Raphanus
| Raphanus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Red radish | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Raphanus L. |
| Species | |
|
Raphanus caudatus L. 1767 | |
Raphanus is a genus within the flowering plant family Brassicaceae. Two or three species are currently classified in Raphanus.[citation needed] They include the cultivated radish, Raphanus sativus and the common wild radish or jointed charlock, Raphanus raphanistrum. Some authors accept the podding or rattail radish, Raphanus caudatus as a third member of the genus, while others treat it as a variety of R. sativus. Substantial numbers of other species in the genus have been proposed at various times, but almost all are currently regarded as varieties of R. sativus, while a few are treated as varieties of R. raphanistrum or are not accepted as well-described species. Examples are R. raphanistrum ssp. landra and R. raphanistrum ssp. maritimus (sea radish).
Raphanus species grow as annual or biennial plants, with a taproot which is much enlarged in the cultivated radish. Unlike many other genera in the family Brassicaceae, Raphanus has indehiscent fruit that do not split open at maturity to reveal the seeds.
The genus is native to Asia, but its members can now be found world wide. Growing wild, they are regarded as invasive species in many regions.
Raphanus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including cabbage moth, Endoclita excrescens, the garden carpet and the nutmeg.
External links
References
- ↑ Raphanus confusus USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) 01 Dec 2011
- ↑ Raphanus confusus Tropicos.org Missouri Botanical Garden. 01 Dec 2011