Econ Botany Exam 2

What are most essential oils?

terpenoids

What are limonene and menthol characterized as?

terpenes

What do most essential oils have?

anti-microbial properties

What are spices?

strongly flavored parts of plant, roots, bark, seeds, fruits or buds

King Nero of the Roman Empire did what for Poppaeae

A years supply of cinnamon burned at her funeral

When Rome fell in 476 A.D. what happened?

spice trade disappeared

Marco Polo was a traveler from Venice and went to what other areas? (in 1271)

Asia, India

Who created one of the first schools of navigation in 1418?

Prince Henry of Portugal

Who persuaded to get Columbus exploring far east trade with spices?

Spain

Who found the spice islands and traveled “around the world”?

Magellan

What are some of the native species to the spice islands?

nutmeg, mace, cloves

Who ruled over the spice island and were very ruthless?

Dutch

What were some of the things the Dutch did to the SPice Islands?

Uprooted 75% of spice trees to create scarcity, destroyed clove plantations, ~60,000 natives killed

The oldest known clove tree “Afo” at 350-400 years old is on what island?

Ternate in Indonesia

When did the Brits & French get involved in the spice wars?

18th century

When did USA begin spice trade?

18th-19th century

Cinnamon is from what region(s)?

Asia

What is Cinnamon’s family name?

Luaraceae

Cinnamomum zeylanicum is native to India and Sri Lanka and what part of the plant is used to make cinnamon?

Inner quill

Cinnamomum cassia is native to Southeast Asia and what part of the plant is used to make cinnamon?

Entire bark

Black Pepper is from what region(s)?

India & East Indies

What family is black pepper in?

Piperaceae

Pepper is from the plant Piper nigrum, a climbing vine, but what part of the plant does the spice come from?

Dried berries

What type of climate does the pepper plant like?

hot wet climate

For pepper, what color berry comes from the incomplete ripening and drying?

black

For pepper, what color berry comes from only the incomplete ripening?

green

For pepper, what color berry comes from the removal of the hull?

white

For pepper, what color berry comes from the fully ripened?

red

Cloves are from what region(s)?

Spice Islands

What is the family name for cloves?

Myrtaceae

What is the genus species for cloves?

Eugenia caryophyllata

What part of the plant is the clove “nails” from?

dried flower buds

What are some things cloves have been used for?

sweeten breath, ceremonial boxes, cigarettes (“kreteks”)

Nutmeg is from what region(s)?

Spice Islands

Mace is from what region(s)?

Spice Islands

What is the family of Nutmeg?

Myristicaceae

What is the family of Mace?

Myristicaceae

What part of the plant does mace come from?

netlike red aril wrapped around the seed

What part of the plant does nutmeg come from?

shelled seed

The Myristica fragrans is the source of two spices that are also what?

Hallucinogenic

What was the Yankee scam in the 19th century?

fake wooden nutmeg

Ginger is from what region(s)?

Tropical Asia

What is the family name for ginger?

Zingerberaceae

What is the genus species of ginger?

Zingiber officinale

What type of modification is ginger?

rhizome

Turmeric is from what region(s)?

Asia

What family is turmeric in?

Zingerberaceae

Turmeric comes from what part of the plant?

dried rhizome

What is turmeric’s genus species?

Curcuma longa

What spice was found to have anti-cancer properties? (curcuminoids)

turmeric

Saffron is from what region(s)?

Eastern Mediterranean

What family is saffron in?

Iridaceae

What part of the plant is saffron from?

stigmas

What is the most expensive spice?

Saffron

What are all of the Asian spices?

Saffron, turmeric, ginger, nutmeg, mace, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon

What is the chemical in spicy pepper that give a burning sensation?

Capsaicin

What family are the Capsicum spp. from?

Solanaceae

What is the species for bell and cayenne peppers?

annum

What is the species for tabasco pepper?

frutescens

What is the species for habanero pepper?

chinense

What is the species for “Aji” peppers?

baccatum

High vitamin C was first isolated from what pepper?

paprika

The Capsicum spp. are from what region(s)?

New World

Vanilla is from what region(s)?

Central America and Mexico

What family is vanilla from?

Orchidaceae

What are the vanilla “beans”?

elongated capsules

What part of the plant is vanilla from?

fruit

Why were Tonka Beans no longer allowed as imitation vanillin?

blood thinner

How is vanilla now mostly made?

genetically engineering

Sassafras is from what region(s)?

New World

Sassafras is from what family?

Lauraceae

Why is safrole oil from Sassafras banned?

cancer causing

What are Herbs?

usually leaves of herbaceous plants

Where are most Herbs native to?

Europe & Mediterranean

What is the mint family?

Lamiaceae

What are some herbs in the Lamiaceae family?

thyme, mint, basil, oregano, sage

What are most herb compounds derivatives of?

caffeic acids, flavanoids

What are some herbs in the Apiaceae family?

parsley, dill, caraway, fennel, coriander

What is the parsley family?

Apiaceae

What is the mustard family?

Brassicaceae

Where is the parsley family and mustard family native to?

Europe

Where in the plant does horseradish come from?

taproots

What are the genus species of horseradish?

Armorica rusticana

What is in horseradish that produces a volatile oil? (spicy)

Glucosinolates

What is the genus species for wasabi?

Wasabia japonica

What part of the plant does wasabi come from?

rhizome

What is the onion family?

Alliaceae

What are some plants in family Alliaceae?

Allium sativum (garlic), Allium cepa (onion), Allium schoenoprasum (chives)

Stevioside (Stevia) is how many times sweeter than sucrose?

300x

What protein in miracle fruit acts as a base that reduces acid and sour tastes?

Miraculin

The secondary metabolite, caffeine, falls under what category?

Alkaloid

What drink, aside from energy drinks, has the most caffeine per 12-ounce serving?

Mountain Dew

What are some medical problems caused by caffeine?

withdrawal, masks effect of alcohol, toxicity

What are some medical benefits to drinking a moderate amount of caffeine? (400mg/day)

prevent headaches, suppress appetite, lower incidence of Parkinson’s, lower risk of type 2 diabetes, antioxidant

What was coffee first used as?

food source

What is the story behind the discovery of coffee?

goat herder in Ethiopia observed stimulated goats and tried it himself

Where does coffee originate?

Ethiopia

What is the genus species for coffee?

Coffea arabica

What family is coffee in?

Rubiaceae

Where was the first coffee house built and what was it used for?

Boston, social and political discussions