Cabbage

Brassica oleracea Capitata Group

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The cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata Group) is an edible plant of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae). It is herbaceous, biennial, and a dicotyledonous flowering plant with leaves forming a characteristic compact head. Cabbage, broccoli (Italica Group), cauliflower (Botrytis Group), collard greens (Acephala Group), kohlrabi (Gongylodes Group), brussels sprouts (Gemmifera Group), Chinese kale or Chinese broccoli (Alboglabra Group), broccolini (Italica x Alboglabra Group), and broccoflower (Italica x Botrytis Group) are all cultivars of the same plant species, Brassica oleracea.

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The cabbage head was bred into the species from the leafy wild plant, found in the Mediterranean region around 100 AD. The English name derives from the French caboche (head). Varieties include Red cabbage and Savoy cabbage. Chinese cabbage, while resembling cabbage, is an independent development from a different Brassica species.

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Cabbages are commonly used both cooked and as a salad vegetable. They keep well and were thus a common winter vegetable before refrigeration and long-distance shipping of produce. Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage often used as a condiment or side dish.

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The caterpillars of some butterflies in the family Pieridae (the "whites") feed on brassicas and can be serious pests.

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The juice of the red cabbage can be used as a pH indicatorhttp://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa012803a.htm.

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Another common use of cabbage is in the staple of the Cabbage Soup Diet, a fad diet which involves eating several bowls of reportedly very bland, tasteless cabbage soup per day.

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Brassica oleracea: :See also cabbage...

Herbaceous: REDIRECT Herbaceous plant...

Biennial: Biennial is a term referring to a period of two years, much in the same way refers to 100 years. If an event occurs every two years, it can be said to occur biennially. This is commonly used in reference to legislative agendas in U.S. states (often as biennium), as many representatives are elected ...

Cabbage related Images and Photos (experimental)

Cabbage Kids	Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea)	Red Cabbage c.2001	Cabbage Brassica Oleracea
The Cabbage Patch	Savoy Cabbage Turnip	Cabbage Flowers North Carolina USA	Potatoes Red Cabbage & Meat in Glass Pots
Une And Habotan (Plum & Variegated Cabbage) In a Tsubo	Blue Violets Mosses and Skunk Cabbage in a Red Maple Swamp	The Modern Woman in a Cabbage Field from Pages Folles 1910	Still Life of Strawberries Carrots and Cabbage