CULTIVATED PLANTS OF MESOAMERICA

 Common Name

 Plant Family
Cultivated for their edible seeds  
Amaranth  Amaranthaceae
Apazote  Chenopodiaceae
Bean, common  Leguminosae
Bean, lima  Leguminosae
Bean, runner  Leguminosae
Bean, jack  Leguminosae
Chia  Labiatae
Chia grande  Labiatae
Maize  Gramineae
Panic grass  Gramineae
Peanut*  Leguminosae
Sunflower*  Compositae
 Cultivated for their edible roots or tubers  
Coyolxochitl  Amaryllidaceae
Manioc  Euphorbiaceae
Potato*  Solanaceae
Sweet Potato*  Convolvulaceae
Yam bean  Leguminosae
Cultivated for their edible gourdlike fruits  
Chayote  Cucurbitaceae
Squash, cushaw  Cucurbitaceae
Squash, summer  Cucurbitaceae
Squash, walnut  Cucurbitaceae
Other edible fruits  
Anona  Annonaceae
Bullock's-heart  Annonaceae
Cherimoya*  Annonaceae
llama  Annonaceae
Soursop  Annonaceae
Sweetsop  Annonaceae
Avocado  Lauraceae
Caujilote  Bignoniaceae
Capulin cherry  Rosaceae
Tejocote  Rosaceae
Cashew*  Anacardiaceae
Hog plum  Anacardiaceae
Jocote  Anacardiaceae
Coconut*  Palmaceae
Elderberry  Caprifoliaceae
Guava  Myrtaceae
Guayabilla  Myrtaceae
Mammee colorado  Sapotaceae
Sapote, green  Sapotaceae
Sapote, yellow  Sapotaceae
Sapodilla  Sapotaceae
Matasano  Rutaceae
Sapote, white  Rutaceae
Nance  Malpighiaceae
Papaya  Caricaceae
Pineapple*  Bromeliaceae
Pitahaya  Cactaceae
Prickly pear  Cactaceae
Sapote, black  Ebenaceae
 *Probably not native to Mesoamerica  
Herbs and other vegetables  
Chaya  Euphorbiaceae
Chipilin  Leguminosae
Pacaya  Palmaceae
Tepejilote  Palmaceae
Tomato  Solanaceae
Tomato, husk  Solanaceae
Yucca  Liliaceae
Condiments and other flavorings  
Chilli pepper  Solanaceae
Vanilla  Orchidaceae
Stimulants and narcotics  
Cacao  Sterculiaceae
Maguey  Amaryllidaceae
Tobacco  Solanaceae
Fiber plants  
Cotton  Malvaceae
Henequen  Amaryillidaceae
Maguey  Amaryillidaceae
Sisal  Amaryillidaceae
This list was taken from Prehistory of North American by Jesse D. Jennings, 1968/1974. McGraw-Hill Book Company, NY.  The original source is: "Origins of Agriculture in Middle America" by Paul C. Mangelsdorf, Richard S. MacNeish, and Gordon Willey in Vol. 1 of The Handbook of Middle American Indians, Robert Wauchope (ed.). University of Texas Press, Austin. 1964.