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Brassica oleracea Acephala Group [curly kale]

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Brassica oleracea Acephala Group [curly kale]

Family Name: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Common Name: Curly Kale

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form Herbaceous Plant
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic

Biogeography

Local Conservation Status Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form It is a herbaceous plant with a compact rosette growth form, growing up to 0.45m in height.
Foliage Leaves are fleshy, coated with a layer of wax with whitish veins. The leaves are either oblong, obovate to almost linear in shape, undulate (widely wavy) or toothed leaf margin. Older leaves have 1-5 pairs of small lobes and a large terminal lobe, measuring up to 50cm × 30cm.
Flowers Flowers are borne in inflorescence at the tip of the plant. Flowers are bisexual, pale to bright yellow or whitish.
Fruit Fruits are dry, dehiscent pods known as siliques. Each fruit contains up to 30 seeds, growing between 5-10cm × 0.5cm. Seeds are round, dark brown, finely reticulate measuring between 0.15-0.2cm in diameter.
Cultivation Seeds may take about 10 days to germinate. Depending on the varieties, the plant may take 55 to 60 days to reach suitable harvest size. Once the plants reach 30 cm tall or the desired size, they are ready for harvesting.
Ethnobotanical Uses Food (Fruit or Vegetable): Leaves are eaten as vegetables or prepared into sauces. The thick midribs and petioles are known to be tough and bitter therefore removed before consumption.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Propagation Method Seed

Foliar

Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Margin Entire - Wavy / Undulate
Foliar Apex - Tip Rounded

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 33951
Species ID 8367
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 26 August 2021.
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