List of edible seeds

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An edible seed[n 1] is a seed that is suitable for human consumption. Of the six major plant parts,[n 2] seeds are the dominant source of human calories and protein.[1] A wide variety of plant species provide edible seeds; most are angiosperms, while a few are gymnosperms. As a global food source, the most important edible seeds by weight are cereals, followed by legumes, nuts,[2] and spices.

Cereals are edible seeds that are used to create many different food products.

Grain crops (cereals and millets) and legumes correspond with the botanical families Poaceae and Fabaceae, respectively, while nuts, pseudocereals, and other seeds form polyphylic groups based on their culinary roles.

Grains

Grains are the edible seed of a plants in the grass family Poaceae. Grains come in two varieties: the larger grains produced by drought-sensitive crops are called cereals and the smaller drought-resistant varieties are millets. Grains can be consumed in a variety of ways, all of which require husking and cooking, including whole, rolled, puffed, or ground into flour. Many cereals are present or past staple foods, providing a large fraction of the calories in the places in which they are eaten. Today, cereals provide almost half of all calories consumed in the world.[3]

More information Cereals, Family ...
Cereals
Family Tribe Genus Species Seed name(s) Photo
Poaceae Andropogoneae Sorghum S. bicolor sorghum
Zea Z. mays maize, corn, corn kernel
Eragrostideae Eleusine E. coracana finger millet
Eragrostis E. tef teff
Oryzeae Oryza O. sativa Asian rice
O. glaberrima African rice
Zizania wild rice
Paniceae Digitaria D. iburua black fonio
D. exilis white fonio
Panicum P. miliaceum proso millet
P. sumatrense little millet
Pennisetum P. glaucum pearl millet
Setaria S. italica foxtail millet
Poeae Avena A. sativa oat, oat groat
Triticeae Hordeum H. vulgare barley, barley groat
Secale S. cereale rye, rye berry
× Triticosecale triticale
Triticum T. aestivum wheat, wheat berry
T. durum durum, durum wheat
T. monococcum einkorn
T. spelta spelt, spelt wheat
T. turanicum kamut
T. turgidum emmer
Thinopyrum T. intermedium Kernza
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Other grasses with edible seeds include:

Pseudocereals

A pseudocereal, or pseudocereal grain, is the edible seed of a pseudocereal, one of a polyphyletic group of plants that produce seeds that resemble those of cereals. Pseudocereals are used in many of the same ways as cereals.

More information Pseudocereals, Family ...
Pseudocereals
Family Genus Species Seed name(s) Photo
Amaranthaceae Amaranthus amaranth, amaranth grain
Chenopodium C. berlandieri pitseed goosefoot
C. pallidicaule kañiwa
C. quinoa quinoa
Capparaceae Boscia B. senegalensis hanza
Lamiaceae Salvia S. hispanica chia, chia seed
Linaceae Linum L. usitatissimum flax, flaxseed, linseed
Moraceae Brosimum B. alicastrum breadnut
Pedaliaceae Sesamum S. indicum sesame, sesame seed
Polygonaceae Fagopyrum F. esculentum buckwheat, buckwheat groat
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Legumes

See also: Category:Edible legumes

A legume, or pulse, is the edible seed of a legume, a plant in the family Fabaceae.[4] Legumes can be divided into grams, which do not split, and dals, which split.

More information Legumes, Family ...
Legumes
Family Tribe Genus Species Seed name(s) Photo
Fabaceae Dalbergieae Arachis A. hypogaea peanut (groundnut)
Cicereae Cicer C. arietinum chickpea, garbanzo bean, gram
Fabeae Pisum P. sativum pea[n 3]
Millettieae Pongamia P. pinnata Indian beechnut
Phaseoleae Cajanus C. cajan pigeon pea
Glycine G. max soybean
Phaseolus P. coccineus runner bean
P. lunatus lima bean
P. vulgaris common bean[n 4]
Vigna V.aconitifolia moth bean
V. angularis adzuki bean
V. mungo black gram
V. radiata mung bean, green gram
V. subterranea Bambara groundnut
V. unguiculata cowpea
Vicieae Lens L. culinaris lentil
Vicia V. faba fava bean, broad bean
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Seeds of Atriplex nummularia, Australia

Although some beans can be consumed raw, some need to be heated before consumption. In certain cultures, beans that require heating are initially prepared as a seed cake. Beans that need heating include:[5]

Nuts

See also: Nut (food) and List of edible nuts
Brazil nuts
Roasted and salted cashew nuts
Roasted pistachio
A whole walnut kernel

According to the botanical definition, nuts are a particular kind of fruit.[6] Chestnuts, hazelnuts, and acorns are examples of nuts under this definition. In culinary terms, however, the term is used more broadly to include fruits that are not botanically qualified as nuts, but that have a similar appearance and culinary role. Examples of culinary nuts include almonds and cashews.[7][8]

Nut-like gymnosperm seeds

Pine nuts

Edible gymnosperm seeds that resembles nuts include:

Other

Pomegranate has edible seeds.

Other edible seeds that do not neatly fit into the above categories include:

See also

Footnotes

  1. [1]
    Variously referred to as a bean, berry, grain, groat, kernel, nut, or pulse, among other names, depending on the plant from which it derives.
  2. [2]
    Seed, root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit.
  3. [3]
    Cultivars include the snap pea and snow pea (both fruits).
  4. [4]
    Cultivars include the black bean, green bean (fruit), kidney bean, navy bean, and pinto bean.

References

Further reading

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