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.-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 (t. 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.