Brassica oleracea
L. Wild CabbageBiennial or perennial. Taproot robust. Stems erect, to 1(–3) m high, becoming woody, with conspicuous basal leaf scars, glabrous. Leaves more or less fleshy, glaucous, glabrous; lower leaves to 40 cm long, broad and rounded, petiolate, margins variously scalloped, occasionally pinnately lobed; upper leaves oblong, not lobed, sessile, base clasped around less than a third of the stem. Inflorescence an extended raceme. Sepals erect, 6–12 mm long; petals 12–25 mm long, yellow; stamens erect; ovary sessile. Fruit ascending, 5–10 cm long (including beak), 2–5 mm wide, cylindric, or weakly compressed; beak 5–11 mm long, with 1 or 2 seeds; pedicel 10–30 mm long; seeds 2–4 mm diam., dark brown to black. Flowers Sep.–Nov.
MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, GipP, Gold, DunT. Also naturalised WA, NT, SA, NSW, ACT, Tas. Probably native to northern Mediterranean coast. An occasional garden-escape, sometimes becoming naturalised.
Many varieties of this species are commonly cultivated as vegetables (e.g. Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kohlrabi).
Entwisle, T.J. (1996). Brassicaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 399–459. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
