Mastruço

In Madeira this name is given to Lepidium virginicum, L. sativum and Coronopus didymus, plants of the family Cruciferae; the first two are naturalised and the last is native. Coronopus didymus and Lepidium virginicum are easy to recognise: the latter by its erect stems, its toothed upper leaves and its suborbicular silicles, and the former by its deeply cut leaves and its kidney-shaped silicles, broader than they are long. Both are very common in Madeira, whereas L. sativum, with broadly winged silicles, is found only at São Roque. All these species are antiscorbutic, and the last can be eaten in salad. The juice of the leaves of Coronopus didymus is used externally to treat certain skin diseases.