Romanesco

romanesco broccoli, or roman cauliflower, is an edible flower of the species Brassica oleracea, and a variant form of cauliflower.

romanesco broccoli was first documented in Italy (as broccolo romanesco) in the sixteenth century. it is sometimes called broccoflower, but that name is also applied to green-curded cauliflower cultivars.

also known as coral broccoli, romanesco broccoli is rich in vitamin C, fiber, and carotenoids.

the vegetable resembles a cauliflower, but is of a light green color and the inflorescence (the bud) has an approximate self-similar character, with the branched meristems making a logarithmic spiral. in this sense the broccoli's shape approximates a natural fractal; each bud is composed of a series of smaller buds, all arranged in yet another logarithmic spiral. this self-similar pattern continues at several smaller levels. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesco_broccoli

i found it at the dill pickle steamed it on a rice cooker and it was wonderful.