*Brassica rapa Linnaeus. Common name: Turnip, Bird's-rape, Field Rape, Field Mustard, Bok-choy, Chinese Cabbage. Phenology: Mar-Jun. Habitat: Fields, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.
Origin/Endemic status: Eurasia
Taxonomy Comments: B. rapa is cultivated in a variety of forms, these sometimes given varietal rank, such as B. rapa var. chinensis (Linnaeus) Kitamura (Bok-choy or Pak-choi) and B. rapa var. amplexicaulis Tanaka & Ono (Chinese Cabbage). They are probably best regarded as cultivars.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA7, Il, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, Tn, Al-Shehbaz (1985b), Rollins (1993); > Brassica campestris L. — G, GrPl, S, S13, Tat, Tx; > Brassica napus L. — RAB; > Brassica rapa L. — G, GrPl, Tx; > Brassica rapa L. var. amplexiaculis Tanaka & Ono; > Brassica rapa L. var. chinensis (L.) Kitam. — K4; > Brassica rapa L. var. rapa — K4, Va, WH3; Brassica rapa L. Basionym: Brassica rapa L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Brassica rapa - FNA7
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL
- Great Plains: UPL
- Midwest: UPL
- Northcentral & Northeast: UPL
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Rob Gardner | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Rob Gardner | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Weedy annual of fields and disturbed areas. Native of Europe, now throughout North America.
Stems: Stems succulent, unbranched to branched above, mostly smooth, gray-green and white-waxy.
Leaves: Basal and lower leaves to 10 in. long, on winged petioles, pinnately divided into pairs of toothed lateral lobes and one larger terminal lobe; upper stem leaves smaller with clasping, ear-lobed bases.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in erect-ascending terminal racemes that elongate as fruit matures, yellow, about ½ in. wide, consisting of 4 rounded petals, 4 sepals, several stamens, and a pistil; blooming successively up the stem.
Fruits: Fruit a linear, ascending pod with narrowed tip.
Comments: A widespread naturalized weed, Brassica rapa is widely cultivated as an oil crop and vegetable.
Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Weedy annual of fields and disturbed areas. Native of Europe, now throughout North America.
stems: Stems succulent, unbranched to branched above, mostly smooth, gray-green and white-waxy.
leaves: Basal and lower leaves to 10 in. long, on winged petioles, pinnately divided into pairs of toothed lateral lobes and one larger terminal lobe; upper stem leaves smaller with clasping, ear-lobed bases.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in erect-ascending terminal racemes that elongate as fruit matures, yellow, about ½ in. wide, consisting of 4 rounded petals, 4 sepals, several stamens, and a pistil; blooming successively up the stem.
fruits: Fruit a linear, ascending pod with narrowed tip.
comments: A widespread naturalized weed, Brassica rapa is widely cultivated as an oil crop and vegetable.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: Europe
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