Crops
676 posts
Cinchona originates from South America.
Quinine, which is produced from the bark of Cinchona species, is used to cure malaria.
The Cinchona genus includes a number of trees. Several species (Cinchona pubescens and Cinchona officinalis) are grown to produce quinine.
Names Scientific Chenopodium quinoaEnglish QuinoaDutch Gierstmelde QuinoaSpanish Kinwa Quínoa QuinuaFrench QuinoaGerman Inkakorn Inkareis Perureis Quinoa Reismelde Taxonomy Order CaryophyllalesFamily AmaranthaceaeGenus ChenopodiumSpecies Chenopodium quinoa (Quinoa) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Edible seeds High altitude crops Leaf vegetables Minor crops Pseudocereals Subtropical crops Temperate crops Vegetables
Has some medicinal properties and is used for example to treat skin problems. Flowers can be used in salads.
Proso millet is an annual grass. It is a cereal which was already cultivated 7,000 years ago. Nowadays it is often grown for birdseed or it is sold as health food.
Proso millet grows in a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. It has the lowest water requirement of all cereals, which makes it suitable for drier climates.
The Pitomba originates from Brazil.
Pitomba fruits are often eaten fresh but can be used to make jams or jellies. The taste resembles apricot. The fruits have a dark golden orange color and inside is one large white seed.
The name Pitomba is used for two different fruits (Talisia esculenta and Eugenia luschnathiana).
Pitomba originates from South America (Amazon region).
The name Pitomba is used for two different fruits (Talisia esculenta and Eugenia luschnathiana).
Pomegranate fruits are eaten fresh or are used to produce juice. It is a fruit that in India has been used to prepare medicines for thousands of years, for example against diarrhea and intestinal parasites.
Names Scientific Trichosanthes dioicaEnglish Parwal Pointed gourd Taxonomy Order CucurbitalesFamily CucurbitaceaeGenus TrichosanthesSpecies Trichosanthes dioica (Pointed gourd) Crop categories Fruit vegetables Minor crops Subtropical crops Tropical crops Vegetables
Perilla is grown in China, Japan and Korea.
Perilla frutescens var. crispa is an aromatic leafy herb.
The names 'pepino melon' and 'melon pear' can be confusing because the Pepino is not related to melons or pears. The name 'tree melon' can be confused with the papaya.
Peppermint is a hybrid mint. It is a cross between the watermint (Mentha aquatica) and the spearmint (Mentha spicata).
The pea was one of the first pulses cultivated by man. It is one of the eight neolithic founder crops, which were plant species that were domesticated by early farmers in the Fertile Crescent region. There are many types of peas, with different shape and colors, but all belong to the species Pisum sativum.
Peach palm originates from the tropical forests of South and Central America. The nutritious fruits are edible but need to be cooked for several hours. The trees are also used to produce heart of palm.
Paradise nut grows in the northern parts of South America, including Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Surinam and the Guianas.
Paradise nut is related to the Brazil nut.
Parsley leaves are used as herbs. Especially the type with curly leaves is often used as garnish.
Within this species are several quite different varieties. There are two types of parsley grown for their leaves which are either flat or curly leaves. Another type of parsley is grown for its roots.
Names Scientific Pastinaca sativaEnglish ParsnipDutch Pastinaak Taxonomy Order ApialesFamily ApiaceaeGenus PastinacaSpecies Pastinaca sativa (Parsnip) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Mediterranean crops Minor crops Root vegetables Subtropical crops Temperate crops Vegetables
Pawpaw originates from the USA.
Pawpaw is related to the Custard apple. The name Pawpaw is also used for the Papaya (Carica papaya) which looks similar but is quite a different fruit species.
Oregano is a flavorful herb native to the Mediterranean, valued for its culinary uses and for its antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
The Malay gooseberry has sour tasting fruits which are rich in Vitamin C. The fruits are used to make chutneys and sauces. Young leaves are used as a vegetable.
Despite its name, the Otaheite gooseberry plant does not resemble the gooseberry.
Onion is the most widely used vegetable in the world and is found in a large range of food recipes in many different cultures. Highest production is in China and India. In 2010 the estimated world production of dry onions was 74 million Metric Tons, which corresponds to about 11 kg per person.
The shoots of this bamboo species are consumed as a vegetable.
Several other bamboo species produce shoots that can be eaten as a vegetable.
There are many blueberry species which are often picked from semiwild or wild bushes. Of the blueberry species that are cultivated the Northern highbush blueberry is the most popular species in North America. The Northern highbush blueberry originates from eastern North America.
Oca has its origin in the central and southern Andes where it is grown for its tubers.
