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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Radish
| image = Radieschen.jpg
| image_width = 100px
| image_caption = Red radish
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Brassicales]]
| familia = [[Brassicaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Raphanus]]''
| species = '''''R. sativus'''''
| binomial = ''Raphanus sativus''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
{{otheruses4|the vegetable|the band|Radish (band)}}
The '''radish''' (''Raphanus sativus'') is an [[Eating|edible]] [[root vegetable]] of the [[Brassicaceae]] family that was domesticated in [[Europe]] in pre-[[Roman Empire|Roman]] times. They are grown and consumed throughout the world, and in addition to their use as a food, radishes have uses as an [[Alternative medicine|alternative treatment]] for a variety of medial conditions, and the seeds can be used as a [[biofuel]]. Radishes have numerous varieties, varying in size, color and duration of required cultivation time.
==History==
{{Refimprovesect|date=August 2007}}
Although the radish was a well-established crop in [[Hellenistic]] and [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times, which leads to the assumption that it was brought into cultivation at an earlier time, Zohary and Hopf note that "there are almost no archeological records available" to help determine its earlier history and domestication. Wild forms of the radish and its relatives the [[mustard plant|mustards]] and [[turnip]] can be found over west Asia and Europe, suggesting that their domestication took place somewhere in that area. However Zohary and Hopf conclude, "Suggestions as to the origins of these plants are necessarily based on linguistic considerations."<ref>Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, ''Domestication of plants in the Old World'', third edition (Oxford: University Press, 2000), p. 139</ref>
==Cultivation==
Summer radishes mature rapidly, with many varieties germinating in 3-7 days, and reaching maturity in three to four weeks.<ref name="faust1996">Faust, Joan Lee. ([[1996]]-[[03-03]].) [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E0DB1E39F930A35750C0A960958260 "Hail the Speedy Radish, in All Its Forms."] ''The New York Times'', via nytimes.com archives. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-27]].</ref><ref name="peterson1999">Peterson, Cass. ([[1999]]-[[05-02]].) [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFDE103DF931A35756C0A96F958260 "Radishes: Easy to Sprout, Hard to Grow Right."] ''The New York Times'', via nytimes.com archives. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-27]].</ref> A common garden crop in the U.S., the fast harvest cycle makes them a popular choice for children's gardens.<ref name="faust1996" /> Harvesting periods can be extended through repeated plantings, spaced a week or two apart.<ref name="beattie1938" />
Radishes grow best in full sun and fertile, acidic to neutral soil.{{fact|date=September 2007}} They are in season from April to as late as October in the northern hemisphere.{{fact|date=September 2007}} As with other root crops, tilling the soil helps the roots grow.<ref name="beattie1938">Beattie, J. H. and W. R. Beattie. (March 1938.) [http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1562:1 "Production of Radishes."] U.S. Department of Agriculture, leaflet no. 57, via University of North Texas Government Documents A to Z Digitization Project website. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-27]].</ref> Most soil types will work, though sandy loams are particularly good for winter and spring crops, while soils that form a hard crust can impair growth.<ref name="beattie1938" /> The depth at which seeds are planted affects the size of the root, from 1 cm deep recommended for small radishes to 4 cm for large radishes.<ref name="peterson1999" />
== Varieties ==
[[Image:Bunch of radishes.jpg|thumb|A bunch of radishes]]
Broadly speaking, radishes can be categorized into four main types (summer, fall, winter, and spring) and a variety of shapes, colours, and sizes, such as black or multi-coloured radishes, with round or elongated roots that can grow longer than a [[parsnip]].
=== Spring or summer radishes ===
Sometimes referred to as European radishes, or as spring radishes if they're typically planted in cooler weather, summer radishes are generally small and have a relatively short 3-4 week cultivation time.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
* Cherry Belle is a bright red-skinned round variety with a white interior.<ref name="faust1996" /> It is familiar in North American supermarkets.
