Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Peperomia pellucida

Edible: Leaves, Leaves - tea, Spice, Vegetable

A herb. It grows 10-30 cm tall. It grows from seed each year. The stems are thick and rounded. They are pale green and fleshy. The leaves have stalks. These are 1-2 cm long. The leaf blades are 0.8-3.5 cm long by 0.6-2.8 cm wide. They are oval and shiny pale green. The base is heart shaped. The flowers are yellow. They are very small and borne on a light green spike. This is produced at the end of a branch or opposite the leaves. The nutlet is round and 0.5 mm across.

A tropical plant. It grows in warm regions. It occurs widely in the tropics. It grows in wet and shady places around houses. In Nepal it grows to about 2000 m altitude. It grows in rock crevices and near the base of cliffs. In China it grows from sea level to 200 m altitude.

Common Names: Bithe, Cang cua, Cao hu jiao, Clearweed, Kasang pak, Ketumpangan ayer, Krosang tiep, Latapate, Liha pambi, Lombaye lolitoko, Luchi pata, Luchi shak, Olasiman ihalas, Pak-kra-sank, Pakkrasung, Phak krasang, Punounuwa, Rangu-rangu, Sakauenleng, Sasaladaan, Sekewenleng, Shining bush, Silver bush, Sladanan, Suna-kosho, Suruhan, Thit-yay-gyi, Vao vai, Zaub qwj

Synonyms: 

Piper pellucidum L.;
Piper exiguum Blume;
Peperomia exigua (Blume) Miquel;
Peperomia knoblicheriana Schott;

Pandanus tectorius

Edible: Nuts, Leaves, Fruit, Flowers, Spice

An erect branched shrub 3 to 5 m high. It can be 14 m tall. The trunk has several prop roots. The stems are prickly. The leaves are spirally crowded towards the ends of branches and covered with waxy powder. They are up to 1.5 m long and 3 to 5 cm wide. The edge of the leaf and the midrib have sharp spiny teeth pointing towards the end of the leaf. Male and female flowers occur on separate trees. Male flowers have showy white bracts. The female plants produce woody, pineapple like fruit. The fruit are alone and hang down. They are rounded and 20 cm long. They are composed of 50 to 75 fibrous fleshy fruit with a stone in the centre. They are somewhat angular. There are hundreds of local named varieties. There is tremendous variation in this plant. Some leaves do not have spines and the shape and size of the fruit varies. (See the many synonyms!)

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows on the sandy edges of mangroves and along rivers. They are very common along the seashore throughout the islands of the Philippines. They are never found very far inland. It usually grows from sea level to 20 m altitude. In Samoa it grows to 300 m altitude. It usually grows in places with an average annual temperature range of 24-28°C. The rainfall is usually between 1500-4000 mm per year. It can grow in soils with a pH between 6-10. It can grow in salty soils. It grows on coral atolls. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Common Names: Ajbwirok, Akgak, Anewetak, Bali, Beach screw pine, Binu, Boa kashikeyo, Bob, Bop, Ceenu, Choy, Deipw, Dua go, Epo, Fa, Fach, Fafa, Fala, Falahola, Far, Fara, Fasa, Hala, Hedan, Kafu, Kassadh, Kebar, Keora, Kepar, Kipal, Kipar, Kukuvalu, Kusargh, Lamchiek, Laufala, Liolol, Lou'akau, Mane, Mengkuang duri, Mengkuang laut, Mengkuang layer, Mogili, Mweng, Nicobar breadfruit, Ongor, Ongorraked, Pandan darat, Pandan laut, Pandan pantai, Pandan todak, Pandan wangi, Pandan-dagat, Pandang, Pibis, Rumchek, Striped screwpine, Tchob, Tchoi, Te kaina, Toei-daang, Toei-hom, Txeno, Vadra, Veitch screw-pine, Voivoi, Wip

