We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Brassica rapa dichotoma - (Roxb.)Hanelt.

Common Name Indian Rape
Family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known in the wild.
Range A cultivated form of B. rapa.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Brassica rapa dichotoma Indian Rape


Brassica rapa dichotoma Indian Rape

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Brassica rapa dichotoma is a BIENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked. A bit on the coarse side, though the young leaves can be added in moderation to salads whilst older leaves make an acceptable vegetable[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seeds.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[200]. Prefers a light sandy soil and dislikes a heavy soil[37]. Prefers cool moist growing conditions[16]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 8.3. Indian rape is cultivated mainly in India and Nepal for its oil-rich seeds.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

(Brassica rapa) Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, North Caucasus, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Yugoslavia.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Alliaria petiolataGarlic MustardBiennial1.0 5-8  LMHFSMWe321
Arabidopsis thalianaThale Cress, Mouseear cressAnnual/Biennial0.5 0-0  LMHSNDM011
Arabis alpinaAlpine Rock Cress, Alpine rockcressPerennial0.2 4-8  LMSNM20 
Arabis caucasicaRock Cress, Wall RockcressPerennial0.2 4-9 MLMHSNDM203
Arabis hirsutaHairy rockcress, Mountain rockcress, Creamflower rockcressBiennial/Perennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNDM10 
Arabis lyrataRock Cress, Kamchatka rockcress, Lyrate rockcressBiennial/Perennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNDM10 
Arabis pendula Biennial0.9 -  LMHFSNM10 
Arabis sagittata Biennial/Perennial0.6 -  LMHSNDM10 
Arabis serrata Perennial0.3 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Armoracia rusticanaHorseradish, Red ColePerennial0.7 4-9 FLMHSNM332
Aubrieta deltoideaAubretia, Lilacbush, False RockcressPerennial0.2 4-9 MLMSNDM003
Aurinia saxatilisGolden Alyssum, Basket of goldPerennial0.3 4-10 MLMHNDM003
Barbarea australis Biennial/Perennial0.5 -  LMHSNM21 
Barbarea orthocerasAmerican YellowrocketPerennial0.5 0-0  LMHSNM200
Barbarea strictaSmall-flowered winter-cressBiennial0.8 3-10 FLMHNMWe200
Barbarea vernaLand Cress, Early yellowrocketBiennial0.3 5-9  LMHFSNM30 
Barbarea vulgarisYellow Rocket, Garden yellowrocketPerennial0.4 5-9  LMHSNM310
Brassica balearica Perennial0.0 -  LMHNM10 
Brassica carinataAbyssinian CabbageAnnual1.0 9-12 FLMHSNM423
Brassica creticaMustardPerennial1.0 0-0  LMHNM20 
Brassica elongataElongated mustardBiennial/Perennial0.9 0-0  LMHSNM202
Brassica junceaBrown MustardAnnual0.8 6-9  LMHSNM422
Brassica juncea crispifoliaCurled MustardAnnual0.3 6-9 FLMHSNM422
Brassica juncea foliosaLeaf MustardAnnual0.3 6-9 FLMHSNM422
Brassica juncea integrifolia crispifoliaCurled MustardAnnual0.3 6-10 FLMHSNM422
Brassica juncea integrifolia rugosaHead MustardAnnual0.6 6-10 FLMHSNM422
Brassica juncea integrifolia strumataLarge Petiole MustardAnnual0.8 6-10 FLMHSNM422
Brassica juncea integrifolia subintegrifoliaLeaf MustardAnnual0.3 6-10 FLMHSNM422
Brassica juncea multicepsGreen In The SnowAnnual0.4 6-9 FLMHSNM422
Brassica juncea napiformisRoot MustardAnnual0.8 6-9  LMHSNM422
12345678

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Roxb.)Hanelt.

Botanical References

74

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Brassica rapa dichotoma  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.