Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Karen Also called sweet chestnut, Spanish chestnut, and European chestnut, this deciduous tree is native to mountainous woods in southern Europe and Asia Minor and is a member of the beech…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Schiedam Schnapps
Karen Meyers Wikipedia tell us that schnapps is “a type of alcoholic beverage that may take several forms, including distilled fruit brandies, herbal liqueurs, infusions and ‘flavored liqueurs’ made by adding fruit…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Aegean Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)
Native to Greece, this perennial subshrub is often grown as an annual or biennial It is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, alyssum, and common…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Common Stock (Matthiola incana aka Cheiranthus incanus)
This tender annual is native to coastal areas of southern Europe, from the Balearics to former Yugoslavia, and is a member of the mustard family, Cruciferae, that also includes turnip,…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Almond (Prunus amygdalus aka Amygdalus communis)
The almond is a deciduous tree belonging to the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes plums, cherries, nectarines apricots, and peaches and is most closely related to peaches. Almond is…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
Carob tree, also called St. John’s-bread and locust bean, is an evergreen tree and member of the pea family (Fabaceae) that also includes beans, lupines, and mimosa . It is…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Chickpea (Cicer arientinum)
Also known as carbanzo bean, chickpea is an annual in the legume family, Fabaceae, that also include lupine, acacia, and scotch broom. It was domesticated about 7500 years ago and…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Filbert (Corylus avellana)
Also called common hazel, this deciduous suckering shrub is a member of the birch family, Betulaceae, that also includes alder and hornbeam. It is native to most of Europe, north…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Persian Walnut (Juglans regia)
Also called English walnut, this deciduous tree belongs to the Juglandaceae plant family that also includes pecan and hickory. It probably originated in Iran but was spread in pre-historic times…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
Also known as common poppy, field poppy, and Flanders poppy, this annual wildflower is native from Africa to temperate and tropical Asia and Europe, and is a member of the…