SafePlants

Sea Rocket: A Coastal Pioneer

Sea Rocket, belonging to the Cakile genus, is a fascinating plant adapted to thrive in harsh coastal environments. Several species exist, each with unique characteristics and distributions.

Scientific Classification

• Genus: Cakile
• Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard family)
• Kingdom: (Not specified in the text, but assumed to be Plantae)

Nomenclature

• Scientific Names: Cakile edentula (American sea-rocket), Cakile maritima (European sea-rocket)
• Common Names: Sea Rocket, American sea-rocket, European sea-rocket
• Synonyms: Several species of Sea Rocket are mentioned, indicating possible synonymy or subspecies relationships, but these are not definitively stated.

Distribution and Habitat

• Sea rockets are native to seashore regions, particularly in North America and Europe.
• Cakile edentula is native to the east coast of North America and can also be found along the Atlantic coast.
• Cakile maritima is native to Europe and the Mediterranean, and has been introduced to other regions, including the west coast of North America (California to British Columbia), Australia, and New Zealand.
• Specific locations mentioned include the British Isles, the Western Isles, Finland, the Dutch North Sea coast, Illinois, Marshside (Southport, Sefton Coast), Spanish Mediterranean coastal dunes (Valencia), South Devon coast, Northumbria coast, North Redington Beach (Florida Central Gulf Coast), Stronsay (Orkney Islands, Scotland).

Ecological Role

• Sea rockets are considered pioneer species, meaning they are among the first plants to colonize barren areas.
• They are able to colonize areas of bare coastal sand and seaweed heaps, binding soil with their roots.
• In some regions, such as Japan, American sea-rocket (Cakile edentula) is considered invasive.
• There are instances of sequential invasion and replacement of native species by sea rocket on the west coast of North America and in Australia.

Morphological Characteristics

• Sea rocket is an annual plant of the coastal dunes.
• It forms as a low mound.
• The fleshy-leaved sea rocket has shoots that tolerate coastal conditions.
• Sea Rocket is the only plant with lilac or mauve colored petals which also grows near the sea.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Sea rocket feeder roots can be infected by root-knot nematodes.
• The Sand Dart (Agrotis ripae) eats Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima).

Further Information

• Project Noah is a tool for exploring and documenting local wildlife.

Quirky Facts

• Sea rocket is related to arugula (rocket) and is edible, offering a healthy and nutritious addition to the diet.