Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group ‘Romanesco’

Family / Families: Brassicaceae
Scientific Name(s): Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group 'Romanesco'
Institution(s): Food Garden, University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
Location(s): Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Entry Author(s): Daniel Mosquin
Copyright Holder(s): Daniel Mosquin
Image License: Creative Commons License
Tags: Brassicaceae, Brassicales, Photo by Daniel, UBC Botanical Garden

<i>Brassica oleracea</i> Botrytis Group 'Romanesco'

Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group ‘Romanesco’

Is it a broccoli? Is it a cauliflower? Or is it simply, ‘Romanesco’?

This is another repeat entry, with this taxon first being featured on Botany Photo of the Day in 2006: Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group ‘Romanesco’. The question as to whether it was a broccoli or cauliflower was alluded to then as well–and surprisingly, the resource I recommended at the time still survives today: Fractal Food, including The Unclassifiable Romanesco.

Other resources have emerged online in the intervening years, though. These include:

‘Romanesco’, from the University of Wisconsin Master Gardener Program, features gardening and cooking tips
Romanesco Broccoli and Fractals via the Earth Science Picture of the Day
Fibonacci Numbers and Nature

I took this photograph today in UBC Botanical Garden’s Food Garden, after being shown the plant by the area’s horticulturist. Here is a similar photo, but in black-and-white:

A post shared by Daniel Mosquin (@danielmosquin) on Jan 26, 2018 at 12:17pm PST

12 responses to “Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group ‘Romanesco’”

Jane Campbell January 26, 2018 at 6:10 pm Permalink | Reply

Beautiful! And painting those fractals was both a fun and maddening challenge when I did this watercolor study of a Romanesco. Needless to say, by the time I finished painting, it was no longer fit for eating,v so I had to purchase another to see how it tasted.

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1. Stu January 27, 2018 at 5:05 pm Permalink | Reply
  
  Love!!!!
  
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2. Daniel Mosquin January 27, 2018 at 6:17 pm Permalink | Reply
  
  Excellent work.
  
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DrBob January 26, 2018 at 7:33 pm Permalink | Reply

Well done to you both! I have tried and failed many times to grow Romanesco in my winter garden here in California. Nothing I have grown has been so visually compelling (but it was tasty).

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Joan B January 27, 2018 at 8:56 am Permalink | Reply

Fascinating plants! Like weird science fiction, but real and even edible. Great photos and info. And Jane, your painting is truly gorgeous!

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Gail Kern January 27, 2018 at 9:23 am Permalink | Reply

Oh so tasty and easily grown here on PEI. One can get lost staring at the endless pattern.

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lynn January 27, 2018 at 9:55 am Permalink | Reply

The photos show the pattern beautifully, and what a charming painting Jane did – love the colors, and the way the leaves encircle the head. I have yet to try it –

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Christine January 27, 2018 at 8:59 pm Permalink | Reply

Just a week ago, some of the comments on a clue in a Guardian cryptic crossword went into detail about fractals with several interesting links that led to photos of ‘Romanesco’. Is it just a coincidence that this post appeared soon after, or is there a fellow solver at UBC? (The answer to the clue, by the way, was “Mandelbrot Set.”)

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1. Daniel Mosquin January 27, 2018 at 10:32 pm Permalink | Reply
  
  Ha! But, no. I do like a good crossword, but it is just a coincidence!
  
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Tara Moreau January 29, 2018 at 9:33 am Permalink | Reply

Amazing photo.

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Julie Sanderson January 29, 2018 at 11:33 am Permalink | Reply

I believe this plant was on a dinner table scene in one of the Star Wars movies, makes a very good “alien” looking food. I too have tried to grow it, very challenging, and needs a cooler climate than mine.

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1. LuDean Marvin April 20, 2018 at 4:24 pm Permalink | Reply
  
  Damn… now I’m going to have to see them all again to find it? I guess that can’t be all that bad.
  
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