turnip

The tulip bulbs had been homely as turnips when planted, but a winter spent underground had worked its magic.

“These are nothing more than knobby, ugly, dirty turnips. I asked for beautiful and frightfully expensive tulips.”

With relief, Penelope saw the boys resist the urge to toss their turnips in the air, as they were accustomed to doing with the peas.

Most convicts had been found guilty of theft, with many being repeat offenders, but some were deported for crimes as petty as trampling on the turnips of the local aristocracy.

Roots and vegetables are natural fits: turnips, parsnips, cauliflower, mushrooms, roasted eggplant, fennel, sunchokes.