Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which parts of cabbage plants are eaten as kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and kohlrabi?

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Different agricultural forms of the cabbage plant (Brassica oleracea) have been developed through long cultivation, with various parts of the plant being consumed as food. These forms are classified by the specific plant structures they utilize:1

  • Kale: Grown for its edible leaves, which typically grow in a loose or open foliage arrangement.21
  • Broccoli: Grown for its edible flower buds and stalks. These clusters of buds are largely unmodified.31
  • Cauliflower: Grown for its edible masses of partially developed flower structures and fleshy stalks, which form a firm, succulent head known as a "curd".14
  • Kohlrabi: Grown for its enlarged, bulbous stem, which is the primary edible portion of the plant.51