:Common Name

Eruca sativa

:Scientific Name

:Introduction

Rocket, also known as arugula (Eruca sativa), is an edible annual herb belonging to the Brassicaceae family. It is widely consumed as a leafy vegetable and is appreciated for its fresh, slightly bitter, and distinctly peppery taste.

: Details

Eruca sativa is a fast-growing annual species that typically reaches a height of about 20–100 cm. Its leaves are pinnately divided, featuring four to ten small side lobes along with a prominent terminal lobe. The plant produces flowers measuring roughly 2–4 cm across, borne in corymb-like clusters and displaying the characteristic floral arrangement of the Brassicaceae family. The petals are creamy white marked with distinct purple veins, while the stamens are bright yellow. Following flowering, the plant forms elongated seed pods known as siliquae, about 12–25 mm in length, each ending in a pointed beak and enclosing several seeds. Cytogenetically, the species possesses a chromosome count of 2n = 22.