Eruca sativa

Lore & Background

Its pinnate leaves are deeply lobed with four to ten small, lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe. The flowers are 2 to 4 cm in diameter, arranged in a corymb, with creamy white petals with purple veins and yellow stamens. The fruit is a siliqua (pod) 12 to 25 mm long with an apical beak, containing several seeds. The species has a chromosome number of 2n = 22. Some botanists consider E. sativa a subspecies of Eruca vesicaria, but they differ in morphological aspects such as sepal persistence, silique shape, and habit, and do not hybridize freely due to partial reproductive isolation. The Plants of the World Online database accepts Eruca sativa as a distinct species. The species name sativa is from Latin supine satum, meaning 'sown, planted', indicating cultivation in gardens. The English common name rocket derives from French roquette, from Italian ruchetta, a diminutive of ruca, from Latin eruca, meaning 'caterpillar'. 'Arugula' entered American English from a nonstandard dialect of Italian; the standard Italian word is 'rucola'. Rocket is sometimes conflated with Diplotaxis tenuifolia, known as 'perennial wall rocket', and species of Barbarea may be known as 'yellow rocket'. Eruca sativa is native to parts of the Mediterranean and Asia, including southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It typically grows on dry, disturbed ground and is a source of food for the larvae of some moth species, including the garden carpet. Its roots are susceptible to nematode infestation. While sometimes found in disturbed areas, it is not generally classified as a noxious invasive species in the Sonoran desert; the more common invasive rocket there is Diplotaxis tenuifolia.

Reader's Guide

Eruca sativa holds significance as a widely cultivated and consumed leaf vegetable, valued for its sharp flavor and versatility in culinary traditions across the Mediterranean, Asia, and beyond. Its leaves, flowers, young seed pods, and mature seeds are all edible. Since Roman times in Italy, raw arugula has been added to salads, and it is often used as a garnish on pizza, in pasta dishes, and as a condiment for cold meats and fish. In Turkey, it is eaten raw as a side dish or salad with fish. In Slovenia, it is combined with boiled potatoes or used in soup. In West Asia, Pakistan, and northern India, its seeds are pressed to make taramira oil for pickling and cooking, and the seed cake is used as animal feed. The plant prefers full sun, cool temperatures, and moist, fertile soil; hot weather changes its flavor and stops leaf growth. Seedlings are planted 6 inches apart, and plants can self-seed. They mature within 40 to 50 days, with young leaves preferred for flavor. Mild frost turns the green leaves to red. The plant is naturalized as a wild plant outside its native range in temperate regions around the world, including northern Europe and North America.

Did You Know?

• The species name sativa means 'sown, planted' in Latin, indicating it is cultivated in gardens.
• The English common name 'rocket' derives from French roquette, from Italian ruchetta, from Latin eruca meaning 'caterpillar'.
• Eruca sativa is not generally classified as a noxious invasive species in the Sonoran desert; the more common invasive rocket there is Diplotaxis tenuifolia.