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Eruca vesicaria (Miller) Thellung (L.) Cavanilles subsp. sativa
| Family Name: | Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) |
| Synonyms: | Eruca sativa Miller |
| Common Name: | Arugula, Garden Rocket, Rocket Salad, Roquette |
The leaves are typically eaten raw and used like lettuce in salads and sandwiches. It is best grown at cooler temperatures and harvested early. Young leaves have a slightly peppery or nutty taste which eventually turns bitter as it matures.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 25 cm to 60 cm |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts (Edible Leaves) Food (Fruit & Vegetable : Young leaves have a nutty taste which becomes peppery as they mature.) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Planting Distance From | 10 |
| Planting Distance To | 30 |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Rounded |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 1 | Bisexual Flowers |
|---|---|
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Cruciform / Cross-shaped |
| Flower Size - Length | 2.5 cm |
| Inflorescence Type | Corymb |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type 1 | Dehiscent Dry Fruit |
| Fruit Type 2 | Silique |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33697 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8111 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |