Coriander or Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a species of Coriandrum sativum L. in the family Apiaceae, native to the Southwestern Asia and Northern Africa which is widely cultivated as a spice and herb. Coriander is widely used in Mexican, Indian, European and Middle Eastern dishes. Two cultivar of Coriander exist: Moroccan and Indian. Common names for this herb include Cilantro, Chinese Cilantro, Coriander and Chinese parsley. History Coriander has been recognized for more than 3000 years in southern Europe and for 5000 years in Asia. It was cultivated for medicinal and culinary purposes by ancient Romans and Egyptians. The cultivation…

Chives scientifically known as Allium schoenoprasum are bulbous hardy perennial plants of the genus Allium in the Liliaceae, or Lily family, cultivated for their onion or garlic -flavored leaves and for their attractive and edible flower heads, rather than for their bulbs as with most other Alliums. The term chives is said to be derived from the Latin cepa, meaning onion. Chives are considered to have originated from Asia and Eastern Europe and have been used in cuisine for a recorded 5000 years. Some popular common names of Chives are Garlic chives, Chinese leeks. Garden or Onion Chives, Garlic Chives,…

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulagaris) is an edible plant in the family Chenopodiaceae native to the Mediterranean region. It is a biennial plant, usually grown as an annual, which grows upto 1 – 3 feet (506 mm) tall. Swiss chard is a cool season crop which thrives in well- drained soil. The leaves are broad, wavy, wrinkled which sizes about 37 cm long and 25 cm wide. The dark green leaves are glossy and crisp. The stems are colorful mainly white, orange, purple and ivory with pink stripes. The plant of Swiss chard has deep root system which is…

Celery or stalk celery (Apium graveolens var. Dulce) is a species of Apium graveolens L. in the family Apiaceae, native to the temperate Mediterranean climates (Europe, Africa and Asia), and widely cultivated as spice, herb and vegetable in Europe, Central and North America, Japan, North Africa, China and India. It is a biennial plant which is usually cultivated as an annual plant. It forms a bipinnate leaves 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) long with numerous leaflets. There are three types of Celery such as leaf celery, pascal celery and celeriac celery. It is consumed either raw or cooked as a vegetable.…

Chayote (pronounced chahy-oh-tee) scientifically known as Sechium edule, is the edible fruit of a tropical perennial vine plant which is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, along with other squashes, gourds, cucumbers and melons. Light green, pear shaped fruit also known as Chaco, Choko, Chayote, Cho-Cho, Chayote Squash, Choco, Vegetable Pear, Custard Marrow and Madeira Marrow is originally native to Mexico but it has since been introduced worldwide. The whole vegetable is palatable — skin, roots, shoots, leaves, flower, flesh and seeds. It can be consumed raw or steamed, baked, stuffed, fried, marinated or boiled. Chayote de Caballo, Chayotillo, Cabeza de Chango…

Pinto beans as well as other beans like navy beans, kidney beans and black beans are all known scientifically as Phaseolus vulgaris. This might be acceptable from the fact that all these species originated from the same ancestry roots of common bean. A terrifically delightful, nutritious and nutty flavored bean have proved to be a great caretaker of our health, Pinto Bean is thought to be the most common bean. Some popular common names of pinto beans are Bush Bean, Common Bean, Dwarf Bean, Field Bean, Flageolet Bean, Garden Bean, Haricots De Bourbon, French bean, Green Bean, Haricot Bean, Haricots…

Also Known as asparagus lettuce, celery lettuce, stems lettuce, Chinese lettuce, celtuce is an annual vegetable that is cultivated mostly for its edible stem. It seems a cross between lettuce and celery, celery like stalks and lettuce like leaves, hence the name, but in fact it is a variety of lettuce originating from southern China. It is commonly known as Wosun in China and is found used in numerous food items because of its soft, translucent, green central core, which is the edible part of Celtuce. Balady aswan and Max Green are two popular varieties of celtuce grown for its…

Apium graveolens var. rapaceum also known as Celeriac, Celery Root, Knob Celery, Turnip-Root Celery, Turnip-Rooted Celery is a member of celery family and is native to Italy. It is a kind of celery, grown as a root vegetable for its large and bulbous hypocotyl rather than for its stem and leaves. Celeriac may be used raw or fresh. It is also known as Gen Qin Cai in China, Ache-Douce in France, Eppich in German, Sedano Rapa in Italy and Kornevoi Sel’derei in Russia. It is best to peel celeriac just before use, since the outer skin is tough and stringy.…

Cauliflower scientifically known as Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) is a cruciferous vegetable from Brassicaceae family which also includes cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli and collard greens. According to the University of Arizona the word cauliflower comes from the Latin caulis (stalk) and floris (flower), meaning “cabbage flower”. Cauliflower originates eastern Mediterranean region. Cultivation of cauliflower started 600 years B.C. in Turkey. Cauliflower gained popularity in Europe during 16th century, while cultivation in America started at the beginning of the 20th century. Cauliflower is also commonly known as Heading Broccoli or Perennial Broccoli. Purple Cauliflower, Orange Cauliflower and Broccoflower are some popular…

Brassica oleracea gemmifera or Brussels sprouts, are correlated to other known vegetables in the Brassica genus such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, kohlrabi and cauliflower. They are part of the cruciferae or mustard family, so recognized because of a four-part flower in the shape of a cross. In character, they appear much like a small form of a cabbage; however they are way dissimilar by flavor. The flavor of cabbage is quite dull, whereas Brussels sprouts have a very delicate, unique taste. Jade Cross, Catskill, Maximus, Early Morn Dwarf Improved, Breda, Red Vein, Churchill Hybrid Brussels Sprouts, Red Ball Brussels Sprouts, Bubbles and Rubine…

Carrot (Daucus carota) is an edible root vegetable of the Apiaceae family that was domesticated around 1000 Ce in Central Asia. It is cultivated and consumed throughout the world, being mostly eaten raw. Five varieties of Carrots are: Nantes, Chantenay, Miniature/Baby, Imperator and Danvers. Carrot owe sweet flavor. It is also called Bird’s Nest, Bishop’s Lace, Bird’s Nest Plant, and Crow ’s Nest, Carrot, Laceflower, Devil’s Plague, Rantipole, Queen Anne ’s lace and Wild Carrot. The average Carrot weights from 50-72 grams and can be orange, purple, red, black, yellow and white. A naturally occurring subspecies of the wild carrot…

Petasites japonicus, also known as fuki, Japanese sweet coltsfoot, bog rhubarb or giant butterbur, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Asteraceae. It exists not only in Japan, but many places in Europe. The petioles are used mainly as a human food source. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition. Plant Butterbur is an herbaceous perennial plant sized 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet which is found growing in moist shady position, Invades forests, stream banks, and other moist, low-light environments. It prefers deep fertile humus-rich soil…

Bamboo shoot (Phyllostachys) is a perennial and evergreen plant of the family Poaceae. It is native to Asia being naturalized to Europe, Australia, Asia, and America. Bamboo shoots were firstly originated to Southern China. Due to its wide diversification, it spread from the Chile to the Himalayas. But due to the weather conditions, it could not be cultivated in Europe, Canada, Western Asia and Antarctica. Today bamboo shoots are widely cultivated in Eastern and South Eastern Asia. Bamboo shoots are used in various cuisines and salads. It is also called Bamboo sprouts. Bamboo is also used as a sustainable alternative…

Burdock belongs to the family of Asteraceae; in the genus of Arctium, and known scientifically as Arctium lappa which is originated from northern Europe to northeast Asia including northern India. Burdock root is an underground tuber of greater burdock plant which is used as a vegetable and medicinal herb. Some of the common names of burdock includes Bat Weed, Cuckold, Beggar’s Button, Grass Burdock, Burdock, Beggar’s Buttons, Burs, Clotbur, Cockle- Button, Edible Burdock, Fox’s Clot, Gobo and Cocklebur. It is popular in Brazil as Bardana, Bardane in France, Gobo in Indonesia, Ueong in Korea and Gobo (Root) in Japan. Arctium…

Broad beans (Vicia faba) are stiffly erect plant in the Fabaceae family, native to North Africa and Southwest Asia but now widely cultivated elsewhere. It is also known as Bell Bean, Fava Bean, Broad Bean, Faba Bean, English Bean, Field Bean, Horse Bean, Haba, Tic Bean, Field Bean, Windsor Bean, and Tick Bean. It is grown for its ovoid shaped seeds. The term bean can refer to the pod or seeds. Vicia faba is an annual plant, with the life cycle of one year. It is a cool season crop that is grown in well drained soils. The immature beans…

