Chinese cabbage
| Chinese cabbage | |
|---|---|
Brassica rapa, subsp. pekinensis | |
| Species | Brassica rapa |
| Cultivar group | Chinensis Group, Pekinensis Group |
| Origin | China, before the 15th century |
| Cultivar group members | Many; see text |
Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa, subspecies pekinensis and chinensis) is either of two cultivar groups of leaf vegetables often used in Chinese cuisine: the Pekinensis Group (napa cabbage) and the Chinensis Group (bok choy).
These vegetables are both variant cultivars or subspecies of B. rapa and belong to the same genus as Brassica oleracea, whose cultivars include Western staples such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Both B. rapa cultivars have many variations in name, spelling, and scientific classification, especially bok choy cultivars.