Cabbage
Brassica oleracea
Synonyms: Brassica oleracea var. frutescens, Brassica oleracea subvar. rubra, Brassica oleracea subvar. purpurascens, Brassica oleracea var. serotissima, Brassica oleracea var. obovata, Brassica oleracea subsp. fruticosa, Brassica oleracea var. sabellica, Brassica oleracea subvar. cymosa, Brassica oleracea subvar. nepenthiformis, Brassica oleracea var. protobotrys, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, Brassica oleracea var. bardovicensis, Brassica oleracea var. macrogongyla, Brassica oleracea var. crispa, Brassica oleracea var. chamjodusa, Brassica peregrina, Brassica oleracea var. communis, Brassica oleracea var. ardeina, Brassica oleracea var. sibirica, Brassica campestris subsp. sylvestris, Brassica cauliflora, Brassica oleracea var. opsibotrys, Brassica arborea, Brassica oleracea var. kashmiriana, Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera, Brassica gemmifera, Brassica oleracea var. depressa, Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes, Brassica oleracea var. pentovillea, Brassica oleracea subvar. violacea, Brassica oleracea var. vulgaris, Brassica oleracea var. protojodusa, Brassica oleracea var. magniportana, Brassica oleracea subsp. gemmifera, Brassica oleracea subvar. crispa, Brassica oleracea subvar. major, Rapa rotunda, Brassica oleracea var. plumacea, Brassica oleracea var. culinarum, Brassica oleracea subvar. alba, Brassica fimbriata, Brassica oleracea var. sphaerica, Brassica oleracea f. pyramidalis, Brassica cephala, Brassica oleracea subvar. viridis, Brassica oleracea var. sublaciniata, Brassica oleracea subsp. capitata, Brassica oleracea var. opsigongyla, Brassica oleracea var. glomerosa, Brassica oleracea var. jodocephala, Brassica oleracea var. cauliflora, Brassica oleracea subsp. acephala, Brassica oleracea var. dinojodusa, Brassica rubra, Brassica oleracea subvar. sabauda, Brassica oleracea var. phaeusa, Brassica oleracea subvar. aurata, Brassica oleracea subvar. crassa, Brassica oleracea var. italica, Brassica oleracea var. major, Brassica alba, Brassica oleracea var. germanorum, Brassica oleracea f. violascens, Brassica oleracea var. asparagoides, Brassica laciniata, Brassica oleracea var. chlorusa, Brassica oleracea var. pyramidula, Brassica oleracea var. micropodium, Brassica oleracea var. praecox, Brassica oleracea var. medullosa, Brassica oleracea var. opsjodusa, Brassica oleracea var. selinoides, Brassica oleracea var. jodogongyla, Brassica oleracea subvar. sphaerica, Brassica millecapitata, Brassica oleracea f. dissecta, Brassica oleracea var. laciniata, Sinapis brassicata, Brassica oleracea var. theiusa, Brassica oleracea var. maritima, Brassica oleracea subvar. brumalis, Brassica oleracea var. percrispa, Brassica oleracea subvar. sabellica, Brassica oleracea var. bullata, Crucifera brassica, Brassica oleracea subvar. communis, Brassica oleracea subvar. compressa, Brassica oleracea var. quercifolia, Brassica oleracea subvar. subacuta, Brassica oleracea var. chamaegongyla, Brassica rupestris var. gongylodes, Brassica oleracea var. atrorubens, Brassica oleracea var. elliptica, Raphanus brassica, Brassica oleracea var. capitata, Brassica oleracea var. longa, Brassica oleracea subvar. turionensis, Brassica oleracea subvar. maxima, Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra, Brassica oleracea subvar. procerior, Brassica oleracea var. media, Brassica suttoniana, Brassica oleracea var. grangei, Brassica oleracea f. viridis, Brassica oleracea subsp. laevis, Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia, Brassica oleracea var. microcephala, Brassica oleracea var. subrubens, Brassica oleracea var. viridis, Brassica odorata, Brassica oleracea var. conica, Brassica oleracea var. selenisia, Brassica oleracea subsp. caulorapa, Brassica oleracea var. ramosa, Brassica oleracea var. sylvestris, Brassica oleracea subvar. laciniata, Brassica oleracea subvar. conica, Brassica oleracea var. aurata, Brassica oleracea var. erythrobotrys, Raphanus brassica-officinalis, Brassica oleracea var. sabauda, Brassica quercifolia, Brassica sylvestris, Brassica oleracea var. ulmensis, Brassica oleracea subvar. rubra-minor, Brassica alboglabra, Napus oleracea, Brassica oleracea var. flandrica, Brassica oleracea var. herbacea, Brassica oleracea subvar. praecox, Brassica oleracea var. loudonii, Brassica oleracea f. salinaria, Brassica oleracea subvar. vulgaris, Brassica oleracea subvar. cymosa-violacea, Brassica oleracea var. albiflora, Brassica oleracea subvar. cymosa-albida, Brassica bullata, Brassica oleracea f. selenisia, Brassica oleracea subsp. bullata, Brassica oleracea subvar. parva-praecox, Brassica caulorapa, Brassica oleracea var. aberdeenea, Brassica oleracea f. azurea, Brassica oleracea f. exaltata, Brassica oleracea subsp. gongylodes, Brassica oleracea var. veris, Brassica oleracea f. rubra, Brassica oleracea subvar. albida, Brassica oleracea var. costata, Brassica oleracea var. luteola, Brassica oleracea var. schizogongyla, Brassica oleracea subvar. humilis, Brassica muscovita, Brassica oleracea var. aloides, Brassica oleracea var. rubra, Brassica sabellica, Brassica oleracea var. semiclausa, Brassica oleracea var. oblonga, Brassica oleracea subvar. alba-praecox, Brassica oleracea subvar. pinnata, Brassica rupestris subsp. gongylodes, Brassica oleracea var. fimbriata, Brassica oleracea subvar. versicolor, Brassica capitala, Brassica oleracea var. scotica, Brassica oleracea subvar. minor, Brassica oleracea var. procera, Brassica oleracea var. macrocephala
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Botanical Description
Brassica oleracea is a robust biennial or perennial herb of the cabbage family, in its wild form a coastal plant with a stout, often woody stem and a rosette of large, thick, glaucous, lobed or wavy-edged leaves coated in a waxy bloom. In its second year it produces a tall flowering stem bearing a loose raceme of four-petalled yellow (sometimes white) cruciform flowers, followed by slender cylindrical pods (siliques) containing rows of small round seeds. Through long cultivation this single species has been bred into a remarkable array of vegetables, including cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi, each emphasizing different organs (leaves, buds, stems, or inflorescences). The wild ancestor grows on limestone sea-cliffs of western and southern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.