So far as I know, all forms of bok choy are Brassica rapa. Bok choy cultivars vary in size, proportions and color, but have the same basic form, a crown of broad, dark green leaves with thick, white or pale green petioles.

Not all Brassica rapas are bok choy. Some are mustard or turnip. To make it more confusing, some mustards and turnips are not Brassica rapa.

Jim

After posting the previous message, I looked in Carol Deppe's excellent book, Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties, where I found bok choy classified as Brassia campestris ssp. chinensis. According to the entry in her table of plant information, this name supercedes Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis. Bok choy has had several different botanical names over the years.

BTW, the photo at the upper right of the page when you access this forum appears to be a bok choy.

Jim

Taxonomist, I can't say that you will go away wiser but if you've got the better part of a day to spend doing some reading - check out the link below.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: MULTILINGUAL PLANT NAMES

Is there a term or phrase in internet lingo for a person who posts a question then disappears, leaving a bunch of good-hearted replies in limbo?

If not, maybe it could be a "taxonomist", in honor of the initiator of this thread.

Jim

taxonomist,

"Bok choy/pak choy" is an extremely common name for many, many Asian cabbages. Just like the term "lettuce" is an extremely common name for many, many leafy greens.

Are you wanting to know something more specific?