Plants

Friday, 3 July 2026

"Where the olive refuses to grow, there the Mediterranean world ends"

It is not known exactly when and where the first olive tree, characteristic of the Mediterranean region, grew. Paleobotanists claim that wild olives g ...

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Grapes

Grape juice is made by pressing and grinding the fruit.

In this form, it ends up on store shelves or is fermented to produce wine, brandy, or wine vinegar.

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Pineapple

Apart from consumable purposes, pineapples are also used as medicinal plants.

The raw material is the pericarp and stems, which produce a mixture of five enzymes called bromelain by extraction.

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Trees

The earliest trees were tree ferns, horsetails, and lycophytes that grew in forests during the Carboniferous Period.

The first tree may have been Wattieza (a close relative of modern ferns and horsetails), whose Middl ...

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Dragon blood tree

For people interested in magic and alchemy, the dragon blood tree resin is, in fact, the blood of a dragon, and is used in various mystical rituals.

For instance, it is popularly used as incense.

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Corn

Corn is widely grown worldwide, and more corn kernels are produced each year than any other grain.

In 2020, total global production was 1.16 billion tons, led by the United States (31% of the total). 22.4% of the global volume was produced by China.

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Forget-me-not

There are several legends surrounding the name of the plant.

One of the most popular ones tells a story about a German couple. During their romantic stroll on a ...

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Asparagus

Asparagus is perennial which means that the same plants grow year after year.

Plants can grow in the same place for 15, 20, or even 30 years.

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Citron

There are sour, sweet and pulpless varieties of this fruit.

Sour varieties include the Florentine and diamante citrons - from Italy - and the Greek Balady citro ...

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Rowan

Rowan berries are popular in cooking.

They are used to make juices, jams, mousses, marmalade, and fruit vodka called rowanberry. However, ...

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Mandarines

Mandarines, usually eaten raw or blended into juice, are a common addition to various dishes in oriental cuisine.

They are also used to make jams, marmalades and sauces. In addition, mandarine skin is used in the production of tinctures.

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24 facts about rapeseed

Probably a hybrid

Rapeseed - one of three varieties of cabbage rapeseed (Brassica napus) is probably an offspring of two different species. It is one of the oilseed cro ...

23 facts about brussels sprout

A small cabbage with amazing flavor

Brussels sprouts are a botanical variety of cabbage belonging to the cabbage family. It probably originated from a cross between head cabbage and kale ...

16 facts about kale

An excellent ingredient for smoothies

Kale was known in ancient times, however, it was also consumed in the Middle Ages. Today we are rediscovering it thanks to its wealth of vitamins, min ...

20 facts about watercress

A leader in the health category

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, watercress is one of the healthiest plants. Although it is one of the oldest plants ...

12 facts about sweet potato

A creeping plant from the tropics

Yams, also known as sweet potatoes, are one of the healthiest foods, even in space. In fact, they have been appreciated by NASA and recognized as supe ...

18 facts about parsley

Healthy from the root to the leaves

It is a vegetable commonly used in cooking. In addition to its taste, it also has many nutrients and can help with some ailments. Parsley root contain ...

18 facts about beetroot

Vitamin bomb

This under-appreciated vegetable is increasingly appearing on our tables and returning to favor. And this is great news because beets are a vegetable ...

18 facts about asparagus

Spring vegetables full of vitamins and nutrients

Asparagus, known to mankind since ancient times (more than 5000 years), still enjoys enduring popularity, especially in French, Italian, Spanish or Ge ...

15 facts about sunflower

Sun-like beauty

They came to Europe quite late because they came from the American continent. Cultivated for seeds, oil, or ornamental value, they quickly conquered t ...

13 facts about cinnamon

One of the most closely guarded merchant secrets

It is a well-known and often used aromatic spice in the kitchen. We most often find it in confectionery, chocolate, and some alcoholic drinks. Althoug ...

18 facts about grapes

Grapes do not come exclusively from one species of vine

Although it originated in the Middle East, it has spread all over the world. Thanks to this plant, it is possible to enjoy countless varieties of wine ...

13 facts about birch

Pioneer tree of the northern hemisphere

Although it is associated mainly with the Central Europe landscape, anyone who thinks that this plant does not occur on other continents is wrong. Var ...

17 facts about rowan

Sorbus aucuparia

Although we know this plant as mountain ash, its scientific name is Sorbus aucuparia. It is a pioneer plant thanks to its frost resistance and low req ...

20 facts about garlic

World leader in medicinal plants

Garlic, well known to all, is a vegetable, spice, and medicinal plant - in this field, it is a leader with clinically proven effectiveness. It is prod ...

17 facts about cocoa bean

Chocolate base

Cocoa is a commonly used term for the seeds of the cocoa tree. Widely known and liked by lovers of chocolate and all chocolate sweets, as well as supp ...