Dame's Rocket

(Hesperis matronalis)

Other Names:
Dame's gilliflower, dame's-violet, dames-wort, damask-violet

Range: (Naturalized Non-Native)


Family:
Brassicaceae – Mustard family

Growth Type:
A flowering biennial

Height:
Can grow up to 3-1/2 feet tall

Leaves:
Toothed, lanceolate, leaves arranged alternately along the stem. Leaves nearer the top of the stem have little or no petiole. Leaves lower on the plant stem become wider at the base, and have a longer petiole. Both the top and bottom of the leaves have short hairs, giving them a somewhat rough feeling texture.

Stem/Trunk:
Multiple upright hairy stems

Root:
Fleshy taproot

Flower Season:
Early to mid-spring

Flower Appearance:
Like all members of the mustard family, Dame's rocket has showy 4 petaled flowers with 4 sepals. They range in color from white to purplish, with most being pink or shades of lavender. The many fragrant, showy, flowers are produced on terminal racemes that can be up to a foot tall. These racemes tend to elongate as more and more flowers bloom. Individual flowers can be up to an inch across. The 4 petals are hairless. Each flower has 6 stamens arranged in 2 groups.

Seed/Fruit:
Seeds are produced in thin fruits 5–14 cm long pods, containing two rows of seeds separated by a dimple. The fruit are terete and open by way of glabrous valves, constricted between the seeds like a pea pod. Seeds are oblong, 3–4 mm long and 1–1.5 mm wide.

Miscellaneous characteristics:
Because both genus have similarly colored, showy flower clusters, Hesperis matronalis and Phlox species are often confused. Their similarities are only superficial. They can be distinguished from each other by foliage and flower differences: dame's rocket has alternately arranged leaves and four petals per flower, while phloxes have opposite leaves and five petals.

Habitat:
Rich soils of fields, forest margins, un-tended gardens, and lawn edges

Parts Used:
Young leaves, flowers

Culinary Uses:
Dame's rocket is closely related to arugula, and like arugula, the young leaves make an excellent salad green. The tasty flowers, can also be eaten raw in salads. Be careful not to eat too many olders leaves, as they can have an emetic action.

The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.

Energetics
Taste: Bitter
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Drying

Medicinal Uses:
Dame’s rocket has been used to induce sweating, promote urination, and loosen a cough. The leaves are rich in vitamin C and have been used to treat or prevent scurvy. As with all things, moderation is best, as in A Modern Herbal (1931), Maud Grieve wrote that “a strong dose will cause vomiting".

Medicinal Actions:
Antiscorbutic, Antitusive, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emetic