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Brassica oleracea Acephala Group [curly kale]
| Family Name: | Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) |
| Common Name: | Curly Kale |
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Name
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) |
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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 & 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
Others
| Master ID | 33951 |
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| 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. |
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