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 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 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

A dioecious perennial monocot (Asparagus officinalis) of Mediterranean origin belonging to the plant order Asparagales. Asparagus is grown for its young shoots or spears, which are canned, frozen, or cooked fresh as a vegetable. These aerial stems arise from rhizomes (underground stems). The rhizomes and the fleshy and fibrous roots constitute the massive underground part of the plant. See also: Asparagales

A tropical and subtropical evergreen tree, Persea americana, in the Lauraceae family (containing also the laurel of antiquity and the trees that yield commercial cinnamon and camphor), which bears a pulpy pear-shaped edible fruit. The avocado originated in Central America or adjoining regions of North or South America. It has now spread to much of the near-tropical world. See also: Fruit; Fruit, tree; Laurales

A large tropical plant of the genus Musa and its edible fruit. The banana belongs to the family Musaceae (order Zingiberales). The banana of commerce (Musa acuminata), which is believed to have originated in the Asian tropics, was one of the earliest cultivated fruits. The fruit occurs in hanging clusters (Fig. 1), is usually yellow when ripe, and is approximately 15–20 cm (6–8 in.) in length. For commercial production, the plant requires a tropical climate within the temperature range of 10–40°C (50–104°F) and a constant supply of moisture by rainfall or irrigation. Bananas are subject to injury by strong winds, which tear the leaves or blow down the plants. See also: Fruit; Fruit, tree; Horticultural crops; Irrigation (agriculture); Zingiberales

An important grass plant of the genus Hordeum that is cultivated as a grain crop and whose seed is used as a cereal and to manufacture malt beverages. Barley (Fig. 1) is grown in nearly all cultivated areas of the temperate parts of the world and is an important crop in Europe, North America, South America, North Africa, Australia and much of Asia. It is the most dependable cereal crop where drought, summer frost and alkali soils are encountered. Russia, Germany, Canada, France, Ukraine, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States are the major barley-producing countries. In the United States, the most important production areas for barley are North Dakota, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Minnesota. The principal uses of barley grain are as livestock feed, for the production of barley malt and as human food. It is also used in some areas for hay and silage. See also: Cereal; Farm crops; Grain crops; Grass crops

Any of several species of the genus Rubus (family Rosaceae) having fruit consisting of many drupelets attached to a common fleshy, elongated core (receptacle) that is removed with the fruit. Ripe blackberry fruit is usually black or dark purple in color (see illustration) and is often sweet and flavorful. The bushy plants have perennial roots, from which arise long, often thorny, biennial stems (canes) with compound leaves. Many species are native to temperate regions, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, to which they are best adapted. They are commonly found on the edges of forests, along streams and in clearings. Because of their thorns and prolific growth habit, blackberries are a nuisance in some areas. See also: Fruit; Rosales; Weeds

Any of several species of the genus Vaccinium, plant order Ericales, ranging from low-growing, almost prostrate plants to vigorous shrubs reaching a height of 12–15 ft (3.6–4.6 m). The fruit, a berry, is usually black or purplish blue and is covered with bluish bloom (Fig. 1). Blueberries generally occur in clusters. Each individual blueberry has numerous small seeds; this characteristic distinguishes the blueberry from the huckleberry, which has 10 rather large, gritty seeds. Although there are blueberry species on other continents, all cultivated varieties in the United States are American in origin. See also: Ericales; Fruit