Pineapples originate from southern Brazil and Paraguay. They are the only bromeliad fruits that are being cultivated. The fruits are best when eaten fresh, but pineapples are also often sold in cans. Together with mango, papaya, banana and avocado, they are very popular tropical fruits. Some people grow them as ornamental plants.
Crops
676 posts
With a water content of 92% (and a melon content of 8%) it is clear how watermelons got their name. Watermelons are big fruits with a watery, usually red colored, flesh and hundreds of small seeds.
Plums are temperate fruits which when mature are often covered by a wax coating called "wax bloom". This gives them a bluish-grey appearance. They are usually eaten fresh. There are many varieties and a number of subspecies that all are known as plums or prunes.
An old proverb is "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". This could be the reason why apples are among the most popular fruits in the world. The apple tree has its origin in Kazakhstan, but is now found in many regions with a temperate or subtropical climate. Highest production is in China, but other important producers include USA, Iran, Turkey, Russia, India, Italy and France.
Longan trees can produce thousands of ping-pong ball sized fruits that are eaten fresh or dried. They look a bit similar to 'langsat' and 'longkong'. The fruits (also called Dragon Eye) can be eaten fresh, but can also be dried. Dried fruits have a dark color and are eaten as snacks or can be used in cooking.
Names Scientific Porphyra umbilicalisEnglish Laver Taxonomy Order BangialesFamily BangiaceaeGenus PorphyraSpecies Porphyra umbilicalis (Laver) Crop categories Algae Minor crops Subtropical crops Tropical crops
This dragonfruit has fruits with white pulp and a yellow skin. The name dragonfruit is used for 3 different species in the cactus family.
Names Scientific Cananga odorataEnglish Fragrant cananga Perfume tree Ylang-ylang treeDutch Cananga-olie Ylang-ylangSpanish Flor de cananga Ylang-ylangFrench Ylang-ylangGerman Ylang-YlangItalian Ylang-ylang Taxonomy Order MagnolialesFamily AnnonaceaeGenus CanangaSpecies Cananga odorata (Ylang-ylang tree) Crop categories Essential oils Minor crops Tropical crops
Wolfberry originates from Asia.
Two closely related Lycium species are both known as wolfberry. The berries contain toxins (like other plants in the Solanaceae family) but are used in fruit juices and as medicines.
Names Scientific Lycium chinenseEnglish Chinese wolfberry Goji berry Matrimony vine Mede berry Red medlar WolfberryDutch Chinese boksdoornSpanish Cambronera Espino cambrónFrench Baie de goji GojiItalian Bacche di Goji Goji Taxonomy Order SolanalesFamily SolanaceaeGenus LyciumSpecies Lycium chinense (Wolfberry Lycium chinense) Crop categories Fruits Medicinal plants Minor crops Subtropical crops Temperate crops Tropical crops
Names Scientific Smallanthus sonchifoliusSynonym Polymnia edulisEnglish Peruvian ground apple YacónDutch Grond-appel YaconSpanish YacónFrench Poire de terre YacónGerman Yacón Taxonomy Order AsteralesFamily AsteraceaeGenus SmallanthusSpecies Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacón) Crop categories Minor crops Subtropical crops Temperate crops Tropical crops Tuber vegetables Vegetables
Dioscorea is a genus which includes many species. They grow as lianas that can become 2 to 12 meter tall.
Several species within the Dioscorea genus produce edible tubers which are called yams. They are common in West Africa and New Guinea.
Names Scientific Myrica rubraEnglish Chinese bayberry Chinese strawberry tree Japanese bayberry Red bayberry Yamamomo Yangmei YumberryDutch Yang mei YangmeiSpanish Arbol de fresa china Arrayán chino YangmeiFrench Fraise chinoise YangmeiGerman Bergpfirsich Yangmei Taxonomy Order FagalesFamily MyricaceaeGenus MyricaSpecies Myrica rubra (Yangmei) Crop categories Fruits Minor crops Subtropical crops Temperate crops
The yellow hog plum or yellow mombin originates from the tropical Americas and the West Indies.
Pulp of the yellow mombin fruit can be eaten fresh, or is used to make juice or jellies. In Thailand the fruit is sometimes used as an ingredient in 'Som tam' recipes. Som tam is a spicy salad.
