Diplotaxis (plant)

Diplotaxis (wall-rocket) is a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), native to Europe, the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia, Western Asia, the Himalayas, and northeastern tropical Africa; the species diversity is highest in the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa and the Cape Verde archipelago. They are annual or perennial plants, either herbaceous or sub-shrubby with a woody base. The flowers are yellow in most species, but are white in Diplotaxis erucoides and violet in Diplotaxis acris. Some species, such as Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Diplotaxis muralis, have been historically used as leaf vegetables, are similar to Eruca sativa in their peppery flavour, and are used interchangeably with it.