Kumquats are a member of the family Rutaceae, commonly known as the Rue family of the genus ortunella Swingle, also known as kumquat P., which contains four species. The plant has its origin in China and was described in Chinese literature in 1178 C.E.
Passion fruit is a member of the family of Passifloraceae in the genus Passiflora and is native to the wild regions of subtropical South America. It was introduced in Hawaii and Australia but succumbed to viruses and could not be sustained as a commercial crop in either region.
The eyes and our other senses are our windows to the world. Vision is a powerful sense that we often take for granted. And this particular window is sensitive…to dryness, dust and other irritants. There are some simple steps you can use to support the health of these valuable portals of information and beauty. I’ve found all three to be useful for myself, for friends, and for clients in my wellness practice.
Persimmons are in the family Ebenaceae, commonly known as the Ebony family in the genus Diospyros L. Of the seventeen species, only two are native to America: the Diospyros virginiana L, also known as the common persimmon P; and the Diospyros texana Scheele, commonly known as the Texas persimmon P.
Radicchio is a member of the family Asteraceae, commonly known as the aster family in the genus Cichorium L. and the species Cichorium intybus L. or chicory P.
When you think of berries, you probably imagine plump blueberries or succulent strawberries picked at the peak of perfection. It is not often that juniper berries, which are not truly berries at all, come to mind. These antioxidant-rich, heart-healthy “berries” are actually a bitter spice originating from the female seed cones that come from juniper plants, a type of conifer, which is a cone-bearing shrub or tree.
For thousands of years, indigenous peoples of the Peruvian portion of the Amazon Basin in South America have cultivated an amazing plant that is a powerhouse of nutrients.
Grapes are a member of the Vitaceae family that has eleven genera. This fruit bearing genus is Vitus, which has approximately sixty species. The plant was cultivated by humans around 6500 B.C.E. and by 4000 B.C.E. the grape could be found in vineyards from Transcaucasia east to Asia Minor and south to the Nile river delta. The grape existed long before humans walked the earth and could be found throughout the world. The Old World grapes were used as a snack food and dried to make raisins, but in Europe the main use of the grape was to make wine.
Cabbage is a member of the Brassicaceae family, commonly known as the mustard family. There are 107 genera in the family; the cabbage is in the genus Brassica L. The origin of the plant is quite complicated because of the number of genera. The earliest cultivation of cabbage took place in Northern China, approximately 4000 years ago. In Europe the plant was cultivated about 3000 years ago and became a world staple. In the wild it was a leafy plant like kale and was produced in the form of a head in 14th century England.
Cauliflower is a member of the family Brassicaceae in the genus Brassica that contains forty species. It is the cultivated member of the cabbage family and is closely related to wild cabbage and broccoli. General consensus is that the plant originated in the area around Cyprus or the Near East.