Turkish Rocket
Given Name: Bunias orientalis
Nicknames: hill mustard, warty cabbage
Yeah, I'm a weed! What's it to ya? I'm determined to make it in this crazy world- is that such a bad thing?
Not everyone leads a sheltered life like broccoli, cucumber, spinach and tomatoes. It's easy to be nice and unassuming when everyone hands you what you need on a silver platter. When you have to fight everyday for your survival, like me, you get good at it. In fact, I can be so scrappy that certain places have classified me as invasive. But you gotta understand what I've been through. I wasn't given the breaks other vegetables were.
I was left to grow in waste places while other vegetables were coddled in nutrient rich garden soil.
But I grew tap roots.
They let me bring water and nutrients from deep in the soil so that I can grow despite droughts and poor soils.
I also produced seeds... and lots of them.
They give me every chance to survive the harsh conditions I often endure.
I haven't had an easy life, okay? I'm not even exactly sure where I'm from. The Caucasus Mountains? Eastern Europe? Central Asia? Does it really matter? All I know is that for a very long time I was stuck in that native range. My seeds kept me from traveling: unlike dandelion seeds that are carried by the wind, black walnuts that can float down a river or raspberries that are eaten by birds and the seeds are pooped out miles away, my peppercorn-like seeds simply stay where they fall. Then, about 250 years ago I actually caught a break: I hitched rides with people.
As the Russian army fought Napoleon, they spread my seeds across Europe in horse fodder and I made it to Sweden inside a shipment of grain.
You'd better believe I wasn't going to throw away these opportunities...
...so I spread!
Now, having spread throughout Sweden's capital, the Thai community in Oslo appreciates my in-your-face presence. I remind them of a similar plant from Thailand and so every summer before I bloom, the local Thai population harvests loads of me. See, I can be likeable.
I'm just rough around the edges... literally: my leaves are toothed and covered in hairs. But my leaves, stems, spring shoots and flowering stalks are all edible. Even my roots can be grated for a salad.
I don't often admit this, but as well as being yummy, I'm kind of a softy under my thick skin. I look out for the pollinators. They tickle my little yellow blooms- tee hee... I mean... ahem... I don't care... they're stupidheads. Don't smile at me like that. I'm aggressive- grrrr! But my aggressive behaviour is even a benefit in disguise. I'm an early succession species that quickly covers disturbed soil to prevent soil erosion from wind or water.
People might not like how I act but life's not always about people.
Sure, sometimes I'm not proud of my actions but I have to look out for number one! Because if I don't, who will? But maybe now, after centuries of being pushed to the wayside, more people will start to appreciate me. It's true that recently some have been planting me in food forests and edible landscapes. These people don't mind my belligerent ways. They actually choose me, as much for my strength and resilience, as for my hidden goodwill.
So why don't you try using me just like you would my pampered cousins, broccoli, kale and collard greens? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what this tough plant has to offer.
Keep Surviving,
Determined Turkish Rocket
References:
Barstow, S. (2019, November 6). Grated Turkish Rocket. Edimentals [blog]. https://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=23753
Barstow, S. (n.d.). Turkish Rocket in Oslo: A Thai specialty vegetable. Edimentals [blog]. https://www.edimentals.com/blog/?page_id=3036
CABI (2019, December 2). Bunias orientalis (Turkish Warty Cabbage).
Crawford, M. (2010). Creating a Forest Garden: Working with nature to grow edible crops. Cambridge: Green Books Ltd., pp 215.
Jacke, D., Toensmeier, E. (2005). Edible Forest Gardens: Volume Two. White River Junction: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, pp 470-1.
Kitsteiner, J. (n.d.) Permaculture Plant: Turkish Rocket. Temperate Climate Permaculture. http://tcpermaculture.com/site/2014/02/12/permaculture-plants-turkish-rocket/
Koch, M.A., Michling, F., Walther, A. et al. Early-Mid Pleistocene genetic differentiation and range expansions as exemplified by invasive Eurasian Bunias orientalis (Brassicaceae) indicates the Caucasus as key region. Sci Rep7, 16764 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17085-8
Michigan Flora Online. A. A. Reznicek, E. G. Voss, & B. S. Walters. February 2011. University of Michigan. Web. March 23, 2021. https://michiganflora.net/species.aspx?id=618
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