In the North of England Swedes are also routinely called turnips but there is no other word for 'real' turnips. When i was young one only ever saw Swedes, not small,white turnips.
LOL, there's a very confusing but funny article here on much the same question, it suggests that the white things the English call turnips, are called "new turnips" in Scotland. http://www.guardian.c...neeps-swede-or-turnip
I had all this the day before yesterday................
Mrs jth says that the small white 'English' variety are called 'swede' but I think she was just being awkward (she generally is)!
Another major difference that is seen between the Turnips and Rutabagas is that they come with different chromosomes. While Turnips come with 20 chromosomes, the Rutabagas have 38 chromosomes (20 chromosomes from Turnips and 18 from cabbage).
does that help.....
bit like my late grandfather....could never get it into his head that Lilac was Syringa always called the philadelphus Syringa even when I showed him in books he said they were wrong