COMMON NAMES: Bok Choi, Bok Choi, Bok Choy, Pak-choi, Chinese Cabbage (in Cooks)

TRADITIONAL NAMES: Pīnapi (RR AT MK MT AK TS TW), Tinapi (MG), Pīnapi ? (PK); Other Polynesian - Kapisi (SAM)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE China; EXOTIC EXOTIC Circumglobal

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Naturalised; Land, lowlands, gardens

SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Food (Leaf 2+); Weed - minor

KEY FEATURES: Erect plant with ascending white leaf-stalks which abruptly give rise to a broad blade.

SIMILAR SPECIES: In the South Pacific this early introduced species was called Chinese Cabbage, and only recently recognised as Bok Choi. In the USA and Europe Chinese Cabbage is a related species Brassica rapa pekinensis. In the latter the leaf-blade extends down the leaf-stalk and the leaves wrap together to make a tight cylinder