DIPLOTAXIS ERUCOIDES: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CARE, PROPERTIES - BIOLOGY - 2025

Diplotaxis erucoides is a species of invasive herbaceous plant that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Known as billoreta, dandelion, white dandelion, wild caterpillar, radish, white radish, citrons radish or roqueta, it is a species native to the Mediterranean basin.

It is an annual herb with an erect, thin and hairy stem of low growth, the lower leaves are grouped in rosettes, the upper ones are serrated. The actinomorphic flowers with four petals are arranged in a cross, are white with purple hues and bloom practically all year round.

Diplotaxis erucoides. Source: Tylwyth Eldar / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

It is considered a weed in cultivated fields, both irrigated and dry, being frequent in continental and coastal regions. In addition, it is a melliferous plant, whose pollen attracts bees to the detriment of many species of agricultural interest that tend to reduce their yield.

The tender shoots, fresh leaves and flowers are used in gastronomy as a dressing for the preparation of sauces and salads. It also contains certain secondary metabolites that provide antibacterial, antiscorbutic, stimulant, expectorant and diuretic properties.

General characteristics

Diplotaxis erucoides flower. Source: Daniel VILLAFRUELA / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Appearance

Herbaceous plant with an annual or biennial cycle according to environmental conditions. Pivoting root, erect, branched and purplish stem with abundant glaucous hairs, they are between 10 and 50 cm high.

Leaves

The basal leaves are petiolate, irregular in shape with elliptical or oblong lobes and are arranged in a rosette shape. The upper leaves are smaller, sessile, with serrated margins and alternately arranged.

flowers

The hermaphrodite flowers are actinomorphic in symmetry, have four rounded white petals with purple spots and are arranged in the shape of a cross. The calyx has free and pubescent sepals of light green color, the stamens are arranged in two levels. They are usually grouped in terminal inflorescences.

Fruit

The fruit is a dehiscent and slightly pubescent silique or capsule, formed by two compressed valves with a visible nerve on their central axis. Elliptical and brown seeds are located in two rows within each loculum.

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Subclass: Dilleniidae

- Order: Capparales

- Family: Brassicaceae

- Tribe: Brassiceae

- Gender: Diplotaxis

- Species: Diplotaxis erucoides DC, 1821

Etymology

- Diplotaxis: the name of the genus comes from the Greek «diplóos» and «taxis», which mean «double» and «placing in order». Which is translated into "double order", in relation to the arrangement of the seeds in two rows in each loculus of the fruit.

- Erucoides: the specific adjective derives from the Latin «eruca» which means «shaped like a caterpillar».

Leaves of Diplotaxis erucoides. Source: Daniel VILLAFRUELA / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Habitat and distribution

It is a natural wild herb of the Mediterranean region that is geographically distributed in southern Europe and western Asia, both in continental and coastal environments. It is generally located in anthropic environments, vacant lands, fallows, ditches, boundaries, on the side of roads or water courses, even invading farm fields.

It is a very prolific species that adapts its reproductive cycle to various edaphoclimatic conditions to flourish throughout the year. It is considered an invasive plant that acts as a weed for various commercial crops, it is usually fought since it competes for light, water and nutrients with established crops.

It reproduces easily after the first rainfalls, quickly covering large areas of land, often in association with the Calendula arvensis species. At the beginning of spring, when it presents the maximum degree of flowering, its flowers attract a greater number of pollinating insects than commercial fruit trees in flower.

Diplotaxis erucoides in its natural habitat. Source: Javier martin / Public domain

Care

- White radish grows on damp soils with a sandy-loam or clay-loam texture, with a slightly acidic or slightly alkaline neutral pH.

- Because it is a plant considered a weed, its commercial cultivation is limited. Therefore, it naturally adapts to the prevailing conditions where it has become feral.

- It blooms with greater intensity at the end of winter or early spring. High temperatures favor its flowering, invigorating the process until the end of summer.

- It does not have specific demands on lighting needs, since it can be developed both in full sun exposure and in partial shade. However, in semi-shade the flowering will be less intense.

- It develops better in warm temperature environments, being little tolerant to low temperatures.

- Regular rainfall during the rainy season is sufficient for its maximum development. Indeed, they adapt to conditions of water deficit, from dry and poor embankments to vacant and abandoned land.

Vineyard invaded by Diplotaxis erucoides. Source: Michel Chauvet / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Medicinal properties

Chemical composition

In chemical analysis of the leaves, it has been possible to determine the presence of vitamin A, thiamine (B ₁), riboflavin (B ₂) and vitamin C or ascorbic acid. It contains significant amounts of the minerals calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and potassium, as well as antioxidant compounds such as carotenoids, chlorophylls and polyphenols.

In radish, the presence of a secondary metabolite known as glycosinolate, very common in brassicaceae, is common. This substance is a potentially toxic sulfur glycoside when hydrolyzed, with an irritant, goitrogenic, hemolytic and hepatotoxic effect.

Medicinal properties

The leaves and flowers of the radish are used to prepare decoctions or infusions with an antibacterial, antiscorbutic, stimulating and expectorant effect. Indeed, its intake is indicated in cases of aphonia, tonsillitis, asthma, bronchitis or pharyngitis. Used topically as a gargle, it is used as an expectorant to relieve hoarseness.

Food properties

Only the tender stems and fresh leaves are eaten as vegetables in salads, due to their pleasant spicy flavor. In the same way, it is used as a dressing for soups or stews. The mature or mature leaves tend to be toxic.

On the other hand, its flowers have a taste and aroma similar to mustard. Indeed, the crushed flowers mixed with oil and vinegar, make it possible to prepare a vinaigrette with a particular flavor to dress meats and salads.

Forage use

It is usually used as a food supplement for livestock, whether they are cows, horses, poultry, rabbits, sheep or goats. In the same way it is used to feed domestic birds such as canaries, goldfinches, lilies and greenfinches.

References

1. Diplotaxiserucoides. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
2. Diplotaxiserucoides (2018) Amicsde les Muntanyes. Recovered in: amicsdelesmuntanyesibi.es
3. The White Radish (Diplotaxiserucoides) (2019) Flora and fauna of Malpica de Tajo. Recovered in: acorral.es
4. Mayor, T. (2013) Diplotaxiserucoides. Wild flowers and plants. Recovered in: fotosfloresdelcampo.blogspot.com
5. Portillo, G. (2018) Diplotaxiserucoides. Gardening On. Recovered in: jardineriaon.com
6. Rojas Chávez, S. & Vibrans, H. (2004). Mexican Weed Catalog: Brassicaceae Family (Cruciferae).