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Brassica rapa
Also called Common mustard, Wild turnip, Turnip, Bird's Rape, Rape, Rape Mustard, Wild Mustard
Field mustard is an annual or biennial brassica grown for its oil, leaves and roots, including turnip, bok choy and napa cabbage. It grows best in full sun with steady moisture and is usually grown as a crop or cover crop rather than an ornamental.
Brassica rapa is an annual to biennial plant species native to Eurasia that is from the Brassicaceae family. The B. rapa subspecies oleifera is an oilseed commonly known as turnip rape, field mustard, bird's rape, and keblock.
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 is an early-season nectar and pollen source for a wide range of insects. Numerous pollinators are attracted to its bright yellow flowers, including bees, flies, and butterflies. A common visitor, the small white butterfly (Pieris rapae) uses the plant both as a nectar source and as a host for larval feeding. Conversely, insect pollination is also very important to the plant; insect pollination of B. rapa leads to 30% more yield when compared to self-fertilizing controls. Furthermore, B. rapa can undergo rapid genomic adaptations when selected on by bumblebees.
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.
Abyssinian mustard · Mustard · Zha cai · India mustard · Rutabaga · Rapeseed · Tatsoi · Rhamphospermum nigrum · Gai lan · Cauliflower · Cabbage · Brussels sprout
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Brassica rapa by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
