Collard greens | |
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A bundle of collard greens
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Species | Brassica oleracea |
Cultivar group | Acephala Group |
Origin | unknown |
Cultivar group members | Many; see text. |
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
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Energy | 137 kJ (33 kcal) |
5.6 g
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Sugars | 0.4 g |
Dietary fiber | 4 g |
0.7
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2.7 g
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Vitamins | |
Vitamin A equiv. |
(48%)
380 μg
(42%)
4513 μg6197 μg
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Thiamine (B1) |
(3%)
0.04 mg |
Riboflavin (B2) |
(9%)
0.11 mg |
Niacin (B3) |
(4%)
0.58 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) |
(4%)
0.22 mg |
Vitamin B6 |
(10%)
0.13 mg |
Folate (B9) |
(4%)
16 μg |
Vitamin C |
(22%)
18 mg |
Vitamin E |
(6%)
0.9 mg |
Vitamin K |
(388%)
407 μg |
Minerals | |
Calcium |
(14%)
141 mg |
Iron |
(9%)
1.13 mg |
Magnesium |
(6%)
21 mg |
Manganese |
(24%)
0.51 mg |
Phosphorus |
(5%)
32 mg |
Potassium |
(2%)
117 mg |
Sodium |
(1%)
15 mg |
Zinc |
(2%)
0.23 mg |
Other constituents | |
Water | 90.2 g |
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Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
Collard greens (collards) describes certain loose-leafed cultivars of Brassica oleracea, the same species as many common vegetables, including cabbage (Capitata Group) and broccoli (Botrytis Group). Collard greens are part of the Acephala Group of the species, which includes kale and spring greens. They are in the same cultivar group owing to their genetic similarity. The name "collard" is a corrupted form of the word "colewort" (the wild cabbage plant).
The plants are grown for their large, dark-colored, edible leaves and as a garden ornamental, mainly in Brazil, Portugal, the southern United States, many parts of Africa, the Balkans, northern Spain and northern India.
The cultivar group name Acephala ("without a head" in Greek) refers to the fact that this variety of B. oleracea does not have the close-knit core of leaves (a "head") like cabbage does. The plant is a biennial where winter frost occurs, and a perennial in colder regions. It is also moderately sensitive to salinity. It has an upright stalk, often growing up to two feet tall. The plant is very similar to kale. Popular cultivars of collard greens include 'Georgia Southern', 'Morris Heading', 'Butter Collard' (couve manteiga), and couve tronchuda.