Nanohana 菜の花

Nanohana ('vegetable flowers') is a cruciferous green vegetable, closely related to rapini and broccoli, which is commonly used in Japanese cuisine. The term nanohana specifically refers to the young shoots of the rapeseed plant (Brassica napus), while the mature plant, which is used to produce rapeseed oil, is called aburana. The florets, stems, and leaves are all edible, and are commonly boiled and served with dashi (stock) and katsuobushi (bonito flakes).The shoots may also be pickled or served as a salad with mustard. A festival celebrating the spring bloom of nanohana, called Nanohana Matsuri, is held annually in Japan.