Raphanus sativus (Radish)

An annual or biennial herb in the Brassicaceae family, it is an ancient cultivated crop thought to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean, although its exact origins remain uncertain. Cultivated forms vary widely in their fleshy taproots, and some are grown for edible pods, livestock forage, or cover crops. Lobed leaves accompany upright flowering stems bearing four-petaled white, pink, or pale violet flowers. The peppery roots are eaten raw, cooked, or pickled, and the leaves are also edible. It is propagated from seeds. Photographed in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia.