A Scientific Look at Vegetables Quiz

Answer: Cucurbita Maxima

Pumpkins are a large variety of squash and besides being a staple during the Halloween season, are used in a wide variety of food products, especially pies. The seeds are often roasted and eat much as sunflower seeds are. Pumpkin is used worldwide with each country having their own specialty.

Answer: Cucumis Sativus

Cucumbers are a staple of many salads and often are eaten raw. Although I might not appreciate the final product, they are also used heavily everywhere to make a wide variety of pickles. While the cucumber originated in South Asia, it is now grown virtually everywhere.

Answer: Apium Graveolens

Earliest proof of celery reaches back to ancient Egypt. This wild variety was quite bitter and celery didn't become popular until botanists, using seed selection, were able to reduce the bitterness and increase the sugar content. Today, every bit of the celery plant serves a purpose and is utilized.

Answer: Daucus Carota

The tasty carrot, while native to Europe and southwestern Asia, is now grown throughout most corners of the world. Most of us are familiar with the brightly orange vegetable but it can come in a variety of other colors including white, yellow and red.

Answer: Pisum sativum

The pea is a versatile vegetable and can be used individually or with the pod intact. It is used in most national cuisines for a wide variety of styles. Of course, it was also important in determining, at one time, whether a young woman was a princess or not!

Answer: Raphanus Raphanistrum

The radish is not one of my choices of vegetables but it is popular for a lot of people. It was domesticated in Europe during the pre-Roman area and over time, many varieties and uses have been developed. An advantage of the radish is its' relatively short growing time and resistance to disease and pests.

Answer: Solanum Melongena

Despite being part of the Nightshade family, which is notorious for its poisonous members, the eggplant is not dangerous in the least! It is also known as aubergine. The eggplant originated in south and east Asia. For many vegetarians, eggplant is used as a substitute for meat.

Answer: Zea mays

Corn, also known as Maize, is native to Mexico and North America. It is one of the highest vegetables in total production worldwide. It not only feeds people and animals but has many other uses such ethanol. The United States is the largest producer of corn with over fifteen billion bushels per year.

Answer: Lactuca Sativa

It might be hard to believe but lettuce is actually a member of the daisy family. The ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate lettuce. Before that, lettuce was just considered a worthless weed. While it does grow well, it is rather easily troubled by disease and pests.

Answer: Brassica Oleracea

While cabbage is a head vegetable like lettuce, the two aren't related. Cabbage is actually related to broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower. More than seventy-one million tons of cabbage are produced each year and China leads by producing almost half of it.