Synonyms: Corypha laevis (Lour.) A. Chev.;
Pandanus absonus H. St. John;
Pandanus adscendens H. St John;
Pandanus aequor H. St. John;
Pandanus aitutakiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus akiakiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus alloios H. St. John;
Pandanus amplexus H. St. John;
Pandanus angulatus H. St John;
Pandanus angulosus H. St. John;
Pandanus anisos H. St. John;
Pandanus aoraiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus arapepe H. St. John;
Pandanus asauensis H. St. John;
Pandanus ater H. St. John;
Pandanus baptistii Misonne;
Pandanus bassus H. St. John;
Pandanus bathys H. St. John;
Pandanus bergmanii F. Br.;
Pandanus bicurvatus H. St. John;
Pandanus blakei H. St. John;
Pandanus boraboraensis St. John;
Pandanus bothreus H. St. John;
Pandanus bowenensis H. St. John;
Pandanus brachypodus Kaneh.;
Pandanus brownii H. St. John;
Pandanus cacuminatus H. St. John;
Pandanus carolinensis Matelli;
Pandanus chamissonis Gaudich.;
Pandanus charancanus Kaneh.;
Pandanus chelyon H. St. John;
Pandanus christophersenii H. St. John;
Pandanus citraceus H. St. John;
Pandanus collatus H. St. John;
Pandanus complanatus H. St. John;
Pandanus cooperi (Martelli) H. St. John;
Pandanus coronatus Martelli;
Pandanus coronatus f. minor Martelli;
Pandanus crassiaculeatus H. St. John;
Pandanus crassus H. St. John;
Pandanus cylindricus Kaneh.;
Pandanus cylindricus var. sinnau Kaneh.;
Pandanus cymatilis H. St. John;
Pandanus decorus K. Koch;
Pandanus dicheres H. St. John;
Pandanus dilatatus Kaneh.;
Pandanus discolor auct.;
Pandanus distinctus Martelli;
Pandanus divaricatus H. St. John;
Pandanus divergens Kaneh.;
Pandanus dotyi H. St. John;
Pandanus douglasii Gaudich.;
Pandanus drakei H. St. John;
Pandanus drolletianus Martelli;
Pandanus duriocarpoides Kaneh.;
Pandanus duriocarpus Martelli;
Pandanus edwinii H. St. John;
Pandanus elevatus H. St. John;
Pandanus enchabiensis Kaneh.;
Pandanus erythrophloeus Kaneh.;
Pandanus extralittoralis H. St. John;
Pandanus eyesyes Kaneh.;
Pandanus fahina H. St. John;
Pandanus faramaa H. St. John;
Pandanus fascicularis Lam.; ?
Pandanus fatuhivaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus fatyanion (Kaneh.) Hosok.;
Pandanus feruliferus H. St. John;
Pandanus filiciatilis H. St. John;
Pandanus fischerianus Martelli;
Pandanus fragrans Gaud.;
Pandanus futunaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus gambierensis H. St. John;
Pandanus glomerosus H. St. John;
Pandanus grantii H. St. John;
Pandanus guamensis Martelli;
Pandanus haapaiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus heronensis H. St. John;
Pandanus hivaoaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus homeinsularum H. St. John;
Pandanus hosinoi Kaneh.;
Pandanus hosokawae Kaneh.;
Pandanus houmaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus hubbardii H. St. John;
Pandanus impar H. St. John;
Pandanus inarmatus H. St. John;
Pandanus inermis Roxb.;
Pandanus inflexus H. St. John;
Pandanus infundubuliformis H. St. John;
Pandanus insularis Kaneh.;
Pandanus intraconicus H. St. John;
Pandanus intralaevis H. St. John;
Pandanus jaluitensis Kaneh.;
Pandanus jonesii (F. Br.) H. St. John;
Pandanus kafu Martelli;
Pandanus kamptos H. St. John;
Pandanus koidzumii Hosok.;
Pandanus korrensis Kaneh.;
Pandanus kraussii H. St. John;
Pandanus kusaiensis Kaneh.;
Pandanus laculatus H. St. John;
Pandanus laevis Lour.;
Pandanus laevis Kunth [Illegitimate;]
Pandanus lakatwa Kaneh.;
Pandanus lambasaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus laticanaliculatus Kaneh.;
Pandanus latincanaliculatus var. edulis Kaneh.;
Pandanus lauensis H. St. John;
Pandanus licinus H. St. John;
Pandanus limitaris H. St. John;
Pandanus longifolius H. L. Wendl. [Invalid];
Pandanus macfarlanei Martelli;
Pandanus macrocephalus Kaneh.;
Pandanus makateaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus malatenensis Blanco;
Pandanus mangarevaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus mariaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus marquesasensis H. St. John;
Pandanus matukuensis H. St. John;
Pandanus mbalawa H. St. John;
Pandanus meetiaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus menne Kaneh.;
Pandanus menziesii Gaudich.;
Pandanus metius H. St. John;
Pandanus minysocephalis H. St. John;
Pandanus mooreaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus moschatus Rumph. ex Voigt;
