Eruca vesicaria
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| Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav. |
Eruca vesicaria (syn. Brassica vesicaria L.) is a species of Eruca native to the western Mediterranean region, in Morocco, Algeria, and Spain.[1] It is closely related to Eruca sativa;[2] that species is included in E. vesicaria by some botanists either as a subspecies E. vesicaria subsp. sativa[3] or not distinguished at all;[4] E. vesicaria can be distinguished from E. sativa by its persistent sepals.[3][5]
It is an annual plant growing to 20–100 cm tall. The leaves are deeply pinnately lobed with four to ten small lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe. The flowers are 2–4 cm diameter, arranged in a corymb, with the typical Brassicaceae flower structure; the petals are creamy white with purple veins, and the stamens yellow; the sepals are persistent after the flower opens. The fruit is a siliqua (pod) 12–25 mm long with an apical beak, and containing several seeds.[3][5]
[edit] Cultivation and uses
It can be used as a leaf vegetable in the same manner as Eruca sativa.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Med-Checklist: Eruca vesicaria
- ^ Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2
- ^ a b c Flora of NW Europe: Eruca vesicaria
- ^ Flora Europaea: Eruca
- ^ a b c Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
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