Brassicaceae

Cress

About

Cress, at time also named garden cress to distinguish it from similar plants, is an edible herb and its cultivation around the world is growing fast. Garden cress is genetically related to watercress and mustard. Garden cress is in some regions also known as mustard and cress, garden pepper cress, pepperwort, pepper grass, or poor man's pepper. Garden cress is an annual plant and can grow up to 60 cm (24 inches) high. The upper part of the plant has many branches.

Land cress (Barbarea verna), or American cress, is a biennial herb and belongs to the family of Brassicaceae. This plant originates in southern Europe and western Asia and has been domesticated elsewhere.

Cress is a high-nutrient food when eaten raw and contains substantial amounts of vitamins A, C and K and several dietary minerals.