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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Facts about Land cress
    Herbs and Spices

    Facts about Land cress

    By SylviaAugust 12, 2022Updated:August 12, 2022No Comments9 Mins Read
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    Barbarea Verna popularly known as land cress, American cress, bank cress or black wood cress is a biennial herb in the Brassicaceae / Cruciferae (Mustard family). It is native to southern Europe and western Asia and naturalized elsewhere. It has been cultivated as a leaf vegetable in England since the 17th century. As it requires less water than watercress, it is easier to cultivate. Some of the popular common names of the plants are American cress, Belle Island cress, Early wintercress, Land cress, Scurvy-grass, American wintercress, Normandy cress, Common wintercress, Upland cress, Early yellowrocket, Early winter cress, American Winter Cress, American Winter-cress, American Land-Cress, Belle Isle cress, Early yellow rocket, Peppergrass, Winter Cress, Bermuda Cress, Early Winter-cress, Early Yellow-rocket, bank cress, black wood cress, scurvy cress, creasy greens, dryland cress, cassabully, bank cress and black wood cress.

    The genus Barbarea is named after St. Barbara and once generally known as her herb, or the Herba Sanctae Barbarae. According to legend, St. Barbara was beheaded by her own father, a wealthy heathen named Dioscorus, for expressing a belief in Christ. The species name Verna simply means ‘of spring’. Synonyms include Barbarea praecox and Lepidum nativum. Land cress grows abundantly in the wild and is also grown commercially, often with the roots still attached to prolong storage life. Land cress can be harvested at any time between the micro-green stages to full maturity and is used by chefs in both fresh and cooked applications. It is a great substitute for watercress and can be a delicious addition to salads and since it is hardy, it can make it right through the winter with some protection and will provide healthy and tasty green leaves over a long period.

    Land Cress Facts

    Land cress Quick Facts
    Name: Land cress
    Scientific Name: Barbarea verna
    Origin Southern Europe and western Asia, and naturalized elsewhere
    Shapes Liberal siliqua of 40-70 mm long and 1.7-2 mm wide, slightly compressed, straight or curved, erect-ascending or sub-patent, glabrous; 0.7-1.5mm stylus
    Taste Sweet, Acrid
    Health benefits Support asthma, indigestion, constipation, sore throats, coughs, headaches, macular degeneration, heart health, clotting and strong bones
    Name Land cress
    Scientific Name Barbarea verna
    Native Southern Europe and western Asia, and naturalized elsewhere
    Common Names American cress, Belle Island cress, Early wintercress, Land cress, Scurvy-grass, American wintercress, Normandy cress, Common wintercress, Upland cress, Early yellowrocket, Early winter cress, American Winter Cress, American Winter-cress, American Land-Cress, Belle Isle cress, Early yellow rocket, Peppergrass, Winter Cress, Bermuda Cress, Early Winter-cress, Early Yellow-rocket, bank cress, black wood cress, scurvy cress, creasy greens, dryland cress, cassabully, bank cress, black wood cress
    Name in Other Languages Catalan: Herba de Santa Bàrbara, barbarea vernal
    Croatian: Barica ranocvjetna      
    Danish: Langskulpet vinterkarse, Tidlig Vinterkarse
    Dutch: Vroeg barbarakruid
    English : American winter-cress, Early winter cress,  Early yellow rocket, Land cress, Peppergrass, Upland cress, American cress, Belle Island cress, Normandy cress, Common wintercress, Scurvy-grass, American Land-Cress, Belle Isle cress, early yellowrocket, early winter cress, Belle Isle cress, Bermuda Cress
    Finnish:  Krassikanankaali, Maakrassi
    French: Barbarée précoce, Barbarée printanière, Cresson de jardin, Cresson de terre, Herbe aux charpentiers, barbarée du printemps,
    German: Barbenkraut, Frühlingsbarbarakraut, Frühlings-Barbarakraut, Frühlings-Barbenkraut, Winterkresse, Frühes Barbarakraut
    Hungarian: Tavaszi borbálafű
    Irish: Treabhach earraigh
    Italian:  Barbarea, Erba di Santa Barbara vernale
    Japanese: Kibanakuresu (キバナクレス)
    Manx: Burley traie
    Norwegian:  Vårkarse
    Occitan: Cressoùn de terro         
    Polish: Gorczycznik wiosenny
    Portuguese:  Agrião-de-horta, Agrião-de-sequeiro, Agriao-rinchao, Agrião, Agrião-da-terra, Agrião-de-santa-bárbara, Agrião-dos-jardins, Erva-de-santa-bárbara, Mastruço-das-vinhas, urga
    Russian: Surepka vesennyaya (сурепка весенняя)         
    Spanish:  Berrillo, Berro mastuerzo, Hierba de Santa Bárbara, barbarea, barbarea vernal               
    Swedish:  Vårgyllen, Vinterkrasse
    Turkish: Er nicarotu        
    Ukrainian: Suripytsya vesnyana (суріпиця весняна)       
    Upper Sorbian: Zažna barmowka
    Welsh: Berwr Tir, Berwr-y-Gaeaf Cynnar
    Plant Growth Habit Biennial herbaceous
    Growing Climates Waste and cultivated ground, fields, limestone glades, rocky outcrops, railroad embankments, disturbed sites and roadsides
    Soil Prefers moist but well-drained sandy to loamy soil; however, it is adaptable and will do well in most soil types. A pH of between 6.0 and 6.8 will keep plants healthy and nourished
    Plant Size Up to 30 cm to 90 cm (about 12 inches to 36 inches) in height
    Root Taproot system
    Leaf Basal leaves arranged in a rosette, are 5 to 20 cm long. They appear dissected into 6 to 10 pairs of lobes; lateral ones are large, short, rounded, and sinuate or not while terminal ones are bigger, oval to sub-circular, slightly cordate at the base with sometimes, but rarely, small auriculate, spatulate basal lobes which seem petiolate. The stem leaves are alternate, simple, and also dissected into lobes.
    Flowering season May to July
    Flower In single and terminal racemes or more often in compound, reduced racemes in lower leaf axils; flower stalks stout, more than 1 mm thick, 2-3 mm long. Petals are bright yellow, broadly spoon-shaped, 6-8 mm long. Sepals are pale yellow-green, about 2 mm long. There are 6 stamens, 4 of which are cross shaped like petals and 2 shorter external ones. Such an androceo calls him tetradinamus.
    Fruit Shape & Size Liberal siliqua of 40-70 mm long and 1.7-2 mm wide, slightly compressed, straight or curved, erect-ascending or sub-patent, glabrous; 0.7-1.5mm stylus
    Seed Seeds are uni-seriati, oblong, alveolar-reticulate, 2.5 mm long and 1.2 mm wide and greyish-brown colored.
    Taste Sweet, Acrid
    Plant Parts Used Leaves, seed, oil
    Propagation By Seed or Division
    Season June to August
    Other Facts
    • The flowers have both male and female organ and are pollinated by bees, flies, beetles and self.
    • The stems of the attractive upland cress leaves may be used in arranging both fresh and dried flowers.
    Precautions
    • Ingestion of the leaves can be harmful for kidneys.

