Rocket (Eruca sativa or Brassica eruca)

Annual, easily grown from seed. Its use is almost entirely limited to salads, but for that purpose, it is one of the most exciting green things I know. Most people assure me that it is the same herb as that known as arugula in the Italian-American markets. My memory is of a less distinctive flavor, but growing conditions may be responsible. Rocket does take a number of other names in Italy: Rochetta, ruchetta, ruccola, rughetta, some suspiciously resembling arugula in sound.