Broccoli scientifically known as Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) belongs to cruciferous vegetable family which includes cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, collard greens, rutabaga, arugula and turnip. The word Broccoli originates from Italian word broccolo, which means “the flowering crest of a cabbage”, and is also minuscule form of brocco, which means “small nail” or “sprout”. It is native to eastern Mediterranean region. Some common names of Broccoli include Green Heading Broccoli, Cape Broccoli, Asparagus Broccoli, Purple Heading Broccoli, Broccoli, Winter Cauliflower, Calabrese, Heading Broccoli and Sprouting Broccoli. Broccoli is an all-star food along with several health benefits. Although…

Beta vulgaris more commonly known as beetroot, Fodder Beet, Chard, Field beet, Chioggia beet, Fodder Sugar Beet is a vegetable native to coasts of the Mediterranean. It is an herbaceous two-yearly or perennial plant of family Chenopodiaceae and Beta L. genus. Beetroot is frequently added as an ingredient to soups, pickles salads and is also used as a natural coloring agent. Blankoma Beet, Detroit Dark Red, Chiogga Beet, Cylindra Beets, Golden Beet, Red Beets, Baby Beets, Yellow or Gold Beets, Specialty Beets, Baby Candy Cane Beet, Sugar Beets, Egyptian Flat Beets White Beets, and Bull’s Blood Beet, are some popular varieties…

The Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a perennial plant that belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. Its large starchy sweet flavor, tuberous root are a consumed as vegetable. The young leaves are sometimes consumed as greens. Manihot esculenta is native to the South America and is widely grown on Latin America and the Caribbean. There are two varieties of Cassava: Sweet and Bitter. Cassava shares the several names including Bitter Cassava, Manicot, Manihot, Sweet Cassava and Yuca. History It is cultivated for its edible root as an annual plant in both subtropical and tropical regions. Cassava was originated from tropical America. It…

Botanically, the Cabbage belongs to the Brassicaceae family which also includes brussels sprouts, bok choy, cauliflower, kale and broccoli. Scientific name: Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group). Some of the common names of Cabbage are: Cabbage, White cabbage, Repolyo and Gan lan. Cabbage is the biennial, cool season vegetable. It grows to round head which consists of thick which ranges in the colour from yellowish green, dark green and dark red. There exist three major types of Cabbage such as Green cabbage, Savoy cabbage and Red cabbage. Peak season for Cabbage runs from spring or fall. History Cabbage is native to Southern…

Mung beans which are also known as Green Gram, Golden Gram and Chinese Mung Bean, are a species of legume which is widely consumed in the world. As they are easy to cultivate, it is very useful for the health. They are produced in greatest numbers in China, India and Southeast Asia but they are actually native to South America. Their scientific name is Vigna radiate, and they are classified as legumes. It was domesticated before 1500 BC in India. Mung beans grow on sandy loam soils and prefer tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate climates. Although most of the Mung…

Phaseolus vulgaris, kidney bean, green bean or common bean, is an annual, climbing or sub-erect herbaceous bush in the Fabaceae (legume or bean family) in the genus Phaseolus L, that originated in Central and South America and is currently grown in many parts of the world for its beans, that can be harvested and consumed immature, still in the edible pod, or when mature, shelled, and dried. Kashmiri kidney beans, Red kidney beans and Chitra kidney beans are some popular varieties of Kidney beans. It is often considered the ‘meat of the poor’ and forms the main protein source for…

The Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus) also known as Butter Bean, Burma Bean, Java Bean, Large White Bean and Sugar Bean is semi- tropical plant native to Central and South America. It is widely cultivated in warm, semi-tropical regions for its beans. Not only the legumes from this tropical plant are edible but also different parts of the plants are also eaten such as dry mature seeds, young leaves, shoots, young pods and sprouts are also consumed. History It is believed to be originated in Guatemala or Peru where it was grown for over 7000 years. After Columbus discovered America, Lima…

Momordica charantia, more commonly known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash or balsam-pear is a fruit native to tropical regions of the world, including South America and East Africa. It is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, which include gourds, melons, cucumbers as well as squash. It is extensively grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean because of its edible fruit, which is extremely bitter. It is grown as an ornamental and vegetable crop. Its many varieties differ significantly in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. Momordica charantia is a climbing, nearly smooth, annual vine…

