Who discovered Romanesco broccoli?
Romanesco broccoli (also known as Roman cauliflower, Broccolo Romanesco, Romanesque cauliflower, or simply Romanesco) is an edible flower bud of the species Brassica oleracea. First documented in Italy in the 16th century, it is chartreuse in color, and has a form naturally approximating a fractal.
Is Romanesco cauliflower genetically modified?
Is it a genetically modified version of broccoli or cauliflower? No. It has actually been harvested and eaten for over 500 years and is believed to have come from Italy.
Is Romanesco naturally occurring?
Romanesco broccoli is not only one of the most stunning vegetables you can grow in your garden, it’s a mathematical marvel whose fractals (based on the Fibonacci sequence) are a naturally occurring feature. It is its own cultivar and by the looks of it, this head-turning vegetable is truly in a class of its own.
Where is Romanesco native to?
Italy
As the name suggests, Romanesco is native to Italy, where it has been cultivated for hundreds of years. The confusion in its classification is due to the close relationship between broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, explains William Terry Kelley, a former UGA extension vegetable horticulturalist.
How did Romanesco get its name?
Romanesco didn’t arrive in the U.S. until the beginning of the 20th century, but it is thought to have originated in the Lazio region of Italy as early as the 15th century. (Rome, from which the plant gets its name, is the capital of Lazio.)
Is Romanesco a hybrid?
It may look like a hybrid between broccoli and cauliflower, but romanesco is actually more of a cousin. It’s a type of brassica that’s been bred to get its eccentric shape and nutty taste.
Is Romanesco a cauliflower or broccoli?
Romanesco goes by various names, including Romanesco broccoli, fractal broccoli, or Roman cauliflower, though it’s considered to be a hybrid between cauliflower and broccoli. And it’s part of the Brassica genus (also known as cruciferous vegetables), just like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale.
Why is Romanesco called Romanesco?
Borrowed from Italian romanesco (“of or pertaining to Rome”).