Domesticated Plants
A list of Mesoamerican cultivars and staples:
- Maize* - domesticated from teosinte grasses in southern Mexico)
- Squash* (Cucurbita spp.) - pumpkins, zucchini, acorn squash, butternut squash, others
- Pinto bean - "painted/speckled" bean; nitrogen-fixer traditionally planted in conjunction with the "two sisters", maize and squash, to help condition soil; runners grew on maize
- Tomato*
- Potato*
- Avocado*
- Cacahuate* (Arachis hypogaea)
- Chicle* (Manilkara chicle) - sap made into chewing gum
- Chili peppers* - many varieties
- Cacao*
- Vanilla
- Mora (Rubus blackberry)
- Rubus glaucus
- Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) - various cultivars
- Pineapple - cultivated extensively
- Nopales* - stem segments of Opuntia species, such as Opuntia ficus-indica
- Tunas* - fruits of Opuntia species
- Jícama* (Pachyrhizus erosus)
- Papaya* (Carica papaya)
- Guayaba* - guava fruit
- Huautli* (Amaranthus cruentus, Amaranthus hypochondriacus) - grain
- Cherimoya* (fruit)
- Mamey sapote* (Pouteria sapota) - fruit, other parts of plants have noted uses
- Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides) - aromatic herb
- Sunflower seeds - under cultivation in Mexico and Peru for thousands of years, also source of essential oils
- Cassava* - edible starchy root also known as manioc; also used to make tapioca
- Tobacco*
- Chaya
* Asterisk indicates a common English or Spanish word derived from an indigenous word
Read more about this topic: Agriculture In Mesoamerica
Famous quotes containing the words domesticated and/or plants:
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“And time brings down what is both strong and tall.
But plants new set to be eradicate,
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