    Plant Description

    Land cress is an erect biennial herbaceous, slightly branched, glabrous plant that normally grows up to 30 cm to 90 cm (about 12 inches to 36 inches) in height. The plant is found growing in waste and cultivated ground, fields, limestone glades, rocky outcrops, railroad embankments, disturbed sites and roadsides. The plant Prefers moist but well-drained sandy to loamy soil; however, it is adaptable and will do well in most soil types. A pH of between 6.0 and 6.8 will keep plants healthy and nourished. Land cress can be grown easily in any garden. Like watercress, it loves water, but does not do well when partially submerged for long periods of time. This perennial needs full sun and frequent watering in any garden, unless nears a direct source of water.

    Land cress, sometimes referred to as American cress, is a great substitute for watercress and can be a delicious addition to salads and since it is hardy, it can make it right through the winter with some protection and will provide healthy and tasty green leaves over a long period.

    Leaves

    Basal leaves arranged in a rosette, are 5 to 20 cm long. They appear dissected into 6 to 10 pairs of lobes; lateral ones are large, short, rounded, and sinuate or not while terminal ones are bigger, oval to sub-circular, slightly cordate at the base with sometimes, but rarely, small auriculate, spatulate basal lobes which seem petiolate. The stem leaves are alternate, simple, and also dissected into lobes. The lower stem leaves look dissected into 5 to 7 pairs of narrower lobes than those of the basal leaves. The upper leaves are sessile, dissected into narrow lobes and few in numbers.

    Flower

    In single and terminal racemes or more often in compound, reduced racemes in lower leaf axils; flower stalks stout, more than 1 mm thick, 2-3 mm long. Petals are bright yellow, broadly spoon-shaped, 6-8 mm long. Sepals are pale yellow-green, about 2 mm long. Flowering normally takes place in between May to July.

    Fruit

    Fertile flowers are followed by liberal siliqua of 40-70 mm long and 1.7-2 mm wide, slightly compressed, straight or curved, erect-ascending or sub-patent, glabrous; 0.7-1.5mm stylus. Seeds are uni-seriati, oblong, alveolar-reticulate, 2.5 mm long and 1.2 mm wide and greyish-brown colored.