Pandanus moschatus Miq. [Illegitimate];
Pandanus motuensis H. St. John;
Pandanus nandiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus notialis H. St. John;
Pandanus oblatiapicalis H. St. John;
Pandanus oblaticonvexus H. St. John;
Pandanus obliquus Kaneh.;
Pandanus odonoides Hosok.;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. laevigatus Martelli;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. laevis (Warb.);
Pandanus odoratissimus f. major Martelli;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. oahuensis Martelli;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. parksii Martelli;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. pyriformis Martelli;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. savaiensis (Martelli) Martelli;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. setchellii Martelli;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. spurius Willd.;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. suvaensis Martelli;
Pandanus okamotoi Kaneh.;
Pandanus onoilauensis H. St. John;
Pandanus orarius H. St. John;
Pandanus otemanuensus H. St. John;
Pandanus ovalauensis H. St. John;
Pandanus pachys H. St. John;
Pandanus palkilensis Hosok.;
Pandanus palmyraensis H. St. John;
Pandanus pansus H. St. John;
Pandanus paogo H. St. John;
Pandanus papaeariensis Martelli;
Pandanus papenooensis H. St. John;
Pandanus parhamii H. St. John;
Pandanus parksii H. St. John;
Pandanus patulior H. St. John;
Pandanus pedunculatus R. Br.;
Pandanus pedunculatus var. insularis B. C. Stone;
Pandanus pedunculatus var. malagunensis B. C. Stone;
Pandanus pedunculatus var. rendovensis B. C. Stone;
Pandanus planus H. St. John;
Pandanus politus H. St. John;
Pandanus ponapensis Martelli;
Pandanus prismaticus Martelli;
Pandanus prolixus H. St. John;
Pandanus pseudomenne Hosok.;
Pandanus pulposus (Warb.) Martelli;
Pandanus pulposus var. cooperi Martelli;
Pandanus pusillus H. St. John;
Pandanus pyriformis (Martelli) H. St. John;
Pandanus pyriformis Gaud.; ?
Pandanus radiatus H. St. John;
Pandanus raiateaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus raroiaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus rectangulatus Kaneh.;
Pandanus repens Miq.;
Pandanus rhizophorensis H. St. John;
Pandanus rhombocarpus Kaneh.;
Pandanus rikiteaeansis H. St. John;
Pandanus rimataraensis H. St. John;
Pandanus rockii Martelli;
Pandanus rotensis Hosok.;
Pandanus rotundatus Kaneh.;
Pandanus rurutuensis H. St. John;
Pandanus sabotan Blanco;
Pandanus saipanensis Kaneh.;
Pandanus saltuarius H. St. John;
Pandanus samak Hassk.;
Pandanus sanderi Sander;
Pandanus savaiensis (Martelli) H. St. John;
Pandanus seruaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus sinuosus H. St. John;
Pandanus sinuvadosus H. St. John;
Pandanus smithii H. St. John;
Pandanus spurius (Willd.) Miq.;
Pandanus stradbrokeensis H. St. John;
Pandanus subaequalis H. St. John;
Pandanus subcubicus H. St. John;
Pandanus subhumerosus H. St. John;
Pandanus subradiatus H. St. John;
Pandanus sunuvadensus; ?
Pandanus suvaensis (Martelli) H. St. John;
Pandanus taepa (F. Br.) H. St. John;
Pandanus tahaaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus tahitensis Martelli;
Pandanus tahitensis var. exigua J. W. Moore;
Pandanus tahitensis var. niueana B. C. Stone;
Pandanus takaeoaesis H. St. John;
Pandanus tamaruensis J. W. Moore;
Pandanus tapeinos H. St. John;
Pandanus taravaiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus tectorius var. (many varieties);
Pandanus temehaniensis J. W. Moore;
Pandanus terrireginae H. St. John;
Pandanus tessellatus Martelli;
Pandanus tikeiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus tima H. St. John;
Pandanus timoeensis H. St. John;
Pandanus tolotomensis Glassman;
Pandanus tomilensis Kaneh.;
Pandanus tongaensis H. St. John;
Pandanus trapaneus H. St. John;
Pandanus tritosphaericus H. St. John;
Pandanus trukensis Kaneh.;
Pandanus tubuaiensis Martelli;
Pandanus tupaiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus uea H. St. John;
Pandanus utiyamae Kaneh.;
Pandanus vahitakiensis H. St. John;
Pandanus vandra H. St. John;
Pandanus vangeertii auct.;
Pandanus variegatus Miq.;
Pandanus veitchii Mast.;
Pandanus virginalis H. St. John;
Pandanus viri H. St. John;
Pandanus viridinsularis H. St. John;
Pandanus volkensii Kaneh.;
Pandanus yorkensis H. St. John;
Pandanus yunckeri H. St. John;

