Erucaria hispanica

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A herb. It can grow for one or two years. It grows 80 cm high. It develops branches low down. The leaves are twice divided into narrow lobes. The leaves at the base are almost in a ring. They are 10-18 cm long and 4-5 cm wide. The higher leaves are smaller. The flowers are about 1 cm across and mauve. There are about 30-45 flowers in a loose flower arrangement. The fruit is dry and long. It is about 10-15 mm long. It is fatter at the top end.

Where it is found

A Mediterranean plant. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bahrain, Britain, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria, United Arab Emirates, UAE

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw. The stems and leaves are used as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kotsinolapsana, Lapsana

Synonyms

Bunias myagroides L.; Erucaria aleppica Gaertn.; Erucaria boveana Coss.; Ericaria grandiflora Boiss.; Erucaria lineariloba Boiss.; Erucaria tenuifolia DC.; Sinapis hispanica L.;