Kale

Kale
Curly kale, one of the many varieties
SpeciesBrassica oleracea
Cultivar groupAcephala Group
OriginUnknown; before the Middle Ages
Cultivar group membersMany; see text.

Kale (/kl/), also called leaf cabbage, belongs to a group of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) cultivars primarily grown for their edible leaves; it has also been used as an ornamental plant. Its multiple different cultivars vary quite a bit in appearance; the leaves can be bumpy, curly, or flat, and the color ranges from purple to green.