Daikon

Daikon
From left to right: watermelon radish, daikon, bái luóbo, waemu, yeolmu, and ponytail radish
GenusRaphanus
SpeciesRaphanus sativus
SubspeciesR. sativus subsp. longipinnatus
Cultivar groupWhite radish
OriginCentral Asia
Daikon sold in Nara, Japan
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese蘿蔔
Simplified Chinese萝卜
Literal meaning“white radish
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinbái luóbo
Wade–Gilespai2 lo2-po5
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingbaak6 lo4 baak6
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese菜頭
Simplified Chinese菜头
Literal meaning“vegetable head”
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyincàitóu
Southern Min
Hokkien POJchhài-thâu
Korean name
Hangul왜무
Literal meaningWae radish
Transcriptions
Revised Romanizationwaemu
McCune–Reischauerwaemu
Japanese name
Kanji大根
Kanaだいこん
Transcriptions
Romanizationdaikon

Daikon (大根 (だいこん) or mooli (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus) is a mild-flavored winter radish usually characterized by fast-growing leaves and a long, white, napiform root. Native to continental East Asia, daikon and its cultivars are now harvested and consumed globally. In some locations, daikon is left unharvested to loosen compacted soils and recover nutrients.