* Champion is round and red-skinned like the Cherry Belle, but with slightly larger roots, up to about 5 cm, and a milder flavor.<ref name="faust1996" />
* Red King has a mild flavor, with good resistance to club foot, a problem that can arise from poor drainage.<ref name="faust1996" />
* Snow Belle is an all-white variety of radish, also round like the Cherry Belle.<ref name="faust1996" />
* White Icicle or just Icicle is a white carrot-shaped variety, around 10-12 cm long, dating back to the 16th century. It slices easily, and is has better than average resistance to pithiness.<ref name="faust1996" /><ref name="peterson1999" />
* French Breakfast is an elongated red-skinned radish with a white splash at the root end. It is typically slightly milder than other summer varieties, but is among the quickest to turn pithy.<ref name="peterson1999" />
* Plum Purple a purple-[[fuchsia]] radish that tends to stay crisp longer than the average radish.<ref name="peterson1999" />
* Gala and Roodbol are two varieties popular in the Netherlands in a breakfast dish, thinly sliced on buttered bread.<ref name="faust1996" />
* Easter Egg is not an actual variety, but a mix of varieties with different skin colors,<ref name="peterson1999" /> typically including white, pink, red, and purple radishes. Sold in markets or seed packets under the name, the seed mixes can extend harvesting duration from a single planting, as different varieties may mature at different times.<ref name="peterson1999" />
=== Winter varieties ===
Various winter varieties can actually be grown throughout the growing season, from early spring to fall, but take their name from their ability to be stored during the non-growing winter months. Sizes are generally than the summer varieties, and cultivation often takes six to eight weeks.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
Black Spanish or Black Spanish Round are occur in both round and elongated forms, and is sometimes simply called the black radish or known by the French ''Gros Noir d'Hiver.'' It dates in Europe to 1548,<ref>Aiton, William Townsend. (1812.) [http://books.google.com/books?id=y4QCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA129&dq=radish+black.spanish+date:1500-1835&as_brr=0 "Hortus Kewensis; Or, A Catalogue of the Plants Cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, Second Edition, Vol. IV"] Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown: London. Page 129. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-28]].</ref> and was a common garden variety in England and France the early 19th century.<ref>Lindley, George. (1831.) [http://books.google.com/books?id=DJqCT_QapToC&pg=PA570&dq=Noir+Gros+Rond+d%E2%80%99Hiver+date:1500-1840&as_brr=0#PPR3,M1 "A Guide to the Orchard and Kitchen Garden: Or, an Account of the Most Valuable Fruit and Vegetables Cultivated in Great Britain."] Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green: London. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-28]].</ref> It has a rough black skin with hot-flavored white flesh, is round or irregularly pear shaped,<ref>McIntosh, Charles. (1828.) [http://books.google.com/books?id=zZ46AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA288&dq=radish+black.spanish+date:1500-1835&as_brr=0 "The Practical Gardener, and Modern Horticulturist."] Thomas Kelly: London. Page 288.</ref> and grows to around 10cm in diameter.
[[Daikon]] refers to a wide variety of winter radishes from east Asia. While the Japanese name daikon has been adopted in English, it is also sometimes called the Japanese radish, Chinese radish, or Oriental radish.<ref name="amher2004">(2004.) [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/daikon "Daikon."] ''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition'', Houghton Mifflin Company, via dictionary.com. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-28]].</ref> Daikon commonly have elongated white roots, although many varieties of daikon exist. One well known variety is April Cross, with smooth white roots.<ref name="faust1996" /><ref name="peterson1999" /> The New York Times describes Masato Red and Masato Green varieties as extremely long, well suited for fall planting and winter storage.<ref name="faust1996" /> The [[Sakurajima]] daikon is a hot flavored variety which is typically grown to around 10 kg when harvested, but which has grown as heavy as 30 kg when left in the ground.<ref name="faust1996" /><ref>([[2002]]-[[02-10]].) [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-50139993.html "29 kg radish wins contest."] ''Kyodo World News Service'', via highbeam.com (fee for full access.) Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-28]].</ref>
=== Seed pod varieties ===
The seeds of radishes grow in pods, following flowering that happens when left to grow past their normal harvesting period. The seeds are edible, and are sometimes used as a crunchy, spicy addition to salads.<ref name="peterson1999" /> Some varieties are grown specifically for their seeds or seed pods, rather than their roots. The Rat-tailed radish, an old European variety, has long, thin, curly pods. In the 17th century, the pods were often pickled and served with meat.<ref name="peterson1999" /> The München Bier variety supplies spicy seeds that are sometimes served raw as an accompaniment to beer in Germany.{{fact|date=September 2007}}
== Nutritional value ==
{{nutritionalvalue | name=Radish, raw, root only | kJ=66| protein=0.68 g | fat=0.10 g | carbs=3.40 g | fiber=1.6 g | | sugars=1.86 g | iron_mg=0.34 | calcium_mg=25 | magnesium_mg=10 | phosphorus_mg=20 | potassium_mg=233 | zinc_mg=0.28 | vitC_mg=14.8 | pantothenic_mg=0.165 | vitB6_mg=0.071 | folate_ug=25 | thiamin_mg=0.012 | riboflavin_mg=0.039 | niacin_mg=0.254 | right=1 | source_usda=1 }}
Radishes are rich in [[ascorbic acid]], [[folic acid]], and [[potassium]]. They are a good source of [[vitamin B6]], [[riboflavin]], [[magnesium]], [[copper]], and [[calcium]]. One cup of sliced red radish bulbs provides approximately 20 [[Calorie]]s or less, coming largely from [[carbohydrate]]s, making radishes, relative to their size, a very filling food for their caloric value.
