Botanical nameBrassica oleracea

Descended from cabbage grown wild in Mediterranean regions thousands of years ago, the leaves in todays varieties sometimes have interesting dissimilarities. Some appear widespread and waffled, while others are smooth and tightly bunched. The colors vary as well, presenting pale green, blue green, red, reddish purple, and nearly white. All have very short stems which, other than garden dirt on the very end, are just as delicious and nutritious as the leaves.