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Brassica rapa Pak Choi Group [xiao bai cai]
| Family Name: | Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) |
| Common Name: | Bok Choy, Pak Choi, 小白菜 |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 15 cm to 20 cm |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Biennial herb up to 0.2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are arranged in loose, erect heads. The oval leaf blade is about 13 cm long and 8 cm wide, thin and hairless. The leaf margin is lined with minute, soft teeth. The petiole (leaf stalk) is light green to greenish white near the leaf blade and whitish near the base. The leaf bases are slightly cupped like a soup spoon and overlap one another. |
| Flowers | Flowers are bisexual, produced in a raceme inflorescence. Flowers are pale yellow in colour, growing up to 1cm in length. |
| Fruit | Fruits are dry and dehiscent pods known as siliques. Each fruit measures between 2.5-6cm ×3.50-6.5mm contain about 10-30 seeds. Seeds are round, 1mm in diameter, reddish to blackish-brown in color. |
| Cultivation | Despite its preference for cooler temperatures of 15-20 degrees Celsius. There are varieties that are adapted to tropical climates and have been successfully grown in Singapore. They grow well in fertile, well-drained soil under full sun conditions. Uniform planting space of 10-20cm is preferred to avoid long thin stems. The plant can be harvested after 30-45 days upon sowing. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The leaves are commonly consumed as a cooked vegetable in Asian cuisine. They are often briefly stir-fried with garlic and ginger or placed in soups shortly before serving. The entire leaf including the petiole is eaten. |
Landscaping Features
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
| Seed / Spore Germination Duration | 3 days |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval) |
| Foliar Venation | Palmate |
| Foliar Margin | Serrulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Rounded |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32119 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6525 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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