Soursop is a member of the family Annonaceae or Custard-apple family of the genus Annona L. commonly known as Annona and contains the species Annona muricata L. or soursop. The plant is native to the West Indies and northern regions of South America and can be found today throughout the tropical climates of the world. A Puerto Rican professor renamed the plant guanabana in 1951, adding to its nomenclature.
Bitter melon is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae or the Cucumber family of the genus Citrullus Schrad, also known as watermelon P, and contains two species. The plant is native to India and regions of Africa and through trade it was introduced to areas of Asia like China and Japan. It then made its way to the Philippine Islands and regions of northern and eastern Europe.
The lively acidic and fermented beverage that we’ve come to know and love as kombucha has become popularized in the U.S.
Pitaya is a member of the family Cactaceae, commonly known as the Cactus family of the genus Hylocereus (A. Berger) Britton & Rose or nightblooming cactus P and contains three species, the Hylocereus costaricensis (F.A.C. Weber) Britton & Rose or Costa Rica nightblooming cactus P, the Hylocereus trigonus (Haw.) Saff. or strawberry-pear P, and the Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose, also known as the nightblooming cactus P.
Eggplant is a member of the family Solanaceae, commonly known as the Potato family of the genus Solanum L. or nightshade P, in the species Solanum melongena L. called eggplant P. The plant is believed to be native to India and there is Chinese documentation dating back to the 5th century recording agricultural technics in cultivating it.
Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotis) and others are both a delicious edible mushroom and a great medicinal as well. The wild ones are the tastiest, if you’re lucky enough to find them, though you can often find them at the grocery store or even grow your own with one of the many commercial growing kits available. I found a small cluster this summer during what was an otherwise dismal mushroom season here in the Southern Rockies. They smelled like aniseed…something
Galia melon is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae and is a hybrid of the muskmelon. The plant was developed in Israel at the Ne´ve Yaar Research Center of the Agricultural Research Organization in the 1960s by melon breeder Dr. Zvi Karchi and was ready for commercial production in 1973. Within ten years it gained popularity throughout western Europe.
Durian is a member of the family Bombacaceae or Kapok-tree family of the genus Durio Adanson, also known as durio P, containing one species Durio zibethinus Murray, commonly known as durian P. according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cucumbers are in the genus Cucumis L. or melon P of the species Cucumis sativus L commonly known as the garden cucumber P. The plant is believed to have originated in western Asia in India and regions of the Middle East. Cucumbers have been documented in the legend of Gilgamesh in 2500 B.C.E.
Breadfruit is in the family Moraceae, commonly known as the Mulberry family, in two genuses, Artocarpus J.R. Forst & G. Forst, which contains the species Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg and the genus Treculia Decne. ex Trec. or treculia P with the species Treculia africana Decne. ex Trec. also known as the African breadfruit P.