By M. De Candolle. 15 



lying more or less closely together. It is very commonly 

 cultivated in Belgium, and is much prized for its delicate fla- 

 vour ; the French call it indifferently, Chou a jets, Chou a jets 

 et rejets, Chou de Bruxelles, Chou rosette, Chou a mtlle 

 tetes, and Chou vert a petites pommes. The Brasstca cap 'i- 

 tata polycephala of Dalechamp* may be possibly referred 

 to this variety, though his plate gives but an imperfect idea 

 of it, and has more the appearance of a Round-headed Cab- 

 bage, whose head has been accidentally divided in different 

 places. 



Fourth Race. Bras sic a oleracea capitata. 



Chou cabus en pomme. Round-headed Cabbage. 

 This race is more generally cultivated than the preceding 

 ones. The stem of the Round-headed Cabbage is short, its 

 leaves, which at first are close and concave, finally unite in 

 a terminal close head ; they are neither blistered nor undu- 

 lated, as in the preceding race, but the interior leaves, from 

 being sheltered from the light by the outward ones, are pale 

 and watery, better flavoured, and of easier digestion. This 

 race of Cabbages was known to the ancient Gauls by the 

 name of Chou capu ; the Italians call it Capuccia ; both 

 names derived from caput, a head : whence has proceeded 

 that of Chou cabus ; it is also called in France Chou pomme, 

 Chou en tete, and Chou pomme a feuilles lisses. The vari- 

 ations observed in this race are chiefly confined to the shape 

 of the head and the colour of the leaves ; the first circum- 

 stance appearing to me the most important, I have adopted 

 it, to class the varieties, admitting as sub-varieties, the 



* Dalechamp, Hist. General. Plant. 521. f. 2. 



