Lepidium sativum

Garden cress

Family Cruciferae (or Brassicaceae)

Lepidium sativum, garden cress (L. sativum 1), is an erect annual with deeply 3-lobed cotyledons. Its mature leaves are pinnate or curled like in parsley. Flowers with 4 white or red petals, fruits elliptical.

Use
Garden cress is a native of western Asia, and known in ancient Egypt. It is now cultivated as a salad plant all over the world. From garden cress the young seedlings (L. sativum 2) are being eaten. In Asia it is has medicinal use.