Botanical Feast http://www.botanicalfeast.com the botany of plants we eat Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:40:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Tomato Tomato

Some things you might not know about tomatoes:

There are around 7500 varieties of tomato grown They contain lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. Technically a tomato fruit is classified as a berry The leaves of tomato plants are poisonous The heaviest tomato ever grown was one of 3.51 kg

Botanical Information

Family: Solanaceae

Scientific Name: Solanum lycopersicum L. (described here)

[...]]]> http://www.botanicalfeast.com/tomato/ Artichokes Some things you might not know about artichokes:

are in the same family as lettuce. are a kind of thistle The core of the artichoke stem is edible as well – don’t throw it away! If you cook artichokes in an aluminum pot it will turn the pot grey.

Botanical Information

Family: Asteraceae (the daisy family).

Scientific Name: Cynara cardunculus L.

Etymology: articiocco, [...]]]> http://www.botanicalfeast.com/artichokes/ Figs Some things you might not know about figs:

There are about 800 species of figs. The ‘fruit’ that we eat is not a fruit, but actually a collection of flowers called an inflorescence. These flowers grow on the inside of the ‘fruit’. Each species of fig is usually pollinated by its own species of wasp in a symbiotic relationship. It [...]]]> http://www.botanicalfeast.com/figs/ Capers Some things you might not know about capers:

native to the Mediterranean basin are the pickled or salted flower buds of the plant Capparis spinosa L. caperberries are semi-mature fruit that have been pickled the strong flavour is largely due to the presence of mustard oil. capers have been known for thousands of years and were mentioned in the [...]]]> http://www.botanicalfeast.com/capers/ Suggest a plant to write about What food plant should I do next? Please comment below to add a suggestion.

Thanks.

]]> http://www.botanicalfeast.com/suggest-a-plant-to-write-about/ Lemon

Some things you might not know about lemons:

Lemons are members of the Rutaceae family (Rutceae). Lemons have been used as contraceptive in historical times and lemon juice has been shown to kill HIV. Lemons are native to south east Asia, Persia and the Himalayas.

Botanical Information

Family: Rutaceae

Scientific Name: Citrus limon

Etymology: The name Citrus comes from the Greek word [...]]]> http://www.botanicalfeast.com/lemon/ Avocado

Botanical Information

Family: Lauraceae

Scientific Name: Persea americana

Etymology: The name Avocado comes from the [...]]]> http://www.botanicalfeast.com/avocado/