Salad Greens, also known as leafy greens, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are leaves of plants that are traditionally eaten raw. Most of them come from herbaceous plants, such as spinach and lettuce. And, they also include cruciferous vegetables like kale.
Like chile peppers and other crops, the explorer Christopher Columbus was also the one who introduced salad greens to the United States. During these ancient times, they were still called “herbs” and they were served with just a sprinkle of salt. As a matter of fact, the word “salad” comes from the Latin word “herba salta,” which means “salted herbs.”
Nevertheless, salad greens have come a long way. Nowadays, they’re not just served as plain greens. But, they also include meat, seafood, pasta, fruits, and cheese, enhanced by dressings from sweet to tangy.
Classification Information:
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Lactuca
Species: L. Sativa
Binomial Name: Lactuca Sativa
Salad Greens Trivia
- Lettuce started out as a weed around the Mediterranean basin.
- Arugula, along with other herbs, were used in making powerful love potions back in the ancient times. It claims to boost sexual performance when eaten regularly.
- Salad greens offered by Mcdonald’s are in fact, more fattening than their burgers.