Lincoln’s-weed (Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Syst. Nat. 2: 632 (1821))

Family: Brassicaceae

Author: (L.) DC.

Bibliography: Syst. Nat. 2: 632 (1821)

Year: 1821

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Diplotaxis

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Europe to Medit.

Description

Lincoln’s-weed, officially known by its scientific name Diplotaxis tenuifolia, is a flowering plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family. This robust perennial is native to a wide geographic range extending from various parts of Europe to the Mediterranean region.

Characterized by its finely dissected, narrow leaves, Lincoln’s-weed presents a distinct visual appeal. The leaves are typically arranged in a rosette formation at the base of the plant, growing alternately up towards the stem. The plant’s foliage exudes a slightly spicy aroma, a characteristic feature of many members within the mustard family.

Diplotaxis tenuifolia blooms generously from late spring through to autumn, showcasing clusters of small, bright yellow flowers. Each inflorescence is composed of four petals, embodying the classic cruciform shape associated with the Brassicaceae family. The flowers, rich in nectar, attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, thus playing an integral role in the local ecosystem’s biodiversity.

The plant thrives in a range of soil types but shows a preference for well-drained, sandy, or loamy soils. Due to its resilience and adaptability, Lincoln’s-weed is commonly found in disturbed grounds, roadsides, and urban environments as well as more rural and natural settings.

In addition to its ecological contributions, Lincoln’s-weed has made its mark within the culinary world. The young leaves are edible, often relished in salads and as garnishes. Known for their slightly peppery flavor, they add a distinct zest to various dishes.

The first recorded mention of Diplotaxis tenuifolia dates back to 1821 in the reference work Systema Naturae (Syst. Nat. 2: 632), attributed to the renowned botanist (L.) DC. Over the centuries, botanists and herbalists have continued to study this plant, appreciating both its versatility and its role within its native habitats.

In conclusion, Lincoln’s-weed (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) is a noteworthy member of the Brassicaceae family, valued for its botanical intrigue, ecological importance, and culinary applications. Originating from Europe to the Mediterranean, this hardy perennial continues to thrive across various landscapes, showcasing its vibrant yellow blooms and aromatic foliage to the delight of both humans and pollinators alike.