? Not in plant list
Pandanus odoratissimus sensu auct.non L.f.;
Pandanus inermis Blume;

Parabaena sagittata

Edible: Leaves, Stems

A vine. The stems and branches have lines along them. The leaves are broadly oval and 8-16 cm long by 6-9 cm wide. The underside of the leaves has a hairy coating. Male and female flowers are separate. The fruit is fleshy and flattened. It is 8 mm long.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in Yunnan in China. In XTBG Yunnan.

Common Names: Gai mei, Hualanweiniu, Padela, Pan nan, Xin ga la mo

Passiflora foetida

Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Seeds

A vine with tendrils. It creeps over the ground. The vine can be 2-10 m long. It has a strong smell. The stems are yellowish and have soft erect hairs. The leaves are 3 lobed and with fine hairs. They are pale green. The leaves are 3-10 cm long and 3-8 cm wide. The base of the leaf is often heart shaped. The flowers occur singly on flower stalks. The flowers are flattish with several rings of structures. They are 5 cm wide. They are white with a purple centre. The fruit is small (2-3 cm across) yellow and with a soft skin. The fruit is enclosed in a green net which dries brown then falls off. The fruit is edible. Seeds are flat.

A tropical plant. It is common in the lowlands and occurs up to 1000 m altitude in the tropics. It is drought resistant and can grow on poor soils. In prefers sunny situations. It does best in humid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Akar mentimun, Akolebodjou, Badeilla sabnera, Bombillo, Bongambosy, Bon komola, Bo'tse kinto, Bulppul, Canapu, Chadayan, Cheplukan blungsun, Chinga tape, Chum bao, Cincollaga, Cocorilla, Dhaagandu kekuri, Du coc, Enradadera de monte, Ganga, Granadilla Colorada, Jhumka lata, Katok rok, Ka-thok-rok, Kacheprek, Kasipora, Kasireli, Kemot, Koth bel, Kukkiballi, Kwalo kakali, Lamurel, Latuik-latuik, Lota bel, Love-in-a-mist, Manku shikshi muyu, Markisa, Maveve, Mewa, Mupparisavalli, Nhabel, Nhan long, Pachean, Pasio fao, Patukmai munchi, Permot, Phak moi, Pokok lang bulu, Poochapalam, Poochapazham, Poonakkali, Popodala, Pottli, Pwompwompw, Qolomosu, Rajutan, Rambusa, Randa bolong, Saou maou prey, Saw maw, Shoshori, Shoshoro, Sigambus, Siruppunaikkalli, Sisi, Stinking passionflower, Suiti ropu, Sukar-gale, Sweet rope, Tam nin farang, Tao sing to, Taw-suka, Tellajumiki, Thevu-um, Timun dendang, Timun hutan, Timun padang, Udahalu, Verdolaga, Warap, Wild water lemon, Wusu baarup, Ya rok chang

