The Chameleon plant is native to Japan, Korea, southern China, and Southeast Asia. It is grown as a leaf vegetable or for use as a medicinal herb for its antiviral and antibacterial activities.
Vegetables
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Beetroot is a cultivated variety of the Beet. The red roots are eaten as a cooked vegetable or are used in salads.
Lentil 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 in the Fertile Crescent region by early farming communities.
Elephant foot yam probably originates from India or Sri Lanka. It is grown for the corms which are eaten as a vegetable..
Amaranthus or amaranth is a group of plants belonging to the genus Amaranthus.
Seeds of Amaranth can be eaten as a grain. In that case they are called pseudograins or pseudocereals. However, most Amaranth species are grown as leaf vegetables or as ornamental plants.
The cultivated cabbage is related to the wild mustard, which originates from the Mediterranean region. It grows best in temperate climates. Large producers of cabbage are China, India, Russia, Korea and Japan.
Cabbage can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is often used in soups and stews. It can also be pickled or fermented to make sauerkraut or kimchi.
Potato originates from the Andes region in South America. After the discovery of the Americas it was brought to Europe where it quickly became an important staple food.
The tubers of the potato plant are used as main staple food (energy supply) or as a vegetable.
Teasle gourd is a small egg shaped vegetable fruit, related to the bitter gourd and sometimes called ‘Small bittergourd’. It is found mainly in tropical Asia.
Yardlong bean is a type of cowpea. The name yard-long bean is well chosen because these beans are really long, although not exactly one yard. The French name "Haricot kilomètre" (kilometer bean) is even more exaggerating, but you get the idea.
Yard-long bean is grown throughout the tropics. It is common in Southeastern Asia (e.g. Thailand) and Southern China, Africa and South America.
Yard-long bean is used as a green vegetable, just like green beans. The pods can be eaten fresh or cooked in a variety of dishes.
Tomatoes originate from Central and South America and are closely related to eggplant, chili peppers, potato and tobacco.
Tomatoes are eaten fresh or cooked and are often processed, for example to make tomato ketchup.
Several vegetables and fruits have names that refer to human body parts, such as a "hand of bananas" and a "cabbage head". Another one is the okra, which is also called "Lady's finger".
Okra is related to roselle, cotton and jute, which all belong to the Mallow family. It is grown for its green fruits. When cooked they are rather slimy.
The breadfruit tree originates from Polynesia but is now grown in most tropical regions of the world.
Breadfruits are rich in starch and are used as staple food in many tropical regions. The fruits are sometimes eaten ripe as a fruit, but more often they are used underripe as a vegetable.
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 Food crops Tropical crops Tuber vegetables Vegetables Pictures
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 Dioscorea rotundataEnglish Guinea yam White yam Taxonomy Order DioscorealesFamily DioscoreaceaeGenus DioscoreaSpecies Dioscorea rotundata (White yam) Crop categories Food crops Root vegetables Staple food Tropical crops Vegetables Pictures
Names Scientific Abelmoschus cailleiEnglish West African okraFrench Gombo ouest-africain Taxonomy Order MalvalesFamily MalvaceaeGenus AbelmoschusSpecies Abelmoschus caillei (West African okra) Crop categories Food crops Fruit vegetables Tropical crops Vegetables Pictures
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 Food crops Fruit vegetables Tropical crops Vegetables Pictures
Names Scientific Allium fistulosumEnglish Spring onion Welsh onionFrench CibouleGerman Winterzwiebel Taxonomy Order AsparagalesFamily AmaryllidaceaeGenus AlliumSpecies Allium fistulosum (Welsh onion) Crop categories Food crops Leaf vegetables Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
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 Food crops Herbs Leaf vegetables Medicinal plants Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
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 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 Food crops Legumes Podded vegetables Tropical crops Vegetables Pictures
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 Food crops Root vegetables Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
This species is sometimes grown as a root vegetable because it has an edible tuber which can be eaten cooked or raw.
