[Sca-cooks] Brussels sprouts was Re: Sca-cooks Digest, Vol 29, Issue 12

[Terry Decker]

No pouncing, because I think the entire question worth serious 
consideration.

We know that cabbage sprouts were eaten and that carving the head and 
replanting the stem may cause small cabbages to develop in the leaf axils 
(where the leaves join the stem).  This is a manipulation which produces a 
cabbage stalk which is similar to brussels sprouts, but is not.  If such a 
manipulation could produce a cabbage that would reproduce from seed, then 
that would be an acquired trait and Lamarckian evolution would be the in 
thing.  Because Menagier is talking manipulation rather than growth from 
seed, I tend to think his cabbage sprouts were not brussels sprouts.

Most head cabbages are close to the ground, so the stem is short.  Brussels 
sprouts have a long stem with a leafy top.  The original mutation was 
probably axils that produced sprouts rather than leaves and a slightly 
elongated stalk.  Such a cabbage would likely be bred to produce a lighter 
head and a longer stalk to increase the yield.  Since there is no evidence, 
I may be very wrong in my opinion.

Just for fun, here is a sight with both a period illustration and a 
photograph of B. oleracea v. gemmifera.

http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/schaugarten/vargemmifera/Br_Sprout.html

Bear

----- Original Message ----- 
I was wondering when you'd say that, Bear.  ;-)

He's describing replanting the stem once the main head/leaves have been
harvested in order to coax the axillary buds of B. oleracea to grow.
And yes, I think his experiment will work, though I haven't tried it. I
think it requires a mild climate.
http://food.oregonstate.edu/faq/uffva/brussels2.html says: "Dalechamp,
1587, described how early cabbage, after the true head is removed, will
frequently develop small cabbages in the leaf axils and gave this form
the name B. capitata polycephalos."

> >or is it a sprout of another variant that can be prepared as brussels
> sprouts are?

It is a sprout of whatever variety of B. oleracea he was using that can
be prepared in the same manner as brussels sprouts, yes.

 >Brussels sprouts are believed to be a mutation of B. oleracea capitata
L. sabuda (savoy cabbage) and are true breeding,  <snip>

I know I'm going to get pounced on here, but… Could not one also say
that the mutant was originally selected merely for its growth habit of
producing many more of the desirable sprouts per stalk than the mother
plant, but that the mutation was otherwise identical to the mother? The
only difference being their growth habit, not their flavor?

Cindy


On Oct 10, 2005, at 10:38 AM, Terry Decker wrote:

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