Argan
Argan is a tree that is endemic to the semi-desert Sous valley of southwestern Morocco. The nuts are cold pressed to produce argan oil, which is used to treat hair and skin.
Patchouli
Patchouli is a bushy perennial herb with small, pale pink-white flowers. It grows in the tropics and is mainly used to make perfumes and incense.
Pinto peanut
Pinto peanut is a wild relative of the groundnut. It is used as a forage plant or as a cover crop.
Makiang
Makiang is a medium sized tree which produces abundant edible fruits with a sour astringent taste.
Chrysanthemum
Several species of Chrysanthemum are grown as ornamentals or to be used as cut flower.
The genus Chrysanthemum includes over 30 different species.
Asian pigeonwings
Asian pigeonwings is a legume with edible flowers. Flowers can be eaten raw or are dipped in batter and fried. Flowers can also be used as food colouring to colour glutinous rice. In India the plant is a holy flower, used in rituals.
Caraway
Caraway is a plant in the carrot family, which is cultivated for its small fruits. The dry fruits, which look like seeds, are used as a spice. The roots of the plant can be used as a root vegetable and the leaves can be used as a herb, similar to parsley.
Custard apple
The name custard apple is sometimes used for sugar apple (sweetsop) which actually is a different but related fruit species. Because of its shape the custard apple is also called Ox heart or Bull’s heart.
The fruits are usually eaten fresh as a snack or dessert. Open the fruit and spoon out the white flesh which is soft, juicy and has a sweet taste.
King oyster mushroom
The king oyster mushroom is an edible mushroom native to Mediterranean region. It is cultivated commercially, for example in Italy, Japan, Australia, China, South Korea, and USA.
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Banana
Bananas are the world's best-selling fruits, followed by apples and oranges. They originate from tropical South-East Asia but are now found in almost all tropical regions of the world.
The genus Musa includes several species and cultivars of bananas. Some are used as fruits, some as vegetables.
Okinawan spinach
Okinawan spinach is native to China, Thailand and Myanmar. It is cultivated as a vegetable or as a medicinal herb.
Maize
Maize (or Corn) is the number one cereal in the world. It is important as a staple crop in Africa and South America and it is also important worldwide as a fodder crop.
Kumquat
Kumquat is a small fruit-bearing Citrus tree. The fruits look a bit like oranges but are much smaller.
Kumquat fruit are usually consumed whole with the peel, or are used in fruit salads.
Dog rose
Fruits of the dog rose (rose hips) are used to make jam, syrup and tea. They are rich in vitamin C.
The term Rose hip (or rose haw) is used for fruits of rose plants.
Scots pine
Scots pine is an important timber tree. It produces wood which is used for pulp and timber products.
Norway spruce
The Norway spruce is a timber tree, mainly planted for its wood. This tree species is often used as Christmas tree.
Vetiver
Vetiver is a type of grass with roots that grow several meters deep into the soil. It is therefore used in erosion control.
Alcoholic drinks
The categorie “alcoholic drinks” includes crops that are used to produce beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages. Examples of crops used to produce alcoholic drinks are grapes, barley and sugarcane. For crops that are used to produce commercial alcohol (ethanol) see category ‘alcohol production‘. Examples of crops for alcohol drinks
The World Crops Database
A collection of cereals, fruits, vegetables and other crops from all over the world.
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Daikon
Daikon is a large white type of radish, which originates from East and Southeast Asia. As a root vegetable it is used in Chinese, Japanese and Thai recipes. In North America it is grown as a fallow crop and the leaves can be used as animal fodder.
Jerusalem artichoke
Jerusalem artichoke is related to the sunflower. It originates from eastern North America and is grown in temperate climates for its tubers which are used as a root vegetable.
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Sweet briar
Rose hips of sweet briar can be used to make marmalade.
The term ‘rose hip’ is used for fruits of rose plants.
Cabbage-tree
Cabbage tree is a tree in the Moringa genus. Its leaves are edible and seeds can be used to purify water. Cabbage tree is native to Kenya and Ethiopia.
Chili pepper Capsicum chinense
Capsicum chinense is species of chili pepper with several different varieties, including Habanero and Madame Jeanette.
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Yellow lupin
Yellow lupin is often found growing as a wild plant in Mediterranean region. It is sometimes grown as a green manure. In the past, seeds were a common food in some Mediterranean countries, but nowadays they are just used as a pickled snack food.
