Botanical Families Of Spice

Spices fall into the following botanical families.

Latin NameCommon NameSpice
alliaceaeOnionBear's garlic, Chives, Garlic, Onion and shallot
amaranthaceaeAmaranthEpazote
anacardiaceaeCashewMango, Mastic, Pink pepper, Sumac
annonaceaeCustard appleNegro pepper
apiaceaeParsleyAjwain, Angelica, Anise, Asafoetida, Black cumin, Black lovage, Caraway, Celery, Chervil, Cicely, Common coriander, Cumin, Dill, Fennel, Long coriander, Lovage, Parsley
arecaceaePalmCoconut
asteracaeaDaisyBolivian coriander, Camomile, Chicory, Costmary, French and Russian tarragon, Mexican tarragon, Mugwort, Paracress, Safflower, Southernwood, Tansy
berberidaceaeBarberryBarberry
bixaceaeAchioteAnnatto
boraginaceaeBorageBorage
brassicaceaeCabbageBlack mustard, Garden cress, Horseradish, Rocket, Wasabi, Water cress, White mustard
capparaceaeCaperCapers
clusiaceaeSt. John's wort Kokum
cucurbitaceaeGourdPumpkin oilseed
cupressaceaeCypress Juniper
fabaceaeBeanBlue fenugreek, Fenugreek, Liquorice, Sweet clover, Tamarind, Tonka bean, Wattleseed
illiciaceaeStar aniseStar anise
iridaceaeIrisSaffron
lamiaceaeMintBasil, Bergamot, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemon balm, Marjoram, Oregano, Perilla, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Spearmint, Thyme
lauraceaeLaurel Bay leaf, Chinese cinnamon, Sri Lankan cinnamon, Indian bay leaf, Indonesian cinnamon, Sassafras
monimiaceaeMonimiaBoldo Leaf
myricaceaeWax-myrtleGale
myristicaceaeNutmegMace, Nutmeg
myrtaceaeMyrtleAllspice, Cloves, Indonesian bay leaf, Lemon myrtle, Myrtle
oleaceaeOliveOlive
orchidaceaeOrchidVanilla
pandanaceaeScrewpineKewra, Pandanus leaf
papaveraceaePoppyPoppy seed
pedaliaceaeSesameSesame
piperaceaePepperBlack (white, green and red) pepper, Cubeb pepper, Long pepper, Mexican pepperleaf
poaceaeGrassLemon grass
polygonaceaeKnotweedVietnamese coriander, Water pepper
portulacaceaePurslanePurslane
punicaceaePomegranatePomegranate
ranunculaceaeButtercupNigella
rosaceaeRoseAlmond, Damask rose, Mahaleb cherry, Salad burnet
rutaceaeCitrusCurry leaf, Kaffir Lime, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Rue, Sichuan pepper
saururaceaeLizard-tailChameleon plant
scrophulariaceaeFigwortRice paddy herb
solanaceaeNightshadeBush tomato, Chilli, Paprika
tropaeolaceaeNasturtiumNasturtium
verbenaceaeVerbenaChaste tree, Lemon verbena, Mexican oregano
winteraceaeWinter's barkTasmanian Pepper
zingiberaceaeGingerBlack cardamom, Fingerroot, Ginger, Grains of paradise, Greater galangale, Green cardamom, Lesser galangale, Turmeric, Zedoary