List of domesticated plants explained

This is a list of plants that have been domesticated by humans. The list includes individual plant species identified by their common names as well as larger formal and informal botanical categories which include at least some domesticated individuals. Plants in this list are grouped by the original or primary purpose for which they were domesticated, and subsequently by botanical or culinary categories. Plants with more than one significant human use may be listed in multiple categories.

Plants are considered domesticated when their life cycle, behavior, or appearance has been significantly altered as a result of being under artificial selection by humans for multiple generations (see the main article on domestication for more information). Thousands of distinct plant species have been domesticated throughout human history. Not all modern domesticated plant varieties can be found growing in the wild; many are actually hybrids of two or more naturally occurring species and therefore have no wild counterpart.

Food and cooking

Fruit trees

See main article: List of fruits.

Pomes

See main article: Pome.

Citrus fruits

See main article: Citrus.

Nut trees

See main article: Nut (fruit).

Other

Numerous other trees have been domesticated for their fruits. There are more than 100 known domesticated plant species native to the Amazon alone.

Cereals

See main article: Cereal.

Pseudocereals

Legumes

See main article: Legume.

Sweet small-plant fruits

Aggregated drupelet "berries"

See main article: Rubus.

True berries

See main article: Ericaceae.

Other

Vegetables

See main article: List of vegetables.

Non-sweet small-plant fruits

Root vegetables

See main article: Root vegetable.

Herbs and spices

See main article: List of herbs and spices.

Oil-producing plants

See main article: List of vegetable oils and Vegetable oil.

Legumes grown principally for oil production:

Commodities

Plants grown principally as animal fodder or for soil enrichment:

Oil-producing plants (for fuel or lubrication):

Utility plants:

Psychoactive plants (for drugs or medicines):

Fiber plants (for textiles):

Medicinal plants

See main article: List of plants used in herbalism.

Ornamental plants

References

See also