Curated category
Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
- MaizeMaize relies on humans to survive. Its kernels stay locked to the cob, unlike its wild ancestor teosinte, whose seeds scatter to the ground on their own.
- WheatHunter-gatherers in West Asia harvested wild wheats for thousands of years before they were domesticated, perhaps as early as 21,000 BC.
- FraxinusThe oldest fossils that are clearly Fraxinus date to the Middle Eocene, spanning 49 million years ago to 39 million years ago.
- GarlicThe species Allium sativum grows wild in central and southwestern Asia, stretching from the Black Sea through northeastern Iran.
- RyeArchaeologists uncovered rye grains at the Epipalaeolithic site of Tell Abu Hureyra in northern Syria. This discovery suggests systematic cultivation began…
- OakPollen grains found in Austrian deposits mark the oldest unequivocal records of Quercus. These samples date to the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, approximately…
- OatThe common oat Avena sativa stands as a genetic mosaic, its DNA woven from three distinct ancestral species. Molecular analysis reveals this cereal grass…
- PeaCarl Linnaeus assigned the scientific name Pisum sativum to this species in 1753. The Latin phrase translates directly to cultivated pea.
- Phaseolus vulgarisCarl Linnaeus classified the common bean in 1753 within the genus Phaseolus. This species belongs to the legume family Fabaceae alongside other related…
- Sweet potatoThe sweet potato or sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) is a dicotyledonous plant in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae.
- CannabisThe genus Cannabis likely split from its closest relative, Humulus, during the mid Oligocene, around 27.8 million years ago according to molecular clock…
- MapleThe oldest known fossils of the genus Acer date back to the late Paleocene, approximately 60 million years ago. These ancient remains were discovered in…
- BasilThe plant known as Ocimum basilicum grows natively from Central Africa to Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which also includes mints.
- CitrusAbout 15 million years ago, a common ancestor began to split into the Citrus genus and the Poncirus group. This divergence occurred in the foothills of the…
- Indigofera tinctoriaA shrub from the bean family grows to a specific height depending on its environment. This plant may live as an annual, biennial, or perennial based on local…
- FragariaThe fleshy and edible part of the strawberry is not a fruit in the botanical sense. It is actually a receptacle that swells to hold the true fruits.
- Gossypium hirsutumGossypium hirsutum stands as the most widely planted species of cotton in the world. About 90% of all global cotton production comes from cultivars derived…
- Gossypium barbadenseLinnaeus described the species in 1753, naming it Gossypium barbadense after the island of Barbados. Modern botanists place this plant within the mallow…
- Hyoscyamus nigerThe name henbane dates from AD 1265, when the word bane meant thing that causes death. Other etymologies derive from the Indo-European stem bhelena meaning…
- Ficus religiosaThe leaves of Ficus religiosa measure between 10 and 17 centimeters in length. They display a cordate shape with a distinctive extended drip tip that…
- CactusThe first cacti are thought to have been only slightly succulent shrubs or small trees whose leaves carried out photosynthesis.
- Juglans regiaThe Latin name Juglans combines two ancient words. Jovis refers to Jupiter, the chief god of Roman religion. Glans means acorn or nut in that same language.
- FicusMolecular clock estimates place the genus Ficus at least 60 million years old, with some data suggesting an origin as far back as 80 million years.
- Angelica archangelicaDuring its first year, the plant grows only leaves. In the second year, a fluted stem reaches 2.5 meters in height. This is just over eight feet of vertical…