Edible: Leaves, Seeds - oil, Spice, Vegetable, Flowers
It is an erect leafy annual cabbage plant. It grows to about 1 m high. The plant can vary a lot. The leaves are elliptical and deeply divided. They are dark green. The end segment of the leaves is oval. The leaves taper towards the stem and have a strong mustard flavour. The flowers are pale yellow. They have 4 petals. It produces a flower and seed pods at the top. The seed pod is long and narrow. It is 3-5 cm long. The seeds are reddish-brown.
A warm temperate plant. It is grown in some highland areas in the tropics. It is often grown as a cool season crop. Most varieties are not frost tolerant. It needs a fertile, well drained soil. A pH of 5.5-6.8 is suitable. It can tolerate poor soils. In the Himalayas in summer it grows to 3,600 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Acelga china, A-mothsora, Ananatsongo, Antam, Brown mustard, Cai be-xanh, Cai canh, Dijon mustard, Dongi, Figiri, Gai choi, Jie cai, Kaad khiew, Kaai ts'oi, Kabej-plasas, Kadugu, Kai choy, Karamkala, Kanganje, Karashi-na, Khat naa, Mbumbi, Modo metan, Monnyin-no, Mosita, Mostaza china, Mpatu, Mpiru, Mustasa, Nkofi, Phakkat-khieo, Phakkat-khieopli, Rai, Rai sorisha, Samon-ni, Sarepta mustard, Sawi, Sawi pahit, Se-sawi
Synonyms:
Brassica argyi H. Léveillé;
Brassica cernua (Thunberg) F. B. Forbes & Hemsley;
Brassica integrifolia (West) O. E. Schulz;
Brassica japonica (Thunberg) Siebold ex Miquel;
Brassica juncea subsp. integrifolia (West) Thellung;
Brassica juncea var. crispifolia L. H. Bailey;
Brassica juncea var. foliosa L. H. Bailey;
Brassica juncea var. gracilis M. Tsen & S. H. Lee;
Brassica juncea var. integrifolia (Stokes) Sinskaya;
Brassica juncea var. japonica (Thunberg) L. H. Bailey;
Brassica juncea var. longidens L. H. Bailey;
Brassica juncea var. longipes M. Tsen & S. H. Lee;
Brassica juncea var. multisecta L. H. Bailey;
Brassica juncea var. multiceps M. Tsen & S. H. Lee;
Brassica juncea var. rugosa (Rox-burgh) Kitamura;
Brassica juncea var. strumata M. Tsen & S. H. Lee;
Brassica juncea var. subintegrifolia Sinskaya;
Brassica lanceolata (de Candolle) Lange;
Brassica napiformis (Paillieux & Bois) L. H. Bailey var. multisecta (L. H. Bailey) A. I. Baranov;
Brassica rugosa (Rox-burgh) L. H. Bailey;
Brassica taquetii H. Léveillé;
Brassica willdenowii Boissier;
Raphanus junceus (Linnaeus) Crantz;
Sinapis cernua Thunberg;
Sinapis chinensis Linnaeus var. integrifolia Stokes;
Sinapis cuneifolia Roxburgh;
Sinapis integrifolia West;
Sinapis japonica Thunberg;
Sinapis juncea Linnaeus;
Sinapis lanceolata de Candolle;
Sinapis patens Roxburgh;
Sinapis ramosa Roxburgh;
Sinapis rugosa Roxburgh;