RADISH, Raplanus, a genus of plants of the natural order cruciferce, having a spongy silique (q.v.), which does not split open when ripe, ends in a conical or awl-shaped beak, and is more or less divided into transverse cells, in some species adhering together even in decay, and in some falling asunder. The flowers are yellow, red, or purple. The common radish (R. sativus) has thick, round, tapering, and pointed pods, little longer than their stalks, very slightly contracted, and not falling to pieces. It is an minual, with branching stem from two to four ft. high, rough lyre-shaped leaves, and pale violet-colored flowers with dark veins. It is a native of Asia, from the coasts of the Mediterranean to Japan, and has been cultivated in China, India, and Europe from the most ancient times, for the sake of its fleshy roots, which have a sharp biting taste, and are much used when young as a salad, and also to some extent as a boiled vegetable. In this latter way, the young and tender leaves were also formerly used. The varieties of radish in cultivation are extremely numerous; but they are generally classed under the two heads of long-rooted and turnip-rooted radishes, the roots of the former resembling the carrot in shape, and the latter the turnip. The varieties differ very much, not only in form of root, but in color and size, a red color generally prevailing. Some of the
dark-colored turnip-rooted radishes attain the size of a man's head. Radishes are sown at different seasons, and are generally used when young and small; but some kinds are occasionally stored for winter. The root of the radish possesses demulcent, stimu lant, and diuretic properties, and is sometimes used in cases of :doily, or of excessive secretion of mucus by the organs of digestion or the urinary organs. Radish juice, mixed with sugar candy. is a popular and useful German remedy for hoarseness and rough.—Distinct from both the varieties above-named is the oil radish, which has it slender, scarcely fleshy, root, a short much-branched stem, and many-seeded pods. It is cultivated in China for the oil of its seeds.—Another species of radish (R. caudatas), native of Japan, is there cultivated as an esculent. To this genus belongs the jointed charloek of our corn-fields (I?. raplainistrum). which has found its way from Europe to North America, and is a troublesome weed there also. The seeds, however, may be advantageously crushed for oil.—The sea-radish (B. maritimus) is a more rare British species, the roots of which are of fine quality and great pungency-.