Eruca vesicaria

Eruca vesicaria is a species of Eruca native to Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. Some botanists consider Eruca vesicaria and E. sativa conspecific. However, they are different in many morphological aspects such as sepal persistence, silique shape, and habit. Most importantly, they do not hybridize freely with each other as there is partial reproductive isolation between them. Plants of the World Online has accepted them as two distinct species.

Description

A cabbage family herb. It is an annual plant. It grows to a height of 1 m and spreads to 0.5 m across. It has a taproot, The stem is erect and slender with few branches. The leaves are bright green and occur opposite each other. The leaves have deep lobes. The flowers are white or pale yellow with purple veins. There are 4 petals. The fruit are 1-4.5 cm long. They are beaked and erect. There are many seeds and are round and 1-2 mm across.

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and have a distinctly strong, spicy flavour that is best from fast-grown plants. A few leaves work well in salads, though the flavour is too intense for many people. Older leaves that have grown too hot to eat on their own can be pureed and added to soups. In milder parts of Britain, edible leaves can be produced year-round through successional sowings, particularly if winter crops are given some protection. The flowers are edible raw, with a similar taste to the leaves, and make an attractive garnish on a salad bowl. The seeds yield a semi-drying oil known as jamba oil, containing 32% fat and 27% protein. Its use as a salad or cooking oil is limited by an initial acridity, which disappears after the oil has been stored for 6 months, at which point it becomes suitable for cooking and can substitute for rapeseed oil. A mustard can also be made from the seed; the pungency develops when cold water is added to the ground seed, as an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound over 10–15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild, bitter mustard.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are used as a salad vegetable. They are tender, bitter and slightly mustard flavoured. Older leaves can be pureed and used in soups and sauces. The seeds are also eaten. They are used in pickles. They are used for Persian mustard. The seeds yield an edible oil. The flowers are used as a garnish. The seeds can be sprouted and eaten.

Medicinal Uses

Rocket was once commonly used medicinally, though today it is regarded mainly as a salad herb. The leaves are antiscorbutic, diuretic, rubefacient, stimulant, and stomachic. Eruca contains the glucosinolate methylsulphinylbutyl isothiocyanate, which induces enzymes with anticancer activity. The seed is rubefacient and stimulant, and powdered seed has shown antibacterial activity, though no alkaloids have been isolated. The oil from the seed is said to have aphrodisiac properties and can be used for massage and soothing the skin.

Distribution

A native of Mediterranean regions. It will grow on most well drained soils. It prefers an open sunny position. It is drought and frost resistant. It can grow on poor soils and with low rainfall. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. In the tropics it grows up to 2,100 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Amazon, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Balkans, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central Asia, Chad, Chile, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Crete, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dagestan, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mediterranean*, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Niger, North Africa, North America, Norway, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, Sicily, SE Asia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Socotra, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tasmania, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Uzbekistan, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds germinate in about 1 day at 25°C. Plants need to be cross-pollinated by insects to produce seed.

Propagation

Sow seed in situ. Germination is usually very rapid, taking as little as 24 hours at 25°C. Successional sowings every few weeks will provide a continuous supply of edible leaves.

Other Uses

The seed yields a semi-drying oil rich in erucic acid that can substitute for rapeseed oil. It burns with very little soot and can be used for lighting. Industrially, eruca seed oil is used as a lubricant, in soap-making, as an illuminating agent, in massage, in medicines, and as a salad oil. High erucic acid (HEA) oil has notable properties including high smoke and flash points, stability and oiliness at high temperatures, the ability to remain fluid at low temperatures, and durability. It is used to produce erucamide, a slip additive in polythene and polypropylene that reduces surface friction and prevents adhesion between film surfaces. HEA oil is also used in printing inks and lubricants. An essential oil from the leaves contains 67 volatile components representing 96.52% of the oil, characterised by a high content of sulphur and nitrogen compounds. Erucic oil is sometimes used to adulterate rapeseed or mustard oil.

Production

It should be grown using high nitrogen levels to assist rapid growth and reduce the bitterness. Leaves are picked before flowering to give a more mild taste. Leaves can be harvested after about 3-4 weeks.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Notes

There are 4 or 5 Eruca species. The seeds contain 30-35% oil.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Arugula, Assu, Bhutaghna, Bou hammou, Braymabogani, Chipiquelite, Daradharsha, Garden rocket, Garguir, Jamama, Jamba oil, Jamba, Jaramago blanco, Jar jeer, Jawawa, Jirjir, Laken, Lharra, Mediterranean rocket, Navadna rukvica, Oruga, Rabano, Rauke, Rocket-salad, Roka, Roketsuto, Roman rocket, Roqueta, Roquette, Ruca, Rucola, Rucula, Rugula, Selmogi, Seoha, Shwetsursha, Tamira, Tara-mira, Tara, Taramira, Usan, Yabani roka, Zi ma cai

References (92)

• Ali-Shtayeh, M. S., et al, 2008, Traditional knowledge of wild edible plants used in Palestine (Northern West Bank): A comparative study. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 4: 13
• Al-Qura'n, S. A., 2010, Ethnobotanical and Ecological Studies of Wild Edible Plants in Jordan. Libyan Agriculture Research Center Journal International 1(4):231-243 (As Eruca sativa)
• Al-Sodany, Y. M., et al, 2013, Medicinal Plants in Saudi Arabia: I. Sarrwat Mountains at Taif, KSA. Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 6 (4): 134-145 (As Eruca sativa)
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 202
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62

More from Brassicaceae

Lepidium transvaalense

Lepidium vesicarium

Lepidium virginicum var. menziesii

Menzies's pepperweed

Leptaleum filifolium

🌱

Lesquerella hybrids

Perennial Lesquerella

Lobularia maritima - (L.)Desv.

Sweet Alyssum