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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Brassicaceae
|genus=Eruca
|species=sativa
|common_name=Rocket, Arugula
|habit=herbaceous
|Min ht box=20
|Min ht metric=cm
|Min ht metric=cm
|Max ht box=100
|Max ht metric=cm
|features=edible
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=This is the plant information box - for information on light; water; zones; height; etc. If it is mostly empty you can help grow this page by clicking on the edit tab and filling in the blanks!
|jumpin=This is the plant information box - for information on light; water; zones; height; etc. If it is mostly empty you can help grow this page by clicking on the edit tab and filling in the blanks!
|image=Upload.png
|image=Eruca sativa 1 IP0206101.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=180
}}
}}
'''''Eruca sativa''''' (syn. ''E. vesicaria'' subsp. ''sativa'' (Miller) Thell., ''Brassica eruca'' L.), also known as '''rocket''' or '''arugula''', is an edible [[annual plant]]. It is a species of ''[[Eruca]]'' native to the [[Mediterranean region]], from [[Morocco]] and [[Portugal]] east to [[Lebanon]] and [[Turkey]].<ref name=mc>Med-Checklist: [http://ww2.bgbm.org/mcl/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=23937&PTRefFk=1275 ''Eruca sativa'']</ref><ref name=blamey>Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. ISBN 0-340-40170-2</ref> It is closely related to ''[[Eruca vesicaria]]'' and included by some botanists in that either as a [[subspecies]] ''E. vesicaria'' subsp. ''sativa''<ref name=fnwe>Flora of NW Europe: [http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=2395 ''Eruca vesicaria'']</ref> or not distinguished at all;<ref name=fe>Flora Europaea: [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Eruca&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= ''Eruca'']</ref> it can be distinguished from ''E. vesicaria'' by its early [[deciduous]] [[sepal]]s.<ref name=fnwe/>
It is an [[annual plant]] growing to 20–100 cm tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are deeply pinnately lobed with four to ten small lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe. The [[flower]]s are 2–4 cm diameter, arranged in a [[Inflorescence#Simple_inflorescences|corymb]], with the typical [[Brassicaceae]] flower structure; the petals are creamy white with purple veins, and the stamens yellow; the sepals are shed soon after the flower opens. The [[fruit]] is a [[Siliqua (plant)|siliqua]] (pod) 12–35 mm long with an apical beak, and containing several [[seed]]s (which are edible). The species has a [[chromosome]] number of 2''n'' = 22.<ref name=blamey/><ref name=fnwe/><ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref>
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Roquette, or Rocket-Salad (Eruca sativa, Mill.), a low-growing hardy annual from southern Europe, whose leaves resemble those of radish and turnip, is much used by the French as a spring and autumn salad and pot-herb. The flavor of the young, tender leaves, which are the parts used, bears a strong resemblance to that of horse-radish. In America it is but little grown because there are milder-flavored plants that serve the same purpose. See Eruca.
Roquette, or Rocket-Salad (Eruca sativa, Mill.), a low-growing hardy annual from southern Europe, whose leaves resemble those of radish and turnip, is much used by the French as a spring and autumn salad and pot-herb. The flavor of the young, tender leaves, which are the parts used, bears a strong resemblance to that of horse-radish. In America it is but little grown because there are milder-flavored plants that serve the same purpose. See Eruca.
The first sowing may be made in early spring, the seed being dropped thinly in shallow drills a foot apart, with successional plantings each second or third week through the season. The soil must be rich and well supplied with moisture, else the leaves will probably be tough and acrid. Inter-culture is the same as for spinach, lettuce, and similar crops. Frequent watering and tillage in hot dry weather to insure rapid vigorous growth should result in succulent mild-flavored leaves. In summer the plants run rapidly to seed; in spring and autumn they will produce abundantly after being cut. The pale citron-yellow flowers emit a perfume resembling that of orange blossoms.
The first sowing may be made in early spring, the seed being dropped thinly in shallow drills a foot apart, with successional plantings each second or third week through the season. The soil must be rich and well supplied with moisture, else the leaves will probably be tough and acrid. Inter-culture is the same as for spinach, lettuce, and similar crops. Frequent watering and tillage in hot dry weather to insure rapid vigorous growth should result in succulent mild-flavored leaves. In summer the plants run rapidly to seed; in spring and autumn they will produce abundantly after being cut. The pale citron-yellow flowers emit a perfume resembling that of orange blossoms.
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==Cultivation==
It typically grows on dry, disturbed ground.
It is used as a [[leaf vegetable]], which looks like a longer leaved and open [[lettuce]]. It is rich in [[vitamin C]] and [[potassium]]<ref>NutritionData.com, [http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20mn.html Arugula, Raw]</ref>. It is frequently cultivated, although domestication cannot be considered complete. It has been grown in the [[Mediterranean area]] since [[Roman empire|Roman]] times, and is considered an [[aphrodisiac]]. Before the 1990s it was usually collected in the wild and was not cultivated on a large scale or researched scientifically. In addition to the leaves, the flowers (often used in salads as an edible garnish), young seed pods and mature seeds are all edible. It has a rich, peppery taste, and has an exceptionally strong flavour for a leafy green.
It is also locally [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] away from its native range in temperate regions around the world, including northern Europe and North America.<ref name=blamey/><ref name=usda/> In India, the mature seeds are known as Gargeer.
===Propagation===
===Propagation===
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File:Rocket Salad, Arugula, Roquette, Rucola, Rugula (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa).jpg
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