Brassica oleracea L.

Biennial to perennial herb usually with lax rosette. Stems erect or ascending, glabrous, 1–2–(3) m tall, becoming woody below with prominent lf base scars. Lvs all glabrous and glaucous. Lower lvs petiolate, obovate or elliptic, 10–30 × 5–15 cm, not lobed or lyrate-pinnatifid with large terminal and 1–(2) pairs of small lateral lobes; margins sinuate, toothed. Upper lvs less divided, sessile, amplexicaul, elliptic-oblong or narrowly triangular, entire or toothed, 2–10 × 0.7–2 cm. Racemes to 60 cm long; open fls well below level of buds. Sepals narrow-oblong, (7)–8–11 × (1.5)–2–3 mm. Petals pale yellow or white, 15–25 × 5–8 mm. All stamens erect. Silique terete, glabrous, linear-lanceolate, slightly constricted between seeds, 50–60–(80) × 3–4 mm; gynophore 0; valves with prominent median and weaker lateral network of veins; beak conic, usually seedless, 5–10–(15) mm long. Seeds dark brown with greyish bloom, c. 2 mm diam.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Jul.)–Oct.–Nov.–(Apr.); Fruiting: (Jul.)–Oct.–Nov.–(Apr.)