Cakile

taxobox
name = "Cakile"


regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Brassicales
familia = Brassicaceae
genus = "Cakile"
genus_authority = Mill.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Cakile arabica"
"Cakile constricta"
"Cakile edentula"
"Cakile geniculata"
"Cakile lanceolata"
"Cakile maritima"
"incomplete list"|

"Cakile" ("Cá-ki-le") is a genus within the flowering plant family Brassicaceae. Species in this genus are commonly known as searockets, though this name on its own is applied particularly to whatever member of the species is native or commonest in the region concerned, the European searocket "Cakile maritima" in Europe, and the American searocket "C. edentula" in North America. The genus is native to Europe, Asia and North America, but the European searocket has been introduced into North America and has spread widely on both east and west coasts; in many places it is replacing the native "C. maritima", and is regarded as an undesirable invasive species.

"Cakile" species grow as perennial plants with an erect or decumbent stem. The common species in Europe and North America grow close to the coast, often in dunes. Their leaves are fleshy. Flowers are typically pale mauve to white, with petals about 1 cm in length; they are rather similar to those of the wild radish (also in family Brassicaceae) which is found in the same regions, and careful attention to the leaves and stems is needed to tell the two plants apart.

External links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?2240,2335 Jepson manual treatment of the genus]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=cakile&mode=sciname&submit.x=9&submit.y=13 USDA PLANTS database entry on "Cakile"]