Names Scientific Praecitrullus fistulosusEnglish Apple gourd Indian baby pumpkin Indian round gourd TindaFrench Tinda Taxonomy Order CucurbitalesFamily CucurbitaceaeGenus PraecitrullusSpecies Praecitrullus fistulosus (Tinda) Crop categories Food crops Fruit vegetables Subtropical crops Tropical crops Vegetables Pictures
Names Scientific Phaseolus acutifoliusEnglish Tepary beanSpanish Frijol tépariFrench Haricot tépariGerman Teparybohne Taxonomy Order FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus PhaseolusSpecies Phaseolus acutifolius (Tepary bean) Crop categories Food crops Legumes Podded vegetables Subtropical crops Vegetables Pictures
Names Scientific Spinacia oleraceaEnglish SpinachDutch SpinazieSpanish EspinacaFrench ÉpinardGerman Echter Spinat Gartenspinat Gemüsespinat SpinatItalian Spinacio Taxonomy Order CaryophyllalesFamily AmaranthaceaeGenus SpinaciaSpecies Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) Crop categories Food crops Leaf vegetables Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
Spilanthes originates from Brazil.
Leaves are used in salds or are cooked. Decoction or infusions of the leaves and flowers can be used as medicine, for example to treat toothache and throat problems.
Names Scientific Allium cepa var. aggregatumSynonym Allium ascalonicumEnglish Eschalot Multiplier onion Potato onion ShallotDutch Eslook SjalotSpanish Cebolla escalonia Chalota Echalote EscaloniaFrench ÉchaloteGerman Askalonzwiebel Edelzwiebel Eschalotte Eschlauch SchalotteItalian Scalogno Taxonomy Order AsparagalesFamily AmaryllidaceaeGenus AlliumSpecies Allium cepa var. aggregatum (Shallot) Crop categories Bulb vegetables Food crops Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
Names Scientific Allium wakegiEnglish Green onion Green shallots Salad onion Scallion Spring onionDutch Bosui Lenteui Pijpajuin Slaui Taxonomy Order AsparagalesFamily AmaryllidaceaeGenus AlliumSpecies Allium wakegi (Scallion) Crop categories Food crops Leaf vegetables Vegetables Pictures
Names Scientific Tragopogon porrifoliusEnglish Common salsify Goatsbeard Oysterplant Purple salsify SalsifyDutch Armeluisasperges Boksbaard Haverwortel Keukenmeidenverdriet Oesterplant Paarse morgenster Witte schorseneerSpanish Barba de cabra Salsifí comúnFrench Salsifis cultivéGerman Habermark Haferwurzel Purpur-Bocksbart Taxonomy Order AsteralesFamily AsteraceaeGenus TragopogonSpecies Tragopogon porrifolius (Salsify) Crop categories Food crops Leaf vegetables Root vegetables Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
Rutabaga is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip. The name 'turnip' is sometimes used for the rutabaga. Roots are edible and can be prepared in different ways. The leaves are also edible and can be used as a leaf vegetable.
Names Scientific Phaseolus coccineusEnglish Runner bean Scarlet runner beanDutch PronkboonSpanish Ayecote AyocoteFrench Haricot d'Espagne Haricot-fleurGerman Feuerbohne Käferbohne Prunkbohne Taxonomy Order FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus PhaseolusSpecies Phaseolus coccineus (Runner bean) Crop categories Food crops Podded vegetables Subtropical crops Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
Rhubarb is usually considered to be a vegetable, but it is used rather as a fruit, to make desserts.
Names Scientific Vigna umbellataEnglish Rice bean RicebeanFrench Haricot rizGerman Reisbohne Taxonomy Order FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus VignaSpecies Vigna umbellata (Rice bean) Crop categories Food crops Forage and fodder crops Legumes Podded vegetables Tropical crops Vegetables Pictures
The unripe fruits of ribbed gourd are eaten as a vegetable. Mature ribbed gourd fruits are used to make sponges. The plant is also knows as ridged luffa.
A close relative of the ridged luffa is the Egyptian cucumber or smooth luffa.
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 Edible seeds Food crops Leaf vegetables Pseudocereals Subtropical crops Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
Names Scientific Trichosanthes dioicaEnglish Parwal Pointed gourd Taxonomy Order CucurbitalesFamily CucurbitaceaeGenus TrichosanthesSpecies Trichosanthes dioica (Pointed gourd) Crop categories Food crops Fruit vegetables Tropical crops Vegetables Pictures
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.
Names Scientific Pastinaca sativaEnglish ParsnipDutch Pastinaak Taxonomy Order ApialesFamily ApiaceaeGenus PastinacaSpecies Pastinaca sativa (Parsnip) Crop categories Food crops Root vegetables Temperate crops Vegetables Pictures
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.