Meadow cress (Cardamine pratensis)

It is an herb whose development is limited to the ground: crawls at ground level and intermittently emits a series of roots that enter the earth is underground stems from which some offspring that may arise, on contact with air, take on a greenish color. The leaves are located at the end of a long petiole and have a number of divisions among which the apical segment, larger than the other two or four usually accompany him.

FLOWERING

As of April is possible to locate at watercress flowers that are at sea level, while higher areas of flowering is delayed until May, reaching even into the early days of June. To proceed to the collection is expected that the plant is grown, but always before the occurrence of fruit ripening. Used to harvest the stalks and leaves, cutting the plant at ground level, and let the precaution of roots and underground stems so that the next year to regrow. Be especially careful to clean the leaves in depth since it is very likely that we meet these larvae and eggs of various parasites.

APPLICATIONS

It contains vitamins A, C and D, for what is considered antiscorbutic plants, owing to which their use is well appreciated since ancient times as a salad. It also contains sodium, iodine and various enzymes. Used primarily as a diuretic and appetite stimulant, particularly in cases of oliguria, cystitis, kidney stones, poor appetite, seborrheic dermatitis and even in some cases of alopecia. Despite their properties should not abuse this plant because it can cause gastric irritation and also even at the level of the urinary tract.

ADMINISTRATION

Ground fresh. Used-after-washing as a component in salads because of its high vitamin contents.
Fresh juice. After extracting the juice of watercress can take one tablespoon in the case of adults, or a spoonful of coffee when it concerns children. Repeat three times daily before meals, to get an appetite-stimulating action and a diuretic effect.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Crucifer
HABITAT: Wet meadows of the Pyrenees
FLOWERING: April
PART USED: Stem and leaf
CASTILIAN: Mastuerzo de prados
CATALAN: Créixens de prat

USES

Fort antiscorbutic, Mild anticatarrhal, Mild vitamin.