Brassica rapa subsp. campestris
L., (L.) A. R. Clapham
Wild turnip
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AndraTemruk
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AndraTemruk
gbif· cc-by-nc
AndraTemruk
Summary
Source: WikipediaBrassica rapa is an annual to biennial plant species native to Eurasia that is from the Brassicaceae family. It has been widely cultivated into many forms, including the turnip (a root vegetable), komatsuna, Chinese cabbage, bomdong, pak choi / bok choy, and rapini. Its domesticated forms include turnips and leafy greens, such as bok choy and napa cabbage. The oilseed types are grown for food and industrial uses. Genetic studies indicate that B. rapa was one of the earliest domesticated brassicas, with turnip-like forms arising first and additional morphotypes developing independently across Eurasia. Wild, feral, and cultivated populations are found worldwide, making the species important agriculturally, economically, and ecologically. Brassica rapa subspecies oleifera is an oilseed commonly known as turnip rape, field mustard, bird's rape, and keblock. Rapeseed oil is a general term for oil from some Brassica species. Food grade oil made from the seed of low-erucic acid Canadian-developed strains is also called canola oil, while non-food oil is called colza oil. Canola oil can be sourced from Brassica rapa and Brassica napus, which are commonly grown in Canada, and Brassica juncea, which is less common.
Description
An herb in the cabbage family (Brassicaceae) found in cool temperate regions. The roots, leaves, and flowers are edible portions.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The roots, leaves, and flowers are cooked and eaten.
Traditional Uses
They are cooked and eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
Cultivated varieties of B. rapa are consumed commonly as vegetables, such as turnip roots, napa cabbage, komatsuna, pak choi, and other leafy greens, particularly in East Asian, South Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines. The young leaves are a leaf vegetable eaten raw, while older leaves are typically cooked. The taproot and seeds can also be eaten raw, although the seeds contain an oil that can cause irritation for some people. Rapeseed oil from the plant is also used to make canola and colza oils. B. rapa is also commonly used as a rotational cover crop for vegetables due to its ability to prevent erosion and deter disease. Because of their fast life-cycle and genetic diversity, the B. rapa cultivar Wisconsin Fast Plants is widely used in genetics and plant biology education.
Distribution
A cool temperate plant.
Where It Grows
Africa, Algeria, Arctic, Britain, Europe, Georgia, Ghana, Italy, Libya, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, Pakistan, Russia, SE Asia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia, West Africa,
Notes
There are about 30 Brassica species and many cultivated varieties.
References (8)
- Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 41
- Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 363
- Bussman, R. W., et al, 2021, Unity in diversity—food plants and fungi of Sakartvelo (Republic of Georgia), Caucasus. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2021) 17:72 p 7
- Geraci, A., et al, 2018, The wild taxa utilized as vegetables in Sicily (Italy): a traditional component of the Mediterranean diet. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:14
- GRIN
Show all 8 references Hide references
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 113
- McNaughton,I.H., 1979, Turnip & relatives, in Simmonds N.W.,(ed), Crop Plant Evolution. Longmans. London. p 45
- Pasta, S., et al, 2020, An Updated Checklist of the Sicilian Native Edible Plants: Preserving the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Century-Old Agro-Pastoral Landscapes. Frontiers in Plant Science. Volume 11|Article 388
