Cook’s scurvey grass

Cook’s scurvey grass

Scientific Name:
Lepidium oleraceum

Family:
Brassicaceae

Varieties:

• Default (ID: 71)

Introduction

Lepidium oleraceum, commonly known as Cook’s scurvy grass or nau in Māori, is a perennial herb endemic to New Zealand. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which includes other notable plants like broccoli and cabbage. Historically, this plant played a crucial role in preventing scurvy among sailors due to its high vitamin C content. The species has several recognized varieties, including var. frondosum, var. acutidentatum, and var. serrulatum .

Characteristics

• Physical Characteristics: Lepidium oleraceum is a much-branched herb that grows up to 1 x 1 meter. It has glabrous stems, persistent toothed leaves, and produces white flowers with four stamens. The leaves are dark green, fleshy, and serrated, while the seeds are orange-brown and mucilaginous .
• Growing Conditions: This plant thrives in friable soils enriched with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, typically found in coastal areas with guano deposits or near seabird nesting sites. It requires full sun and can be grown from fresh seeds or semi-hardwood cuttings .
• Lifecycle: Lepidium oleraceum flowers year-round, with peak flowering from September to March. Fruiting occurs from December to April, and seed production is rapid .

Why is this crop useful for space?

While there is no specific mention of Lepidium oleraceum being cultivated in space, its characteristics make it potentially useful for space exploration: - Nutritional Value: As a rich source of vitamin C, it could provide essential nutrients for astronauts on long-duration missions. - Compact Growth: Its ability to grow in nutrient-rich environments could be advantageous in controlled space environments. - Adaptability: Being fast-growing and adaptable to different conditions might make it suitable for hydroponic or aeroponic systems used in space.

However, its susceptibility to pests and diseases, such as aphids and Albugo candida, could pose challenges in a controlled space environment .

History of Cultivation in Space

There is no documented history of Lepidium oleraceum being cultivated in space. Most space cultivation experiments have focused on plants like lettuce, radishes, and zinnia flowers due to their ease of growth and adaptability to microgravity environments. The potential for cultivating Lepidium oleraceum in space would require further research into its growth habits under microgravity conditions and its resistance to space-related stressors.