What is Brassica?


Brassica is a genus of plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). The Brassicaceae family contains well-known species like Brassica oleracea (cabbage, cauliflower...), Brassica rapa (turnip, chinese cabagge...), Brassica napus (rapeseed...), Matthiola (stock) and many other.
In this Rijk Zwaan Brassica website we only speak about Brassica Oleracea.

Long history
Although B. oleracea is believed to have been cultivated for several thousand years, its history as a domesticated plant is not clear before Greek and Roman times, when is known to be a well-established garden vegetable. It has been bred into a wide range of cultivars, including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and more, some of which are hardly recognisable as being members of the same species.

Important food crop
Brassica is one of the most important human food crop plants. It is used because of its large food reserves, which are stored over the winter in its leaves. It is rich in essential nutrients including vitamin C. Some (notably brussels sprouts and broccoli) contain high levels of sinigrin which is thought to help prevent bowel cancer.

Cultivar groups
The cultivars of B. oleracea are grouped by developmental form into seven major cultivar groups, of which the Acephala Group remains most like the natural Wild Cabbage in appearance:

Brassica oleracea Acephala Group - kale and collard greens
Brassica oleracea Alboglabra Group- chinese broccoli
Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group - cauliflower, green cauliflower and romanesco
Brassica oleracea Capitata Group - cabbage
Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group - brussels sprouts
Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group - kohlrabi
Brassica oleracea Italica Group - broccoli

Assortment
At Rijk Zwaan we have in our assortment:

Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group - cauliflower, green cauliflower and romanesco

Brassica oleracea Capitata Group - cabbage

Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group - kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea Italica Group - broccoli

(Source: Wikipedia)