rocket, Eruca vesicaria

Traditionally, this has been called rocket or garden rocket. More recently, you might know it as arugula. It has quite a tradition, going back into antiquity. From at least Roman times and until relatively recent days it was hoped to be an aphrodisiac. It gets mention in the romantic writings of both Ovid and Virgil. Now we use it to stimulate our taste buds in salads. In some Asian countries the seeds are used to produce vegetable oil. With us, arugula has been reported wild in AZ, CA, CO, CT, IA, IL, KS, MA, MD, MI, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WY, AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, and SK. Garden in Lenawee Co MI, 5/2/12. Mustard family, Brassicaceae.