Knowra Brassica rapa Brassica rapa Brassica rapa is a mustard-family species whose cultivated forms include turnips, napa cabbage, bok choy, and rapini. Its varieties differ greatly in the plant parts selected for food.
Brassicaceae : A family of flowering plants that includes cabbages, mustards, radishes, and their relatives. Brassica rapa belongs to this family, whose shared traits help distinguish its relatives.
Turnip : A root vegetable produced by selected forms of Brassica rapa, usually with a swollen edible storage root. Turnips are a major root-crop form of the species.
Brassica rapa life cycle : The progression of Brassica rapa from seed through vegetative growth, flowering, seed production, and senescence. Its annual or biennial growth pattern shapes cultivation and breeding.
East Asian domestication of Brassica rapa : The domestication history that gave rise to several leafy and heading Brassica rapa crops in East Asia. It helps explain the origins of napa cabbage and bok choy.
Brassica oleracea : A mustard-family species that includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. Its familiar crops are often confused with B. rapa crops but belong to another species.
Brassica : A genus of flowering plants that includes cabbage, mustard, rapeseed, and several other crops. Brassica rapa is one species in this crop-rich genus.
Napa cabbage : An Asian cabbage with an elongated, tightly layered head, cultivated from Brassica rapa. This leafy crop is one of the species’ best-known forms.
Brassica rapa self-incompatibility : A pollen-recognition system in Brassica rapa that can prevent fertilization by genetically similar plants. This system affects seed production and the maintenance of genetic diversity.
European turnip domestication : The historical selection of Brassica rapa forms for enlarged storage roots in Europe. It traces the distinct history of the species’ root-crop forms.
Brassica napus : A mustard-family species that includes oilseed rape, rutabaga, and some vegetable crops. It is a distinct crop species and a frequent source of confusion around canola.
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