Chinese Kale; Jie Lan; Kai-Lan(C). Brassica alboglabra Bailey (Cruciferae)
(B. oleracea var. albiflora O. Kunze)
A perennial with dull or glossy thick bluish-green, oval, often glaucous leaves and elongated fleshy inflorescences. It is cut for the market from the young plants before the first flower buds begin to open. In recent years, small plants grown in crowded conditions have been harvested for sale in the markets.
Origin
Some authorities regard this as a variety of B. Oleracea but it is quite unlike any kale grown in Europe or England. It is widely cultivated in South-East Asia like Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc.
Uses
This plant is high in calcium and iron content and vitamin A precursors. It can be cooked in a variety of ways.
Notes
The cultivated species of the genus Brassica (about 40 species of annual and biennial herbs) are important in horticulture. The Brassica group is a most perplexing and bewildering family of crops, not only because of the frequency of outcrossing that often results in viable hybrids, but also the relative ease with which new mutants can be selected and new cultivars developed. Pearson (1929) was the first to suggest classifying Brassica on the basis of chromosome numbers. V.G. Sun summerised it as three elementary species comprising B. campestris L. (n=10), B. nigra Koch (n=8) and B. oleracea L. (n=9) and all the other species are derived from them.
