Cruciferous Vegetables

[Lou]

Today I learned that kale and collard greens, Chinese broccoli, red and green cabbages, savoy cabbage, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are all the same species.

Not that long ago we had a great discussion on Artifical Selection as opposed to Genetically Modified. (See link at the bottom.) And it never ceases to amaze me how effective artificial selection can be. Or how long it has been taking place. Sure the Apple story is awesome. but just think of how we turned one wolf-like dog into everything from poodles to pit bulls.

But today I learned that kale and collard greens, Chinese broccoli, red and green cabbages, savoy cabbage, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are all the same plant. Not only are they all descendants of the same plant, Brassica oleracea, a weedy little herb, but just like dogs, they are also interfertile, capable of mating with one another and producing fertile offspring.

For the whole story, you can check out this article.

The extraordinary diversity of Brassica oleracea

Jeanne turns her frustration with caterpillars in her garden into an exploration of the botany behind an extraordinary species: Brassica oleracea. White cabbage butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieris ra…

botanistinthekitchen.blog

and this one is illustrated

These 6 common vegetables are actually all the same plant

Meet Brassica Oleracea. You've been eating it for years.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[mavrick45]

if you think that's cool you should also check out the history of the evolution of corn

very fascinating stuff

 

[Lou]

if you think that's cool you should also check out the history of the evolution of corn

very fascinating stuff

Oh, Yeah. I actually know a lot about corn. Michael Pollard's The Omnivore Dilemma - there are a couple of chapters all about corn. I think I brought it up here a while back.

Corn is not a GMO either. Although the modern species are almost all hybrids now. Another amazing success story is the dwarf wheat plant.

But corn is corn. Wheat is wheat. but who knew that kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are all the same species?

 

[TofuRobot]

But corn is corn. Wheat is wheat. but who knew that kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are all the same species?

I kind of did... they are always mentioned together as all being cruciferous vegetables, but that's about it

 

[Lou]

I think I may have been taught this in Botany 201, Taxonomy. It seems like a cool thing to bring up. But if so it was forgotten too long ago to even sound familiar.

I also got a kick out of the blogger's experience with the cabbage butterfly's caterpillars.

 

[Elminster]

Oh, Yeah. I actually know a lot about corn. Michael Pollard's The Omnivore Dilemma - there are a couple of chapters all about corn. I think I brought it up here a while back.

Corn is not a GMO either. Although the modern species are almost all hybrids now. Another amazing success story is the dwarf wheat plant.

But corn is corn. Wheat is wheat. but who knew that kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are all the same species?

I think it’s more accurate to say they all belong to the same family - they aren’t exactly the same species or they’d be the exact same plant!

 

[Lou]

@Elminster.
No. They are all the same species.

Now, Cavendish bananas are all the same plant because they are cloned.
Being in the same family is not very amazing. The Rosaceae family inlcudes over 4000 species. Many of the fruits we eat are in that family. Including apples, pears, quinces, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, raspberries, loquats, and strawberries.

 

[TofuRobot]

they aren’t exactly the same species or they’d be the exact same plant!

This makes no sense since you and I are the same species but I'm pretty sure we're not the exact same person...

 

[Elminster]

Thanks for the correction guys! Good to learn something new. ?

 

[Lou]

@Elminster,
The Business Insider article used the word "plant" in their headline. which could have caused some confusion. (I just noticed that). They should have used the word species. but probably didn't want their article to sound too nerdy.

 

[Lou]

@TofuRobot,
Even if you and I were clones and genetically identical individuals, we would not be the same person.

 

[Lou]

And if that wasn't nerdy enough for you .....

