Plants of Rome
The following plants are among those known to the ancient Romans (My goal is for these pages to contain - or at least include links to - all the information needed to create an authentic ancient Roman garden or farm - real or imaginary - in any part of the known world *G*. More links will be added as I organize my notes:-):
- Acacia, Egyptian (Acacia*) [Acacia arabica]
- Acanthus
- Adonis
- Alexanders [Smyrnium holusatrum L.] or [Smyrnium olusatrum L.]
- Alfalfa (lucerne) [Medicago sativa]
- Almond (Amygdala*) [Prunus dulcis, P.amygdalus ]
- Aloe* [Aloe vera]
- Althaea* [Althaea officinalis]
- Amaranth (Immortales)(Amarantus*) [Amaranthus hypochondriacus (LINN.)] [Celosia cristata, cockscomb; Amaranthus caudatus, amaranth]*
- Anemone
- Anise (Anesum*)[Pimpinella anisum L.]
- Anthyllis (barba-Jovis)
- Apiastrum
- Apple
- Arar (Thyine-wood) [Tetraclinis articulata]
- Apricot
- Ash (Bumelia)* [Fraxinus excelsior]*
- Aspalathus (Camel's thorn) [Alhaji camelorum Fisch.]
- Asparagus [Asparagus officinalis L]
- Azalea, common (Aegolethron*) [Rhodendron ponticum]
- Azaroles
- Balm (Apiastrum*) [Melissa officinalis]
- Balsam (cult.) [Commiphora opobalsamum Engl.]
- Bannana, or plantain-tree (Pala)* [Musa paradisiaca]*
- Barley
- Basil [Ocimum basilicum L.]
- Beans [Vicia faba L.]
- Beet (Beta)* [Beta vulgaris L]
- Bergamot-mint [Mentha aquatica L.]
- Betony (Cestros) [Betonica officinalis]
- Birch (Betulla)* [Betula alba]*
- Blackberry
- Black Cumin (gith, fitches) [Nigella sativa L.]
- Blite
- Box
- Brussels sprout
- Cabbage
- Cabbage, Savoy (Apiaca brassica*) [Brassica oleracea sabauda]
- Calamint [Calamintha incana Boiss.]
- Camphire (Henna-flower) [Lawsonia inermis]
- Caper (Capparis or cappari)* [Capparis spinosa]*
- Cardoon [Cynara cardunculus L.]
- Carob (Ceronia, Ceratia*) [Ceratonia siliqua
- Caraway (cult.) (Careum)* [Carum carui L.] [Carum carvi]*
- Carpesium (Pontic or Cretan nard) [Valeriana dioscoridis Sibth.]
- Carrot (Queen Anne's Lace) [Daucus carota L]
- Casia
- Castor-oil tree (Cici*) [Ricinus communis]
- Catmint (amer. Catnip) [Nepeta cataria L>]
- cedar
- celery (cult.) [Apium graveolensL.]
- Chamomile [Anthemis nobilis L.]
- Chamomile, wild (Anthemis*) [Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis chia]
- Cerintha
- Cherry (Cerasus*) [Prunus avium, sweet cherry; P. cerasus, sour cherry; P. mahaleb, mahaleb; P. padus, bog cherry]
- Chervil (cult.) [Anthriscus cerefolium]
- Chestnut (Balanitis)* {Castanea vesca]*
- Chibol (Fr. ciboule) [Allium fistulosum L.]
- Chickpea (Cicer*)[Cicer arietinum]*
- Chicory (Chichorium*) [Cichorium intybus or divaricatum]
- Chives [Allium schoenoprasum L.]
- Chrysanthemum (parthenium)
- Cicely [Myrrhis odorata Scop.]
- Cistus (Rock-rose) [Cistus Ladaniferus L.]
- Citron (Citrus)* [Citrus medica]*
- Convolvulus
- Coriander [Coriandrum sativum L.]
- Cornel tree
- Cornflower, blue (Cyanus)* [Centaurea cyanus]*
- Cotton [Gossypium herbaceum and G. arboreum]
- crab-apple
- Cress (cult.) (Cardamum)* [Lepidium sativum]*
- Crocus
- Cucumber
- Cumin (Cuminum)* [Cuminum cyminum L.]
- Cumin, wild [Lagoecia cuminoides]*
- Cunila
- Currant, black (Cynosbatos)* [Ribes nigrum]*
- Cyclamen (Cyclaminus)* [Cyclamen sp.]*
- Cynoglosum
- Cypress (Cypressus)* [Cyperus sempervirens]*
- Cypress (Galingale) [Cyperus longus L.]
- Damson (plum) [Prunus insititia L.]
- Dill (Anetum*)[Anethum graveolens L.]
- Dittany (Dictamnum)* [Amaracus dictamnus]*
- Elcampane [Inula helenium L.]
- Endive [Cichorium endivia]
- Fennel (cult.) [Foeniculum vulgare Mill.]
- Fenugreek (cult.) (Aegoceras*) [Trigonella foenum-graecum L.]
- Fig
- Flax [Linum usitatissimum]
- Gallic nard/Valerian
- Garlic (cult.) (Alium*) [Allium sativum L.]
- Gentian
- Germander
- Ginger [Zingiber officinale]
- Gourd
- Gourd, large (Cucurbita)* [Cucurbita maxima]* -- sometimes mis-translated as pumpkin, which may work in the recipes, but is actually a New World plant.