==Uses==
===In cooking===
The most popular part for eating is the napiform [[taproot]], although the entire plant is edible and the tops can be used as a [[leaf vegetable]]. The skin comes in a variety of colours. Most commonly known is the round, red-skinned variety but other varieties may have a pink, white or gray-black skin, and there is a yellow-skinned variety.
The bulb of the radish is usually eaten raw, but tougher specimens can be steamed. The raw flesh has a crisp texture and a pungent, peppery flavor, caused by chewing [[glucosinolate]]s and the enzyme myrosinase in the radish, that, when brought together form [[allyl isothiocyanate]]s , also present in [[mustard plant|mustard]], [[horseradish]] and [[wasabi]].
===In medicine===
Radishes are suggested as an [[Alternative medicine|alternative]] treatment for a variety of ailments including [[whooping cough]], [[cancer]], [[cough]]s, gastric discomfort, [[liver]] problems, [[constipation]], [[dyspepsia]], [[gallbladder]] problems, [[arthritis]], [[gallstone]]s, [[kidney stone]]s<ref>[http://www.healingfoodreference.com/radish.html Healing foods page for radishes]</ref> and [[intestinal parasite]]s.<ref>[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Raphanus+sativus Plants for the Future page on radishes]</ref>
===In industry===
The seeds of the ''[[Raphanus sativus]]'' species can be pressed to extract [[vegetable oil|seed oil]]. Wild radish seeds contain up to 48% oil content, and while not suitable for human consumption the oil has promise as a source of [[biofuel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plantoils.in/uses/fuel/fuel.html|title=Plant Oils as Fuel: Radish oil}}</ref>
The oilseed radish grows well in cool climates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.covercrops.msu.edu/CoverCrops/O_Radish/oilseed_radish.htm|title=Oilseed radish}}</ref>
== Radishes in popular culture ==
{{Trivia|date=August 2007}}
* Radishes were the staple food of the three main races of the [[Fraggle Rock]] universe - the Fraggles, Doozers and Gorgs.
* In 2005 in Japan, a giant radish grew through a section of pavement. Named Dokonjo [[Daikon]], the vegetable received considerable interest from the public, and toy shops began stocking giant radish dolls.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4677262.stm Giant radish grows through pavement in Japan] [[:ja:ど根性野菜|[Japanese wikipedia article]]]</ref>
* [[Murder, She Wrote]] protagonist [[Jessica Fletcher]] was revealed to be severely allergic to radishes.
* [[Luna Lovegood]], a character from the [[Harry Potter]] series, wears radish earrings.
* In [[The Simpsons]] episode [[The Wife Aquatic]] local bully [[Jimbo Jones]] wonders what a radish is, saying "It's like an apple did it with an onion," referring to procreative copulation and hybridization.
* The Nepalese word for radish is "mulaa" and is a euphemism for penis. In Nepal, the large, long Asian radish is the common variety.
* An early [[Homestar Runner]] cartoon, called "The Reddest Radish" features [[Strong Bad]] stealing [[Marzipan (Homestar Runner)|Marzipan]]'s prize radish.
* In the [[French Revolutionary Calendar]], [[April 8]] was dedicated to radishes.
* Radishes is the name of the comic strip [[Peanuts]] in [[Denmark]].
* The character of [[Raditz]] in [[Dragonball Z]] is a name pun on Radish.
