Brassica rapa

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 666. 1753.

Common names: Bird-rape wild-rape rapeseed canola turnip wild-turnip turnip-rape field-mustard
WeedyIntroduced
Synonyms: Brassica campestris Linnaeus Brassica campestris var. oleifera de Candolle Brassica chinensis (Loureiro) Ruprecht Brassica pekinensis Loureiro Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis (Linnaeus) Hanelt Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis (Loureiro) Hanelt Sinapis pekinensis
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 423. Mentioned on page 420, 422, 424.

Annuals or biennials; (roots fleshy or slender); (green to slightly glaucous), glabrous or sparsely hairy. Stems unbranched or branched distally, 3–10 dm. Basal leaves: petiole (winged), (1–)2–10(–17) cm; blade ± lyrate-pinnatifid to pinnate to pinnatisect, (5–)10–40(–60) cm × 30–100(–200) mm, (margins sinuate-dentate, sometimes ciliate), lobes 2–4(–6) each side, (terminal lobe oblong-obovate, obtuse, large, blade surfaces usually setose). Cauline leaves (middle and distal) sessile; base auriculate to amplexicaul, (margins subentire). Racemes not paniculately branched, (with open flowers overtopping or equal to buds). Fruiting pedicels ascending to spreading, (5–)10–25(–30) mm. Flowers: sepals (3–)4–6.5(–8) × 1.5–2 mm; petals deep yellow to yellow, obovate, 6–11(–13) × (2.5–)3–6(–7) mm, claw 3–7 mm, apex rounded; filaments 4–6(–7) mm; anthers 1.5–2 mm. Fruits ascending to somewhat spreading, torulose, terete, (2–)3–8(–11) cm × 2–4(–5) mm; valvular segment with 8–15 seeds per locule, (1.3–)2–5(–7.5) cm, terminal segment seedless, 8–22 mm. Seeds black, brown, or reddish, 1.1–2 mm diam.; seed coat very finely reticulate-lightly alveolate, not mucilaginous when wetted. 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Sep.
Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas and waste places, cultivated fields, grain fields, orchards, gardens
Elevation: 0-1500 m

Distribution

V7 625-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon, Ala., Alaska, Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo., Europe, Asia, Africa, introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Atlantic Islands, Australia.

Discussion

Brassica rapa is widely cultivated as an oil crop and vegetable, and cultivars, especially in Asia, have been recognized as species, subspecies, and varieties. The most important crops include: rapeseed or canola, turnip (subsp. rapa), Chinese mustard or pakchoi [subsp. chinensis (Linnaeus) Hanelt], and Chinese cabbage or petsai [subsp. pekinensis (Loureiro) Hanelt]. The species is also a widespread naturalized weed [subsp. sylvestris (Linnaeus) Janchen] throughout temperate North America and elsewhere. It is self-incompatible. Hybridization in the field in Europe has been described between B. napus and B. rapa (R. B. Jørgensen and B. Andersen 1994).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Brassica rapa"
Suzanne I. Warwick +
Linnaeus +
Bird-rape +, wild-rape +, rapeseed +, canola +, turnip +, wild-turnip +, turnip-rape +  and field-mustard +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Man. +, N.B. +, Nfld. and Labr. +, N.W.T. +, N.S. +, Ont. +, P.E.I. +, Que. +, Sask. +, Yukon +, Ala. +, Alaska +, Ariz. +, Ark. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Conn. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Idaho +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Maine +, Md. +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, Mont. +, Nebr. +, Nev. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Mex. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, N.Dak. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Oreg. +, Pa. +, R.I. +, S.C. +, S.Dak. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Utah +, Vt. +, Va. +, Wash. +, W.Va. +, Wis. +, Wyo. +, Europe +, Asia +, Africa +, introduced also in Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, Atlantic Islands +  and Australia. +
0-1500 m +
Roadsides, disturbed areas and waste places, cultivated fields, grain fields, orchards, gardens +
Flowering Apr–Sep. +
Weedy +  and Introduced +
Brassica campestris +, Brassica campestris var. oleifera +, Brassica chinensis +, Brassica pekinensis +, Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis +, Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis +  and Sinapis pekinensis +
Brassica rapa +
Brassica +
species +