Bulb vegetable definition: what are bulb vegetables
In botany, the bulb is a short stem formed by fleshy leaves that functions as a storage organ. The nutrients and reserves that the plant needs to grow or survive in adverse weather conditions are stored.
features
- Typically, the bulbs are round or oval in shape and have a pointed top.
- In most cases, they are covered by a kind of tunic or skin that protects them.
- Whenever we make a vertical cut through the middle of a bulb, we can see all its parts.
- The center of the bulb is a vegetative growth point from which the flowering bud of the plant occurs.
List: Examples of bulb vegetables
Chives
Shallot
Fennel
Leek
Garlic
Onion
Spring onion
History, properties, and benefits
Throughout history, bulbs have been an important food source for humanity because of their flavor and versatility, the stability of their cultivation, and the ability to stay fresh for long periods. Today, edible bulbs are a staple ingredient in almost every kitchen in the world.
Beyond their culinary properties, bulbs also have a long history in traditional medicine. A good example of this is garlic, one of the oldest and most popular edible bulbs. According to a review of medical texts compiled in Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, and India1, garlic was one of the first plants used as a natural remedy to treat different diseases.
Nowadays, it is known that bulb vegetables, and especially vegetables of the Allium family, such as garlic, onion, shallots, chives, and chives, have antimicrobial, antitumor, antiarthritic, anticoagulant, sugar-reducing properties in the blood, cardio-protective, antioxidant, and anticancer in our body, to name a few.2
Such benefits are related to the high content of vitamins, essential minerals, fiber, flavonoids, and active compounds that we find in these bulb vegetables, among its most important nutrients, including the vitamin C, quercetin, kaempferol,l and numerous sulfur compounds, which are responsible for the strong spicy aroma and flavor of these edible bulbs.