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons|Raphanus sativus|Radish}}
* [http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Raphanus.html#sativus Multilingual taxonomic information from the University of Melbourne]
* [http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1562:1 ''Production of radishes''] hosted by the [http://digital.library.unt.edu/browse/department/govdocs/ UNT Government Documents Department]
[[Category:Brassicaceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Root vegetables]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Radish
| image = Radieschen.jpg
| image_width = 100px
| image_caption = Red radish
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Brassicales]]
| familia = [[Brassicaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Raphanus]]''
| species = '''''R. sativus'''''
| binomial = ''Raphanus sativus''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
{{otheruses4|the vegetable|the band|Radish (band)}}
The '''radish''' (''Raphanus sativus'') is an [[Eating|edible]] [[root vegetable]] of the [[Brassicaceae]] family that was domesticated in [[Europe]] in pre-[[Roman Empire|Roman]] times. They are grown and consumed throughout the world, and in addition to their use as a food, radishes have uses as an [[Alternative medicine|alternative treatment]] for a variety of medial conditions, and the seeds can be used as a [[biofuel]]. Radishes have numerous varieties, varying in size, color and duration of required cultivation time.
==History==
{{Refimprovesect|date=August 2007}}
Although the radish was a well-established crop in [[Hellenistic]] and [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times, which leads to the assumption that it was brought into cultivation at an earlier time, Zohary and Hopf note that "there are almost no archeological records available" to help determine its earlier history and domestication. Wild forms of the radish and its relatives the [[mustard plant|mustards]] and [[turnip]] can be found over west Asia and Europe, suggesting that their domestication took place somewhere in that area. However Zohary and Hopf conclude, "Suggestions as to the origins of these plants are necessarily based on linguistic considerations."<ref>Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, ''Domestication of plants in the Old World'', third edition (Oxford: University Press, 2000), p. 139</ref>
==Cultivation==
Summer radishes mature rapidly, with many varieties germinating in 3-7 days, and reaching maturity in three to four weeks.<ref name="faust1996">Faust, Joan Lee. ([[1996]]-[[03-03]].) [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E0DB1E39F930A35750C0A960958260 "Hail the Speedy Radish, in All Its Forms."] ''The New York Times'', via nytimes.com archives. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-27]].</ref><ref name="peterson1999">Peterson, Cass. ([[1999]]-[[05-02]].) [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFDE103DF931A35756C0A96F958260 "Radishes: Easy to Sprout, Hard to Grow Right."] ''The New York Times'', via nytimes.com archives. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-27]].</ref> A common garden crop in the U.S., the fast harvest cycle makes them a popular choice for children's gardens.<ref name="faust1996" /> Harvesting periods can be extended through repeated plantings, spaced a week or two apart.<ref name="beattie1938" />
Radishes grow best in full sun and fertile, acidic to neutral soil.{{fact|date=September 2007}} They are in season from April to as late as October in the northern hemisphere.{{fact|date=September 2007}} As with other root crops, tilling the soil helps the roots grow.<ref name="beattie1938">Beattie, J. H. and W. R. Beattie. (March 1938.) [http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1562:1 "Production of Radishes."] U.S. Department of Agriculture, leaflet no. 57, via University of North Texas Government Documents A to Z Digitization Project website. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-27]].</ref> Most soil types will work, though sandy loams are particularly good for winter and spring crops, while soils that form a hard crust can impair growth.<ref name="beattie1938" /> The depth at which seeds are planted affects the size of the root, from 1 cm deep recommended for small radishes to 4 cm for large radishes.<ref name="peterson1999" />
== Varieties ==
[[Image:Bunch of radishes.jpg|thumb|A bunch of radishes]]
Broadly speaking, radishes can be categorized into four main types (summer, fall, winter, and spring) and a variety of shapes, colours, and sizes, such as black or multi-coloured radishes, with round or elongated roots that can grow longer than a [[parsnip]].
=== Spring or summer radishes ===
Sometimes referred to as European radishes, or as spring radishes if they're typically planted in cooler weather, summer radishes are generally small and have a relatively short 3-4 week cultivation time.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
* Cherry Belle is a bright red-skinned round variety with a white interior.<ref name="faust1996" /> It is familiar in North American supermarkets.
