Content
- Arugula and dandelion differ from each other
- Differences of leaves - are there any?
- Differences of the flowers - obviously
- Dandelion and rocket - location
- Tips
Arugula (pictured here) and dandelion leaves look similar, but at the latest the taste of the difference is clear
Arugula and dandelion differ from each other
You are standing in the garden at your only a few weeks ago created bed. Now there is a plant that looks like dandelion. Moment: Or is it rather rocket? How to find out which of the two plants is what you will find out below!
Differences of leaves - are there any?
If only the leaves are present, it can be difficult to distinguish dandelion from arugula by looking at it alone. The leaves of both plants are lanceolate, oblong, medium to dark green, smooth and deeply toothed or slotted on the edge.
The easiest way to distinguish the leaves is to pick them. The bitter leaves of the dandelion are thinner, smoother and almost waxy coated. The spicy-tasting leaves of arugula and wild rocket are rougher and rougher. As a rule, they are smaller too.
Differences of the flowers - obviously
Much better to distinguish these two herbs during their flowering period. On the one hand, the dandelion flowers much earlier in the year. Its heyday usually begins in April. The rocket blooms only in midsummer, when the dandelion usually takes a break from blossoming.
The dandelion flowers look very different than the flowers of the rocket or the wild rocket:
The rocket belongs to the cruciferous family and its flowers are cross-like. They are smaller than those of the dandelion and are several together in an inflorescence. They are unfilled and their yellow color is usually a bit paler. In addition, they are composed of four roundish and overlapping petals and not tens of petals.
Dandelion and rocket - location
The location claims of these two plants are also quite different. While the dandelion seeks nutrient-rich, moist soil, the arugula prefers to grow in nutrient-poor and dry soil. It is rarely found on meadows, but rather on roadsides, on fallow land, on railway embankments and screes.
Tips
Also with other wild herbs, the dandelion is easy to confuse. Caution is therefore required when collecting and eating! There is a poisonous doppelganger ...