Brassica rapa L.

Annual with lax rosette. Stems erect or ascending, glabrous, to 1.5 m tall, sometimes becoming subwoody below. Lower lvs petiolate, lyrate-pinnatifid with large terminal and 1–3 pairs of lateral lobes, bright green, bristly, 15–25–(30) × 5–10 cm; margins sinuate, toothed. Upper lvs becoming amplexicaul, glaucous, not lobed, sessile, glabrous, narrowly triangular, entire, 2–10 × 1–2 cm. Racemes to 40 cm long; open fls overtopping buds. Sepals narrow-oblong, (4)–5–7 × 1–1.5 mm. Petals bright yellow, 6–10 × 3–4 mm. Lateral stamens spreading. Silique terete, glabrous, linear-lanceolate, slightly constricted between seeds, (30)–40–60 × 2–5 mm; gynophore 0; valves with prominent median and weaker lateral veins; beak tapering, seedless, 6–10 mm long. Seeds reddish brown, 1–1.5 mm diam.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Jul.)–Sep.–Feb.–(Jun.); Fruiting: (Jul.)–Sep.–Feb.–(Jun.)