Photo of corn.

Plants that start with C

The most well-known plants and fungi, listed by their common names.

Cis forCrocus

Scientific name: crocus sativus
Crocuses are small flowers that grow from a bulb under the ground. They come in a huge range of colours. Most crocuses only grow to a few inches tall. They usually grow one flower each year before they grow their leaves.

Cis forCucumber

Scientific name: cucumis sativus
Cucumbers are in the same family as watermelons. They grow on a vine, and are technically a fruit but are usually treated as a vegetable. Cucumbers have an extremely mild flavour and are usually used in salads and sandwiches. Cucumbers can be pickled; pickled cucumbers are called gherkins.

Cis forCumin

Scientific name: cuminum cyminum
Cumin is a plant native to the Mediterranean and India, and is related to parsley. It is grown for its seeds, which are ground into a powder. Cumin is one of the main ingredients of curry.

Cis forCycad

Scientific name: cycas revoluta
A cycad is an ancient family of plants that look similar to a palm tree or a fern but is not actually related to either of them. Cycads grow seeds in large cones. They are extremely hardy plants, and many people keep them in pots in their houses. The cycad's cones are very easy to see in the picture.

Cis forCyclamen

Scientific name: cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen are small, pretty plants originally native to the area around Spain to Iran. They grow leaves from an underground tuber, and they die down over summer in hot areas. Cyclamen are frost tolerant. They have very attractive plants and are usually kept as decorative indoor plants. They are edible, and in some areas of the world are considered a delicacy.

Cis forCypress

Scientific name: family: cupressaceae
Cypress are a group of conifers. Most cypress are trees, but some are low growing shrubs. Many varieties of cypress have a distinctively flared trunk, narrowing as it goes higher. Not to be confused with Cyprus.