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Brassica rapa oleifera

Common name:	Stubble Turnip	Family:	Cruciferae
Author:	(DC.)Metzg.	Botanical references:	74
Synonyms:	Brassica campestris oleifera (DC.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	A cultivated form of B. rapa.
Habitat:	Not known in the wild.
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	B. campestris[B,P] B. campestris a. oleifera[G] B. campestris ssp. campestris[P] B. campestris ssp. rapifera[P] B. campestris var. oleifera[P] B. campestris var. rapa[B,P] B. rapa c. oleifera[G] B. rapa ssp. campestris[B,P] B. rapa ssp. olifera[B,P] B. rapa ssp. sylvestris[B,P] B. rapa subsp. oleifera[G,H] B. rapa var. campestris[B,P] B. rapa var. oleifera[P] B. rapa var. rapa[B,P] B. rapa var. silvestris[P] Caulanthus sulfureus[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Birdrape [P], Colza [P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	rapa = turnip (like)
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Capparales. Renamed to Brassicaceae -- Mustard family

Physical Characteristics

Biennial growing to 0.9m. It is not frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

Leaves Oil Root.

Root - cooked[74]. Similar in taste to the garden turnip but a bit coarser[87], the young roots can be grated and used in salads whilst older roots are best cooked and used as a vegetable[K]. They are usually available from the autumn until early spring and can be left in the ground in all but the coldest winters[K].
Leaves - raw or cooked. A bit on the coarse side, though the young leaves can be added in moderation to salads whilst older leaves make an acceptable vegetable[K].
An edible oil is obtained from the seeds.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Green manure.

A good green manure crop[87]. Fast growing and quickly producing a good bulk, the leaves die down in severe winters.

Cultivation details

Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[200]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil.
A fairly deep rooted plant, stubble turnip is mainly grown as a feed for farm animals though it is also suitable for human consumption, especially if eaten when small[87, K]. It is fast growing plant[87], a crop of young roots can be harvested 8 weeks after sowing. The plant is very cold tolerant and is usually left in the ground all winter to be harvested as required. The plant is also grown for its oil-rich seeds.
A good bee plant[108].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ from March to July. A late July sowing produces a worthwhile bulk to dig in during October.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

References for Brassica rapa subsp. oleifera (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.

References for Brassica rapa var. rapa (a possible synonym).

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[PHARM] Phytochemical Data (common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for Brassica rapa var. silvestris (a possible synonym).

[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[74] Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.

[87] Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. 1982
Green manure crops for temperate areas. Quite a lot of information on a number of species.

[108] International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981
The title says it all.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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