Water-pepper
Taxobox | name = Water-pepper
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image_width = 200px
regnum =Plantae
phylum =Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Caryophyllales
familia =Polygonaceae
genus = "Persicaria "
species = "P. hydropiper"
binomial = "Persicaria hydropiper"
binomial_authority = (L.) SpachWater-pepper or Water pepper ("Persicaria hydropiper", syn. "Polygonum hydropiper") is a plant of the family
Polygonaceae . It grows in damp places and shallow water; a native of the temperate zones of the Northern hemisphere. It has some use as a spice because of its pungent flavour.Active ingredients
The water-pepper has the following
active ingredient s: 2 bicyclicsesquiterpenoid s,polygodial (tadeonal, an unsaturated dialdehyde with a drimane backbone) andwaburganal which has been found responsible for the pungent taste (hence its edibility);M Jonassohn (1996)Sesquiterpenoid unsaturated dialdehydes - Structural properties that affect reactivity and bioactivity. Doctoral thesis, Lund University, Sweden. ISBN 91-628-2215-2. PDF| [http://www.organic.lu.se/Publications/Ph.%20D.%20theses/Jonassohn.pdf] |730 KiB ]rutin (see rue) is the source of the bitter taste impression.The plant contains an
essential oil (0.5%) which consists ofmonoterpenoid s andsesquiterpenoid s: α-pinene, β-pinene, 1,4-cineol,fenchone ,α-humulene ,β-caryophyllene ,trans-β-bergamotene .Carboxylic acid s (cinnamic, valeric andcaproic acid ) and theirester s were present in traces. The composition depends strongly on genetic factors.Edibility
In
Japan this plant's leaves are used as avegetable - it should be noted that these are from thecultivar , not thewild type which has a far morepungent taste.The seeds of the water-pepper are used in
wasabi .References
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Look at other dictionaries:
Water pepper — Wa ter pep per (Bot.) (a) Smartweed. (b) Waterwort. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
water pepper — n. any of several polygonums growing in wet places and having an acrid juice, as smartweed * * * … Universalium
water pepper — n. any of several polygonums growing in wet places and having an acrid juice, as smartweed … English World dictionary
water pepper — noun Date: circa 1538 an annual European smartweed (Polygonum hydropiper) of moist soils with extremely acrid peppery juice that is naturalized in North America; also a related American perennial (P. hydropiperoides) with mildly acrid juice … New Collegiate Dictionary
water pepper — noun an aquatic plant of the dock family with peppery tasting leaves and irritant sap. [Polygonum hydropiper and related species.] … English new terms dictionary
water-pepper — n. Smart weed (Polyganum hydropiper) … New dictionary of synonyms
water pepper — noun : a widely distributed annual smartweed (Polygonum hydropiper) of moist soils having greenish flowers and extremely acrid peppery juice and formerly used in medicine for its irritant and stimulant properties … Useful english dictionary
water-pepper — … Useful english dictionary
pepper — noun 1》 a pungent, hot tasting powder prepared from dried and ground peppercorns, used to flavour food. 2》 a climbing vine with berries that are dried as black or white peppercorns. [Piper nigrum.] ↘used in names of related plants having hot… … English new terms dictionary
water — n. & v. n. 1 a colourless transparent odourless tasteless liquid compound of oxygen and hydrogen. Usage: Chem. formula: H2O 2 a liquid consisting chiefly of this and found in seas, lakes, and rivers, in rain, and in secretions of organisms. 3 an… … Useful english dictionary
