Leafy Greens Identification (by leaf appearance)

[PlaxMacaws]

Sometimes I get organic greens that are mixed together. And just which of these mixed leaves come from which plants can be important, since certain green-leaf veggies contain significant amounts of oxalic acid which blocks the absorption of calcium. Spinach and chard are two such plant leaves that contain high levels of oxalic acid. While those leaves are okay to feed to healthy birds in moderation, they should never be fed to calcium deficient birds or laying hens. But in any case, it would be nice to learn which leaves are which, and to do so at a glance.

Enter the confusion. If you google various leafy greens you may find some apparently contradictory images. For the purposes of this thread, I'm going to focus on Kale. Take a look at the following photos:

The following 3 images are described as "Red Russian Kale". I think it's fairly common knowledge that the oak leaf shape is consistent with Red Russian Kale.
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The next image is purported by its accompanying description to be Bloomsdale Spinach. But it doesn't look like Bloomsdale Spinach to me. It instead looks a lot like Red Russian Kale.
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The next image simply boasts the word "Kale" as its description. But it doesn't have the oak leaf shape of Red Russian Kale. And it doesn't look at all like Curly Leaf Kale or Black Kale to me. So, what is it?
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The final two images are labeled "Kale" as well. But they don't look like Kale to me. Whatever they may be, strangely there are always a number of leaves with very similar appearance in the "Super Greens" organic baby (spinach, kale, and red & green chard) containers that I buy at times.
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Here's a photo of some of the leaves I'm speaking of from the greens mixture that I mentioned above, followed by a photo of the container lid. It doesn't look like spinach or chard to me... so what are these leaves?
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[spiritbird]

Interesting. Now we should know which kale is the most nutritious for birds. The other day I found some beet greens. My birds never saw them before so they just nibbled. Which kale do your birds like best and how do you present it to them?

[PlaxMacaws]

Interesting. Now we should know which kale is the most nutritious for birds. The other day I found some beet greens. My birds never saw them before so they just nibbled. Which kale do your birds like best and how do you present it to them?It makes little difference with my four. Salsa will eat any greens offered him. Maynard is about the same in that regard. Jack picks at greens but doesn't really care for them at all - it matters not what kind. And Zaf won't even consider touching them :(. I most often get the non-curly kale because that seems to be the type that's most available around here in organic form. I just wash it and place it in a bowl with sliced or shaved carrots and/or other veggies.

[spiritbird]

I put the greens and most other items in the forging ball and it does occupy Kobe a bit to get them out and eat them. Funny how some birds will eat veggies with joy and others will not touch them. Wonder where that comes from?

[PlaxMacaws]

I put the greens and most other items in the forging ball and it does occupy Kobe a bit to get them out and eat them. Funny how some birds will eat veggies with joy and others will not touch them. Wonder where that comes from?I guess they're a lot like human children when it comes to the "eat your veggies" department ;)

So, no one has any idea what the leaves are in the second to the last photo on my thread starter post, ay?

[spiritbird]

I think they look like the leaves of the new kind of broccoli plant. Check out the first photo for Broccoli Rabb. I can see a broccoli growing in the center but this type of broccoli does not have a crown. There are more leaves than stems,
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[Lady]

Maybe cauliflower leaves? :indecisiveness: or second thought maybe broccoli leaves?

[PlaxMacaws]

I looked at cauliflower leaves and they don't seem to have much in the way of a serrated edge... plus their general shape appears a bit different from these leaves. The broccoli rabe leaves, however, look quite similar. Except they seem to have even greater serrating on their edges than these leaves do. The thing that most bothers me is this: What the produce distributor claims is in the container (on its label) doesn't all seem to be there. And worse than that, there are things inside the container that aren't identified accurately. We should really know precisely what types of plants we're eating and/or feeding our birds!

[Lady]

Well your right, we should, but as you noted, they don't even tell us what they are putting in the container. So, we either have to grow it ourselves, or buy local and know who is growing it. That is easier said then done unfortunately :(.