[arugula]

I wonder if anyone knows what this is? I have an idea but I don't think it can be right. The plant grows on the (Atlantic) shore and I took this photo at the end of September, but I've only just got around to taking some pics off my phone.... 

Any ideas would be much appreciated. 

[sunshineband]

Looks remarkably like cress to me 

[tode]

Ditto. Have you tried nibbling a bit ?

[arugula]

Thanks sunshineband and tode  .

I haven't tried it tode. I did think it looked like watercress, as it is sourced by a freshwater burn (stream). Unfortunately, this water source comes down from a dairy farm (have you seen some of those chemicals  ).

I thought watercress grew in Hampshire and inland which is why I dismissed my thoughts of it being that.

[tode]

Hmmm     Some bonnie burns aren't as bonnie as they should be . . . .

[DavidT]

Yep, cress.

[arugula]

Hmmm     Some bonnie burns aren't as bonnie as they should be . . . .

Hmm. I wonder if it would be safe to eat, or if it would have soaked up anything nasty that might be in the water 

Thanks for your ID confirmation too David.

Maybe we should just stick to the American Land Cress.. Brilliant stuff, we've grown it a few times but  it failed last summer  and we don't know why...

[tode]

A nibble for ID is OK, but I wouldn't eat if cattle are present upstream (unfortunately).

[New shoot]

I think you have to be a bit careful about watercress if the water source has been through cow fields - some sort of fluke I think that you can catch  

I could be wrong but sure Hugh Fernley do-da said something about it in one of his programme. He picked some but cooked it in soup to make it safe.

[arugula]

Thanks guys!  I'm still more surprised than anything, that it would grow around this part of the country. I'll definitely stick to my Land Cress grown in the garden then. 

[sunshineband]

Just out of interest Argyllie, is the land chalky round where you are?

[arugula]

Just out of interest Argyllie, is the land chalky round where you are?

Hi sunshineband. The land just above where the cress on the shore, is growing is described as "machair":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machair. We have quite a sandy soil in the garden. 

[sunshineband]

Oh.

I only asked as the cress near here (well at Alton in Hampshire, but closish to here) likes the clear water run off from chalk.

Like other said, I wouldn't eat it ... shame though as it looks good

[arugula]

Yes, I was aware that Hampshire is "the" area for growing watercress. I wonder where else it grows unexpectedly.....

[hillbilly]

There's one or two spots near here in North East Wales. They generally are in clear water near limestone cliffs. One patch is around where a spring wells out of the ground which I think might be safe to eat. What do you think  ?
I had a nibble once - delicious