Barbarea


Barbarea is a genus of about 29 species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Most are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in southern Europe and southwest Asia. They are small, herbaceous, biennial or perennial plants with dark green, deeply lobed leaves and yellow flowers with four petals.

Species

29 species and three natural interspecies hybrids are accepted.
  • Barbarea × abortiva
  • Barbarea anfractuosa
  • Barbarea arcuata
  • Barbarea auriculata
  • Barbarea australis
  • Barbarea balcana
  • Barbarea bosniaca
  • Barbarea bracteosa
  • Barbarea duralii
  • Barbarea × gradlii
  • Barbarea grandiflora
  • Barbarea grayi
  • Barbarea hongii
  • Barbarea integrifolia
  • Barbarea intermedia
  • Barbarea × krausei
  • Barbarea lepuznica
  • Barbarea longirostris
  • Barbarea lutea
  • Barbarea macrocarpa
  • Barbarea oligosperma
  • Barbarea orthoceras
  • Barbarea plantaginea
  • Barbarea platycarpa
  • Barbarea rupicola
  • Barbarea × schulzeana
  • Barbarea sicula
  • Barbarea stricta
  • Barbarea taiwaniana
  • Barbarea trichopoda
  • Barbarea verna
  • ''Barbarea vulgaris''

    Uses

They grow into rosettes of edible cress foliage that resemble dandelion leaves. Barbarea verna, known as upland cress, early winter cress, American cress, Belle Isle cress and scurvy grass, is used to add a spicy taste to salads and mixed leaf greens for cooking.

Chemical compounds

Winter cress contains different glucosinolates, flavonoids, and saponins.