Raphanus sativus
(Radish)
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Eurosid II > Order: Brassicales > Family: Brassicaceae
Early cultivars of Radish were elongate and black
rather than round and red. Radish is thought to have been domesticated in the
eastern Mediterranean, prior to 2780 BC. Radish is normally eaten raw in salads,
but in Asia it is also cooked and a special variety has been developed with long
seed pods that are eaten.
A vegetable, used raw in salads. In China and Japan it is
also eaten cooked. Raphanus sativus probably originates from the
Wild Radish Raphanus raphanistrum which is native to Europe and also a
common weed worldwide. Domestication is thought to have first occurred in the
eastern Mediterranean area. Early varieties were long and tapering rather than
round. By 2780 BC Egyptians were cultivating radishes and by 500 BC they were
being grown in China. There are different colours of radishes that arose in the
following time sequence:
-
Black radishes were the earliest to be cultivated.
-
White radishes were being cultivated in Europe by the
1500's.
-
Red radishes were developed in the 1700's. Around this
time, round radishes were also first produced.
The Mougri Radish is grown in parts of Asia (e.g. India)
for its long edible seed pods which it is claimed can grow to a length of 1 m
although 20-60 cm is a more normal range.
The Radish variety called 'Sakurajima' originates from the
peninsula of Sakurajima in southern Japan and is characterised by the immense
size of radishes which can reach 45 kg in weight!
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References
Text by Hamish Robertson
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