What is "rorippa"

Rorippa is a flowering plant genus in the mustard family, Brassicaceae, native to Europe through central Asia, Africa, and North America. Rorippa species are annual to perennial herbs, usually with yellow flowers and a peppery flavour. They are known commonly as yellowcresses.

Rorippa formerly included several species of watercress, now placed in the genus Nasturtium. In particular, R. nasturtium-aquaticum (now N. officinale) and R. microphylla (now N. microphyllum) are often referred to as species of Rorippa.

There are about 75 to 85 species in the genus.

Species include:

• Rorippa alpina (S.Wats.) Rydb. – alpine yellowcress
• Rorippa amphibia (L.) Bess. – great yellowcress
• Rorippa aquatica – lakecress
• Rorippa austriaca (Crantz) Bess. – Austrian yellowcress, Austrian fieldgrass
• Rorippa barbareifolia (DC.) Kitagawa – hoary yellowcress
• Rorippa benghalensis
• Rorippa calycina (Engel.) Rydb. – persistent-sepal yellowcress
• Rorippa cantoniensis – Chinese yellowcress
• Rorippa columbiae (Suksd. ex B.L.Rob.) Suksd. ex Howell – Columbian yellowcress, Columbia watercress
• Rorippa crystallina – MacKenzie River yellowcress
• Rorippa curvipes Greene – bluntleaf yellowcress
• Rorippa curvisiliqua (Hook.) Besser ex Britton – curvepod yellowcress, western yellowcress
• Rorippa dubia
• Rorippa elata
• Rorippa globosa – globe yellowcress
• Rorippa indica Hiern. – variableleaf yellowcress
• Rorippa intermedia – intermediate yellowcress
• Rorippa islandica – northern yellowcress, northern marsh yellowcress
• Rorippa microtitis – Chihuahuan yellowcress
• Rorippa palustris (L.) Bess. – common yellowcress, yellow watercress, marshcress
• Rorippa portoricensis – Puerto Rico yellowcress
• Rorippa ramosa – Durango yellowcress
• Rorippa sarmentosa (G.Forst. ex DC) J.F.Macbr. – longrunner
• Rorippa sessiliflora – stalkless yellowcress
• Rorippa sinuata (Nutt.) Hitchc. – spreading yellowcress, west yellowcress
• Rorippa sphaerocarpa (A.Gray) Britton – roundfruit yellowcress
• Rorippa subumbellata Rollins – Tahoe yellowcress, Lake Tahoe yellowcress
• Rorippa sylvestris (L.) Bess. – creeping yellowcress, yellow fieldcress, keek
• Rorippa tenerrima – Modoc yellowcress
• Rorippa teres – southern marsh yellowcress