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 | Rocket Other Names: Eruca sativa. Dame's Rocket. White Rocket. Purple Rocket. Rucchette. Roquette
Botanical Name: Hesperis matronalis
Family: N.O. Cruciferae |
Description: |
These biennial plants are natives of Italy, but are found throughout most of Central and Mediterranean Europe, and in Britain and Russian Asia as escapes from gardens. The stems are very erect, and grow from 2 to 3 feet in height, with spearshaped, pointed leaves. The flowers, white purple, or variegated, are produced in a simple thyrse at the top of the stalk. Johnson wrote of a double-white variety in 1633. The Siberian Rocket is almost identical. The seeds are like those of mustard, but larger.
The leaves are very acrid in taste, and in many countries, especially in Germany, they are eaten like cress in salads.
In the language of flowers, the Rocket has been taken to represent deceit, since it gives out a lovely perfume in the evening, but in the daytime has none. Hence its name of Hesperis, or Vesper-Flower, given it by the Ancients.
For eating purposes, the plant should be gathered before flowering, but for medicinal use, when in flower.
The Sea-Rocket or Cakile maritima, Eruca marina, often found on sandhills, is very acrid, and can be used as an antiscorbutic, being prescribed in scrofulous affections, lymphatic disturbances, and the malaise that follows malaria. It is important not to confuse it with the real Rocket. |
Habitat: |
| Central Europe. |
Constituents: |
| The properties of the cultivated Rocket resemble those of the Cochlearea, but its taste is less acrid and piquant. |
Medicinal Usage: |
In former days doctors combined with poets in attributing marvellous virtues to this plant. It is regarded principally as antiscorbutic. A strong dose will cause vomiting, and may be taken in the place of ipecacuanha. Powdered, the effect is less strong than that of mustard.
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Ancient Lore: |
ROCKET CRESS
ERUCA SATIVA
The juice is excellent in asthmas, and all diseases of the lungs.
There are several plants bearing the name of Rocket. This one is annual or biennial growing to about three feet (90 cm) high with pointed leaves and pale yellow flowers streaked with purple. It is also known as Garden Rocket. Where to find it.. It is grown in gardens, but is also found in hedgerows and meadows.
Flowering time: Late spring to midsummer.
Astrology: Under Venus.
Medicinal virtues: The best way of using this is as a syrup. It will cure
inveterate coughs and relieve oppression and obstruction of the chest.
Modern uses: The leaves have been used like cress in salads, but they are very bitter to the taste. As a medicine, it is not in popular use as it is very nauseous. Indeed, it could be used as an emetic in place of lpecacuanha. Horehound, Lungwort and Colt's Foot are recommended for coughs nowadays. |
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