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) also known as Asparagus root, Wild asparagus, Asperge and Shatavari, is a vegetable and most widely cultivated species of the genus Asparagus L. This plant is native to Europe, Northern Africa and Western Asia and is widely cultivated in South and North America, Europe and China. The vernacular names for Asparagus are:- French: Asperge, Asperge officinale; Hindi: Shatwaar; Spanish: Brote de espárrago, Esparrago; Spanish: Brote de espárrago, Esparrago etc. Three varieties of Asparagus are: Green Asparagus, White Asparagus and Purple Asparagus. Plant Asparagus is an herbaceous and perennial plant. Asparagus do best in areas with dry…

Arrowhead also known as duck-potato, broadleaf arrowhead, Indian potato, or wapato is widely grown aquatic perennial plant. Arrowhead scientifically known as Sagittaria latifolia belongs to genus Sagittaria L. of the Alismataceae family. It is considered to have originated from southern Canada. Apart from that it is known as Kewi in Arabia, Kuwai in Japan, Pilblad in Sweden, Kunai in china and Brutblatt in German. Arrowhead includes thicker round white or bluish tubers that is full of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Plant Arrowhead is a vigorous, deciduous, marginal aquatic perennial plant sized 2 to 20 meters in length found growing in full…

Artichoke having the scientific name as Cynara cardunculus belongs to the genus Cynara L. within the family Asteraceae. Another name used to refer this vegetable is Globe Artichoke, Scotch Thistle, Prickly Cardoon, Wild Cardoon, Vegetable Rennet and Wood Artichoke. It is native to the Mediterranean region but now widely grown in Italy, France, and Spain. The name used by different countries for Artichoke is: For Globe Artichoke: – French: Artichaut, Artichaut Scolyme; Japanese: Chousen Azami; Spanish: Alcachofa, Hierba De Cuajo; Italian: Articiocco, Carciofolo. For Cardoon: – German: Cardoon, Stachelige Kardone; Greek: Agries Agginares, Agria Agkinara; German: Cardoon, Stachelige Kardone Dutch:…

Alfalfa, also named lucerne (Medicago sativa) is an important forage crop in many nations throughout the world. It is a perennial flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae grown as an important forage crop in several countries. The term alfalfa is derived from Arabic, exactly the phrase al-fac-facah, which accurately means “Father of all foods” because it is rich in crucial nutrients. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage. It is widely cultivated glabrous perennial native to southwestern Asia, was first cultivated in Iran. Common Names of Alfalfa includes lucerne, purple alfalfa, luzerne, common purple lucerne, snailclover, purple medick,…

Amaranth, scientific name Amaranthus, is a member of the Amaranthaceae family which is related to and resembles Quinoa. Native to Central America and South America, it is also cultivated in the countries having warm climate. Amaranth possess various vernacular names such as Hindi: Lal sag, Thotakura Chaulai; Marathi: Shavrani math, Rajgira; Tamil: Punkirai; Telegu: Chilaka thotakoora etc. It is also known as Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Amaranthus frumentaceus, Amaranto, Chua, Amaranthus leucocarpus, Red Cockscomb, Velvet Flower. Plant and Seeds Amaranth is an annual, large and bushy plant usually about 90-130 cm high. It has oblong-lanceolate pointed green leaves normally arranged alternately in…

Prunus cerasus is also known as Sour cherry, tart cherry, dwarf cherry and pie cherry. Prunus is the Latin name for plum trees. It originates from Greek “prunos” (plum or cherry). Cerasus from Latin phase for cherry. Therefore, Prunus cerasus implies cherry cherry, real original. It is widely cultivated deciduous shrub or small tree belongs to the family Rosaceae, in the genus Prunus L, native to Europe and southwest Asia, having white flowers and tart red fruit. It is closely connected to the sweet cherry (Prunus avium), but has a fruit which is more acidic, and also has greater nutritional benefits. Pie cherry, tart…

Most of us call quinoa (pronounced “keen-whah”) a grain, but it’s actually a seed. It is actually a Pseudo cereal as it is consumed and cooked just like grain and also has comparable properties. It has been preserved like grain and consumed as one of the chief food sources along with potato and maize since ancient times. Quinoa scientifically known as Chenopodium quinoa is widely cultivated plant in the family Chenopodiaceae. It is considered to have originated in the Andean region of South America. White quinoa, Red quinoa and Black quinoa are some common varieties of Quinoa. It is known…