Diplotaxis muralis

(L.) DC

Wall rocket, Perennial rocket

Brassicaceae Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable 4,905 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Diplotaxis muralis, the annual wall-rocket, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. This plant is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, but it is found throughout the temperate world, where it has naturalized. This is an erect mustard-like plant rarely reaching half a meter in height. It has lobed leaves and its stems are topped with dense inflorescences of yellow, or occasionally light purple, flowers with small oval petals and large anthers. The fruit is a podlike silique two to four centimeters long.

Description

A cabbage family herb. It is an annual plant. It is an erect plant. It grows 8-60 cm high. It has hairs on the lower stem. The leaves are narrowly oval and 2-9 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The flowers are pale yellow.

Edible Uses

The leaves are eaten raw. They can be finely chopped and added sparingly to salads or used as a flavouring in cooked dishes. The flavour is piquant, somewhat resembling rocket (Eruca sativa), but with a sharp aftertaste.

Traditional Uses

It has a sharp pungent taste so is used in small amounts along with other foods in a salad. They can also be used for flavouring cooked dishes. The flowers can be eaten and used as a garnish.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It grows in warm temperate places. It grows on sandy soils, sand dunes and in limestone areas. It is hardy to frost. In Argentina it grows between sea level and 700 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. It suits hardiness zone 7.

Where It Grows

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Balkans, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, Europe*, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Libya, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Poland, Portugal - Madeira Islands, Romania, Russia, Sicily, South Africa, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, West Indies, Yugoslavia,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed are sown directly where they are to grow.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe, though it can also be sown in situ in spring. Germination usually occurs in autumn.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses Food Forest

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Synonyms

Sisymbrium murale LinnaeusBrassica muralis (Linnaeus) BoissierSinapis muralis (Linnaeus) R. Brown

Also Known As

Erva diaulina, Flor amarilla, Jaramago amarillo, Mostacilla, Rucola selvatica, Sylvetta, Wild arugula

References (23)

Bianchini, F., Corbetta, F., and Pistoia, M., 1975, Fruits of the Earth. Cassell. p 58
Dashorst, G.R.M., and Jessop, J.P., 1998, Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium. p 70
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 58
Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 8
Geraci, A., et al, 2018, The wild taxa utilized as vegetables in Sicily (Italy): a traditional component of the Mediterranean diet. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:14

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