In the summer of 2009, a scandal shook German rocket farmers when a Hamburg customer found a ragwort stalk in a pack of rocket. The farmers then feared for their existence, but the find has so far remained an isolated case. The probability of finding the poisonous plant, also known as ragwort, in a pack from the supermarket is very low - in addition, rocket and ragwort can be distinguished quite easily. More dangerous, however, is the risk of confusion with frequently collected medicinal herbs, such as St. John's wort.

Ragwort and arugula only look similar at first glance

How does the ragwort get into the arugula?

Rocket is now grown on large arable land and is primarily harvested, sorted and packaged by machine. Ragwort, on the other hand, is a common weed that has also spread rapidly in recent years. Of course, the poisonous plant, which is difficult to combat, also grows in arugula fields, but is usually sorted out during the harvesting and packaging process.

Distinguish between arugula and ragwort

Basically, arugula and ragwort are easy to tell apart and the likelihood of you accidentally eating the poisonous herb is very low. Ragwort is visually striking in a bowl of rocket, and it also tastes unpleasant due to the bitter substances. You can use the following list to tell the two herb plants apart:

  • Arugula leaves are significantly lighter and larger than those of ragwort.
  • In addition, the rocket has very pronounced leaf veins
  • as well as a characteristic strong odor.
  • Furthermore, rocket leaves are hairless.
  • Ragwort leaves, on the other hand, are darker, smaller, and more thistle-like.
  • In addition, they are hairy like cobwebs, at least in younger plants.

So it makes sense to thoroughly check and wash bought lettuce before eating it, not just to sort out any poisonous plants that may be in it.

Be careful when collecting wild herbs

On the other hand, greater care is required with collected wild plants and wild plants, because many a daisy family used as a medicinal plant looks confusingly similar to the dangerous Jacob's ragwort. So if you want to collect St. John's wort, for example, you should be very knowledgeable - or ask someone who knows. Incidentally, the same applies to salads and herbs from the garden, because the very vigorous and difficult to control ragweed can also spread quickly there.

tips

Caution is also required with herbal teas - not only with self-collected mixtures. Traces of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids were found in chamomile teas in particular.

Category:

Herbs