atoll research bulletin no. 392 the flora of - Smithsonian Institution ...

Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. "mustard cabbage", "Indian mustard", "Chinese mustard"
kai ts'oi (C); te kabiti n Tiaina (K)
syn. Sinapis juncea L.
Pre-World War I1 introduction. Asia. Occasional. Erect, much-branched, non-
heading, annual herb, up to 80 cm or higher, with a deep tap root; stem leaves, not
clasping, basal (radical) leaves, up to 20 cm long, stalked, usually lyrate-lobed with very
large ovate terminal segment; flowers, about 1 cm in diameter, bright yellow, perfect, 4-
sepaled, 4-petaled, without bracts, not held above the central unopened buds, petals oval
to obovate with a long claw, borne on slender pedicels along an elongated terminal and
sometimes axillary flower stem (raceme), up 40 cm long; fruit, about 1.5 to 4 cm long,
slender pod, rounded in cross section, with a 4-angled short beak, opening lengthwise;
seeds, about 1 mm in diameter, globose, blackish-grey. Food plant in Chinese food
gardens at Location. Leaves and stems cooked as a green vegetable. 5, 6, 7.
Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.
te kabiti ni Imatang (K); kapisi Palagi (T)
"English cabbage"
Pre-World War I1 introduction. Europe. Rare. Biennial herb, usually grown as an
annual, up to 30 cm or higher, or 30 cm in diameter, with a short stem and an arrested,
compact, much-swollen terminal bud surmounted by a mass of thick overlapping whitish-
green to light blue-green leaves forming a loose or compact, round or somewhat pointed
head; flowers, virtually never seen, not developing during the first year. Planted in
gardens near Buada Lagoon. Leaves cooked as a vegetable. 3, 6, 7.
Brassica pekinensis (Lour.) Ruprecht "celery cabbage", "Shantung cabbage",
"Peking cabbage", "pe-tsai" wong pa'ak, wong bok (C); te kabiti n Tiaina (K)
syns. B. chinensis var. pekinensis (Rupr. ) Sun; B. petsai Bailey
Recent introduction. N. China. Rare. Erect, loose- to compact-heading, biennial
herb, grown as an annual, up to 50 cm or higher, somewhat resembling a large yellow-
green romaine or cos lettuce; leaves, 15 to 50 cm long and 5 to 25 cm wide, alternate,
light yellow-green, thin, veiny, crinkled undulate, dentate, without distinct petiole, the
wide, flat, long whitish base with a dentate wing, radical leaves often forming a compact
head, with midrib on the lower surface sometimes having sparse bristle-like hairs;
flowers, not seen; seeds, plump, without grooves. Planted in Chinese food garden at
Location. Leaves and stems cooked as a vegetable. 6.