Rorippa sarmentosa

(DC.) Macbride

Polynesian cress

Brassicaceae Edible: Leaves 13 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A cabbage family herb with a short stem. It grows 15-50 cm high. The flowers are small and white or pale yellow. The fruit are pods about 1.5-3 cm long.

Edible Uses

The leaves are cooked and eaten.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. In Fiji it grows from sea level to about 600 m altitude. It grows in wet places.

Where It Grows

American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Rotuma, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South America, Tonga, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu ?,

Notes

There are about 70 Rorippa species.

Synonyms

Cardamine sarmentosa SolanderNasturtium sarmentosum Schinz. & Guillaumin

Also Known As

A'atasi, Lita, Longrunner, Matori, Mouku, Rongomi, Sewathi

References (8)

Barrau, J., 1976, Subsistence Agriculture in Melanesia. Bernice P. Bishop Museu, Bulletin 219 Honolulu Hawaii. Kraus reprint. p 57 (As Nasturtium sarmentosum)
Barrau, J., 1976, Subsistence Agriculture in Polynesia and Micronesia. Bernice P. Bishop Museu, Bulletin 223 Honolulu Hawaii. Kraus reprint. p 58 (As Nasturtium sarmentosum)
Franklin, J., Keppel, G., & Whistler, W., 2008, The vegetation and flora of Lakeba, Nayau and Aiwa Islands, Central Lau Group, Fiji. Micronesica 40(1/2): 169–225, 2008
Liefting, A., et al, Samoan plant names. http://en.wikipedia.org
Massal, E. and Barrau, J., 1973, Food Plants of the South Sea Islands. SPC Technical Paper No 94. Noumea, New Caledonia. p 35

Show all 8 references

Smith, A.C., 1981, Flora Vitiensis Nova: A New flora of Fiji, Hawai Botanical Gardens, USA Vol 2 p 710
Thaman, R. R, 2016, The flora of Tuvalu. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 611. Smithsonian Institute p 74
Zizka, G., 1991, Flowering Plants of Easter Island. Palmarum Hortus Francofurtensis