NEN Gallery

Wild cabbage is a native or an ancient introduction usually found on sea-cliffs on chalk and limestone. It was noted as growing in the wild in the sixteenth century. It also occurs more rarely inland, as here, probably as a garden escape, although this was in the middle fo a set aside field surrounded by other arable weeds. It is the wild ancestor of vegetable cabbage, a moderately fast-growing, evergreen plant with bright yellow flowers, long seed pods and round heads of large crinkled green leaves. Though usually grown as a vegetable, there are also some ornamental forms that come in a variety of leaf colours. The lower leaves on this plant had been eaten away. Picture taken on 4th June at Odell, Bedfordshire.