A true gherkin has palmately lobed leaves with toothed edges, small flowers, and furrowed, prickly fruits about five centimetres (two inches) long that are borne on crooked stalks.
They can be used to preserve or store items as diverse as jam, pickled gherkin, other pickles, marmalade, sundried tomatoes, olives, jalapeo peppers, chutneys, pickled eggs, honey, and many others.