Fractal geometry is the mathematical offspring of chaos theory; a fractal is the pattern left behind in the wave of chaotic activity. That single geometric pattern repeats thousands of times at different magnifications (self-similarity). For that reason, fractals are often likened to Russian nesting dolls. Many fractal patterns exist only in mathematical theory, but over the last few decades, scientists have found there are fractal aspects to many irregular yet patterned shapes in nature, such the branchings of rivers and trees—or the strange self-similar repeating buds that make up the Romanesco cauliflower.​

What fractals, Fibonacci, and the golden ratio have to do with cauliflower

Self-selected mutations during domestication drastically changed shape over time.

arstechnica.com

 

[shyvas]

I like all cruciferous vegetables and up until a few weeks ago, would eat tons of them. Sadly, my digestive system doesn't seem to
care for large amounts so I only eat them a few times a week.

What do kale, arugula and Brussels sprouts have in common? Aside from being trendy ingredients, they’re all delicious cruciferous vegetables and pack a nutritional punch.

Cruciferous veggies are a diverse group that includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy, arugula, Brussels sprouts, collards, watercress and radishes. Fun fact: The name “cruciferous” is an informal classification for members of the mustard family and comes from the Latin cruciferae meaning “cross bearing,” because the four petals resemble a cross.

The Beginner's Guide to Cruciferous Vegetables

What do kale, arugula and Brussels sprouts have in common? Aside from being trendy ingredients, they’re all delicious cruciferous vegetables that pack a nutritional punch.

www.eatright.org

Top 5 health benefits of red cabbage

This colourful vegetable is one to add to your plate, according to our nutritionist

www.bbcgoodfood.com

Top 5 health benefits of kale

Registered nutritionist Nicola Shubrook reveals the facts behind popular leafy kale, often touted as a ‘superfood’

www.bbcgoodfood.com

Top 5 health benefits of broccoli

Discover what makes broccoli so good for us, including its fibre content, vitamins and minerals.

www.bbcgoodfood.com

Top 8 health benefits of cauliflower

It’s seen a boom in popularity in recent years, but what makes this versatile vegetable so healthy? Our nutritionist explains.

www.bbcgoodfood.com

Top 5 health benefits of sauerkraut

A nutritious, fermented food – what’s not to love about sauerkraut? Registered Nutritionist, Nicola Shubrook takes a closer look.

www.bbcgoodfood.com

 

[Emma JC]

I like all cruciferous vegetables and up until a few weeks ago, would eat tons of them. Sadly, my digestive system doesn't seem to
care for large amounts so I only eat them a few times a week.

I have issues with the amount of fibre in them as well and so I make sure that they are very well cooked, almost never raw...

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Lou]

This is a good week for cauliflower and math nerds.

Cauliflower and Chaos, Fractals in Every Floret (Published 2021)

Scientists take a crack at recreating the hypnotic fractal spirals of the Romanesco cauliflower.

www.nytimes.com

This Math Explains Why Cauliflowers Look Too Oddly Perfect

Chaotic little growthlings.

www.sciencealert.com

 

[feather]

Rutabaga or swede.....don't forget this lonely vegetable.

 

[Emma JC]

Rutabaga or swede.....don't forget this lonely vegetable.

I never would have guessed they were part Brassica - I do love them and haven't had one in a while, on the list it goes.

Love this quote from a Good Housekeeping Article:

Underneath its woody-looking exterior, rutabaga’s butter-yellow flesh is sweet and earthy. Rutabagas are the result of some promiscuous turnips crossing with wild cabbages in the 1600s, and while they contain the genes of both veggies, they’re considered a part of the cruciferous family of vegetables (cousins include broccoli and Brussels sprouts) and pack similar health benefits.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[feather]

some promiscuous turnips crossing with wild cabbages in the 1600

I wonder if the sexual habits of vegetables have changed in the last 500 years.

I've made rutabagas a few times this month. In soup, or just boiled, they are sweeter than potatoes and when fully cooked they are soft like potatoes. I just had some with broccoli this morning, a little vinegar w/salt, but any sauce would have been fine with them. Peeling and chopping them is a big healthy upper body work out!

 

[shyvas]

I have issues with the amount of fibre in them as well and so I make sure that they are very well cooked, almost never raw...

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

It makes no difference whether they are raw or cooked. I have problems digesting them.