Turnip
Family Cruciferae (or Brassicaceae)
Brassica rapa, turnip (B. rapa 1), is a biennial with an edible swollen tuberous taproot, with grass-green stalked and bristly leaves. Flowers with bright yellow petals and spreading sepals, the outer 2 stamens being much shorter than the inner 4. Fruit 5-6 cm long, with tapering beak, containing dark coloured seeds.
Use
Cultivated turnips vary in size, shape and colour. Turnip has been known in Europe since prehistoric times. As a native of Central and Southern Europe, it was taken to the New World around 1600. Today it has spread over the world. It is grown chiefly for its swollen root, which is eaten cooked. Roots which are left in the soil over the winter produce leafy tops or ‘turnip tops’, which are used as spring greens (B. rapa 2). Turnips are also used as a fodder for livestock.