Arugula (American English) or rocket (Commonwealth English) (''Eruca vesicaria''; syns. ''Eruca sativa'' Mill., ''E. vesicaria'' subsp. ''sativa'' (Miller) Thell., ''Brassica eruca'' L.) is an edible

annual plant An annual plant is a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies. The length of growing seasons and period in which they take place vary according to geographical ...

in the family

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous plants, while some are shrubs. The le ...

used as a

leaf vegetable Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots. Leaf vegetables eaten raw in a salad can be called salad gre ...

for its fresh, tart, bitter, and peppery flavor. Other common names include garden rocket (in Britain, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, and New Zealand), and eruca. It is also called "ruchetta," "rucola," "rucoli," "rugula," "

colewort ''Brassica oleracea'' is a plant species from family Brassicaceae that includes many common cultivars used as vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, Savoy cabbage, kohlrabi, and gai lan. It ...

," and "roquette." ''Eruca sativa'', which is widely popular as a

salad vegetable A salad is a dish consisting of mixed, mostly natural ingredients with at least one raw ingredient. They are typically served at room temperature or chilled, though some can be served warm. Condiments and salad dressings, which exist in a va ...

, is a species of ''

Eruca ''Eruca'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, which includes the leaf vegetable known as arugula or rocket. The number of species is disputed, with some authorities only accepting a sin ...

'' native to the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...

region, from Morocco and Portugal in the west to Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and Turkey in the east.Med-Checklist
''Eruca sativa''.
/ref>Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. . It is sometimes

conflated Conflation is the merging of two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, opinions, etc., into one, often in error. Conflation is often misunderstood. It originally meant to fuse or blend, but has since come to mean the same as equate, treati ...

with ''

Diplotaxis tenuifolia ''Diplotaxis tenuifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name perennial wall-rocket. It is native to Europe and West Asia, where it grows on disturbed ground and roadsides, and it can now be found throug ...

'', known as "perennial wall rocket," another plant of the family Brassicaceae that is used in the same manner.

Description

''Eruca vesicaria'' is an

growing to in height. The

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and in ...

leaves are deeply lobed with four to ten small lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s are in diameter, arranged in a

corymb Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial re ...

, with the typical

flower structure. The petals are creamy white with purple veins, and the stamens are yellow. The fruit is a

siliqua The siliqua (plural ''siliquae'') is the modern name given (without any ancient evidence to confirm the designation) to small, thin, Roman silver coins produced in the 4th century A.D. and later. When the coins were in circulation, the Latin wo ...

(pod) long with an apical beak, containing several seeds (which are edible). The species has a

chromosome number Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respectively ...

of 2n = 22.Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan .

Etymology

The Latin adjective ''

sativa Sativa, sativus, and sativum are Latin botanical adjectives meaning '' cultivated''. It is often associated botanically with plants that promote good health and used to designate certain seed-grown domestic crops. Usage ''Sativa'' (ending in -a) ...

'' in the plant's

binomial Binomial may refer to: In mathematics *Binomial (polynomial), a polynomial with two terms * Binomial coefficient, numbers appearing in the expansions of powers of binomials *Binomial QMF, a perfect-reconstruction orthogonal wavelet decomposition ...

name is derived from ''satum'', the

supine In grammar, a supine is a form of verbal noun used in some languages. The term is most often used for Latin, where it is one of the four principal parts of a verb. The word refers to a position of lying on one's back (as opposed to 'prone', lyi ...

of the verb ', meaning "to sow," indicating that the seeds of the plant were sown in gardens. ''Eruca sativa'' differs from ''E. vesicaria'' in having early

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s. Some botanists consider it a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of ''Eruca vesicaria'': ''E. vesicaria'' subsp. ''sativa''.Flora of NW Europe
''Eruca vesicaria''
Still others do not differentiate between the two. The English common name ''rocket'' derives from the Italian word ''Ruchetta'' or ''rucola'', a diminutive of the Latin word ''eruca'', which once designated a particular plant in the family Brassicaceae (probably a type of

cabbage Cabbage, comprising several cultivars of ''Brassica oleracea'', is a leafy green, red (purple), or white (pale green) biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable crop for its dense-leaved heads. It is descended from the wild cabbage ( ''B.&nb ...

