Practical
Plants

Sisymbrium irio

London Rocket

an annual member of the Sisymbrium genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects, Self?
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Self?

Uses

Edible uses

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

Immature leaves - raw or cooked[2][4]. Used as greens[4]. A famine food, it is only eaten when better foods are in short supply[4]. Seed - raw or cooked[4]. The seed can be eaten as piñole[4]. It can also be dried, ground into a powder then mixed with water and used as a gruel[4]. The seed can be mixed with water to make a drink[4]. Flowers - raw[2].

Product or use
Drink
Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

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.

The seeds are expectorant, restorative and stimulant[3]. They are used in the treatment of asthma[3]. Externally, they are used as a stimulating poultice[3]. The seeds have been placed under the lids of sore eyes in order to cause weeping and thereby wash foreign matter out of the eye[4]. An infusion of the leaves is used in treating affections of the throat and chest[3].

Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Restorative
Product or use
Stimulant

Environment

Range
Mediterranean. Long naturalized or possibly native in Britain[1].
Habitat
Roadsides, walls and waste places[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in most soils.

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  3. 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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  5. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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