Common Names

Dan: almindelig valnød, figen, sandsennep, søblad
Eng: chilpanunda-weed, lincoln’s-weed, perennial wall-rocket, perennial wallrocket, flixweed, perennial rocket, perennial wall rocket, sand mustard, sand rocket, slim-leaf wall rocket, wall rocket, greater wall mustard, slender-leaved wall rocket, slim-leaved wall rocket
Pol: dwurząd wąskolitny
Swe: fikon, gräslök, sjögull, valnöt, isohietasinappi, sandsenap
Deu: schmalblaettriger doppelsame, schmalblättriger doppelsame, schmallblättriger doppelsame, schmalblättriger doppelrauke
Lit: siauralapis šatreinis
Heb: turayim tzareh-alim, טוריי
Fra: diplotaxe vulgaire, roquette jaune, diplotaxe à feuilles ténues, diplotaxis à feuilles menues
Ces: dvojradovka tenkolistá, křez tenkolistý
Nld: grote zandkool
Fin: isohietasinappi
Ita: perennial wild mustard, rucola, rucola mata
Nob: steinsennep
Nno: steinsennep
Est: võõr-liivsinep
Lav: šaurlapu divsēkle, šaurlapu dvisēkle
Cym: cedu’r tywod, cedw y tywod, chwyn drewllyd y tywod, mwstard y tywod, roced-y-muriau meinddail
En: Lincoln’s-weed, Perennial rocket, Perennial wall rocket, Sand mustard, Sand rocket, Slim-leaf wall rocket, Wall rocket, Flixweed, Chilpanunda-weed, Perennial wallrocket, Lincoln Weed (Australia), Perennial Wild Arugula, Perennial Wild Rocket, Wall-rocket, Perennial Wall-rocket, Greater wall mustard, Slender-leaved wall rocket, Slim-leaved wall rocket
Ar: خفج رقيق الأوراق
Eu: Basa errukula
Bg: Тънколистна двуредка
Ca: Crèspol, Ravenissa tenuïfòlia
Hr: Dvoredac
Cs: Křez tenkolistý, Dvojradovka tenkolistá
Da: Almindelig valnød, Figen, Sandsennep, Søblad
Nl: Grote zandkool, Gewone Zandkool
Et: Võõr-liivsinep
Fi: Isohietasinappi
Fr: Roquette jaune, Diplotaxis à feuilles ténues, Narrow-leaved wall-rocket, Diplotaxe vulgaire, Diplotaxe à feuilles ténues, Diplotaxis à feuilles menues, Diplotaxis à feuilles étroites, Herbe puante
De: Schmalblättriger Doppelrauke, Schmalblättriger Doppelsame, Feinblättriger Doppelsame, Stinkrauke, Schmallblättriger Doppelsame, Schmalblaettriger Doppelsame
He: Turayim tzareh-alim, טוריי, טוריים צרי-עלים
It: Perennial wild mustard, Rucola, Rucola mata, Ruchetta selvatica, Rucoletta
Lv: Šaurlapu divsēkle, Šaurlapu dvisēkle
Lt: Siauralapis šatreinis
Nb: Steinsennep
Nn: Steinsennep
Pl: Dwurząd wąskolistny, Dwurząd wąskolitny
Ru: Двурядник тонколистный
Sr: Дворедац
Sk: Dvojradovka tenkolistá
Es: Jaramago Silvestre
Sv: Sandsenap, Fikon, Gräslök, Sjögull, Valnöt, Isohietasinappi
Uk: Дворядник тонколистий
Cy: Roced-y-muriau meinddail, Cedu’r Tywod, Cedw y Tywod, Chwyn Drewllyd y Tywod, Mwstard y Tywod

Synonyms

• Sisymbrium sylvestre (Burm.f.)
• Sisymbrium tenuifolium (L.)
• Eruca perennis (Mill.)
• Diplotaxis tenuifolia var. integrifolia (W.D.J.Koch)
• Diplotaxis tenuifolia f. sulphurescens (Johanss.)
• Eruca muralis (G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.)
• Sisymbrium acre (Lam.)
• Eruca silvestris (Garsault)
• Brassica muralis (Huds.)
• Eruca tenuifolia (Moench)
• Diplotaxis tenuifolia f. integrifolia ((W.D.J.Koch) De Langhe)
• Diplotaxis fruticulosa (Tod. ex Caruel)
• Sinapis tenuifolia (W.T.Aiton)
• Diplotaxis variabilis (Rochel)
• Crucifera tenuifolia (E.H.L.Krause)
• Sisymbrium cartilagineum (Pall. ex DC.)
• Diplotaxis ramosissima (Spreng.)
• Diplotaxis tanaitica (Schtscherb.)
• Diplotaxis tenuifolia f. manubricata (Johanss.)
• Sisymbrium catholicum (Boeber)
• Brassica tenuifolia ((L.) Baill.)
• Diplotaxis kovacsiae (Pénzes)
• Erysimum tenuifilium (Clairv.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Italy (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• North Caucasus (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 4, 2019 by Colette Dorion (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2017 by Jean-Philippe Michot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 4, 2019 by Colette Dorion (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 1, 2017 by Jean-Francois Dumas (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Oct 29, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 30, 2019 by johannasa (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 6, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Sep 24, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 29, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 6, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 25, 2019 by Jean Marc Poggi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Jardin Des Cocagnous (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 17, 2021 by 67terzi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 7, 2021 by raphaelh (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 20, 2022 by Simba (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2020 by Ecker Klaus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 3, 2021 by Chi-Ra (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 21, 2021 by margarida vila (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2021 by michel cosme (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 4, 2019 by glen schler (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 19, 2015 by Tela Botanica − zia (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5376426)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1028648-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.)

Specifications

Growth