).''

Oxford English Dictionary The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the first and foundational historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP). It traces the historical development of the English language, providing a com ...

'' ''Arugula'' (), the common name now widespread in the United States and Canada, entered American English from a nonstandard dialect of Italian. The standard Italian word is ''rucola''. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' dates the first appearance of "arugula" in American English to a 1960 article in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' by food editor and prolific cookbook writer

Craig Claiborne Craig Claiborne (September 4, 1920 January 22, 2000) was an American restaurant critic, food journalist and book author. A long-time food editor and restaurant critic for ''The New York Times'', he was also the author of numerous cookbooks and ...

Synonyms

Rucola(Eruca vesicaria),inflorescence,young fruits NL jun2012

Ecology

Rocket Salad, Arugula, Roquette, Rucola, Rugula (Eruca vesicaria subsp

''Eruca vesicaria'' typically grows on dry, disturbed ground. It is a source of food for the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e of some moth species, including the

garden carpet The garden carpet (''Xanthorhoe fluctuata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is an abundant and familiar species across its huge range which covers the whole Palearctic region from Ireland to Japan and including the Near East and North ...

, and its roots are susceptible to

nematode The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-Parasitism, parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhab ...

infestation.

Cultivation and history

A pungent, leafy green vegetable resembling a longer-leaved and open lettuce, ''Eruca vesicaria'' is rich in

vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) an ...

and

potassium Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin ''kalium'') and atomic number19. Potassium is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife with little force. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmosphe ...

. In addition to the leaves, the flowers, young seed pods, and mature seeds are all edible. Eruca February 2008-1

Grown as an edible and popular herb in Italy since

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

times, it was mentioned by various ancient Roman classical authors as an

aphrodisiac An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. Substances range from a variety of plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals. Natural aphrodisiacs like cannabis or cocain ...

, most famously in a poem long ascribed to the famous 1st century Roman poet

Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: t ...

, ''

Moretum Moretum is a herb cheese spread that the Ancient Romans ate with bread. A typical moretum was made of herbs, fresh cheese, salt, oil and some vinegar. Optionally, different kinds of nuts could be added. The contents were crushed together in a mo ...

'', which contains the line: "''et Venerem revocans eruca morantem''" ("and the rocket, which revives drowsy Venus exual desire), and in the

Ars Amatoria The ''Ars amatoria'' ( en, The Art of Love) is an instructional elegy series in three books by the ancient Roman poet Ovid. It was written in 2 AD. Background Book one of ''Ars amatoria'' was written to show a man how to find a woman. In book two ...

Ovid Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (; 20 March 43 BC – 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace, with whom he is often ranked as one of the th ...

. Some writers assert that for this reason, during the Middle Ages, it was forbidden to grow rocket in monasteries. It was listed, however, in a

decree A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state (such as the president of a republic or a monarch), according to certain procedures (usually established in a constitution). It has the force of law. The particular term used for ...

Charlemagne Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first Holy ...

of 802 as one of the pot herbs suitable for growing in gardens. Gillian Riley, author of the ''Oxford Companion to Italian Food'', states that because of its reputation as a sexual stimulant, it was "prudently mixed with lettuce, which was the opposite" (i.e., calming or even soporific). Riley continues that "nowadays rocket is enjoyed innocently in mixed salads, to which it adds a pleasing pungency," though

Norman Douglas George Norman Douglas (8 December 1868 – 7 February 1952) was a British writer, now best known for his 1917 novel ''South Wind''. His travel books, such as ''Old Calabria'' (1915), were also appreciated for the quality of their writing. L ...

insisted that “Salad rocket is certainly a stimulant.” Rocket was traditionally collected in the wild or grown in home gardens along with such herbs as parsley and basil. It is now grown commercially in many places and is available in supermarkets and farmers' markets worldwide. It is also

naturalized Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...

as a wild plant away from its native range in temperate regions around the world, including northern Europe and North America.USDA Plants Profile
''Eruca vesicaria'' subsp. ''sativa''
/ref> In India, the mature seeds are known as Gargeer. This is the same name in Arabic, ('), but used in Arab countries for the fresh leaves. Mild frost conditions hinder the plant's growth and turn the green leaves red.