Synonyns: 

Passiflora gossipiifolia Ham.;
Passiflora hirsuta Lodd.;
Passiflora hispida DC.;
Passiflora pyadena Vell.;

Osmunda cinnamomea

Edible: Fronds, Leaves, Vegetable

A fern. The fronds grow 40-100 cm high and are 15-25 cm wide. The fronds are twice divided. The fertile and the sterile fronds are separate. The fertile fronds are erect and stout and have light brown spore bearing bodies.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in wet places and along the edges of stream and ponds. It grows in moist, shaded positions.

Common Names: Rang atminh que, Zenmai

Synonyms: 

Osmundastrum cinnamomea (L.) Presl.;

Pachira insignis

Edible: Seeds, Leaves, Flowers

A tree. It grows to 15-30 m high. The leaf has 5-7 leaflets. These are arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaves are large and papery. The flowers are pinkish. The flowers can be 30 cm across. The fruit stalk is thick and 3 cm long. The fruit is a capsule which is oval or pear shaped. It is rusty velvet. It is 18-30 cm long by 12-20 cm wide.

A tropical plant. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Common Names: Boesimomow, Kanihiriballi, Mamorana Grande, Mienqua, Munguba, Munguba-preta, Nuni, Pischkande, Trinidad pachira

Synonyms: 

Bombax insigne (Sw.) K. Schum.;
Bombax spectabile Ulbr.;
Bombax spruceanum (Decne) Ducke;
Carolinea insignis Sw.;
Pachira loddigesii;
Pachira spruceana Decne;
 

Pandanus odorifer

Edible: Leaves, Spice, Fruit, Shoot, Seeds, Flower buds

A screwpine or erect branched shrub 3 to 5 m high. The trunk has several prop roots. The leaves are spirally crowded towards the ends of branches and covered with waxy powder. They are up to 1.5 m long and 3 to 5 cm wide. The edge of the leaf and the midrib have sharp spiny teeth pointing towards the end of the leaf. Trees are of one sex. The male flowers are in loose spike of flowers with a fleshy axis and enclosed by a spathe. These have several 5-10 cm long spikes along them. The female flowers are solitary and 5 cm across. The fruit are alone and hang down. They are rounded and 20 cm long. They are composed of 50 to 75 fibrous fleshy fruit with a stone in the centre. They are somewhat angular with fruit in groups of 6-7 forming a large cluster. There are several forms or kinds which vary in details.

A tropical plant. Plants occur in coastal areas especially just behind the shoreline. They grow along the coasts in India. It grows at Mumbai. It grows in damp soil. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. (This plant is similar to and often confused with Pandanus tectorius which grows in the Pacific and has been taken elsewhere.)

Common Names: Ara, Fa, Gagandhul, Gajangi, Hala, Kaida, Kaina, Karikio, Kedki-keya, Kenr, Keora, Keori, Ketaki, Keteki phul, Ketki, Keura, Kevada, Kevda, Kewda, Kewoda, Kewra, Keya kathal, Keya, Kyad-agegida, Maakashikeyo, Mudu kekiya, Mugali, Ram-la-khuih, Satthapu, Talai, Tale mara, Tazkai, Thala, Thalay, Tilai,