    Flowering-buds-of-Land-cress Flowering-buds-of-Land-cress
    Land-cress-plant Land-cress-plant
    Immature-fruits-of-Land-cress Immature-fruits-of-Land-cress
    Flower-of-Land-cress Flower-of-Land-cress
    Closer-view-of-flower-of-Land-cress Closer-view-of-flower-of-Land-cress
    Land-cress-plant-growing-wild Land-cress-plant-growing-wild
    Leaves-of-Land-cress Leaves-of-Land-cress
    Land-cress-saplings Land-cress-saplings
    Plant-Illustration-of-Land-cress Plant-Illustration-of-Land-cress
    Seeds-of-Land-cress Seeds-of-Land-cress
    Stem-of-Land-cress Stem-of-Land-cress
    Sketch-of-Land-cress Sketch-of-Land-cress
    Land cress Image Gallery

    Traditional uses and benefits of Land cress

    • Deep green land cress is a very healthy plant to eat. It has twice the vitamin A as broccoli, and three times the vitamin C found in oranges.
    • It also contains vitamins B and E, iron and calcium.
    • Leaves were used as a source of nutrients and were used in folk medicine to help heal wounds.
    • Seeds have been used for treating asthma, indigestion, constipation, sore throats, coughs, headaches, and as a good expectorant.
    • Land Cress has hardly any carbs making it a wonderful weight loss food.
    • Land Cress consists of lots of lutein which is important for preventing macular degeneration.
    • Land Cress is a mild diuretic helping to get rid of excess water weight.
    • Land Cress does not contain any sodium making it great for those on salt restricted diets.
    • Land Cress is cholesterol free, making important for cardiovascular health.
    • Land Cress contains lots of vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant, B’s vitamins for vitality and to prevent birth defect, vitamin C a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E for heart health, and vitamin K important for clotting. Also iron for anemia and calcium for strong bones.

    Culinary Uses

    • Young leaves can be consumed raw, cooked or used as a seasoning.
    • A hot, spicy watercress flavor, they are delicious in salads.
    • Leaves can be obtained throughout the year if autumn-sown plants are given a light protection in winter.
    • Edible oil is obtained from the seed.
    • Seed can be sprouted and added to salads etc.
    • Land cress is considered a satisfactory substitute for watercress.
    • It can be used in sandwiches, or salads, or cooked like spinach, or used in soup.
    • Its young leaves have a hot spicy flavor that are frequently added to salads.
    • It can be used in sandwiches, or salads, or cooked like spinach, or used in soup and fish.
    • Land cress pairs well with meats such as fish, poultry, ham, and smoked turkey, avocado, apples, cucumbers, onions, garlic, and Greek yogurt.
    • Land cress can be used both raw and cooked similarly to greens such as kale.
    • Land cress is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as steaming, boiling, or sautéing.
    • When used fresh, the leaves can be tossed into salads, layered in sandwiches and wraps, mixed into pasta, or plated as a garnish.
    • When cooked, the leaves are commonly mixed into soups, blended into sauces, or lightly sautéed and served alongside cooked meats.
    • Land cress can be used both raw and cooked similarly to greens such as kale.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=22743#null

    https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Barbarea+verna

    https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/112660#totaxonomicTree

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarea_verna

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2669710

    https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/264161

    https://portal.wiktrop.org/species/show/34?lang=en

    https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/barbarea/verna/

    https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/BARVE

    https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=BAVE

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    Land cress Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Barbarea verna

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Subdivision Spermatophytina  (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Dilleniidae
    Superorder Rosanae
    Order Capparales
    Family Brassicaceae / Cruciferae (Mustard family)
    Genus Barbarea W.T. Aiton (yellowrocket)
    Species Barbarea verna (Mill.) Asch. (early yellowrocket)
    Synonyms
    • Barbarea australis Jord.
    • Barbarea brevistyla Jord.
    • Barbarea erysimoides Schur
    • Barbarea longisiliqua Jord.
    • Barbarea patula Fr.
    • Barbarea patula St.-Lag., 1889
    • Barbarea praecox (Sm.) R.Br.
    • Barbarea praecox (Sm.) W.T.Aiton
    • Barbarea praecox var. australis (Jord.) Rouy & Foucaud, 1893
    • Barbarea praecox var. brevistyla (Jord.) Rouy & Foucaud, 1893
    • Barbarea praecox var. longisiliqua (Jord.) Rouy & Foucaud, 1893
    • Barbarea vulgaris subsp. patula (Fr.) Bonnier
    • Barbarea vulgaris subsp. praecox (Sm.) Bonnier, 1912
    • Campe praecox (Sm.) Dulac
    • Campe verna (Mill.) A.Heller
    • Crucifera praecox E.H.L.Krause
    • Erysimum praecox Sm.
    • Erysimum tenuifolium Stokes
    • Erysimum vernum Mill.
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