Sakurajima radish

Sakurajima radish
A selection of Sakurajima radishes.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Brassicales
Family:
Brassicaceae
Genus:
Raphanus
Species:
sativus
Variety:
acanthiformis[2]
hortensis[3]
longipinnatus[4]
Trinomial name
Raphanus sativus var. hortensis f. gigantissimus
Synonyms

R. acanthiformis var. gigantissimus
Nakai

The Sakurajima radish or Sakurajima daikon (Japanese: 桜島大根, Sakurajima daikon) is a special cultivar of the Japanese radish named for its original place of cultivation, the former island of Sakurajima in Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture. It is the biggest radish variety in the world.[5] Its regular weight is about 6 kilograms (13 lb), although big ones can be as much as 27 kg (60 lb). It grows as large as 50 cm (20 in) in diameter.[6] It is also sometimes known in Japanese as shimadekon (しまでこん, "island daikon").

The three varieties are early, middle, and late, but the most commonly encountered form is the late.[7] The seeding period is from last August to first September and the harvest season is from December to February. To reach full size, special care needs to be taken with the region's volcanic-ash soil.

  1. ^ Huang Tseng-chieng & al. Flora of Taiwan, Vol. VI, p. 58. Epoch Publishing (Taipei), 1979. (in English) & (in Chinese)
  2. ^ Nakai.[1]
  3. ^ Makino.
  4. ^ L.H. Bailey.
  5. ^ Guinness World Records.[citation needed]
  6. ^ "The New official guide: Japan". Japan: New Official Guide Book. Japan National Tourist Organization: 837. 1975. ISSN 0077-8591.
  7. ^ Useful Plants of Japan - Described and Illustrated. READ BOOKS. 2008. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4086-3952-8.