From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Nasturtium \Nas*tur"tium\, n. [L. nasturtium, for nasitortium,
fr. nasus nose + torquere, tortum, to twist, torture, in
allusion to the causing one to make a wry face by its pungent
taste. See {Nose} of the face, and {Torture}.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of cruciferous plants, having white or
yellowish flowers, including several species of cress.
They are found chiefly in wet or damp grounds, and have a
pungent biting taste.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus {Tropaeolum}, geraniaceous
herbs, having mostly climbing stems, peltate leaves, and
spurred flowers, and including the common Indian cress
({Tropaeolum majus}), the canary-bird flower ({Tropaeolum
peregrinum}), and about thirty more species, all natives
of South America. The whole plant has a warm pungent
flavor, and the fleshy fruits are used as a substitute for
capers, while the leaves and flowers are sometimes used in
salads.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
nasturtium
n 1: any tropical American plant of the genus Tropaeolum having
pungent juice and long-spurred yellow to red flowers
2: aquatic herbs [syn: {Nasturtium}, {genus Nasturtium}]
3: flowers and seeds and leaves all used as flavorings
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