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  4. Lepidium oleraceum

Lepidium oleraceum

Hen and Chicken Islands.<br>Photographer: Cynthia Roberts, Date taken: 01/08/2013, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
At Matariki Island.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum plant below Matata (Davids Lookout), Motukino (Fanal) Island.<br>Photographer: Bec Stanley, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum flowers and foliage.<br>Photographer: A. J. Townsend, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
A thriving plant of Lepidium oleraceum.<br>Photographer: Lisa Forester, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
A flowering branch of Lepidium oleraceum, Ngatutura Point.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Date taken: 01/08/1985, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium in cultivation.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Albugo candida on lepidium leaves.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum plant, Matariki Island.<br>Photographer: Andrea Brandon, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum close up of foliage, Matariki Island.<br>Photographer: Andrea Brandon, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Lepidium oleraceum.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Lepidium oleraceum.<br>Photographer: Bec Stanley, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Fanal island, in petrel scrub.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Silicles and seeds. In cultivation.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 15/05/2011, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Albugo infestation on leaf. Ex Mana Island. Feb 1986.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Cabbage white butterfly larva on Lepidium oleraceum in cultivation. Feb 1986.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Hen and Chicken Islands.<br>Photographer: Cynthia Roberts, Date taken: 01/08/2013, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
In cultivation.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 06/05/2011, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Developing silicles. In cultivation.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 06/05/2011, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Mature silicle of Lepidium oleraceum. AK 201743.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 17/11/2012, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
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Common names

nau, Cook’s scurvy grass

Biostatus

Native – Endemic taxon

Category

Vascular

Structural class

Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites

Flower colours

White, Yellow

Detailed description

Glabrous, much-branched, perennial, herb up to 1 x 1 m, usually less. All parts strongly pungent when bruised. Stems erect to decumbent, stout, somewhat woody near base, flexuous. Petioles winged of variable length. Leaves 20-100 x 15-40 mm, decreasing in size toward stem apices, dark green to green, fleshy, somewhat succulent, narrow-oblanceolate, obovate to elliptic, margins, deeply and evenly serrated, cuneately narrowed at base. Inflorescences racemose, terminal and lateral, usually leaf-opposed 30-150 mm at fruiting; pedicels erecto-patent, 3-10 mm long at fruiting. Flowers fragrant. Sepals 1-2 x 0.5-1 mm. Petals white, 2.5-3.5 x 0.5-2 mm, obovate-spathulate. Stamens 4, yellow. Silicles 3-5 x 2.5-5 mm, broadly ovate, truncate at base, apex acute, not winged; style 0.1-0.2 mm; seeds 1.5-2 mm, ovoid, orange-brown

Similar taxa

Distinguished from all other indigenous and exotic Lepidium species by the glabrous stems, persistent, toothed, stem leaves, glabrous pedicels, flowers with four stamens and by the acute silicles which lack a marginal wing.

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand, Kermadec Island group, Three Kings Island group, North, South, Stewart Islands and the Bounty Islands group.

Habitat

Now strictly coastal, L. oleraceum is usually found in friable well manured soils, guano deposits, or rock crevices associated with seabird roosts and nesting sites. Occasionally it grows under taller vegetation, and then usually near petrel or shear water burrows. The species is now mainly found on rock stacks, islets, and windshorn headlands on rodent free offshore islands. In some places it has been found growing on sand or gravel beaches, and in one location it grows on boulders and clay that are part of an artificial sea wall. Historically this species was also known from the upper Waitaki Valley, well inland from the sea. This suggests that before human occupation it was once more widespread away from coastal situations.

Current conservation status

The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.

  • Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

2023 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: Sp, CD, DPT, RR

Jump to previous conservation statuses

Threats

Seriously threatened by loss of indigenous sea bird nesting grounds because it is dependent on high-fertility soils and regular cycles of animal induced disturbance. It is susceptible to a range of introduced pests and diseases, including rodents, snails, aphids, leaf miner, diamond back moth and cabbage white butterfly, and is browsed by cattle and other livestock. A fungus-like disease (Albugo candida (J.F.Gmel.) Kuntze) is also a problem; and the plant has been and continues to be over-collected by people.

Detailed taxonomy

Family

Brassicaceae

Authority

Lepidium oleraceum Sparrm. ex G.Forst.

Synonyms

Lepidium oleraceum var. acutidentatum Kirk, L. oleraceum var. frondosum Kirk, L. oleraceum var. serrulatum Thell.

Taxonomic notes

Chatham, Antipodes, Snares and Auckland Island plants differ from L. oleraceum s.s. Their taxonomic status is under review. Cooks scurvy grass or nau, played a vital role in preventing scurvy in ship crews visiting New Zealand during the late 1700s and early 1800s. All parts of the plant are edible. The Maori name nau is of ancient derivation and is found in varying forms throughout Polynesia. Many Pacific Island peoples have traditions of harvesting and/or cultivating related lepidia as a vegetable food and suggests NZ Maori may well have used L. oleraceum and allied species in the same way.

Endemic taxon

Yes

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Ecology

Flowering

Flowers appear year-round, but mainly from September to March.

Fruiting

Fruiting occurs from December to April. Seed production is rapid so flowers, immature and ripe seed capsules are often found on the same plant.

Life cycle and dispersal

Mucilaginous seeds are dispersed by attachment and possibly wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Propagation technique

Easy from fresh seed. Can be grown from semi-hardwood cuttings. Fast growing. Does best in friable soils enriched with N, P, K, in full sun. This species, and indeed all other representatives of the genus in New Zealand are very prone to fungal diseases and insect attack, and can be difficult to maintain. Lepidium oleraceum is best treated as an annual.

Other information

Etymology

lepidium: Scale-shaped (pods)

oleraceum: As a vegetable

NVS code

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

LEPOLE

Chromosome number

2n = c.72

Previous conservation statuses

The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.

  • Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

2017 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: CD, DP, EF, RR, Sp

2012 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: CD, DP, EF, RR, Sp

2009 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: CD, EF, RR, Sp

2004 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered

Jump to current conservation status

Regional conservation statuses

Auckland: 2025 | Threatened – Regionally Critical | Qualifiers: CD, DPS, DE, EF, PF, RR

The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.

Referencing and citations

References and further reading

Allan, H.H. 1961. Flora of New Zealand. Volume I. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledones.Wellington, Government Printer.

Norten, D.A. and P.J. de Lange. 1999. Coastal cress (Nau) recovery plan. Threatened Species Recovery Plan 26. Department of Conservation

Sawyer, J.W.D., de Lange, P.J. 2007. Lepidium oleraceum - a threatened herb of coastal Wellington. Wellington Botanical Society Bulletin, 50: 30-36

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309

Webb, C.J.; Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1988. Flora of New Zealand. Volume IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons.Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.

Attribution

Description adapted from Webb et al. (1988).

Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.

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