Uses

Since Roman times in Italy, raw rocket has been added to salads. It is often added to a pizza at the end of or just after baking. It is also used cooked in

Apulia it, Pugliese , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographic ...

, in southern Italy, to make the pasta dish ''cavatiéddi'', "in which large amounts of coarsely chopped rocket are added to pasta seasoned with a homemade reduced tomato sauce and

pecorino Pecorino cheeses are hard Italian cheeses made from sheep's milk. The name "" derives from ''pecora'' which means sheep in Italian. Overview Of the six main varieties of pecorino, all of which have Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status u ...

," Reilly, ''The Oxford Companion to Italian Food'', p. 446 as well as in "many unpretentious recipes in which it is added, chopped, to sauces and cooked dishes" or in a sauce (made by frying it in olive oil and garlic) used as a condiment for cold meats and fish. Throughout Italy, it is used as a salad with tomatoes and with either

burrata Burrata () is an Italian cow milk (occasionally buffalo milk) cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The outer casing is solid cheese, while the inside contains stracciatella and cream, giving it an unusual, soft texture. It is typical of Apuli ...

, bocconcini, buffalo, and mozzarella cheese. In Rome, rucola is used in ''straccetti'', a dish of thin slices of beef with raw rocket and Parmesan cheese. In Turkey, similarly, the rocket is eaten raw as a side dish or salad with fish but is additionally served with a sauce of extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. In Slovenia, rocket is often combined with boiled potatoes or used in a soup. In West Asia, Pakistan, and Northern India, ''Eruca'' seeds are pressed to make

taramira oil Taramira oil or jamba oil, is a seed oil, pressed from the seeds of the arugula (''Eruca sativa''). Because the plant is highly drought resistant, the oil is popular in regions of poor rainfall, particularly in West Asia, Pakistan and Northern Ind ...

, used in pickling and (after aging to remove acridity) as a salad or cooking oil. The seed cake is also used as animal feed.

Nutrition

Raw arugula is 92% water, 4% carbohydrates, and 2.5% protein and contains a negligible amount of fat. Although a reference serving provides only of

food energy Food energy is chemical energy that animals (including humans) derive from their food to sustain their metabolism, including their muscle, muscular activity. Most animals derive most of their energy from aerobic respiration, namely combining the ...

, arugula has a high nutritional value, especially when fresh, frozen, steamed, or quickly boiled. It is a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of

folate Folate, also known as vitamin B9 and folacin, is one of the B vitamins. Manufactured folic acid, which is converted into folate by the body, is used as a dietary supplement and in food fortification as it is more stable during processing and ...

and

vitamin K Vitamin K refers to structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamers found in foods and marketed as dietary supplements. The human body requires vitamin K for post-synthesis modification of certain proteins that are required for blood coagulation ...

. Arugula is also a good source (10–19% of DV) of

vitamin A Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and an essential nutrient for humans. It is a group of organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal (also known as retinaldehyde), retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids (most notably bet ...

, and the dietary minerals

calcium Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to ...

magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 of the periodic ta ...

, and

manganese Manganese is a chemical element with the symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal, often found in minerals in combination with iron. Manganese is a transition metal with a multifaceted array of industrial alloy use ...

References

External links

Jeane Osnos, "The most political vegetables: A whirlwind tour of the edible crucifers," ''The Botanist in the Kitchen'', November 20, 2012.
How arugula joined broccoli (and lattes) as supposed markers for big-government liberalism.
Joel Denker, "The 'Lascivious' Leaf: The Allure of Arugula," ''Food in the 'Hood'' (published August 11, 2012)
, in
The Intowner, Serving Washington, D. C. since 1968
'.
Ezra Klein, "Arugula", ''The American Prospect'', October 7, 2008.

John Schwenkler, "Eating arugula has become a political act: Conservative thinker is branded a closet liberal based on the food he eats," ''Earth Matters'', MNN (Mother Nature Network), March 2009.
Mr. Schwenkler's article originally appeared in '' Plenty'' magazine in October 2008.
David Kamp, ''The United States of Arugula: How We Became a Gourmet Nation'', New York: Clarkson Potter (2006).
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q5395935, from2=Q156884 Brassicaceae Leaf vegetables Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Plants described in 1753