Brassica napus L.

Spice Basal zone Flowers

Family: CRUCIFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)

Genus: Brassica

Catalan common name: Nabera. Nap. Napera.

Spanish common name: Colza. Nabo. Napo. Rutabaga.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

Uses and properties: Aphrodisiac. Medicinal.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Cultivated species. Cultivated and rarely naturalizated.

Characteristics: An herbaceous plant that is ashy grey in colour, and lacking hairs. The flowers, yellow in colour, outstretch the floral buds at the terminal part of the inflorescence. The upper leaves are very amplexicaul, an aspect that differs them from B. oleracea, with sessile or semiamplexicaul leaves.

Observations: According to O. De Bolòs, (Flora dels Països Catalans) this plant is probably an allopolyploid of B. oleracea x B. rapa. Many varieties of this species have been described, each with different human uses.