| Diplotaxis tenuifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Diplotaxis |
| Species: | D. tenuifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Sisymbrium tenuifolium |
|
Diplotaxis tenuifolia is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name perennial wall-rocket. This plant is native to Europe and Western Asia. It can be found throughout much of the temperate world where it has naturalized.
This is an erect mustard-like plant with branching stems that may exceed half a meter in height. It grows in clumps on the ground in a variety of habitats and is a common weed of roadsides and disturbed areas. It has long leaves which may be lobed or not. The foliage is aromatic when crushed. Atop the branches of the stem are bright yellow flowers with four rounded petals each about a centimeter long. The fruit is a straight, flat silique up to five centimeters long.
The branches are often used as an ingredient for salads. In the Germanic realm this herb has been known since the ancient world. It had slightly fallen into oblivion but came back into fashion recently as a result of italian cuisine's popularity.