Botanical Classification of Vegetables

Note that this table includes only monocots and dicots. Some vegetables like mushrooms are fungus and do not fit into either category. Use the following list as a reference as we proceed through the course.

I. Monocotyledoneae

Alliaceae - Amaryllis Family

Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum	Leek
Allium cepa var. aggregatum	Shallot, multiplier onion
Allium cepa var. cepa	Onion
Allium cepa var. proliferum	Egyptian onion
Allium fistulosum	Welsh onion, Japanese bunching onion
Allium sativum var. sativum	Garlic
Allium schoenoprasum	Chive

Dioscoreaceae - Yam Family

Dioscorea alata	White yam
Dioscorea batatas	Chinese yam

Poaceae (old name Gramineae) - Grass Family

Zea mays var. indentata	Dent corn
Zea mays var. indurata	Flint corn
Zea mays var. everta	Popcorn
Zea mays var. saccharata	Sweet corn

Liliaceae - Lily Family

Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus

II. Dicotyledoneae (Most vegetables fall into this category.)

Chenopodiaceae - Goosefoot Family

Atriplex hortensis	Orach
Beta vulgaris var. cicla	Chard
Beta vulgaris var. crassa	Beet
Spinacia oleracea	Spinach

Asteraceae (Compositae outdated name) - Sunflower Family

Artemisia dracunculus	Tarragon
Cichorium endiva	Endive, escarole
Cichorium intybus	Chicory, radicchio
Cynara cardunculus	Cardoon
Cynara scolymus	Globe artichoke
Helianthus tuberosus	Jerusalem artichoke
Lactuca sativa	Lettuce
Taraxacum officinalis	Dandelion
Tragopogon porrifolius	Salsify

Convolvulaceae - Morning-glory Family

Ipomoea aquatica	Water spinach
Ipomoea batatas	Sweet potato

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae outdated name) - Mustard Family

Armoracia rusticana	Horseradish
Brassica hirta	White mustard
Brassica juncea	Leaf mustard
Brassica napus var. napobrassica	Rutabaga
Brassica napus var. pabularia	Siberian kale
Brassica nigra var. pabularia	Black mustard
Brassica oleracea (Acephala group)	Kale, collard
Brassica oleracea (Albogiabra group)	Chinese kale
Brassica oleracea (Botrytis group)	Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea (Capitata group)	Cabbage
Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera group)	Brussels sprouts
Brassica oleracea (Gongylodes group)	Kohlrabi
Brassica oleracea (Italica group)	Broccoli
Brassica oleracea (Tronchuda group)	Tronchuda cabbage
Brassica rapa var. chinensis	Chinese cabbage (leafy), pak-choi
Brassica rapa var. pekinensis	Chinese cabbage (heading), pe-tsai
Brassica rapa var. perviridis	Spinach mustard
Brassica rapa var. rapifera	Turnip
Brassica rapa var. ruvo	Broccoli raab
Lepidium sativum	Garden cress
Nasturtium officinale	Watercress
Raphanus sativus	Radish

Cucurbitaceae - Gourd Family

Citrullus lanatus	Watermelon
Cucumis melo (Inodorus group)	Honeydew melon, casaba
Cucumis melo (Cantaloupesis group)	Cantaloupe
Cucumis sativus	Cucumber
Cucurbita maxima	Winter squash, pumpkin, turban squash
Cucurbita argyrosperma	Cushaw squash, pumpkin
Cucurbita moschata	Butternut squash, pumpkin
Cucurbica pepo	Pumpkin, acorn squash, marrow
Cucurbita pepo	Bush summer squash, pumpkin
Luffa aegyptiaca	Sponge gourd
Momordica charantia	Bitter melon
Sechium edule	Chayote

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge Family

Manihot esculenta

Cassava, yuca

Fabaceae (Leguminosae old name) - Pea or Bean Family

Cicer arietinum	Garbanzo bean
Glycine max	Soybean
Phaseolus coccineus	Scarlet runner bean
Phaseolus lunatus	Lima bean
Phaseolus lunatus	Sieva bean (butter bean)
Phaseolus vulgaris	Snap bean (green, dry)
Phaseolus vulgaris	Bush snap bean (kidney bean)
Pisum sativum	Garden pea
Pisum sativum	Field pea
Pisum sativum	Edible-podded pea
Vicia faba	Fava bean (broad bean)
Vigna mungo	Black bean
Vigna radiata	Mung bean
Vigna sinensis	Cowpea
Vigna sesquipedalis	Asparagus bean (yard-long bean)
Vigna unguiculata	Black-eyed pea

Malvaceae - Mallow or Cotton Family

Abelmoschus esculentus

Okra

Polygonaceae - Buckwheat Family

Rheum rhabarbarum	Rhubarb
Rumex acetosa	Sorrel
Rumex patientia	Dock

Solanaceae - Potato or Nightshade Family

Capsicum annuum	Pepper (bell, cayenne chili, red)
Capsicum frutescens	Pepper (tabasco)
Solanum lycopersicum	Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum	Cherry tomato
Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium	Currant tomato
Physalis pruinosa	Husk tomato
Solanum melongena	Eggplant
Solanum tuberosum	Irish Potato

Tetragoniaceae - Carpetweed Family

Tetragonia tetragoniodes

New Zealand spinach

Apiaceae - Parsley Family

Anthriscus cerefolium	Chervil
Apium graveolens	Celery
Apium graveolens var. rapaceum	Celeriac
Daucus carota	Carrot
Foeniculum vulgare	Fennel
Pastinaca sativa	Parsnip
Petroselinum crispum	Parsley
Petroselinum crispum	Turnip-rooted parsley

Valerianaceae - Valerian Family

Valerianella locusta

Corn salad