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Brassica rapa chinensis
  • Pak Choi

a biennial member of the Brassica genus in the family Brassicaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
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
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to 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 rapa chinensis has 0 edible uses listed
Brassica rapa chinensis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4]. They can be eaten at any stage from seedling to mature plant[5]. Well-flavoured, they are sweet with a hint of mustard[5].The leaves are also dried for winter use[5]. The leaves have pronounced stems and these can also be eaten, they tend to have a mild, almost bland flavour[5]. A nutritional analysis is available[6].

Immature flowering stems - cooked like broccoli[5]. A sweet flavour[5].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed.

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Oil

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Brassica rapa chinensis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaf is antiarthritic, antiscorbutic and resolvent[6].

Unknown part

Antirheumatic
Antiscorbutic
Resolvent

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ May to August. Spring sown crops are prone to run quickly to seed if there is a spell of cold weather[5]. Some varieties can also be sown in a cold greenhouse in autumn or early spring to provide leaves overwinter and in late spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Brassica rapa chinensis. 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[7]. Prefers a pH of 5.5 to 7[7]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 7.5. Prefers a cool moist reasonably fertile soil[2]. The plant is shallow rooted and intolerant of drought, it needs to be grown in a moist fertile soil for the best quality leaves[5].

Plants are not tremendously cold-hardy, though they will withstand light frosts[8].

Pak choi is widely cultivated, especially in China, for its edible leaves which are produced mainly in the summer and autumn. A fast-growing plant, there are many named varieties and some can be ready in as little as five weeks from sowing the seed[9][5][10]. Forms with green stems tend to stand up better to adverse conditions than white-stemmed forms[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Brassica rapa chinensis. 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 rapa chinensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Brassica rapa chinensis
Genus
Brassica
Family
Brassicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[6]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[7]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, 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
    biennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.9 x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (1980-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden (1986-00-00)
    5. ? 5.005.015.025.035.045.055.065.075.085.095.10 Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray ISBN 0-7195-4781-4 (1991-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    8. ? Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
    9. ? RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society (1987-00-00)
    10. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. ISBN 0 333 62640 0 (1995-00-00)


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    Facts about "Brassica rapa chinensis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBrassicaceae +
    Belongs to genusBrassica +
    Has binomial nameBrassica rapa chinensis +
    Has common namePak Choi +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +, Unknown part + and Stem +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Oil +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bees + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone7 +
    Has lifecycle typeBiennial +
    Has mature height0.9 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntirheumatic +, Antiscorbutic + and Resolvent +
    Has search namebrassica rapa chinensis + and pak choi +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameBrassica rapa chinensis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Brassica rapa chinensis +, Brassica rapa chinensis +, Brassica rapa chinensis +, Brassica rapa chinensis +, Brassica rapa chinensis + and Brassica rapa chinensis +