I'm doing some research for a pre-Columbian dinner (details to come shortly) and while I knew that a lot of our indigenous food was a real gift to the world, it's almost staggering seeing it in a list like this. It's not complete (I left off a lot of the hard-to-find exotic fruits and edible weeds) but it's impressive! LIST OF AMERICAN FOOD PLANTS Source: Foods America Gave the World By A. Hyatt Verrill, 1937 L.C. Page & Co Books

Agave Cacao Sarsaparilla Sassafras Corn Quinoa Squash Sunflower Wild rice Avocado Gooseberry Blackberry Sapote Blueberry Cacti (nopales and tunas) Cashew Cranberry Elderberry Grapes (particular species are native to N. America)

Potatoes Guava Mamey Papaya Persimmon Pineapple Raspberry Strawberry (Particular strains found in Chile and Colombia) Achiote Beans Chiles Chayote Tomatillos Lambs quarters Tomato Mushrooms (not exclusive to the Americas) Peanut Purslane

Can you imagine an Indian curry without a chile? Italian food without tomatoes?
I would have bet that persimmons and purslane were Asian. Do you know? I've seen purslane listed as both Asian and as Mayan.

Images: The top illustration is from Mexico: A Study of Two Americas by Stuart Chase and the photo is a detail from a mural in the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, both by Diego Rivera.