Turnip

Turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa )

The turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa ) is a subspecies within the family of cruciferous plants ( Brassicaceae). Forms of it are the Turnip, Teltow turnips, turnip Pfatterer, Gatower ball, Herb slurry and the closely related Bavarian turnip. It is to be distinguished from carbon or rutabagas (Brassica napus subsp napobrassica; well. Brassica napus subsp rapifera. ).

Description

The turnip is a biennial herbaceous plant. It forms the root and the hypocotyl a turnip. Shape and color of the beet are variable: the shape ranges from round to flattened - to long cone-shaped, the color can be black on the outside, gray, white or yellow, in the upper part of the turnip and green or purple. Inside the turnip white or yellowish.

The first true leaves form a loose rosette, as the leaves sit directly on the turnip, this is no discernible "neck". In its heyday, then a leafy, branched stems developed. The lower stem leaves are stalked. Leaf blades are hairy pinnatisect and short bristly.

Use

The turnip is used as a vegetable and as cattle feed. Rare is the use of the young leaves as a leaf vegetable. The beets can be used raw or cooked, they are also eingesäuert.

The development of the beet is rapid, so that it is possible to sow the turnip even after the grain harvest and get to autumn harvestable plants (hence the names turnips, Herb turbidity ). Sown in early spring, is a harvest in May possible ( Turnip ). The cultivation is both possible in a temperate climate as well as in tropical altitudes. Some varieties can be harvested already 50 days after sowing, while others require up to 100 days. Also, there are varieties that are sown in the fall, winter and are harvested in the spring.

History

The turnip could have originated in eastern Afghanistan and western Pakistan, and the Mediterranean basin as a region of origin in question. Early dissemination found in Asia Minor, the Romans and Greeks she was known in pre-Christian times, early mentions of the turnip can be found in Greek and Roman texts. In Vienna Dioscorides there is a color illustration, a white, round turnip shows with fiederspaltigen, at the end broadly rounded leaves. Even in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance herbals you will find the turnip. Archaeological evidence of the seeds are difficult because of the very similar wild turnip (Brassica rapa ssp. Campestris ) spread occurred as arable weeds. In India and China, the turnip was cultivated early on.

System

The turnip is considered a subspecies of turnip rape (Brassica rapa ). Some authors separate the turnip from also as a separate species. Since the turnip is highly variable, it has been described by numerous scientific name. Centers of diversity are Western Europe and Central Asia, Afghanistan, some forms originally appearing are described. A form of turnip is "Italian kale " or " Seven -top turnip " (formerly known as Brassica rapa var septiceps or Brassica septiceps out ), from which the young leaves are used.