Wild Turnip, Mediterranean Turnip, Asian mustard
Brassica tournefourtii

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It is an annual herb. The leaves are bristly and divided along the stalk. They have 7 or 8 side lobes. They lie flat on the ground. The flower petals are light yellow. There are 4 petals and there can be a violet tint near their base. The pollen is cream coloured. The dry pod is 6.5 cm long and swollen over the seeds. They end in a cone shaped beak. This usually contains one seed.

There are about 30 Brassica species and many cultivated varieties.

Where it is found

It grows in warm temperate places. It grows on rocky and sandy places. It is resistant to frost but sensitive to drought. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Egypt, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Greece, India, Italy, Libya, Mediterranean, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, Spain, Tasmania, Tunisia, USA

How it is used for food

The leaves and young shoots are eaten cooked. The seeds are a source of edible oil.

Edible parts

Shoots, flowers, leaves, seeds - oil, root

How it is grown

Plants grow easily from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Lebsen, Musuluchi, Wana wana

Synonyms

Brassica stocksii Hook. f. & Thoms.;