Indian cress

noun

1. a nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus, of South America, having red-spotted or red-striped, yellow-orange flowers, the young flower buds and fruits being used as seasoning.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Indian cress¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Lark's′-heel, the Indian cress; Lark′spur, a plant with showy flowers, so called from the spur-shaped formation of calyx and petals.

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A stone plinth with roses and Indian cress; and, in front, chrysanthemums and creepers, a lizard, two snails, and butterflies are the chief features of his Flowers.

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Indian cress or Tropaeolum majus loses the spur in some double varieties and with it most of its symmetrical structure; it seems to be considered justly as a peloric malformation.

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NASTURTIUMS.—The elegant nasturtium-plant, called by naturalists Tropoeolum, and which sometimes goes by the name of Indian cress, came originally from Peru, but was easily made to grow in these islands.

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