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Greek mythology mentions many plants and flowers, [122] where for example the lotus tree bears a fruit that causes a pleasant drowsiness, [123] while moly is a magic herb mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey with a black root and white blossoms. [124] Magic plants are found, too, in Serbian mythology, where the raskovnik is supposed to be able to ...
Human food is food which is fit for human consumption, and which humans willingly eat. Food is a basic necessity of life, and humans typically seek food out as an instinctual response to hunger; however, not all things that are edible constitute as human food. Display of various foods
Plants with more than one significant human use may be listed in multiple categories. Plants are considered domesticated when their life cycle , behavior , or appearance has been significantly altered as a result of being under artificial selection by humans for multiple generations (see the main article on domestication for more information).
An example is the koala, because it feeds only on eucalyptus leaves. Primary consumers that feed on many kinds of plants are called generalists. Secondary consumers are small/medium-sized carnivores that prey on herbivorous animals. Omnivores, which feed on both plants and animals, can be considered as being both primary and secondary consumers.
Food biodiversity is "the diversity of plants, animals and other organisms used for food, covering the genetic resources within species, between species and provided by ecosystems." [15] Historically at least 6,000 plant species and numerous animal species have been used as human food.
Water is found in many foods and has been defined as food by itself. [6] Water and fiber have low energy densities, or calories, while fat is the most energy-dense component. [3] Some inorganic (non-food) elements are also essential for plant and animal functioning. [7]
When complete, the list below will include all food plants native to the Americas (genera marked with a dagger † are endemic), regardless of when or where they were first used as a food source. For a list of food plants and other crops which were only introduced to Old World cultures as a result of the Columbian Exchange touched off by the ...
By contrast, Homo erectus teeth generally reflect a much higher degree of wear, indicating tougher plant foods being eaten. [9] [10] While likely able to consume a variety of plant and animal resources, it seems that H. habilis was not able to exploit the wide array of resources and ecological niches its descendants would be able to. [11]