Ugli
Ugli is a fruit created by hybridizing a grapefruit, orange and tangerine. It originates from Jamaica.
As the name suggests, it is not a very beautiful fruit. It has a rough, wrinkled, greenish-yellow surface.
Crimson clover
Crimson clover is a type of clover which can be grown as a forage crop for cattle. It is native to Europe. Crimson clover is sometimes grown on roadsides for erosion control. Names Scientific Trifolium incarnatumEnglish Crimson clover Italian cloverDutch InkarnaatklaverSpanish Trébol encarnado Trébol escarlata Trébol italianoFrench Trèfle du Roussillon Trèfle farouche Trèfle incarnatGerman Blutklee Inkarnat-Klee Italienischer Klee Rosenklee Taxonomy Genus TrifoliumFamily FabaceaeOrder Fabales Basic information and facts Origin: Europe Distribution: Europe,
White clover
White clover can be grown as a companion crop among lawn grasses. It tolerates close mowing and is considered to be a beneficial component of lawn care because it can fix nitrogen and competes with lawn weeds. White clover is also a good forage crop for livestock.
Red clover
Red clover is a legume that is often grown as a fodder crop or as a green manure. It is also used to make a sweet-tasting herbal tea.
Ana tree
Ana tree is a thorny tree that is used in Africa for nitrogen fixation and erosion control. The wood is used to make canoes, mortars and pestles. The pods are used as a fodder for livestock.
Lion’s mane mushroom
Lion’s mane mushroom is an edible mushroom, often used in Chinese vegetarian cuisine. It is cultivated commercially on wood or sawdust. It is sold fresh or dried.
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Poplar Mushroom
Poplar mushroom is an edible mushroom species. It is cultivated commercially in Japan, Korea, Australia, China and the USA.
Jelly Ear
Jelly ear (also Judas's ear or Jew's ear) is an edible mushroom, often used in Chinese and Japanese dishes.
Indian oyster
The Indian oyster is an edible mushroom species. It belongs to the genus Pleurotus, and is the most cultivated oyster mushroom species in Europe and North America.
Golden oyster mushroom
The golden oyster mushroom is an edible mushroom, which can be cultivated commercially on a medium of grain, straw or sawdust.
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Paddy straw mushroom
Paddy straw mushroom is an edible mushroom which is very popular in Asian cuisines. It is cultivated commercially throughout East and Southeast Asia.
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Chili pepper Capsicum frutescens
Capsicum frutescens is a species that includes several varieties of chili peppers: Piri piri, Malaguete pepper, Tabasco pepper, and Thai pepper.
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Lupine
There are many species in the genus Lupinus. Several species are used as fodder or for soil improvement. Some species have edible seeds that are used as food.
Agricultural Rainbow
The rainbow has 7 colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. With cherries, oranges, lemons, lettuce, blueberries, grapes and sugar apple we can make an agricultural rainbow.
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Bitter bean
The Bitter bean or stink bean is tree of which the beans are used in Indonesian dishes. The big, flat beans are inside long, often twisted pods.
Stink beans are also used in several other South East Asian countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, southern Thailand, Burma) and in north-eastern India. They have a strong smell and give a special aroma to the food in which they are used.
Gaub tree
Gaub tree is a tree species in the ebony family, which originates from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and South East Asia. A sticky substance discharged from the tree is used for sealing boats. Unripe fruits contain tannins and can be used for curing nets and leather. Leaves and fruits can be used to dye cloth black.
Mango
Mango is often known as the “apple of the tropics”. It is one of the most popular tropical fruits in the world (together with pineapple, banana, papaya and avocado). Mango fruits are usually eaten ripe, when they are soft and sweet. But some people prefer them unripe, when they are harder with a more sour taste. Mango is also used to produce juice, jam or jelly. Unripe fruits can be used to prepare pickles or chutney.
Chia
Chia originates from central and southern Mexico and Guatemala. It is grown for its seeds, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. In the past it was probably used as a staple food in the region where it was cultivated.
Agricultural Crop
Agricultural crops are plants that are grown or deliberately managed by man for certain purposes.
Foxtail millet
Foxtail millet is the second most widely planted species of the smaller cereals that are known as ‘millets‘. It is an old crop which was already used in China over 7000 years ago.
Rice
Rice is a tropical cereal, but it also grows in some temperate regions with a warmer climate.
It is the second most important cereal in the world after maize. In the tropics it’s the primary cereal for human consumption. Rice is the main staple food for half the world’s population.