Oca tubers can be eaten raw but are usually boiled like potato. Also young leaves and shoots are edible.
The Oil palm is a big tropical palm tree. It is grown for the fruits which are used to produce palm oil.
Oil palm originates from west Africa where it was already used over 5000 years ago.
Names Scientific Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensisSynonym Brassica pekinensisEnglish Celery cabbage Chinese cabbage Napa cabbageDutch Chinese koolFrench Chou chinois Chou de Pékin Pe-tsaïGerman Chinakohl Japankohl Pekingkohl Selleriekohl Taxonomy Order BrassicalesFamily BrassicaceaeGenus BrassicaSpecies Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis (Napa cabbage) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Leaf vegetables Mediterranean crops Minor crops Subtropical crops Temperate crops Vegetables
The naranjilla originates from the Andes region in Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
Fruits of the naranjilla (or lulo) are eaten fresh or used to make juice or wine.
Neem is a tree with many uses. It is often used as medicine. Neem extracts are used as botanical pesticides and neem leaves are used as insect repellents. The tender shoots and flowers of the neem tree can be eaten as a vegetable. Neem oil is used to make shampoos, soap, or other products.
Names Scientific Phormium tenaxEnglish New Zealand flaxDutch Nieuw-Zeelands vlasSpanish Lino de Nueva ZelandaFrench Lin de Nouvelle-ZélandeGerman Neuseeländer Flachs Neuseelandflachs Taxonomy Order AsparagalesFamily AsphodelaceaeGenus PhormiumSpecies Phormium tenax (New Zealand flax) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Fiber crops Minor crops Ornamental plants Temperate crops
The Nance originates from tropical America.
Nance fruits can be eaten fresh or are used in cooking to make desserts or in soup or meat recipes.
Pods and seeds of mungbean can be eaten as vegetable, but the seeds are often used to make bean sprouts.
The mountain papaya is native to the Andes of northwestern South America. The fruit has five broad longitudinal ribs from base to apex. The fruit pulp is edible, similar to papaya. It is usually cooked as a vegetable, but is also eaten raw.
Names Scientific Vigna aconitifoliaEnglish Moth bean Turkish gramFrench Haricot mat Haricot papillonGerman Mattenbohne Mottenbohne Mückenbohne Taxonomy Order FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus VignaSpecies Vigna aconitifolia (Moth bean) Crop categories Arid crops Legumes Mediterranean crops Minor crops Podded vegetables Tropical crops Vegetables
Bamboo shoots are harvested and used as a vegetable.
There are several bamboo species that produce edible shoots, including Phyllostachys edulis, Bambusa vulgaris, and Bambusa oldhamii.
Luo han guo is a rare fruit that is grown in southern China.
The fruits are very sweet and are used as medicine and as a sweetener.
Lakoocha is a rare fruit tree known from Northern India.
Lakoocha or Monkey Jack is related to the Breadfruit.
The mirabelle plum is very common in the French region of Lorraine
Mirabelle plums are quite sweet with a rich flavor. They can be eaten fresh but are often processed in jams or pies or used to make wine.
Mirabelle plums are a subspecies of the common plum. They have small oval or round yellow fruits with smooth-textured flesh. The dark yellow colour of the fruit becomes rather flecked in appearance.
Names Scientific Mentha spp.English MintDutch MuntSpanish Mastranto MentaFrench MentheGerman MinzenItalian Menta Taxonomy Order LamialesFamily LamiaceaeGenus MenthaSpecies Mentha spp. (Mint) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Essential oils Herbs Mediterranean crops Minor crops Temperate crops
There are several varieties of Cucumis melo. Some are smooth-skinned, others have a netted skin surface. They are all called melons. Two varieties that are both called cantaloupe are Cucumis melo var. reticulus and Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis.
Names Scientific Mespilus germanicaEnglish Common medlar MedlarDutch MispelSpanish Nisperero europeo Níspero Níspero europeoFrench Mêlier Mesplier Néflier Néflier communGerman Echte Mispel MispelItalian Nespolo comune Taxonomy Order RosalesFamily RosaceaeGenus MespilusSpecies Mespilus germanica (Medlar) Crop categories Cool temperate crops Fruits Mediterranean crops Minor crops Temperate crops
Marjoran is grown for its aromatic leaves which are used fresh or dried as herbs, for example in the praparation of sausages.
Marjoram is related to oregano.
The Mammee apple is sometimes confused with the mamey sapote tree (Pouteria sapota), whose fruits are also called mammee or mamey.
Mangelwurzel has large white, yellow or orange-yellow swollen roots, mainly used as fodder for feeding livestock. The root can be eaten as a vegetable.