fast plants

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bird's rape
• field mustard
• rape mustard
• wild mustard
• wild turnip
• Bargeman's Cabbage
• Turnip
• bird rape
• colbaga
• tyfon
• Bok choy
• Braze
• Horuhoru
• Keha
• Korau
• Kotami
• Mustard Spinach
• Pohata
• Pora
• Powhata
• Rape
• Rearea
• Ruruhau
• Rutabaga
• Tah Tsai
• Tairua
• Taumairangi
• Wild Rape

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Napus rapa
• Raphanus rapa
• Brassica campestris var. annua
• Brassica campestris var. rapa
• Brassica campestris var. chinensis
• Brassica campestris f. briggsii
• Brassica celerifolia
• Brassica chinensis f. osakana
• Brassica chinensis f. youngtungtsai
• Brassica napus var. chinensis
• Brassica oleracea var. chinensis
• Brassica pekinensis
• Brassica perviridis
• Brassica purpuraria
• Brassica rapa subsp. afghanica
• Brassica rapa var. cephalata
• Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa
• Brassica rapa var. nipposinica
• Brassica rapa var. oleronensis
• Brassica rapa var. rosularis
• Brassica rapa var. rubra
• Brassica sativa var. rapa
• Brassica septiceps
• Brassica sphaerorhiza
• Brassica rapa var. dichotoma
• Brassica rapa convar. oleifera
• Brassica campestris subsp. dichotoma
• Brassica campestris subsp. chinensis
• Brassica rapa var. orientalis
• Brassica campestris f. trilocularis
• Brassica rapa subvar. pe-tsai
• Brassica rapa subf. nagakuba
• Brassica rapa var. cylindrica
• Brassica rapa f. depressa
• Brassica rapa var. depressa
• Brassica campestris subvar. oblonga
• Brassica rapa stirps oblonga
• Brassica rapa var. dubiosa
• Brassica campestris var. orientalis
• Brassica rapa subsp. mesopotamica
• Barbarea derchiensis
• Brassica nipposinica var. laciniifolia
• Brassica rapa var. lorifolia
• Brassica sphaerorhiza var. oblonga
• Brassica chinensis var. crispa
• Brassica asperifolia var. sylvestris
• Crucifera rapa
• Caulanthus sulfureus
• Brassica pseudocolza
• Brassica rapa subvar. alba
• Brassica rapa var. xanthoplax
• Brassica ruvo
• Brassica trilocularis
• Brassica oleronensis
• Brassica parachinensis
• Brassica petsai
• Brassica pe-tsai
• Brassica amplexicaulis
• Brassica antiquorum
• Brassica asperifolia
• Brassica asperifolia var. esculenta
• Brassica asperifolia var. oleifera
• Brassica briggsii
• Brassica brassicata
• Brassica campestris var. amplexicaulis
• Brassica campestris
• Brassica campestris var. afghanica
• Brassica campestris var. agrestis
• Brassica campestris var. dissecta
• Brassica campestris f. auriculata
• Brassica campestris subvar. autumnalis
• Brassica campestris var. osakana
• Brassica campestris stirps oleifera
• Brassica campestris var. mana
• Brassica campestris var. musifolia
• Brassica campestris var. sotetsuna
• Brassica campestris var. rubra
• Brassica campestris f. tenuis
• Brassica chinensis
• Brassica colza
• Brassica chinensis f. piaoh-tsai
• Brassica chinensis var. rosularis
• Brassica dubiosa
• Brassica napella
• Brassica napus var. longirostris
• Brassica narinosa
• Brassica nipposinica
• Sinapis rapa
• Sinapis pekinensis
• Sinapis tuberosa
• Sinapis trilocularis
• Sinapis auriculata
• Sinapis campestris
• Sinapis dichotoma
• Raphanus campestris
• Raphanus amplexicaulis
• Rapa oblonga
• Napus campestris
• Brassica rapa var. meauxiana
• Brassica sativa var. campestris
• Brassica rapa var. saulieua
• Brassica rapa var. baubryana
• Brassica trimestris
• Brassica tuberosa
• Brassica rapa convar. rosularis
• Brassica rapa convar. cephalata
• Brassica rapa convar. parachinensis
• Brassica rapa convar. laxa
• Brassica pekinensis var. cephalata
• Brassica rapa convar. cylindrica
• Brassica pekinensis var. cylindrica
• Brassica rapa subsp. sarson
• Brassica pekinensis var. hiroshimana
• Brassica rapa var. sylvestris
• Brassica pekinensis var. laxa
• Brassica rapa var. amplexicaulis
• Brassica rapa var. narinosa
• Brassica rapa subsp. oleifera
• Brassica pe-tsai var. dentata
• Brassica rapa subvar. nigricans
• Brassica rapa subsp. nipposinica
• Brassica rapa stirps oleifera
• Brassica rapa convar. orientalis
• Brassica rapa var. piaoh-tsai
• Brassica rapa var. parachinensis
• Brassica campestris f. pinnata
• Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis
• Brassica campestris var. ohsakana
• Brassica rapa var. pekinensis
• Brassica campestris var. wakana
• Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris
• Brassica campestris subsp. oleifera
• Brassica rapa var. perviridis
• Brassica campestris f. pinnata
• Brassica rapa subvar. punicea
• Brassica campestris var. shigatsuna
• Brassica rapa var. purpuraria
• Brassica rapa convar. mesopotamica
• Brassica rapa convar. japonica
• Brassica rapa var. sarcorhiza
• Brassica rapa var. ruvo
• Brassica rapa var. sativa
• Brassica rapa var. septiceps
• Brassica campestris subsp. narinosa
• Brassica rapa var. violascens
• Brassica rapa subsp. trilocularis
• Brassica campestris subsp. pekinensis
• Brassica rapa var. variegata
• Brassica campestris subsp. nipposinica
• Brassica rapa subvar. viridis
• Brassica napus var. dichotoma
• Brassica rapa var. xanthocona
• Brassica rapa subsp. campestris
• Brassica rapa var. chinensis
• Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
• Brassica rapa var. chloroplax
• Brassica rapa var. cinerascens
• Brassica rapa var. communis
• Brassica rapa stirps depressa
• Brassica rapa subsp. dichotoma
• Brassica rapa var. dissecta
• Brassica rapa var. erythroplax
• Brassica rapa convar. europea
• Brassica rapa subvar. flavescens
• Brassica rapa var. glabra
• Brassica rapa var. globosa
• Brassica rapa var. hybrida
• Brassica rapa var. intermedia
• Brassica rapa subsp. japonica
• Brassica rapa var. jodopyrga
• Brassica rapa var. laxa
• Brassica rapa var. leptorhiza
• Brassica rapa var. leucoplax
• Brassica rapa var. leucopyrga
• Brassica rapa var. lugdunensis
• Brassica rapa var. media
• Brassica rapa var. melaina
• Brassica rapa var. morignyana
• Brassica rapa f. nagakabu
• Brassica napus var. trilocularis
• Brassica japonica var. indivisa
• Brassica japonica var. isena
• Brassica japonica var. suigikuna
• Brassica × juncea var. celerifolia
• Brassica chinensis var. komatsuna
• Brassica chinensis f. komatsuna
• Brassica chinensis f. mana
• Brassica chinensis var. musifolia
• Brassica chinensis var. narinosa
• Brassica chinensis subf. shigatsuna
• Brassica campestris var. trilocularis
• Brassica campestris var. sarson
• Brassica campestris var. setulosa
• Brassica campestris subvar. praecox
• Brassica campestris var. purpuraria
• Brassica campestris subvar. pygmaea
• Brassica chinensis var. communis
• Brassica chinensis var. dentata
• Brassica campestris subsp. trilocularis
• Brassica rapa subvar. youngtungtsai
• Brassica rapa var. alborosea
• Brassica rapa var. annua
• Brassica rapa var. arenaria
• Brassica rapa var. briggsii
• Brassica rapa var. campestris
• Brassica chinensis f. hiroshimana
• Brassica chinensis f. indivisa
• Brassica campestris subvar. depressa
• Brassica campestris f. oblonga
• Brassica campestris var. glabra
• Brassica chinensis var. oleifera
• Brassica rapa var. oblonga
• Brassica rapa var. oleifera
• Brassica rapa var. biennis
• Brassica rapa var. teltoviensis
• Brassica rapa var. frenosiana
• Brassica rapa var. vilmorinii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Brassicales, falling into the family Brassicaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Brassica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution throughout the northern regions of Europe. Within Northern Europe, it can be found growing in the country of Denmark. Its presence extends further north to include the territories of Finland and the Faroe Islands. Additionally, the species is well-documented across the islands of Great Britain. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant reaches as far as Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Brassica rapa is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse landscapes, primarily thriving within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica). This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 4200 m AMSL. Throughout its varied geographic range, the plant maintains an average elevation of approximately 3000 m AMSL, demonstrating its capacity to colonize both lowland disturbed sites and high-altitude environments.

Elevational range max:

4200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Brassica rapa are characterized by a relatively compact genome that serves as a foundational model for studying plant evolutionary biology and crop improvement. At its core, the species is defined by a diploid nature, possessing a ploidy level of 2, which facilitates predictable Mendelian inheritance patterns during breeding and genetic research. The genome size is approximately 350 to 450 Mb, consisting of a high density of genes involved in secondary metabolite production, which is critical for its medicinal applications. Genomic studies have highlighted significant synteny with other members of the Brassicaceae family, yet B. rapa exhibits unique structural variations and gene duplications that contribute to its phenotypic plasticity. These genetic architectures govern essential traits such as glucosinolate biosynthesis, flowering time, and stress response mechanisms, providing a complex genetic blueprint that allows the plant to adapt to diverse environmental conditions while maintaining its bioactive properties.

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Brassica rapa is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the species survives unfavorable environmental conditions by retreating into a seed stage, ensuring its persistence in the landscape despite the absence of a persistent vegetative structure. This life form is complemented by its deciduous nature, as the plant sheds its foliage following the completion of its reproductive phase. Through this rapid, seasonal progression, the plant effectively optimizes resource acquisition to facilitate quick maturation and prolific seeding.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Brassica rapa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite, and it is a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, liana, or vine. It does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly terrestrial in its habitat. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, with individual specimens typically ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.67 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.673583333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Brassica rapa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic reliance on the standard carbon fixation process found in most temperate plant species. The plant exhibits non-carnivorous and non-succulent leaf morphology, with a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 236.62 cm²/g, indicating its specific strategy for light interception and resource allocation. The foliage demonstrates significant morphological variability; while the mean leaf length is 6.25 cm, individual leaves can reach a maximum length of 40 cm, with a minimum length recorded at 3 cm. Leaf width also shows a wide range, spanning from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 7.5 cm, with a mean width of 7.5 cm recorded in certain specimens. Furthermore, the average leaf size is measured at 33.15667 cm², and the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability to support its growth and physiological development.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.25 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

33.15667 cm²

Leaf width mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

236.62 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Brassica rapa is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the production of seeds. The flowering period typically occurs around April, with both the start and end of the flowering stage centered in this month. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects and bees to facilitate fertilization, though self-fertilization is also present. The reproductive structures include flowers that measure between 0.4 cm and 0.5 cm in length. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscent fruit categorized as a capsule (siliqua). These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of approximately 4.92 cm (ranging from 2 cm to 8 cm) and a mean width of 0.375 cm (ranging from 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm). The resulting seeds are small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00215 g (ranging from 0.000528 g to 0.00269 g), a mean length of 1.8 mm, and a mean width of 1.25 mm, maintaining a consistent volume of 1.8 mm³. Dispersal of these seeds is classified as unspecialized. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower length max:

0.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

8 cm

Fruit length mean:

4.91666666666667 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.375 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1.8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00269 g

Seed mass mean:

0.002154515625 g

Seed mass min:

0.000528 g

Seed volume max:

1.8 mm³

Seed width mean:

1.25 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Brassica rapa has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, flower, leaf.

Seed

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Mycopathologia

Flower

1. BMC genomics

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Brassica rapa has 123 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 6-Paradol, (+)-Cysteine, (+)-S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide, 2-Phenylethyl isothiocyanate.

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of food science
3. Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)

6-Paradol

1. Journal of food science
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

(+)-Cysteine

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide

1. Dr. Duke

2-Phenylethyl isothiocyanate

1. Journal of food science

3-Butenyl isothiocyanate

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

6-Gingerol

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

6-Shogaol

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

ABSCISIC ACID

1. Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Brassica rapa has 505 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, Antiinflammatory, Antitumor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science
3. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets
4. ACS omega

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science
3. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Brassica rapa has 16 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, cancers, cell death.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of food science
2. ACS omega

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of food science

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of food science

Cancers

1. Journal of food science

Cell death

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Fatigue

1. Food & function

Headaches

1. Journal of food science

Hypoglycemic

1. ACS omega

Metabolic disease

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Osteoporosis

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Preparations

Brassica rapa has 4 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include chloroform extract (CE), ethyl acetate extract (EAE), petroleum ether extract (PEE), seeds.

Chloroform extract (ce)

1. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology

Ethyl acetate extract (eae)

1. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology

Petroleum ether extract (pee)

1. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology

Seeds

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)