Practical
Plants

Brassica napus napus

Rape

an annual or biennial member of the Brassica genus in the family Brassicaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual, biennial
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The oil contained in the seed of some varieties of this species can be rich in erucic acid which is toxic. However, modern cultivars have been selected which are almost free of erucic acid.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[14][12][13]. Added to salads or used as a potherb[6]. Immature flowering stems - cooked in much the same way as broccoli[6]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed, it is used mainly for cooking purposes, but also for salads[14][1][12][15][6]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. The sprouted seed is often used as the mustard part of mustard and cress. Eaten in salads[14][12][13][6]. The seed is used as a mustard flavouring[6].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root is emollient and diuretic[10]. The juice of the roots is used in the treatment of chronic coughs and bronchial catarrh[10][11]. The seed, powdered, with salt is said to be a folk remedy for cancer[11]. Rape oil is used in massage and oil baths, it is believed to strengthen the skin and keep it cool and healthy. With camphor it is applied as a remedy for rheumatism and stiff joints[11].

Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emollient

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed contains up to 45% of an edible semi-drying oil, it is used as a luminant, lubricant, in soap making etc[1][9][17][2].

Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean. Naturalized in Britain[4].
Habitat
Banks of streams, ditches and arable fields in Britain[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[8]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil[16]. Prefers a heavy soil and cool moist conditions[3][7]. Sunny days and cool nights are favourable for plant growth whilst dry weather at harvest time is essential[11]. Rape is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 30 to 280cm, an annual average temperature range of 5 to 27°C and a pH in the range of 4.2 to 8.2[11]. Very young plants are susceptible to cold damage, -4°C either killing or injuring seedlings, whereas -2°C has no affect when the plants are more than one month old[11]. Rape is widely cultivated for its oil-rich seeds, there are many named varieties. The oil is high in erucic acid and glucosinolates, both of which have anti-nutritional properties. Cultivars have been developed that have a low content of these items and are therefore suitable for food. Rape is 70% self-pollinating and 30% cross-pollinated. Even if wind and insects are absent, seed are still produced. Yield increases with honeybees[11]. The growth of this plant is inhibited by field mustard and hedge mustard growing nearby[5][7]. This species is closely related to B. rapa[8].

References

  1. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  2. Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-12-136450-x

    ↩

  3. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

    ↩

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  7. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  9. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  10. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  12. Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  16. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩

  17. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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