Brassica
| Brassica | ||||||||||||
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| About a dozen, see text |
Brassica is a plant genus, in the family Brassicaceae (formerly the Cruciferae). The members of the genus may be collectively known either as the cabbages, or as mustards.
It contains a number of important agricultural and horticultural crops. It also includes a number of weeds. Almost all parts of some species or other have been developed for food, including the root (swedes, turnips), stems (kohl rabi), leaves (cabbage, Brussels sprouts), flowers (cauliflower, broccoli), and seeds (many, including mustard seed, oilseed rape). Some forms with white or purple foliage or flowerheads, are also sometimes grown for ornament.
Numerous varieties exist, and the following list only has a selection of them.
Species and subspecies by botanic and varietal names
- Brassica carinata - Abyssinian mustard or Abyssinian cabbage.
- Brassica cernua - Chinese cabbage
- Brassica juncea - Brown and leaf mustards
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala - Kale
- Brassica oleracea var. caulorapa - kohl-rabi
- Brassica oleracea var. botrytis - Cauliflower
- Brassica oleracea var. capitata - cabbage
- Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera - Brussels sprouts
- Brassica oleracea italica - broccoli
- Brassica napus -mustard, oilseed rape or canola
- Brassica rapa - turnip
- Brassica rapa var. chinensis - bok choi
- Brassica rutabaga - rutabaga, also known as swede