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Eruca vesicaria sativa
  • Rocket

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

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Eruca vesicaria sativa has 0 edible uses listed
Eruca vesicaria sativa has 0 material uses listed
Eruca vesicaria sativa has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][5]. A distinct strongly spicy flavour[6], the taste is best from fast, well-grown plants[7]. 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[6]. 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[6]. The seed yields a semi-drying oil[8][1][5] which is edible if stored 6 months[9][10] and is a substitute for rapeseed oil[4]. It contains 32% fat, 27% protein[10]. It is known as 'jamba oil'[6].

A mustard is obtained from the seed[11][5][6], the strong flavour comes from an essential oil that is contained within the oil of the seed[10]. 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[12].

Unknown part

Condiment
Oil

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

The seed yields a semi-drying oil which is a substitute for rapeseed oil[11]. It can also be used for lighting, burning with very little soot[10].

Unknown part

Oil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Rocket was at one time used medicinally, though it is now used only as a salad herb[12]. The leaves are antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant and stomachic[13][11].

The seed is rubefacient and stimulant[13][11]. The powdered seed possesses antibacterial activity, but no alkaloids have been isolated[14].

The oil from the seed is said to have aphrodisiac properties[15].

Unknown part

Antibacterial
Antiscorbutic
Aphrodisiac
Diuretic
Rubefacient
Stimulant
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow outdoors in spring in situ. Germination is usually very quick and free. In order to obtain a continuous supply of edible leaves, successional sowings can be made every few weeks until mid August[3]. A late summer/early autumn sowing can provide leaves in winter, though the plants might require some protection in very cold winters[7].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Eruca vesicaria sativa. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A very easily grown and fast-maturing plant, it succeeds in most soils and conditions, though it prefers some shade in summer[16]. Once established, plants are quite drought resistant[17].

Rocket is occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves and flowers, it can be ready for harvest within 40 days of sowing the seed[8][11][18][15], there are some named varieties. 'Rocket Improved' is less prone to bolting, though it still grows best in cooler weather[6]. 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[17].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Eruca vesicaria sativa. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Eruca vesicaria sativa.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Eruca vesicaria sativa
Genus
Eruca
Family
Brassicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Medicinal uses
[12][13][11][14][15]
Material uses & Functions
[11][10]
Botanic
[19][7]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
annual
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
0.6 x 0.25 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Insects
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite











References

  1. ? 1.01.11.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber (1960-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.2 Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press (1975-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.6 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.5 Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq. ()
  11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.411.511.611.7 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.212.3 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.1 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)
  15. ? 15.015.115.2 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. ISBN 0 333 62640 0 (1995-00-00)
  16. ? Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (1980-00-00)
  17. ? 17.017.1 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()
  18. ? Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press ISBN 0-7012-0784-1 (1987-00-00)
  19. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-17


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Facts about "Eruca vesicaria sativa"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyBrassicaceae +
Belongs to genusEruca +
Has common nameRocket +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers + and Leaves +
Has edible useSeasoning +, Unknown use + and Oil +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind + and Drought +
Has fertility typeInsects +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has growth rateVigorous +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useOil +
Has mature height0.6 +
Has mature width0.25 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntibacterial +, Antiscorbutic +, Aphrodisiac +, Diuretic +, Rubefacient +, Stimulant + and Stomachic +
Has search nameeruca vesicaria sativa + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameEruca vesicaria sativa +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +