Brassica rapa ssp. Campestris. (Wild Turnip)
Family: Brassicaceae.
Hight: 1.2m
Wild turnip is a close botanical relative to the cultivated turnip. It is a common, hardy tall flowering plant, which can germinate any time of the year; unlike many annual plants. Wild turnip grows commonly in disturbed ground and is unwelcomed in arable land, due to its ability to also starve surrounding crop plants of light, nutrients and water. Belonging to the same family as other brassica crops, such as turnips and cabbages, it has the same resistant to the herbicides used to control unwanted wild plants growing amongst cropped fields; making it difficult to eradicate.
The Wild Turnip plant has been developed for over four thousand years, being the origin to many types of vegetables. It is now established in many parts of the world and where “Wild Turnip” grows abundantly it is used as a food source, by foragers. The young leaves make an excellent leaf vegetable, older leaves are better cooked for taste. The taproot and seeds can be eaten raw, although some people may have a problem digesting the oily seeds. It is also a very important plant for wildlife, especially for many flying insects, being a significant food source, for nectar and pollen.
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