Kale Is the Same Species as Cabbage and Broccoli
Kale is a leafy green vegetable. It shares a species with several vegetables that look nothing like it.
Kale is a leafy green vegetable with curled or flat leaves that do not form a head. It is the same species as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kohlrabi — all are *Brassica oleracea*, bred from one wild plant by selecting different parts. Broccoli is the flower buds, cabbage the terminal bud, kohlrabi the stem, and kale simply the leaves. *Kale* is the northern English and Scottish form of *cole*, as in coleslaw.
- A leafy green. *Curly kale.*
- Cole — the southern form. *Coleslaw.*
- Brassica oleracea — its species. *The species.*
- Kohlrabi — a relative. *Kohlrabi.*
- Latin — *caulis*, a stem. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | kale | Kale. |
| Variant | cole | Cole. |
| Compound | coleslaw | Coleslaw. |
| Related | kohlrabi | Kohlrabi. |
| Latin | caulis | A stem. |
- Steam the kale briefly.Cooking.
- Coleslaw uses the same root.Etymology.
- Broccoli is the same species.Botany.
One species, many vegetables
- Kale — the leaves
- Cabbage — the terminal bud, tightly packed
- Broccoli — the flower stalks and buds
- Cauliflower — an arrested flower head
- Brussels sprouts — the lateral buds
Northern form of *cole*, from Old English *cawel*, from Latin *caulis*, a stem or cabbage.
Are kale and broccoli the same species?
Yes. Both are Brassica oleracea, along with cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kohlrabi, bred from one wild plant.
Is coleslaw related to kale?
Yes. Coleslaw comes from Dutch koolsla, cabbage salad, and kool shares a root with both kale and cole.