White sapote originates from Central America.
Fruits of the white sapote are edible. They are eaten without the bitter skin. Eating fruits of the white sapote can cause drowsiness. The white sapote is used to extract chemicals used to produce medicins.
Names Scientific Dioscorea rotundataEnglish Guinea yam White yam Taxonomy Order DioscorealesFamily DioscoreaceaeGenus DioscoreaSpecies Dioscorea rotundata (White yam) Crop categories Minor crops Root vegetables Staple food Tropical crops Vegetables
Names Scientific Abelmoschus cailleiEnglish West African okraFrench Gombo ouest-africain Taxonomy Order MalvalesFamily MalvaceaeGenus AbelmoschusSpecies Abelmoschus caillei (West African okra) Crop categories Fruit vegetables Minor crops Tropical crops Vegetables
Names Scientific Cucumis anguriaEnglish Burr cucumber Burr gherkin West Indian gherkinDutch Antillen komkommer Distelkomkommer Surinaamse wilde augurk West Indische augurkGerman Jamaika Igelgurke Taxonomy Order CucurbitalesFamily CucurbitaceaeGenus CucumisSpecies Cucumis anguria (West Indian gherkin) Crop categories Fruit vegetables Minor crops Subtropical crops Tropical crops Vegetables
White mulberry is cultivated as food for silkworms, which in turn are used to produce silk.
Fruits of the white mulberry are edible.
Names Scientific Sinapis albaEnglish White mustardDutch Witte mosterdSpanish Mostaza blancaFrench Moutarde blanche Sanve SénevéGerman Weißer SenfItalian Senape gialla Taxonomy Order BrassicalesFamily BrassicaceaeGenus SinapisSpecies Sinapis alba (White mustard) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Medicinal plants Minor crops Spices Temperate crops
Names Scientific Allium fistulosumEnglish Spring onion Welsh onionFrench CibouleGerman Winterzwiebel Taxonomy Order AsparagalesFamily AmaryllidaceaeGenus AlliumSpecies Allium fistulosum (Welsh onion) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Leaf vegetables Minor crops Temperate crops Vegetables
Names Scientific Syzygium aqueumEnglish Lau Lau Water apple Water cherry Watery rose appleDutch Djamboe aer Java appel Pommerak Taxonomy Order MyrtalesFamily MyrtaceaeGenus SyzygiumSpecies Syzygium aqueum (Watery rose apple) Crop categories Fruits Minor crops Subtropical crops Tropical crops
Names Scientific Nasturtium officinaleEnglish WatercressDutch Witte waterkersSpanish Berro Mastuerzo de aguaFrench Cresson de fontaineGerman Brunnenkresse Echte BrunnenkresseItalian Crescione d'acqua Taxonomy Order BrassicalesFamily BrassicaceaeGenus NasturtiumSpecies Nasturtium officinale (Watercress) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Herbs Leaf vegetables Medicinal plants Minor crops Temperate crops Vegetables
Water morning glory is a semi-aquatic plant grown as a leaf vegetable. It is a common ingredient in Southeast Asian dishes. The leaves are usually stir fried with chile pepper, garlic and other spices.
The Chinese water chestnut is an aquatic vegetable from Asia. It is grown for its crisp corms and used in Asian cooking. It adds a unique crunch to dishes.
Two species in the Trapa genus (T.natans and T.bicornis) share the same common names, which creates some confusion.
There can be some confusion with the common names of water chestnut. Two species in the Trapa genus (T.natans and T.bicornis) share the same common names. Also another unrelated species (Eleocharis dulcis) can be called water chestnut.