Synonyms: Athrodactylis spinosa J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. [Illegitimate];
Bromelia sylvestris Burm.f.;
Eydouxia delessertii Gaudich.;
Hasskarlia leucaantha Walp.;
Keura odora Thunb.;
Keura odorifera Forssk.;
Marquartia leucacantha Hassk.;
Pandanus adduensis H. St. John;
Pandanus albibracteatus H. St. John;
Pandanus ambiglaucus H. St. John;
Pandanus blancoi Kunth;
Pandanus boryi Gaudich.;
Pandanus camosus H. St. John;
Pandanus delessertii (Gaudich.) Warb.;
Pandanus fascicularis Lam.
Pandanus fosbergii H. St., John;
Pandanus globosus H. St. John;
Pandanus hartmanii H. St. John;
Pandanus hendersonii H. St. John;
Pandanus hueensis H. St., John;
Pandanus inclinatus H. St. John;
Pandanus incrassatus H. St. John;
Pandanus integriapicis H. St. John;
Pandanus karikayo H. St. John;
Pandanus leucanthus Hassk.;
Pandanus linnaei Gaudich.;
Pandanus linnaei f. philippinensis Martelli;
Pandanus littoralis Jungh.;
Pandanus loureiroi Gaudich.;
Pandanus maldivecus H. St. John;
Pandanus millore Roxb.;
Pandanus obtusus H. St. John;
Pandanus odoratissimus L. f.;
Pandanus odoratissimus var. (many varieties)
Pandanus odoratus Salisb.;
Pandanus phamhoangii H. St. John;
Pandanus projectens H. St. John;
Pandanus remotus H. St. John;
Pandanus reversispiralis H. St. John;
Pandanus rheedei Gaudich.;
Pandanus rubricoloratus H. St. John;
Pandanus rumphii Gaudich.;
Pandanus semiorbicularis H. St. John;
Pandanus sinensis (Warb.) Martelli;
Pandanus smitinandii H. St. John;
Pandanus spiralis Blanco [Illegitimate];
Pandanus subcamosus H. St. John;
Pandanus subulatus H. St. John;
Pandanus tectorius var. (several varieties);
Pandanus verus Rumph. ex Kurz [Illegitimate];
Pandanus verus var. flaccidus Kurz;
Pandanus verus var. littoralis Kurz;
Pandanus vietnamensis H. St. John;

Dactyloctenium aegyptium - Comb Fringe Grass

Edible Portion: Seeds, Cereal, Rhizome, Root

An annual grass. The stems are slender. They can lie along the ground. These can form roots at the nodes. They can have runners and form mats. It is 15-60 cm high. The edges of the leaf sheaths have small hairs. The leaf blades are flat and 5-20 cm long by 0.2-0.6 cm wide. The surfaces are lumpy/hairy. It tapers to the tip. The flowers spread like fingers on a hand. There are 2-9 flower stalks. They are long and narrow. They often spread out horizontally. The spikes are on one side of the stalk. The tip is bare. The seed grains are about 1 mm across.

Hordeum vulgare - Barley

Edible Portion: Seeds, Cereal, Seeds - Tea

An erect annual grass. It grows 80-120 cm tall. The nodes are solid and the internodes are hollow. The leaves are narrow.  There are 5-10 leaves. They are produced alternately on opposite sides of the stem at the nodes. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped and 5-40 cm long by 0.5-1.5 cm wide. The flowers are greenish. Flowers have long awns. The fruit is a grain. It is oval and narrow. There are a range of named cultivated varieties.

Colocasia esculenta - Taro

Edible Portion: Corm, Leaves, Stalks, Vegetable, Root, Flowers

This plant has large flat leaves on the end of upright leaf stalks. It grows up to 1 m high. The leaf stalk or petiole joins the leaf towards the centre of the leaf. The leaves are 20-50 cm long. Near the ground a thickened rounded corm is produced. Around this plant their is normally a ring of small plants called suckers. Many different varieties occur. If left to maturity, a lily type flower is produced in the centre of the plant. It has a spathe 15-30 cm long which is rolled inwards. The flowers are yellow and fused along the stalk. There are many named cultivated varieties.

Taro comes in two basic forms. The Dasheen type Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta and Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum or the Eddoe type. The basic difference is the adaptation of the Eddoe type to storage and survival in seasonally dry places, while the dasheen type needs to be maintained in a more or less continuously growing vegetative stage. These are now recognised as separate species names.