 |
 The Avocado is a member of the Lauraceae (laurel)
family. It is often called an alligator pear
due to its shape and the color of its skin. The
English word avocado is a corruption of
the Spanish word aguacate, which itself
was a corruption of the Aztec word ahuacatl ("testicle"). |
 Cinnamon
is a spice known for its pleasant,
sweet taste and odor. It comes from the inner
bark of branches of the cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum
zeylanicum), which is native to the tropical
regions of Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and
southwestern India. |
 Licorice
is a perennial herb in the same
family as peas and beans. Licorice roots contain
a chemical called glycyrrhizin that is 30-50
times sweeter than sucrose, and it is for this
chemical that the plant is grown commercially.
Licorice root extract is used as a flavoring in a
variety of foods and drinks, including candies. |
 Sweet
Potato One of the
oldest vegetables known to man, the sweet potato
is native to Central and South America, where it
has been consumed for at least 10,000 years and
cultivated for at least 5,000 years. Despite its
name, the sweet potato is only very distantly
related to the common potato. |
 The Pomegranate
is a decidous shrub that typically grows 12-16
feet high, but can reach heights of up to 30
feet. The fruit (technically a berry) is 2-1/2 to
5 inches in diameter and contains up to 600
seeds, each of which is encased in a pulp that
varies from white to deep red or purple in color. |
 Pumpkins are members of the cucumber and squash
family. Pumpkins are grown on every continent
except Australia, and all fifty of the United
States. They are believed to have originated in
Central America, with seeds from related plants
found in Mexico dating back over 7000 years. |
 Rosemary
is an evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean
region. It has been known since ancient times to
have medicinal value, with rosemary tea being
used to calm stomachs and nerves, relieve
headaches, and as a cure for colic. |
 The Macadamia Nut
is a large, round seed that grows
on the macadamia tree, a tropical Australian
evergreen. Today, Hawaii is the largest producer
of macadamia nuts in the world, followed by
Australia. |
 Cotton
is a natural vegetable fiber of great economic
importance as a raw material for cloth and other
products. In fact, cotton can be made into more
kinds of products -- from diapers to explosives
-- than any other fiber. |
