Eruca vesicaria sativa

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Brassicaceae

Genus

Eruca

Life cycle

annual

Growth rate

vigorous

Height

0.6 m

Spread

0.25 m

Fertility

Insects

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw or cooked^{[5][10][11][12][17]}. A distinct strongly spicy flavour^[4], the taste is best from fast, well-grown plants^[6]. A few leaves added to a salad are acceptable though the flavour is too strong for many tastes[K]. Some people really like these leaves though most are not very keen[K]. Older leaves that have become too hot to eat on their own can be pureed and added to soups etc^[4]. In the milder areas of Britain it is possible to produce edible leaves all year round from successional sowings, especially if the winter crop is given some protection[K]. Flowers - raw[52}. A similar taste to the leaves, they make a nice garnish on the salad bowl^[4]. The seed yields a semi-drying oil^[1][5][17] which is edible if stored 6 months^[16][2] and is a substitute for rapeseed oil^[12]. It contains 32% fat, 27% protein^[2]. It is known as 'jamba oil'^[4]. A mustard is obtained from the seed^[14][17][4], the strong flavour comes from an essential oil that is contained within the oil of the seed^[2]. The pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed - an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild bitter mustard^[7].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Rocket was at one time used medicinally, though it is now used only as a salad herb^[7]. The leaves are antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant and stomachic^[13][14]. The seed is rubefacient and stimulant^[13][14]. The powdered seed possesses antibacterial activity, but no alkaloids have been isolated^[8]. The oil from the seed is said to have aphrodisiac properties^[9].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed yields a semi-drying oil which is a substitute for rapeseed oil^[14]. It can also be used for lighting, burning with very little soot^[2].

Environment

Range

Europe - Mediterranean. A frequent casual in Britain, occasionally becoming established for a while.

Habitat

Waste ground, fields, olive groves, stony hills, tracksides etc^[18].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

light shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 7+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerances

high wind, drought

Wind

Yes

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very easily grown and fast-maturing plant, it succeeds in most soils and conditions, though it prefers some shade in summer^[15]. Once established, plants are quite drought resistant^[3]. Rocket is occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves and flowers, it can be ready for harvest within 40 days of sowing the seed^{[1][14][18][9]}, there are some named varieties. 'Rocket Improved' is less prone to bolting, though it still grows best in cooler weather^[4]. Plants usually self-sow freely if the ground is disturbed in some way, such as by hoeing[K]. This species is normally untroubled by pests or diseases^[3].

Related plants

• Alliaria petiolataGarlic Mustard
• Arabidopsis thalianaThale Cress
• Arabis alpinaAlpine Rock Cress
• Arabis caucasicaRock Cress

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩1↩2

2. Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

3. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

   ↩1↩2

4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

   ↩1↩2

6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

   ↩1↩2

7. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

   ↩1↩2

8. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

   ↩

9. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0 333 62640 0

   ↩1↩2

10. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

11. Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00

    ↩1↩2

12. Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00

    ↩1↩2

13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

14. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

15. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩

16. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

17. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

18. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩1↩2