Kids Encyclopedia

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Brassicaceae Order: Brassicales Genus: Brassica Mustard Plant — Mustards are several plant species in the genera Brassica and Sinapis whose small mustard seeds are used as a spice and, by grinding and mixing them with water, vinegar or other liquids, are turned into a condiment also known as mustard. The seeds are also pressed to make mustard …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Lamiaceae Order: Lamiales Genus: Lamium Mint: Aromatic Flowering plant — Mentha (mint) is a genus of about 25 species (and many hundreds of varieties) of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae (Mint Family). Species within Mentha have a subcosmopolitan distribution across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America. Several mint hybrids commonly occur. Mints are aromatic, almost …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Zingiberaceae Order: Zingiberales Genus: Zingiber Ginger: Medicinal Root of Plant — Ginger is the common name for the monocotyledonous perennial plant Zingiber officinale. The term is also used to describe the edible part of the plant which is commonly used as a spice in cooking throughout the world. Often referred to as ginger “root”, the edible section …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Apiaceae Order: Apiales Genus: Anethum Tribe: Apieae Dill Annual Herb — Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a short-lived annual herb. It is the sole species of the genus Anethum, though classified by some botanists in the related genus Peucedanum as Peucedanum graveolens (L.) C.B. Clarke. It grows to 40-60 cm tall, with slender stems and alternate, finely divided, …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Araliaceae Order: Genus: Panax Tribe: Ginseng: Medicinal Root of Plant: Ginseng refers to species within Panax, a genus of 11 species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. They grow in the Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia (mostly northern China, Korea, and eastern Siberia), typically in cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Malvaceae Order: Fagales Genus: Gossypium Cotton Plant — Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant (Gossypium sp.), a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India, and Africa. However, virtually all of the commercial cotton grown today worldwide is grown from varieties of …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Piperaceae Order: Piperales Genus: Piper Betel Medical Plant — The Betel (Piper betle) is a spice whose leaves have medicinal properties. The plant is known by a series of different names in the regions in which it is consumed – among these are Vetrilai (Tamil), Vettila (Malayalam). The plant is evergreen and perennial, with glossy heart-shaped leaves …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Poaceae Order: Poales Genus: Hordeum Barley — Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is an annual cereal grain, which serves as a major animal feed crop, with smaller amounts used for malting and in health food. It is a member of the grass family Poaceae. In 2005, barley ranked fourth in quantity produced and in area of cultivation of cereal …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Asteraceae Order: Asterales Genus: Bellis Daisy: Bellis perennis — is the common name for many different members of the composite family, Compositae. The name originally referred to the English daisy, Bellis perennis, a Eurasian perennial seldom exceeding 15 cm (6 in) in height. Its flowers have yellow centers and white or rose outer petals. In the United …

Kingdom: Plantae Family: Polemoniaceae Order: Ericales Genus: Phlox Phlox Flower — Phlox (pronounced “flocks” and meaning ‘flame’ in Latin) is a genus of 67 species of annual or perennial flowering plants. Some species flower in early spring while others flower in summer into fall. Most species are native to temperate North America but a few species are also from northeastern …