Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi F&F, I was wondering about that! When my son got the watercress(genuine) from the creek, he also brought back a plant - looks exactly like Yugoslavian/bulgarian/lebanese watercress which was growing up on the banks of the creek, en masse. It is a miniaturised version of the Y/b/l watercress and it is a native plant I think. However it is completely neutral in taste(e.g. no taste). I have planted some in water.
heka

I checked the book I thought I saw it in (The new Gardener by Pippa Greenwood), but alas the list of Oxygenators is as follows:
Water starworts
Ceratophllums
Canadian pondweed
Water moss
Water violet
Lagarosiphon major
Poramogetons
Water crowsfoot

I must have confused "water crowsfoot" and watercress.

Hi all,

I've had a bit of a hunt around and I believe this stuff is either
Berula erecta, which is poisonous, or Apium nodiflorum which is not very nice tasting apparently. I don't know how to distinguish between the two - even the flowers look similar from what I've been able to google.

It is not Aethionema cordiolum (or cordifolium, could be a typo) which is in the Brassicacae family (same as genuine watercress). The stuff we call labanese watercress is definitely in the carrot family (Umbelliferae).

Any botanical taxonomy experts in the house?
I think we need to identify this one properly, make sure we're not growing a poisonous weed and thinking it's great

Some of the sites I've found:

from http://www.4qd.org/virtual/www.4qd.org/fff/species.html

http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/s ... erecta.htm


from http://www.torrens.org.uk/FFF/plants/watercress.html


http://www.greenpatchseeds.com.au/barerooted.html
as I said, I think this species name is wrong, but the description sounds right.

I hope it's Apium nodiflorum.

Nope but if you know of any down this way I wouldn't mind some

more info

http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/load ... 16928.html
It seems that this plant is harmless fool's watercress, and probably not the poisonous water parsnip. I just worries me a bit that all photos I've seen of water parsnip look exactly like what I am growing...

I have mentioned previously - this plant is also known as SALAD BURNETT - I bought the seeds under that name.
It is not listed on the prohibited weed web site - so it should be ok to send interstate.
PM me if you want some seeds.

Forgot to mention - it is self seeding - if the soil is wet enough.

heka

hi all, I thought I should clear this up properly.

The salad burnett that heka mentioned is quite a different plant, but it interesting too

I'm 99% sure that the Lebanese/Yugoslavian watercress that we are growing is apium nodiflorum (http://www.spookspring.com/Umbels/Fools_Water.html), or fools watercress. This plant has flower heads on short stalks out of the side of the stem (nodiflorum literally means flowering from the nodes), rather than on the end of the stem like the poisonous berula erecta. Other than that they are very similar.

It seems some people don’t like the taste. I do, I think it tastes like carrot.

Part of what started this slightly obsessive hunt for info was that it grows so well, and tastes good, and I wanted to know whether there is much nutritional value in eating a reasonable amount of it.
My conclusion - if you like it (and I do) then eat it. It should be a decent source of vitamin C

Ok....everybody....here is a description of SALAD BURNET

NAME: Salad Burnet (Poterium sanguisorba)
DESCRIPTION: This pretty perennial is, surprisingly, a member of the Roseaceae (Rose) family. It grows as a rosette of foliage. The small, round, regularly toothed leaves are borne opposite each other on long, slender stems. They have a refreshing, cucumber flavour. Flowers are small reddish balls borne on tall stem and are unremarkable. When not in flower the foliage forms a loose mound about 30cm tall.
ORIGIN: A wide distribution throughout Eurasia
CULTIVATION: This plant requires a well-drained soil in a sunny location, though I have grown it successfully in semi-shade in the sub-tropics. It needs adequate water. Sow seed in spring (and also in autumn in mild climates). The flower stems are best removed as the plant self-seeds rather too readily. Salad Burnet stays fresh and green year round.
USES: The leaves are used in salads, fish dishes, dips, sandwich fillings (especially with cream cheese), in drinks such as fruit punch and as a very attractive garnish. Cosmetically they make a refreshing infusion for baths or skin tonics.

heka

Hi everybody, I posted some pictures of my Salad Burnet - please compare and comment

Please note: photos did not came up in the right order - the last photo should be in the middle

the yugoslavian cress in joel's pic is great fish food. My silvers smash it i feed it after giving pellets. that way i can use it as an indicator as to wether the fish have had enough pellets. What ever happens by the time i get home it is all gone. The amount in joels pic is what my silvers would go through in a week. They get two big helpings in the morning and at night.

That's handy to know Bluefin... wonder if that's because of your water temp, and/or under feeding them slightly...

What is your water temp up that way.... migth have to try some over winter down here..

ambient is 19 deg C , water is 22. I have my fish tank buried with only 90mm of the rim above ground. I am thinking that is why my water temps are consistently 22 to 25 deg right throughout summer regardless of ambient temp.

Silvers eat just about any plant you throw to them. I toss some sage in and they eat it as well.