Cauliflower is one of several vegetables in the species Brassica oleracea in the genus Brassica, which is in the Brassicaceae (or mustard) family. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed. Typically, only the head is eaten - the edible white flesh is sometimes called "curd" (with a similar appearance to cheese curd). The cauliflower head is composed of a white inflorescence meristem. Cauliflower heads resemble those in broccoli, which differs in having flower buds as the edible portion. Brassica oleracea also includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, and kale, collectively called "cole" crops, though they are of different cultivar groups.

BOTANICAL NAME : Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

ORIGIN: Cyprus and around the Mediterranean coast

TOTAL AREA IN INDIA: 491 Th Ha (2022-23).

TOTAL PRODUCTION IN INDIA: 9548 TH MT (2022-23).

MAJOR PRODUCING STATES: West Bengal, Bihar, M.P., Haryana, Odisha.

• Uttrakhand (Nainital, Pithauragarh and Dehradun)
• Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Kullu, Sirmour, Solan).
• Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh & Delhi (Rural Area)
• Bihar / Jharkhand (Santhal Pargana, Darbhanga, Purnia, Katihar, Madhubani, West Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Patna, Nalanda, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Samstipur, Saharsa, Dhanbad).
• Maharashtra (Nasik, Nagpur, Kolhapur)
• Karnataka (Belgium)
• Gujarat (Khera, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Mehsana).

Commercial Varieties: -