Root Vegetables' List

Root vegetables are underground parts of vegetables that are edible, namely the roots of plants. Most of the entries in a root vegetables list include tubers, taproots and corms and bulbs though these differ in form and structure from each other and are categorized separately in Botany. Many root vegetables are nutritionally rich and some starchy varieties form important staples in many diets and communities across the world. Although the term root vegetable entails plants where the underground portions are used, their usage need not be limited to only the roots - many plants such as turnips and celery are utilized for their roots as well as their stalks and greens. Different geographical regions are suited for the growing of different vegetables, which make everyday veggies for one part of the world, exotics for others. Take a look at the list of vegetables below.

List of Root Vegetables

The following vegetables list is categorized as per the kind of root vegetable they signify - taproots, tuberous roots, tubers, bulbs, corms and rhizomes - for the purpose of ease, all of these are routinely included in any root vegetables list.

Taproots
These are plant roots that grow vertically downwards, typically tapering in shape, forming a central root from which other roots sprout laterally. Many root vegetables that fall under this category are storehouses of energy, or storage organs of the plant. As a result, these root vegetables are rich in nutrients. The following is a list of taproots:

• Bush carrots
• Beets
• Turnip
• Carrot
• Celery root, celeriac
• Rutabaga
• Parsnip
• Radish
• Parsley root
• Skirret
• Bush potato
• Burdock root

Tuberous Roots
These are also storage roots but differ from taproots mainly by being lateral roots that enlarge as a result of being modified to perform the function of storage. Many root tubers store nutrients during the periods when the plant is unable to grow, thus, enabling the plant to survive from a given year to the next. The following is a list of tuberous roots:

• Native ginger
• Yellow Lily yam
• Sweet potato
• Desert yam
• Prairie turnip
• Earthnut (pignut)
• Cassava
• Mauka

Tubers
Though not strictly roots, stem tubers are considered as a part of root vegetables list when they grow underground and typically shoots will sprout from the top of the stem tuber, while roots will grow from the bottom - most stem tubers grow close to the soil surface. The most common example of stem tubers is potatoes - an inevitable part of any starchy vegetables list. The following are some examples of tubers:

• Potato
• Hog potato
• Yams
• Jerusalem artichoke
• Tigernut
• Daylily
• Earthnut pea
• New Zealand yam
• Ulluco

Rhizomes
Rhizomes as well, are stems rather than true roots, often found as a mass of roots that grow horizontally under the ground. Rhizomes are the main stems of a plant, and can give rise to shoots as well as roots, though all rhizomes do not grow underground. The following are some root vegetables which are rhizomes:

• Ginseng
• Arrowroot
• Ginger
• Vanilla lily
• Canna

Corms and Bulbs
Corms are again underground plant stems, similar in physical appearance to bulbs - however bulbs are commonly made up of layers of fleshy scales which are modified leaves; the most common example of a bulb is an onion. Corms are short, vertical stems that grow underground, and are made up of solid tissue. The following is a list of corms and bulbs.

• Waterlily
• Arrowhead
• Malanga
• Konjac
• Onion
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Bush Onion
• Fennel

As geographical patterns, soil and climatic conditions differ over the world, eating habits and cuisines mirror the differences in the vegetables, spices and cooking styles that are unique to a given region. The Asian continent is home to some of the world's most favored cuisines - Indian, Chinese and South east Asian, to name but a few. The vegetables that these cuisines commonly make use of, differ as well.

• Black cumin seeds
• Lotus Root
• Turmeric
• Chinese artichoke
• Daikon (East Asian radish)
• Chinese water chestnut
• Galangal

Root vegetables are typically high in nutritional value, as a result of their function of energy storage in a plant. Many form staples as a result of their high starch and carbohydrate content - such as potatoes, used for many years as the cereal component among colder countries where climatic conditions limit the growth of other cereals like rice, corn and wheat. Do remember to wash these vegetables well before you use them, as many of them may have soil and earth clinging to them, and a good scrubbing might be in order, to rid you of these elements. A root vegetables list encompasses a whole host of vegetables that will no doubt benefit you if added to your diet.