* Champion is round and red-skinned like the Cherry Belle, but with slightly larger roots, up to about 5 cm, and a milder flavor.<ref name="faust1996" />
* Red King has a mild flavor, with good resistance to club foot, a problem that can arise from poor drainage.<ref name="faust1996" />
* Snow Belle is an all-white variety of radish, also round like the Cherry Belle.<ref name="faust1996" />
* White Icicle or just Icicle is a white carrot-shaped variety, around 10-12 cm long, dating back to the 16th century. It slices easily, and is has better than average resistance to pithiness.<ref name="faust1996" /><ref name="peterson1999" />
* French Breakfast is an elongated red-skinned radish with a white splash at the root end. It is typically slightly milder than other summer varieties, but is among the quickest to turn pithy.<ref name="peterson1999" />
* Plum Purple a purple-[[fuchsia]] radish that tends to stay crisp longer than the average radish.<ref name="peterson1999" />
* Gala and Roodbol are two varieties popular in the Netherlands in a breakfast dish, thinly sliced on buttered bread.<ref name="faust1996" />
* Easter Egg is not an actual variety, but a mix of varieties with different skin colors,<ref name="peterson1999" /> typically including white, pink, red, and purple radishes. Sold in markets or seed packets under the name, the seed mixes can extend harvesting duration from a single planting, as different varieties may mature at different times.<ref name="peterson1999" />
=== Winter varieties ===
Various winter varieties can actually be grown throughout the growing season, from early spring to fall, but take their name from their ability to be stored during the non-growing winter months. Sizes are generally than the summer varieties, and cultivation often takes six to eight weeks.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
Black Spanish or Black Spanish Round are occur in both round and elongated forms, and is sometimes simply called the black radish or known by the French ''Gros Noir d'Hiver.'' It dates in Europe to 1548,<ref>Aiton, William Townsend. (1812.) [http://books.google.com/books?id=y4QCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA129&dq=radish+black.spanish+date:1500-1835&as_brr=0 "Hortus Kewensis; Or, A Catalogue of the Plants Cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, Second Edition, Vol. IV"] Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown: London. Page 129. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-28]].</ref> and was a common garden variety in England and France the early 19th century.<ref>Lindley, George. (1831.) [http://books.google.com/books?id=DJqCT_QapToC&pg=PA570&dq=Noir+Gros+Rond+d%E2%80%99Hiver+date:1500-1840&as_brr=0#PPR3,M1 "A Guide to the Orchard and Kitchen Garden: Or, an Account of the Most Valuable Fruit and Vegetables Cultivated in Great Britain."] Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green: London. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-28]].</ref> It has a rough black skin with hot-flavored white flesh, is round or irregularly pear shaped,<ref>McIntosh, Charles. (1828.) [http://books.google.com/books?id=zZ46AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA288&dq=radish+black.spanish+date:1500-1835&as_brr=0 "The Practical Gardener, and Modern Horticulturist."] Thomas Kelly: London. Page 288.</ref> and grows to around 10cm in diameter.
[[Daikon]] refers to a wide variety of winter radishes from east Asia. While the Japanese name daikon has been adopted in English, it is also sometimes called the Japanese radish, Chinese radish, or Oriental radish.<ref name="amher2004">(2004.) [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/daikon "Daikon."] ''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition'', Houghton Mifflin Company, via dictionary.com. Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-28]].</ref> Daikon commonly have elongated white roots, although many varieties of daikon exist. One well known variety is April Cross, with smooth white roots.<ref name="faust1996" /><ref name="peterson1999" /> The New York Times describes Masato Red and Masato Green varieties as extremely long, well suited for fall planting and winter storage.<ref name="faust1996" /> The [[Sakurajima]] daikon is a hot flavored variety which is typically grown to around 10 kg when harvested, but which has grown as heavy as 30 kg when left in the ground.<ref name="faust1996" /><ref>([[2002]]-[[02-10]].) [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-50139993.html "29 kg radish wins contest."] ''Kyodo World News Service'', via highbeam.com (fee for full access.) Retrieved on [[2007]]-[[09-28]].</ref>
=== Seed pod varieties ===
The seeds of radishes grow in pods, following flowering that happens when left to grow past their normal harvesting period. The seeds are edible, and are sometimes used as a crunchy, spicy addition to salads.<ref name="peterson1999" /> Some varieties are grown specifically for their seeds or seed pods, rather than their roots. The Rat-tailed radish, an old European variety, has long, thin, curly pods. In the 17th century, the pods were often pickled and served with meat.<ref name="peterson1999" /> The München Bier variety supplies spicy seeds that are sometimes served raw as an accompaniment to beer in Germany.{{fact|date=September 2007}}
== Nutritional value ==
{{nutritionalvalue | name=Radish, raw, root only | kJ=66| protein=0.68 g | fat=0.10 g | carbs=3.40 g | fiber=1.6 g | | sugars=1.86 g | iron_mg=0.34 | calcium_mg=25 | magnesium_mg=10 | phosphorus_mg=20 | potassium_mg=233 | zinc_mg=0.28 | vitC_mg=14.8 | pantothenic_mg=0.165 | vitB6_mg=0.071 | folate_ug=25 | thiamin_mg=0.012 | riboflavin_mg=0.039 | niacin_mg=0.254 | right=1 | source_usda=1 }}
Radishes are rich in [[ascorbic acid]], [[folic acid]], and [[potassium]]. They are a good source of [[vitamin B6]], [[riboflavin]], [[magnesium]], [[copper]], and [[calcium]]. One cup of sliced red radish bulbs provides approximately 20 [[Calorie]]s or less, coming largely from [[carbohydrate]]s, making radishes, relative to their size, a very filling food for their caloric value.
