This feature was first published in June 2024 in My Mensa Weekly, our exclusive newsletter for Mensa members. Find out more about becoming a Mensa member here.
Joanna Cummings
Plants are the unsung heroes of our day-to-day lives, from the mint that flavours our toothpaste to the caffeine kick of our much-needed morning coffees. They provide materials for our clothing, ingredients for our food and healing powers for our medicines while also purifying the air we breathe. The gardeners among you will no doubt have a lot of appreciation for this botanical treasure trove… but how many of us take humble yet mighty plants for granted? Let’s take a moment to appreciate 10 plants with numerous uses that make them vital to our diets, health, and economies – showing the deep reliance we have on plant biodiversity.
Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum)
The primary source of sugar – and, incidentally, the name of Marilyn Monroe’s character in Some Like it Hot – sugarcane is a tropical grass cultivated for its sweet juice. As well as being used to sweeten our meals and drinks, it can also be used as a biofuel alternative to gasoline.
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)
Palm oil, derived from the oil palm plant, is used widely in cooking, in foods such as ice cream and in many beauty products such as cleansers and lipsticks. It is also a form of biofuel. Sadly, the harvesting of palm oil has contributed significantly to deforestation, putting endangered species like the Sumatran rhino and the orangutan at risk of extinction. This threat is inspiring scientists to look for more sustainable alternatives.
Coffee (Coffea arabica)
For the perpetually tired, few plants will feel as essential as the coffee bean. Originating in the south-western highlands of Ethiopia, coffee made its way to Europe in the 1600s and is now imbibed the world over. Harvesting is time-consuming and labour-intensive, involving the picking of the small round fruits that contain the beans.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Can you imagine your Friday-night curry without a hearty dose of turmeric? This flavoursome spice helps to give this takeaway favourite its flavour and its yellowish colour, thanks to the curcumin chemical it contains. Curcumin is also an antioxidant and has been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for some time; in recent years it has made its way into UK health food stores as a way of treating inflammation in conditions such as arthritis.
Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
The source of chocolate, and thus, a fundamental part of our traditions, from Valentine’s Day gifts to Christmas tree treats! The cacao tree is indigenous to the Americas and was first domesticated by the Maya civilisation, whose nobility enjoyed it brewed with chillies – in fact, its official name is Latin for ‘food of the gods’. It is very bitter by nature, but sugar began to be added to it in the 16th century, giving it the addictive taste we’re familiar with today.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Perfect for pizzas, hated by vampires, garlic is sometimes called the “stinking rose” because of its pungent aroma. Its strong flavour is released when its cells are damaged through crushing or chopping and can act as a deterrent for pests. It is also used for its antimicrobial and antiviral properties – if your grandmother didn’t tell you to swallow a clove to fight off colds and flu, consider yourself lucky.
Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
It’s almost hard to believe that latex is of natural origin, but it comes from the rubber tree, found in various tropical regions. Incisions are made across the tree’s vessels so that the latex can be collected, an undertaking that limits the tree’s growth over time. Used in various industries, from automotive to healthcare, rubber is valued for its elasticity and durability – and it is crucial for economies in Southeast Asia, where it is chiefly grown.
Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)
Mushrooms form the bodies of fungi and are in the same family as yeasts and mould. They might be widely used in food and medicine but accurate identification is essential as many species can be deadly. Intriguingly, fashion designer Stella McCartney has recently used mycelium (the mushroom’s root structure) to create an eco-friendly alternative to leather and other fabrics. Innovation at its best!
Hop plant (Humulus lupulus)
The hop plant’s flowers are known as hops, famous for their role in the production of beer. When first imported to Britain in the Middle Ages, hopped beer was described as a “bitter and pernicious weed”. Hops are also used in herbal medicine for their calming effects in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety, and research is being conducted into their possible uses in hormone replacement therapy.
Bamboo (Bambusoideae)
If you’ve seen a photograph of a giant panda, you’ll have seen bamboo. As well as being an essential foodstuff for these cuddly mammals, it’s used frequently in construction; its usually hollow stems making it a lightweight yet sturdy material perfect for furniture. Since it is biodegradable and highly renewable, it is increasingly being used for the production of household items, such as toothbrushes, loo roll, utensils and even bottles. It can also function as a natural air purifier.
From strangleweed to bleeding heart, Japanese blood grass to ghost plants, the Natural History Museum shares a collection of 16 creepy plants “more horrifying than fiction”…
Top image: Cacao pods being harvested, the beans of which are used to make chocolate. Credit: Shutterstock
Article correction: Mushrooms should not be included in a list of 10 ‘power plants’. As a Mensa member has pointed out, mushrooms are fungi, which are classified as a kingdom in their own right. Their structural material, chitin, is also found in the exoskeletons of insects.
