Take the kiwi, for example. Originally native to Asia, they were known there under various names, including tara vine and yang-tao. When it was first planted in the New World, it was called the Chinese gooseberry. For some reason that name didn't catch on very well. It received its current name after it was planted commercially in New Zealand. There the fuzzy fruits were named after the native kiwi bird.
Due to the Italians we now grow the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo). Native to the coastal areas of the Mediterranean, it was much appreciated by the Romans. Typically it grows as an evergreen shrub. Under good conditions it may be 15' in height or more.
This tree is only suitable for mild climates, since it blooms during the cooler months--any time from September to March. The edible, sweet-tasting fruits with amber-colored flesh are high in Vitamin C. They are candied, and prepared as syrups, jams, and jellies. They're also used in fermented and distilled beverages.
Apart from the useful fruits, the plant can serve other purposes. It can be used in fire-prone areas, because it is resistant. It is also used to restore sand dunes.
When bees pollinate the plants, they make a very bitter honey, which isn't good for eating. However it is used as an antiseptic.
The breadfruit is now commonly available in ethnic markets of the U.S. This plant was taken from Tahiti to the West Indies by Captain Bligh to serve as food for slaves. One of the earliest European records of the breadfruit was in a painting by Sydney Parkinson in 1769. His drawing, done twenty years before the famous mutiny, shows the leaves, fruits, mature, and immature flower stalks.
Technically the fruit is prepared and served as a vegetable. Should it be considered a fruit or a vegetable? You be the judge.
From Europe we got the strawberry spinach, a quaint plant. Grown by monks in Germany over 400 years ago, it is now becoming better known in America. Both the leaves and fruits are edible. The foliage is prepared like spinach. Some consider the fruits to be rather bland-tasting. This plant can be grown as an annual. So give it a try. It only reaches about 1-2' in height.
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