Herb: Sea Rocket


Latin name: Cakile maritima


Synonyms: Bunias cakile, Cakile edentula


Family: Cruciferae



Edible parts of Sea Rocket:

Leaves, stems, flower buds and immature seedpods - raw or cooked. They are rich in vitamin C but have a very bitter taste. Used mainly as a flavouring. Very young leaves can be added to salads whilst older leaves can be mixed with milder tasting leaves and used as a potherb. Root - dried and ground into a powder, then mixed with cereal flours and used to make bread. A famine food, it is only used in times of scarcity. The seed contains a fatty oil. No more details are given.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Annual


Height:
30 cm
(11 3/4 inch)

Flowering:
June to
August

Habitat of the herb:

Sandy and shingly places all around the coast.

Propagation of Sea Rocket:

Seed - sow late spring or early autumn in situ. Germination is usually rapid.

Cultivation of the herb:

Sandy and shingly places all around the coast.

Medicinal use of Sea Rocket:

None known

Known hazards of Cakile maritima:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.