Bai cai, Petsai
Brassica rapa var. glabra

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It is an annual or biennial plant. The taproot is not fleshy. The basal leaves are usually more than 20. They form a rosette and a head. This is normally oblong and compact. The leaf stalk is strongly flattened. It has incised or toothed edges. The leaf blade has teeth along the edge.

There are about 30 Brassica species and many cultivated varieties. This is a very important vegetable in China.

Where it is found

It suits temperate and tropical places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, China, East Africa, Guam, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Singapore, Tonga, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Brassica campestris Linnaeus subsp. pekinensis (Loureiro) G. Olsson; Brassica campestris var. pekinensis (Loureiro) Viehoever; Brassica chinensis Linnaeus var. pandurata V. G. Sun; Brassica chinensis var. pekinensis (Loureiro) V. G. Sun; Brassica pekinensis (Loureiro) Ruprecht; Brassica pekinensis var. cephalata M. Tsen & S. H. Lee; Brassica pekinensis var. cylindrica M. Tsen & S. H. Lee; Brassica pekinensis var. laxa M. Tsen & S. H. Lee; Brassica pekinensis var. petsai Loureiro; Brassica petsai (Loureiro) L. H. Bailey; Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis (Loureiro) Hanelt; Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis var. laxa (M. Tsen & S. H. Lee) Hanelt; Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis var. pandurata (V. G. Sun) Gladis; Sinapis pekinensis Loureiro; Sinapis nigra Linnaeus; Sisymbrium nigrum (Linnaeus) Prantl;