CRUCIFER^ 337 



In the fleshy root of the turnip, the walls of the cells which 

 make up the wood are not lignified, and hence .the tissue is 

 soft, unlike ordinary wood tissue. The medullary rays are 

 very indistinct. Some turnips are coarse in texture and 

 such are used for stock food. The turnips of finer texture 



--cortex 



camhi 



mm 



pith 



and 



wood 



Fig. 141. — Root of turnip (Brassica rapa) in cross-section. Diagrammatic. 



are used as food by man. In the South the variety Seven 

 Top is grown as a green forage and green manure. 



BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS (Rutabaga or Swede Tumip) (Fig. 142) 



Description. — This species resembles very closely B. rapa, 

 the common turnip. Rutabagas or "Swedes," have a short 

 stem or "neck" at the upper part of the vegetable. It is 

 this character which easily distinguishes the rutabaga vege- 

 table from that of turnip. The flesh is solid and yellow or 

 orange in color. The first leaves are bluish white, and all 

 leaves have thick, fleshy petioles. The yellow flowers are 

 larger than those of the turnip, and the claws are longer. 



Uses. — Rutabagas or "Swedes" have less water than com- 

 mon turnips. They are commonly grown as a food for 

 stock, but are also eaten in large quantities by man. They 



