Rutabaga

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/rutabaga

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific classification?Brassica napus var. napobrassica
2. What is the botanical origin?A hybrid of Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa, likely originating in Europe
3. How did the rutabaga come to be?The rutabaga grew by chance when a wild cabbage and a wild turnip mixed together in Europe a long time ago. This natural mix gave the rutabaga its strong roots and good storage ability.
4. Why was the rutabaga important in old times?During the 18th and 19th centuries, people used rutabagas to keep food supplies when other crops failed. They were especially helpful in winter and during wars, giving people calories and nutrients.

Botanical Hybridization: The process where two different plant species or varieties cross-pollinate to create a new, distinct plant.
Taproot: A large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout.
Antioxidant: A substance that inhibits oxidation, protecting cells from damage by free radicals.