The genus brassica rapa (or, turnup) exhibits remarkable morphological diversity. Indicating significant human selection for the different plant parts roots, leaves, & seeds

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The Turnip was doemsticated in central Asia (Hindu Kush), and Eurasia around 3,500 to 6,000 years ago (or, somewhat earlier) before spreading
Turnips, have leafy greens, and oil-seed forms.

Root-storage form turnip seems to be one of several morphotypes selected. The domestication story for the root form is intertwined with leafy and oil seed
Domestication may have been comparatively less focused solely on tuber size/shape like in potato.

The potato domestication focues on stolons, turnip for a fleshy taproot
The analogous process is human selecting underground storage organ crops but in different geographic domestication events.

The word laptu in Assyrian texts as early as ~1800 BCE is thought to refer to turnip

Lets hear it for brassica rapa, or the turnup. Selected for its multiple resources and diversity during the neolithic era.

Bibliography: First we tamed turnips. Then we turned them into bok choy and other veggies. (2021, May 19). News. https://news.wisc.edu/first-we-tamed-turnips-then-we-turned-them-into-bok-choy-and-other-veggies/

Vogl-Lukasser, B., Vogl, C. R., & Reiner, H. (2007). The Turnip Brassica rapa L. subsp. in Eastern Tyrol (Lienz district; Austria). Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 5, 305–317. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/138

atlasobscura. (n.d.). Deep roots of the vegetable that ‘Took over the world.’ https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/brassica-rapa-vegetable-domestication

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