VMS -- Botany (f90r2) Rutabaga?

["Dana F. Scott" <dfscott@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

One would think that the botanical drawing in f90r2 would be a
relatively easy plant to identify. Rutabaga, Brassica napus var.
napobrassica, seems like a possible match; however, I am not really
convinced. Maybe Rutabaga is a close relative to the plant in the VMS.
Part of the problem is that it is believed that the Rutabaga hybrid was
first produced in the 17th century, which would probably be a little too
late for the VMS. The true identification of this plant will therefore
require further investigation.

Regards,
Dana Scott

Photo:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MV127
http://dreamwater.com/moflora/Yellowalt/Brassica_napus_page.html
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/pic1/rutab2.jpg
http://www.humeseeds.com/rutabaga.htm

Description:
http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/bras_nap.cfm
http://www.soupsong.com/fturnip.html
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MV127
http://www.medicalmeals.com/rutabaga.htm
http://www.gov.nf.ca/agric/crops/guides/rutabags.htm
http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch4.html
http://www.allrecipes.com/encyc/terms/R/8304.asp
http://shakespeare.mvhs.sad40.k12.me.us/ss/faq/Rutabaga.html
http://newcrop.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/Rutabaga.html
http://newcrop.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/rutabaga.html
http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch4.html
http://www.soupsong.com/fturnip.html
http://agri.gov.ns.ca/pt/hort/vegetables/guides/rutabaga.htm
http://www.biologie.uni-ulm.de/lehre/botanik/nutzpflanzen/taxa/brassica_napus_napobrassica.html

http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/brassica/brass/brasnap.html
http://www.floridata.com/ref/B/bras_nap.cfm
http://www.gardenbed.com/B/768.cfm
http://www.organics2go.co.uk/turnip.html

History:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/rutabaga.html
http://www.regional.org.au/au/gcirc/4/374.htm

Synonym:
http://gmr.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/Plantnames/Sorting/Brassica_napus.html

Brassica napus varieties:
Brassica napus var. annua
Brassica napus var. biennis
Brassica napus var. napobrassica
Brassica napus var. pabularia