==Uses==
===In cooking===
The most popular part for eating is the napiform [[taproot]], although the entire plant is edible and the tops can be used as a [[leaf vegetable]]. The skin comes in a variety of colours. Most commonly known is the round, red-skinned variety but other varieties may have a pink, white or gray-black skin, and there is a yellow-skinned variety.
The bulb of the radish is usually eaten raw, but tougher specimens can be steamed. The raw flesh has a crisp texture and a pungent, peppery flavor, caused by chewing [[glucosinolate]]s and the enzyme myrosinase in the radish, that, when brought together form [[allyl isothiocyanate]]s , also present in [[mustard plant|mustard]], [[horseradish]] and [[wasabi]].
===In medicine===
Radishes are suggested as an [[Alternative medicine|alternative]] treatment for a variety of ailments including [[whooping cough]], [[cancer]], [[cough]]s, gastric discomfort, [[liver]] problems, [[constipation]], [[dyspepsia]], [[gallbladder]] problems, [[arthritis]], [[gallstone]]s, [[kidney stone]]s<ref>[http://www.healingfoodreference.com/radish.html Healing foods page for radishes]</ref> and [[intestinal parasite]]s.<ref>[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Raphanus+sativus Plants for the Future page on radishes]</ref>
===In industry===
The seeds of the ''[[Raphanus sativus]]'' species can be pressed to extract [[vegetable oil|seed oil]]. Wild radish seeds contain up to 48% oil content, and while not suitable for human consumption the oil has promise as a source of [[biofuel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plantoils.in/uses/fuel/fuel.html|title=Plant Oils as Fuel: Radish oil}}</ref>
The oilseed radish grows well in cool climates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.covercrops.msu.edu/CoverCrops/O_Radish/oilseed_radish.htm|title=Oilseed radish}}</ref>
== Radishes in popular culture ==
{{Trivia|date=August 2007}}
* Radishes were the staple food of the three main races of the [[Fraggle Rock]] universe - the Fraggles, Doozers and Gorgs.
* In 2005 in Japan, a giant radish grew through a section of pavement. Named Dokonjo [[Daikon]], the vegetable received considerable interest from the public, and toy shops began stocking giant radish dolls.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4677262.stm Giant radish grows through pavement in Japan] [[:ja:ど根性野菜|[Japanese wikipedia article]]]</ref>
* [[Murder, She Wrote]] protagonist [[Jessica Fletcher]] was revealed to be severely allergic to radishes.
* [[Luna Lovegood]], a character from the [[Harry Potter]] series, wears radish earrings.
* In [[The Simpsons]] episode [[The Wife Aquatic]] local bully [[Jimbo Jones]] wonders what a radish is, saying "It's like an apple did it with an onion," referring to procreative copulation and hybridization.
* The Nepalese word for radish is "mulaa" and is a euphemism for penis. In Nepal, the large, long Asian radish is the common variety.
* An early [[Homestar Runner]] cartoon, called "The Reddest Radish" features [[Strong Bad]] stealing [[Marzipan (Homestar Runner)|Marzipan]]'s prize radish.
* In the [[French Revolutionary Calendar]], [[April 8]] was dedicated to radishes.
* Radishes is the name of the comic strip [[Peanuts]] in [[Denmark]].
* The character of [[Raditz]] in [[Dragonball Z]] is a name pun on Radish.
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons|Raphanus sativus|Radish}}
* [http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Raphanus.html#sativus Multilingual taxonomic information from the University of Melbourne]
* [http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1562:1 ''Production of radishes''] hosted by the [http://digital.library.unt.edu/browse/department/govdocs/ UNT Government Documents Department]
[[Category:Brassicaceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Root vegetables]]