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Brassica carinata - A.Braun.

Abyssinian Cabbage

Author	A.Braun.	Botanical references	200
Family	Cruciferae	Genus	Brassica
Synonyms
Known Hazards	The oil contained in the seed of this species is rich in erucic acid which is toxic. However, modern cultivars have been selected which are almost free of erucic acid.
Range	N. Africa - Ethiopia. Occasional in Britain.
Habitat	An occasional bird-sown alien on waste ground in Britain.
Edibility Rating	3 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Annual growing to 1m at a fast rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves.

Edible Uses: Condiment; Oil.

Leaves and young stems - raw or cooked[2, 52, 61, 141]. Used when up to 30cm tall[183]. A mild and pleasant cabbage flavour[K], the young growth can be cut finely and used in mixed salads, whilst older leaves are cooked like cabbage leaves[183]. Immature flowering stems - cooked. Used like broccoli[183], they make a nice vegetable[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[183]. Oil from the wild species is high in erucic acid, which is toxic[141], though there are some cultivars that contain very little erucic acid and can be used as food[K]. The seed can also be crushed and used as a condiment[200].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[200]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil[52]. This species is very tolerant of a wide range of climatic conditions but it prefers a range of 15 - 20°c in the day with a diurnal range of 5 - 6°c and moderate rainfall[200]. Cultivated for its edible leaves in some areas, plants that are given some protection from the cold can supply edible leaves all through the winter[52]. There are some named varieties. 'Texsel' is especially good for temperate climates, it is fast growing even at relatively low temperatures[141, 200].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in succession from March to early September. The seed can also be sown under cloches in February when it will yield a crop in May.

Cultivars

'Texsel'

This form is especially good for temperate climates, it is fast growing even at relatively low temperatures[141, 200]. Immature plants are excellent as a green leafy vegetable, the flavour is somewhat milder than cabbage greens, without the pungency of mustard greens[183].

Links

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[52] Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980
A good and comprehensive guide to temperate salad plants, with full organic details of cultivation.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[141] Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading 1986 ISBN 0704909820
Some suggested alternative commercial crops for Britain. Readable. Produced by a University study group.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers Comments

Brassica carinata

Paul Tout Sat, 14 Feb 1998

Hi Rich,

Checking out PFAF's very interesting database I came across Brassica carinata.... you call the Abyssinian Cabbage. You might like to add that (for some reason) it is also known as Texsel Greens and is now popularly planted as a game cover plant in UK as an alternative to mustard after failed crops of kale or maize. In Ethiopia it is eaten as an alternative to meat during the fast of Ramadan..... prone to Brassica sickness and not viable north of Yorkshire and the Penines.

First trialled by the Game Conservancy in 1985 the seed is now widely available from game cover seed dealers.... like lots of other wacky stuff.

Funny these huntin' / vegan alliances...

I'll be in touch as I come across other crops I know a little about and when I return home in the summer I may have some seed to prop up your flagging seedless Perennial Buckwheat plants,

Regards,

Paul

Brassica carinata

Elena Thu Mar 10 13:21:31 2005

Dear Sir I would like to add few comments about Brassica carinata. In Ethiopia in additon to being used as a vegitable, a powder is made from the seeds to use as a sort of oil to apply to pans used for baking Enjera; the Ethiopian pan cake which is made of Eragrostis tef. I also have heared that Brassica carinata can resist pod shattering. May be a good source of gene in breeding programes for other Brassica species.

Brassica carinata

Negussie A. Abraha Sun Jun 26 17:34:21 2005

I frequently cook and eat mustard greens, collard greens, and kale, among other leaf vegetables, but I find them bitter and much less delicate in their flavor, compared to the Abyssinian cabbage. Living in America, where it has not yet made it to the market - not even in California! - I sorely miss this green. Brassica carinata is indigenously known as gomen in Amharic. The vegetable is delicious when chopped well and sauteed slowly in a hot skillet with oil, minced garlic, and salt. Noog oil if you can find it is very good. (Peanut oil is a good substitute.) Cooked right, this dish is very appealing to the eyes as well.) My mom, who was famed for the dish, also added thin slices of red or white potatoes. (Saute patatoes separately in a skillet if the type of potatoe you use tends to fall apart or flake.) Incidentally, for those of you who might be interested in a little mysticism and history, it is this cabbage, celebrated in Ethiopian poetry, that the ancient Egyptians are shown carrying in beds as a token of the ithyphallic deity Min during the god's feast days. A profusely growing cabbage for the most fertile of deities. Hence the phonetic relationship between "go-men" and "Min [Men]".

Brassica carinata

Dr. Ramesh Pokharel Fri Aug 24 2007

Hi, I need the B carinita seeds. I neeed with high toxic chemical to test against pathogens. How and where can I get the seeds. Western Colorado Research Ceter.

Brassica carinata

Ramesh pokharel Tue Nov 6 2007

Hi, I am interested to compare this species of brassica in controlling soil borne pathogens including nematode. How and where do I get seed to try here in USA.

Brassica carinata

Marcelo Melani Tue Nov 6 2007

To Dr Pakharel: You can find accessions of B carinata at the USDA-GRIN database. They will provide you with up to 200 seeds per accession. Best regards Marcelo Melani Canola Breeder NDSU

North Central Regional PI Station, Iowa

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