Turnips and Swedes

There is a bit of confusion in naming turnips and swedes. They are all called turnips in Ireland with the white fleshed ones often referred to as white turnips, which in Scotland  are called neeps.  Yellow fleshed turnips belong to the species Brassica napus which is believed to have originated from a fortuitous hybridization between the (white) turnip (B. rapa) and kale (B. oleracea acephala).  They are called  various things such as rutabegas in North America, and swedes in the UK. Both types can have purple tops which adds to the confusion.