Eruca

Eruca
Eruca vesicaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Eruca
Mill.
Species

See text

Eruca is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to the Mediterranean region.

The number of species is disputed, with some authorities only accepting a single species, while others accept up to five species. The following species are accepted by the Med-Checklist:[1][2]

When treated as a monospecific genus, all are included within E. vesicaria.[3][4]

They are annual plants 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 fruit is a siliqua (pod) 12–25 mm long with an apical beak, and containing several seeds.[5][6][7]

References

  1. Med-Checklist: Eruca
  2. Med-Checklist: Eruca vesicaria aggregate
  3. Flora of China: Eruca
  4. Flora Europaea: Eruca
  5. Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2
  6. Flora of NW Europe: Eruca vesicaria
  7. Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.