- Groundpine/pine
- Hazelnut (Abellana*) [Corylus avellana]
- Heliotrope
- Hemlock (Cicuta)* [Conium maculatum]*
- Hemp (Cannabis)* [Cannabis sativa]*
- Henna (Cypros)* [Lawsonia inermis]*
- Hesperis (Dame's violet)
- Holly
- Honeysuckle ( Clymenus)* [Lonicera etrusca and caprifolium]*
- Horehound, black (Ballote)* [Ballota nigra]*
- Houseleek (Amerimnon*) [Sempervivum tectorum]
- Hyacinth
- Hyssop [Origanum hirtum L.]
- Iris (cult) [Iris florentina L.]
- Iris (wild) [Iris pseudacorus L.]
- Ivy
- Jujube tree
- Juniper (Cedrys)* [Juniperus communis L.]
- Kale (Caulodes)* [Brassica oleracea acephala]*
- Larkspur
- Laurel(bay) [Laurus nobilis L.]
- Lavender [Lavandula stoechas L.]
- Lavender cotton (Chamaecyparissos)* [Santolina chamaecyparissus]
- Leek [Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum]
- Leek, wild (Ampeloprason)* [Allium ampeloprasum]*
- Lemon (malum medicum - the fruit or apple of the Medes) [Citrus limon B.]
- Lentils [Lens culinaris Medic.; also Lens esculenta Moench.]
- Lentisk (Mastic) [Pistachia lentiscus L.]
- Lettuce [Lactuca sativa L.]
- Lichen, Fragrant [Usnaea barbata L.]
- Lily
- Linseed
- Lotus, Indian (Cyamos)* [Nelumbo nucifera]*
- Lovage [Ligusticum levisticum L.]
- Lychnis
- Maidenhair (Adiatum)
- Mallow
- Mandragora
- Maple, Montpelier (Acer*) [Acer monspessulanum]
- Marjoram [Origanum majorana L.]
- Marjoram, sweet (Amaracus)* [Majorana hortensis]*
- Mastic tree
- Marum (?cat-thyme) [Teucrium marum L.]
- Medlar
- Melilot (Lotus) [Trigonella graeca Boiss.]
- Melissophyllum (balm)
- Melon
- Mint (cult) [Mentha viridis L.]
- Moss
- Mulberry
- Mustard [Brassica nigra Koch]
- Myrtle
- Nard, Celtic [Valeriana celtica L.]
- Nard, Mountain [Valeriana tuberosa L.]
- Nard, Wild [Asarum europaeum L.] or [Valeriana phu L.]
- Nard, Pontic [Valeriana dioscoridis Sibth.]
- Narcissus
- Nettle tree (Celthis)* [Celtis australis L.]
- Oats (Bromos)* [Avena sativa]*
- Oleander
- Olive [Olea europaea]
- Onion (Cepa*) [Allium Cepa]
- Orache
- Orage
- Palm (date)
- Parsnip
- Parsley [Carum petroselinum B. and H.f.]
- Partridge Plant
- Papyrus [Cyperus papyrus]
- Peach
- Pear
- Pellitory 'of Spain' (Spanish chamomile) [Anacyclus pyrethrum L.]
- Pennyroyal (Blechon)* [Mentha pulegium L.]
- Pepperwort
- Periwinkle
- Pimpernel (Anagallis* and Corchorum*) [Anagallis arvensis, incl. subsp. phoenicea and caerulea
- Pistachio [Pistacia vera]
- Plane tree
- Plum [Prunus domestica]
- Pomegranate
- Poppy [Papaver somniferum L.]
- Purslain
- Quince (Chrysomelum*) [Cydonia vulgaris]
- Radish [Raphanus sativus]
- Rape [Brassica napus]
- Raspberry
- Rice [Oryza sativa]
- Rocket [Eruca sativa Mill.]
- Rose
- Rose, dog (Cynorrhodon, cynorrhoda)* [rosa canina]*
- Rose, white (Cynosbatos)* [Rosa sempervirens]*
- Rosemary (libanotis/conyza) [Rosmarinus officinalis L.]
- Rosemary frankincense [Lecokia cretica DC.]
- Rue [Ruta graveolens L.]
- Saffron (Crocus, Dialeucon)* [Crocus sativus L.]
- Safflower (Bastard Saffron) (Cnecos)* [Carthamus tinctorius L.]
- Sage [Salvia officinalis L.]
- Salvia [Salvia triloba L.]
- Samphire (Rock-fennel) [Crithmum maritimum L.]
- Savory (wild) [Satureia thymbra L.]
- Sensitive plant (Aeschynomene*) [Mimosa asperata]
- Service tree (Sorbus) [Sorbus domestica]
- Sesame [Sesamum indicum L. ]
- Seseli (cult.) [Tordylium officinale L.]
- Shallot [Allium ascalonium L.]
- Silphium [Ferula tingitana L.]
- Smilax
- Snapdragon (Antirrhinum*) [Antirrhinum orontium]
- Sorrel
- Southernwood [Artemisia abrotanum L.]
- Spalax
- Squill
- Star of Bethlehem (Bulbine, or bolbine)* [Ornithogalum umbellatum*
- Strawberry
- Strawberry tree (Arbutus)* [Arbutus unedo]
- Styrax [Styrax officinalis L.]
- Sumach [Rhus coriaria L.]
- Summer beet
- Sweet rush
- Terebinth [Pistacia terebinthus L.]
- Thapsia
- Thyme [Thymus vulgaris L.]
- Tree medick (Cytisus)* [Medicago arborea]*
- Tuber apple
- Turnip [Brassica campestris]
- Turnip, French (Bunias)* [Brassica napus]*
- Vetch
- Vine
- Violet
- Walnut (Basilicon)* [Juglans regia]*
- Wheat, emmer (Ador, aroreum*) [Triticum dicoccum]
- Wormwood [Artemisia absinthium L.]
* term indexed, or other information listed in the index of the Loeb edition of Pliny's Natural History.