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Webster 1913 Edition


Nasturtium

Nas-tur′tium

,
Noun.
[L.
nasturtium
, for
nasitortium
, fr.
nasus
nose +
torquere
,
tortum
, to twist, torture, in allusion to the causing one to make a wry face by its pungent taste. See
Nose
of the face, and
Torture
.]
1.
(Bot.)
A genus of cruciferous plants, having white or yellowish flowers, including several species of cress. They are found chiefly in wet or damp grounds, and have a pungent biting taste.
2.
(Bot.)
Any plant of the genus
Tropaeolum
, geraniaceous herbs, having mostly climbing stems, peltate leaves, and spurred flowers, and including the common Indian cress (
Tropaeolum majus
), the canary-bird flower (
Tropaeolum peregrinum
), and about thirty more species, all natives of
South America
. The whole plant has a warm pungent flavor, and the fleshy fruits are used as a substitute for capers, while the leaves and flowers are sometimes used in salads.