Plant Domestication Histories
Sago Palm - Metroxylon sagu Rottboell
The sago palm, with its large capacity of harvestable starch, may have been domesticated in Papua New Guinea at least 1700 years ago
Avocado (Persea americana)
The lovely alligator pear is native to Central America.
Banana (Musa spp)
Bananas were among the earliest domesticated crops in the world.
Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Recent evidence suggests that barley (Hordeum vulgare) was domesticated at least twice, once in the Fertile Crescent, and once in central Asia at least 1500-3000 kilometers to the east.
Broomcorn Millet (Panicum miliaceum)
Broomcorn or broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), also known as proso millet, panic millet, and and wild millet, is today primarily considered a weed suitable for bird seed; but it was one of the earliest domesticated crops in China and the world
Cassava or Manioc (Manihot esculenta)
Cassava (Manihot esculenta), also known as manioc, tapioca, yuca and mandioca, is a domesticated species of tuber, originally domesticated perhaps as long ago as 8,000-10,000 years ago
Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)
Chickpeas were domesticated about 11,000 years ago in what is now Turkey; but the changes instilled by Neolithic people are unlike most other domesticates.
Coca (Erythroxylum spp)
The earliest use of coca, from whence natural cocaine comes, is in South America, approximately 8,000 years ago.
Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
An illustrated history of the coconut, its origins and domestication, and its dispersal throughout the world
Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L)
Beans are an American domesticate, and they are tasty and very very good for you, even if they have a dark history.
Fig (Ficus carica)
Archaeological investigations have identified parthenocarpic fig fruits in six sites in the greater Mediterranean Sea region dated between 11,700 and 10,500 years ago, leading researchers to believe this is the earliest known indication of fig domestication in the world.
Cotton (Gossypium spp)
Cotton was first domesticated in the Old World, and independently domesticated in the New World.
Maize (Zea mays)
Maize has an enormous modern-day economic usefulness, not to mention a curious domestication history.
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a domesticate crop best known as a forage, but it was domesticated first as a food crop in west Africa at least 4500 years ago.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
The humble potato was first domesticated in the Andes mountains.
Rice (Oryza species)
When and where was rice first domesticated? Findings suggest it was first cultivated in Asia, before about 10,000 bp.
Saffron (Crocus sativus)
The spice saffron has been used for its aroma and flavor and vivid yellow pigment for some four thousand years, and is most famous for being ludicrously expensive.
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)
The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) was first domesticated in South or Central America, and from there spread around the world.