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Brassica napus
  • Colza

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

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Green manure
    Green manure
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid,neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Very acid to Very alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Brassica napus has 0 edible uses listed
Brassica napus has 0 material uses listed
Brassica napus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

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

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[1][2][3]. Added to salads or used as a potherb[4][5]. The leaves are also fermented for later use[5].

Immature flowering stems - cooked in much the same way as broccoli[4]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed, it is used mainly for cooking purposes, but can also be used raw in salad dressings[1][6][2][7][4]. Some caution is advised, however, see the notes above on toxicity. The sprouted seed is often used as the mustard part of mustard and cress. Eaten in salads[1][2][3][4].

The seed is used as a mustard flavouring[4].

Unknown part

Condiment
Oil

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

The seed contains up to 45% of an edible semi-drying oil, it is used as a luminant, lubricant, in soap making etc[6][8][9][10]. Rapeseed oil has potential market in detergent lubrication oils, emulsifying agents, polyamide fibres, and resins, and as a vegetable wax substitute. According to the Chemical Marketing Reporter (April 26, 1982) \"the most common use for the oil is still in the production or erucic acid, a fatty acid used in turn in the manufacture of other chemicals[11].

The seed husks are used in plastering house walls[5].

A good green manure, the deep taproot improves drainage and loosens heavy soils[12][13][14].

Unknown part

Oil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is emollient and diuretic[15]. The juice of the roots is used in the treatment of chronic coughs and bronchial catarrh[15][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]. It is dropped into the ear to relieve earaches[5].

Unknown part

Diuretic
Emollient

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Green manure

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in early spring to mid-August for a green manure crop.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Brassica napus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[16]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil[17]. Prefers a heavy soil and cool moist conditions[18][13]. Sunny days and cool nights are favourable for plant growth whilst dry weather at harvest time is essential[11]. Colza 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]. Brassica napus is an aggregate species, probably derived through cultivation. It is thought that crosses of Brassica oleracea subsp. oleracea with B. rapa gave rise to the subsp. B. napus pabularia, from which subsp. napus and subsp. rapifera and other cvs were derived[11]. The aggregate species includes forms with swollen edible roots (B. napus napobrassica, the garden swede), forms grown for their oil-rich seeds (B. napus napus, the oilseed rape), forms grown for their edible leaves (B. napus pabularia, the rape kales) whilst the form grown as a green manure is B. napus arvensis. All these forms are treated separately here. The oil obtained from the seed 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. Colza 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[12][13].

This species is closely related to B. rapa[16].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Brassica napus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Brassica napus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Brassica napus
Genus
Brassica
Family
Brassicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Medicinal uses
[15][11][5]
Material uses & Functions
[6][8][9][10][11][5][12][13][14]
Botanic
[16]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Green manure
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual, biennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1.2 x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press (1975-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.6 Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-527-6 (2002-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    10. ? 10.010.1 Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (1975-00-00)
    11. ? 11.0011.0111.0211.0311.0411.0511.0611.0711.0811.0911.10 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.2 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.113.213.3 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. (1982-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.115.2 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)
    16. ? 16.016.116.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    17. ? Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (1980-00-00)
    18. ? Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-050-0 (1977-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

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    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Brassica_napus&oldid=75678"
    Facts about "Brassica napus"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBrassicaceae +
    Belongs to genusBrassica +
    Functions asGreen manure +
    Has common nameColza +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Leaves +, Seeds + and Stem +
    Has edible useSeasoning +, Unknown use + and Oil +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bee + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone7 +
    Has imageKoeh-169.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual + and Biennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useOil +
    Has mature height1.2 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useDiuretic + and Emollient +
    Has primary imageKoeh-169.jpg +
    Has search namebrassica napus + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameBrassica napus +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +