Mediterranean cabbage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mediterranean cabbage |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Brassica
|
| Species: |
fruticulosa
|
Brassica fruticulosa, also known as the Mediterranean cabbage or twiggy turnip, is a wild plant that belongs to the same family as many important vegetables we eat. This plant is part of the Brassica group, which includes common foods like cabbage and broccoli. It was first described by a scientist named Domenico Maria Leone Cirillo in 1792.
Contents
What Does Mediterranean Cabbage Look Like?
When you crush the leaves of Brassica fruticulosa, it smells a lot like regular cabbage or broccoli. The plant has a smooth, straight stem that can be gray or green. It can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
Both the upper and lower leaves of the plant have small stems. The lower leaves are shaped a bit like a lyre (a musical instrument) and have lobes, or rounded parts, near their base. These lower leaves can grow up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long and might feel a bit bristly.
The plant produces pale yellow flowers, each about 10 millimeters (less than half an inch) long. Each flower has four petals and grows on a short stalk. Many branches with flowers form at the end of the stem.
Fruits and Seeds
After the flowers, the plant grows a fruit called a siliqua. This fruit looks a bit like a pea pod but has a bumpy surface. It measures between 2 and 4 centimeters (about 1 to 1.5 inches) in length. Inside the siliqua, you'll find the seeds. When they are ready, these seeds are brown and round.
Where Does This Plant Grow?
Brassica fruticulosa is a type of wild cabbage that originally came from southern Europe and North Africa. Over time, it has been introduced to other places like Australia and North America. In these new places, including California in the U.S.A., it has started to grow on its own in the wild. This means it has become "naturalized," which is when a plant or animal starts living and reproducing in a new area without human help.
Types and Related Plants
Just like there are different types of dogs or apples, there are also different types of Brassica fruticulosa. Scientists have identified several variations of this plant.
Scientists have also been able to cross-breed Brassica fruticulosa with another plant called Brassica rapa in a lab. This means they can mix the genes of these two plants to create a new kind of plant that has features from both.
