in early March then transplanting them a

and tobacco smoke. Diets that include watercress may stop the formation of NNK a carcinogen

fruit is a long slender silique, or elongated capsule. Most Westerners eat watercress raw. In the

Care should be taken when picking it in the wild, because of the possibility of liver fluke

sandwiches, and lettuce salads. The plant is considered a luxury by some especially if there is

name from the Anglo-Saxon word caerre, and was one of the most widely used 'hot' medicinal

clear, running streams and today it may be used as a measure of water quality. The most suitable

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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science

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