A plant, Musa textilis, of the banana family that is valuable for its hard fiber (also known as Manila hemp). Abaca (Musa textilis) is a flowering plant native to the Philippines and Borneo. Taxonomically, it is assigned to the order Zingiberales. Abaca is one of the strongest of the hard fibers. Commercially, it is known as Manila hemp. The fiber is obtained from the leafstalks of M. textilis, which is a member of the banana family. The plant (see illustration) resembles the fruiting banana plant, but it is a bit shorter in stature, bears small inedible fruits, and has leaves that stand more erect than those of the banana. Abaca leaves are also slightly narrower, more pointed, and about 1.5–2 m (4.9–6.6 ft) in length. Relatives of abaca grow wild throughout Southeast Asia, but the plant was domesticated long ago in the southern Philippines. Plants that can yield fiber are grown in a few other parts of the world, chiefly Central America and Ecuador. Most commercial production comes from the Philippines and Ecuador. See also: Banana; Fiber crops; Natural fiber; Zingiberales

The pure and applied science that is concerned with botany and management of crop and ornamental plants for utilization by humankind. As it relates to plants, agricultural science concerns itself with the application of scientific methods to agriculture (Fig. 1), including the cultivation of land and the farming of crops. Crop plants include those grown and used directly for food, feed, or fiber, such as cereal grains, soybeans, citrus, and cotton; those converted biologically to products of utility, such as forage plants, hops, and mulberry; and those used for medicinal or special products, such as digitalis, opium poppy, coffee, and cinnamon. In addition, many plant products, including crambe oil and rubber, are used in industry, especially in cases where synthetic products have not been satisfactory. Ornamental plants are cultured for their aesthetic value. See also: Agricultural engineering; Agricultural soil and crop practices; Agriculture; Agroecosystem; Agronomy; Farm crops; Floriculture; Horticultural crops; Ornamental plants

The world's most valuable forage legume, Medicago sativa, also known as lucerne, and less often as purple medic, medica, snail clover, median herb, Burgundy hay or clover, and Chilean clover. Alfalfa is often referred to as the queen of forages. It is produced worldwide on more than 32,000,000 hectares (79,000,000 acres). The United States, Argentina, Canada, Russia, Italy, and China are the world's major producers of alfalfa. The chief producing areas in the United States include California, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. See also: Fabales; Forage crops; Legume; Legume forages

A small, tropical, evergreen tree (Pimenta dioica) and its dried, unripe fruit (berry). Allspice (Pimenta dioica; alternatively, P. officinalis) [see illustration] is a member of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Allspice, which is also known as Jamaica pepper, is a native of the West Indies and parts of Central America and South America. The plant is cultivated primarily for its dried, unripe fruits (berries). When the allspice fruits are dried, they resemble peppercorns and are used for the spicing or flavoring of foods. Allspice is so named because its flavor resembles that of a combination of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In particular, the spice, alone or in mixtures, is used frequently as a flavor in sausages, pickles, sauces, and soups. In addition, an oil can be extracted from the leaves and fruits of allspice. This essential oil, which is called allspice oil, pimenta oil, or pimento oil, is used in flavoring, medicines, and perfumery. It is yellow to brown in color and has a spicy aroma and pungent taste. Its main components are eugenol and various terpenes. See also: Essential oil; Myrtales; Spice and flavoring

Prunus dulcis (also known as Prunus amygdalus or Amygdalus communis), a small deciduous tree of the order Rosales that is closely related to the peach and other stone fruit trees, and grown widely for its ellipsoidal edible seeds. The fruit of the almond (Fig. 1), classified botanically as a drupe, is analogous to that of the peach, except that the outer fleshy (mesocarp) layer does not enlarge in size during the latter part of the fruit growth curve. Instead, it splits (dehisces) as it nears maturity, separates from the shell (endocarp), and then dries. The nut with the kernel, or seed, within is then released (Fig. 2). See also: Fruit; Fruit, tree; Nut crop culture; Peach; Rosales

An annual plant (seldom perennial) of the genus Amaranthus (family Amaranthaceae) that is distributed worldwide in warm and humid regions. Amaranth plants are botanically distinguished by their small chaffy flowers (see illustration), which are arranged in dense, green or red, monoecious or dioecious inflorescences (spikes), with zero to five perianth segments and two or three styles and stigmata, and by their dry membranous, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit. See also: Caryophyllales; Flower; Fruit; Inflorescence; Plant organs

An annual herb, Pimpinella anisum (family Apiaceae), whose fruit is used to provide food flavoring and to make a distilled oil. Anise is one of the earliest aromatics mentioned in literature. The anise plant (see illustration) is an annual herb that grows to a height of approximately 0.6 m (2 ft) and is a native of the Mediterranean region. It is cultivated extensively in Europe, Asia Minor, India, and parts of South America. The small fruits are used for flavoring cakes, curries, pastries, and candy. The distilled oil is used in medicines, soaps, perfumery, and cosmetics. See also: Apiales; Essential oils; Spice and flavoring

A deciduous tree (genus Malus) in the order Rosales, which produces an edible, simple, fleshy, pome-type fruit. Apples (Fig. 1) belong to the family Rosaceae, which includes many other deciduous fruits, including pears, peaches, and cherries. There are approximately 30 Malus species in the North Temperate Zone. The fruits of most species are edible. Although selections of the Asiatic species M. prunifolia have been cultivated for their fruits for centuries in China and Japan, they have now been largely replaced by varieties of the “European” cultivated apple (M. pumila; also known as M. domestica). See also: Fruit; Fruit, tree; Horticultural crops; Rosales

A deciduous tree, Prunus armeniaca, in the order Rosales that produces a simple fleshy stone fruit. The apricot is thought to be native to China; then it was distributed throughout Asia and Europe, and eventually North America, South America, and Oceania. The species is genetically diverse and can grow in a wide range of climates, depending on the cultivar. Such diversity occurs in North America, where apricots are produced near Penticton, British Columbia, Canada; in northern New York; as far south as southern California; and even near Puebla, Mexico. Most commercial production in the world is limited to areas where temperatures do not fall below −10^oF to −20°F (−23°C to −29°C) for extended periods; however, certain cultivars can tolerate even severer conditions. Many apricot cultivars can tolerate high summer temperatures in excess of 105°F (40.5°C). Some cultivars develop an internal browning of the flesh if high temperatures persist with fruit on trees. Apricots tend to bloom earlier than other stone fruits and are sensitive to frost. Frost-free areas are generally preferred. See also: Fruit; Fruit, tree; Rosales

Cynara scolymus (alternatively Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus), a herbaceous perennial plant, in the family Compositae (order Asterales), whose flower head is edible. The artichoke, also called the globe artichoke, has its origin in the Mediterranean region. It requires a mild winter and cool summer with fog and little bright sunshine. It is eaten as a delicacy in Europe, Africa, North America and South America. Artichoke is also a medicinal plant; it is rich in cynarin and orthophenol constituents. Italy, Spain, Peru, Argentina, France and the United States (especially California) are the major producers of artichokes. See also: Asterales; Horticultural crops