The possibilities are really very varied, and there are vegetables for all tastes.
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The 10 types of vegetables that exist to eat
Strictly, the term refers to vegetables in which the green color predominates, although the use of this word is frequently extended. In many other cases, the word vegetable is used as a synonym for edible vegetable.
The different types of vegetables that exist to eat can be classified in many ways . One of them is precisely from the part of the plant that is edible for man, which is the one that is exposed below in this article.
1. Roots
Some of the most popular vegetables are plant roots . Of all of them, the best known is probably the carrot, but there are many vegetables that fall into this category.
In turnip, parsnip, mafafa and radish are other examples. It is a type of food that humans already consumed millions of years ago, although these roots were not as fleshy as the current ones. The human being made a significant artificial selection.
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2. Tuber
The tubers are very nutritious foods at a caloric level . They are the type of vegetables that contain the most carbohydrates on the list, and ensure a good energy intake for those who consume them.
They come from America, and until the arrival of European man on this continent the Western world did not know them. The potato stands out, which has become a widely consumed food worldwide, but also the sweet potato or yam.
3. Bulbs
There are many vegetables that represent the bulb of the plant . It is the area that goes from the root to the stem, and among them there are foods as popular as garlic and onion. Other representatives of this group are beets, fennel and kohlrabi.
This thickened plant structure represents a store of reserve substances for the plant. This represents a great opportunity for human nutrition, since it is a type of vegetable that contains valuable nutrients. However, above all it also contains phytochemical substances with many properties and benefits.
4. Stems
The stem is the part of the plant that supports the leaves, flowers, and fruits . There are many foods that represent this part of the plant, such as asparagus, leeks or celery. So are bamboo shoots or hearts of palm.
There are spices that at the botanical level would be parts of the stem of a plant. The reason is that they come from the bark of trees, as is the case with cinnamon, although they are not thought of as vegetables.
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5. Rhizomes
The rhizome represents a stem that develops underground , which is why it is commonly confused with a root. The rhizome of the plant contains different buds, which grow horizontally, emitting roots and shoots that emerge to the surface.
The best known rhizome in the world is ginger, but turmeric is also another plant whose rhizome is edible. Bamboo also has rhizomes, but these are not a consumable part of the plant.
6. Leaves
Leafy vegetables are among the most popular . In fact, they commonly comply with the most restrictive meaning of the term “vegetable”, which refers to vegetables with green as the predominant color.
There are many examples of this type of vegetable. Some of them are chard, arugula, escarole, spinach, lettuce or endive. In most salads you can find some vegetables belonging to this group.
7. Inflorescences
Inflorescences are vegetables consisting of flowers or sets of flowers . Flowers are usually conceived as parts of the plant with ornamental functions, but the truth is that there are some that are edible.
Well-known vegetables such as artichokes, broccoli or cauliflower belong to this group. Some of them are cruciferous vegetables, and they stand out for providing substances with many anti-cancer properties.
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8. Fruits
The fruit is another part of the plant that is widely consumed . Some of the most emblematic vegetables are fruits of a plant, such as courgette, pumpkin, aubergine, cucumber, pepper or tomato.
In fact, the tomato is a fruit, just like the avocado. However, fruits that contain high amounts of sugar are generally considered fruits. It is clear that the botanical classifications do not always correspond to the popular names.
9. Seeds
The seeds are parts of the plant that are also eaten on many occasions . Some of the most fashionable seeds for their properties and benefits are chia, flax and sesame, but there are many and of a different nature.
One of the most representative groups are those that make up the immature or green seeds. In this type of vegetables, broad beans, beans, soybeans or peas stand out.
10. Corms
The corm is the most unknown type of vegetable . At a botanical level, it is actually closely related to the stem, since it represents the part of the plant with the thickened underground stem.
This base has a significant diameter and contains nodes and bulges from which buds emerge. They are thus also related to the bulbs. The best known corm is the taro, which is also called malanga, papa balusa, yautía coco and ocumo chino.
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Bibliographic references
- Harlan, JR (1987). Cultivated plants and man. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
- Vainio, H. y Bianchini, F. (2003). Fruits And Vegetables. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
- Vasquez C. et al. 2005, Food and nutrition. Madrid: Diaz de Santos Editions.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.