Evolution

Angiosperms originated in the tropics in the Cretaceous period. Probably in West Gondwanna land (S.America and Africa) it then spread North to Laurasia land. They are adaptations of the early fern like vascular plants. The flower was probably innovated by seasonal change were periods of reproduction were restricted by drought. Insect pollinator abundance played an important part in the timing of flower bloom.

Cultivars

(Rorripa) Nasturtium microphylla (Boeen)Hyl As N.officionale but stems and leaves turn brown/purple in autumn. Fruit and stalk slightly longer and more slender approx. 100 polygonal depressions in each face of seed coat. Flowers 2 weeks later than N.officinale. Not cultivated. Distinguishable vegitatively by its ration of stomata to total number of epidermal initials. Lower epidermis 11 % N.microphyllum. 18% for N.officionale. It is probably a allotetraploid, deriving from a cross between N.officionale and a Cardamine species

R. microphylla x N. officionale = Rorippa x sterilis (Airy Shaw) Brown Leafed Water Cress. As N.microphylla but with dwarf and deformed fruit. cultivated for its foliage, found wild. A triploid hybrid 1x2(2n48*) raised by cross pollinating species. Stomatal index of lower epidermis 15 % Propagation. * Both species are propagated vegitatively N.officionale is grown from seed. X hybrid is raised by cross pollination between species.

Genetic Hybrid Progression - Future

An autotetraploid (polyploid) has been derived from one diploid species (cross species hybrid) by multiplication of its chromosome sets by colchine (drug that reacts reversibly with protein tublin which renders sterile hybrid fertile) and a tetraploid hybrid by crossing N.officionale with N.microphyllum; both will become important for commercial production.