COLLARD

original name Colewort (Brassica oleracea, Acephala group), headless form of cabbage (q.v.) of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It bears the same botanical name as kale, from which it differs only in leaf characters; collard leaves are much broader, are not frilled, and resemble the rosette leaves of head cabbage. The main stem reaches a height of 60120 cm (2448 inches) with a rosette of leaves at the top. Lower leaves commonly are harvested progressively; the entire young rosette is sometimes harvested. The plant is a source of nutritionally important minerals and of vitamins A and C. It is commonly raised as a source of winter greens in the southern United States, where it is customarily boiled with a seasoning of pork fat.