Names Scientific Clausena lansiumSynonym Clausena wampiEnglish WampeeDutch WampiFrench Vampi WampiGerman Wampi Taxonomy Order SapindalesFamily RutaceaeGenus ClausenaSpecies Clausena lansium (Wampee) Crop categories Fruits Minor crops Subtropical crops Tropical crops
Names Scientific Vicia sativaSynonym Vicia angustifoliaEnglish Common vetch VetchDutch Smalle wikke Voederwille WikkeSpanish VezaFrench Vesce communeGerman Futterwicke SaatwickeItalian Veccia comune Taxonomy Order FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus ViciaSpecies Vicia sativa (Vetch) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Forage and fodder crops Green manures Legumes Minor crops Soil improvement Temperate crops
Names Scientific Valeriana officinalisEnglish Garden valerian ValerianDutch Echte valeriaan ValeriaanSpanish Valeriana común Valeriana medicinalFrench Valériane à petites feuilles Valériane des collines Valériane officinaleGerman Echter Arznei-Baldrian Echter Baldrian Hexenkraut KatzenkrautItalian Valeriana comune Taxonomy Order DipsacalesFamily CaprifoliaceaeGenus ValerianaSpecies Valeriana officinalis (Valerian) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Herbs Medicinal plants Minor crops Temperate crops
Names Scientific Vigna mungoEnglish Black gram Black lentil Urad bean Urad dalDutch UradboonSpanish Lenteja negraFrench Haricot urdGerman Linsenbohne UrdbohneItalian Fagioli indiani Fagioli mungo Taxonomy Order FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus VignaSpecies Vigna mungo (Urad bean) Crop categories Legumes Minor crops Podded vegetables Subtropical crops Tropical crops Vegetables
Names Scientific Chaerophyllum bulbosumEnglish Bulbous chervil Parsnip chervil Tuberous-rooted chervil Turnip-rooted chervilDutch Knolkervel KnolribzaadFrench Cerfeuil à bulbe Cerfeuil bulbeux Cerfeuil tubéreux Chérophylle bulbeuxGerman Erdkastanie Kerbelrübe Knollenkerbel Knolliger Kälberkropf Knolliger Kerbel Rüben-Kälberkropf Rübenkerbel Taxonomy Order ApialesFamily ApiaceaeGenus ChaerophyllumSpecies Chaerophyllum bulbosum (Turnip-rooted chervil) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Minor crops Root vegetables Temperate crops Vegetables
This species is sometimes grown as a root vegetable because it has an edible tuber which can be eaten cooked or raw.
The Tucum or Tucuma palm originates from the amazon rainforest.
Fruits of the Tucuma palm contain a single large seed. The fruits have a mildly sweet flavor and are rich in vitamin A. In Surinam the fruits are used to give a yellow color to rice.
Tulips originate from Persia but are now often associated with The Netherlands, where the colorful tulip fields are a yearly tourist attraction.
Tulips are perennial, bulbous plants which are grown as ornamental plants in gardens or are grown to be sold as cut flowers.
The genus Tulipa has more than hundred species.
Tung oil is a drying oil that is used to treat wood products. It is used in paints and varnish. Tung oil is not edible.
Turmeric is usually used as a root powder. Turmeric powder is used as a spice in a lot in South Asian recipes.Turmeric is sometimes used as a repellent to deter ants.
Names Scientific Praecitrullus fistulosusEnglish Apple gourd Indian baby pumpkin Indian round gourd TindaFrench Tinda Taxonomy Order CucurbitalesFamily CucurbitaceaeGenus PraecitrullusSpecies Praecitrullus fistulosus (Tinda) Crop categories Fruit vegetables Minor crops Subtropical crops Tropical crops Vegetables
The Tomatillo is an important ingredient in fresh and cooked Latin American green sauces (salsa verde). It is also used in fruit salads.
The Tomatillo is related to the Cape gooseberry.
Names Scientific Lotus spp.English TrefoilDutch RolklaverFrench LotierGerman Hornklee Taxonomy Order FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus LotusSpecies Lotus spp. (Trefoil) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Forage and fodder crops Green manures Legumes Minor crops Temperate crops
Names Scientific Phaseolus acutifoliusEnglish Tepary beanSpanish Frijol tépariFrench Haricot tépariGerman Teparybohne Taxonomy Order FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus PhaseolusSpecies Phaseolus acutifolius (Tepary bean) Crop categories Arid crops Legumes Minor crops Podded vegetables Subtropical crops Tropical crops Vegetables
Tea is cultivated for its leaves and leaf buds, which are used to produce tea. It is a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree, but prefers the cooler tropical regions, usually at higher altitudes.
Tamarillo is found in tropical and subtropical mountain areas. It originates from the Andes region.
Mature fruits of the tree tomato are orange, red or purple. Inside they look like a tomato. They are eaten as a vegetable and used in sauces or soups, but can also be used to make jams or jellies.