Some 3 billion people in the world live outside the cash economy in the world’s poorest nations. Food security and regular supply are their daily concerns. Chronic malnutrition is a leading cause of death and disease for them. Young children are amongst the most affected. One child every 5-10 seconds dies from undernutrition. Vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness for someone every minute. Most people in tropical and subtropical countries are iron deficient.
Our goal is to provide information that enables people to choose the right plant for their environment, to give them stable food production and a greater choice of plants to enrich their diets and improve their nutritional wellbeing.
The plant fact sheets listed in this collection are only a small portion of those available from FPI. Please check your plant inquiries in the ECHO Search and reference the FPI plant database for further information.
Most of the plants selected to list here are further described in country-specific publications by Food Plant Solutions (FPS in the Search).
8000 Starchy Staples
7000 Legumes
6000 Leafy Greens
5000 Fruits
4000 Vegetables
3000 Nuts, Seeds, Herbs, and other foods
792 Issues in this Publication (Showing issues - ) Previous | Next
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Edible: Flowers, Leaves, Vegetable, Seeds sprouts
A herb. It is a cabbage family plant which develops a thick white edible flower in the centre. These can be yellow or purple. It has broad leaves around a thick stalk. The leaves clasp the stem. The leaves are oval and fleshy. The flowers are yellow.
It is a temperate plant. It mostly grows in the highlands in the tropics but has been grown from sea level to 2600 m altitude. In PNG it is best above 1,100 m above sea level. It is frost resistant. The best temperature is 14-21°C. In Nepal it grows up to 1800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.
Common Names: Bloemkoolblad, Blumkol, Coliflor, Cvetača, Hua ye cai, Fulkopi, Kalam dok, Kalampii dook, Kaule, Kol bunga, Koli flawa, Kori, Kubis bunga, Monla-paw, Pan-kobi, Pan-mon-la, Parbawr, Phkaa spei, Phool ghoni, Phul-kopi, Sofilera, Thaba-paw, Ye ts'oi fa
Synonyms:
Brassica botrytis (L.) Miller;
Brassica cauliflora Garsault;
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Stems, Vegetable
A cabbage family herb. It is a short leafy plant with a thick stalk. In cold areas it forms a thick tightly packed ball of leaves called a "head". If the plant is left growing in the ground it will later produce a flower stalk. The flowers are yellow. There are 3 main types - the white cabbage, a purple kind and one with wrinkled leaves.
It is a temperate crop. It does best at higher altitudes in the tropics where there is a greater difference between day and night temperatures. Seed germinate when soil temperature is between 13-16°C. It does not grow properly when temperatures are above 26°C. New varieties grow in warmer places. It is mostly above 1000 m altitude in the tropics. They are frost resistant. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.
Common Names: Bandha-kopi, Cobaj, Col, Ghobi, Kabeji, Kapusta, Kepeje kakalu, Kaveti kovu, Kaveti olo, Kobi-htoke, Laisoa, Monla-htoke, Mon-laptus, Repoluu, Te kabeti, Thapa-bo
Synonyms:
Brassica capitata (Linnaeus) H. Léveillé.;
Brassica rapa
Edible: Roots, Leaves, Seeds, Flowers
A cabbage family herb. It is an erect annual plant. It has a round white fleshed taproot. It is often tinged purple. The leaves are divided and have hairs. Where the leaves join the root it is not raised into a "neck". There are Asian or more tropical varieties. These will produce seed in warmer places.
The wild form is a thin plant with leaves that clasp the stem. The pods are 4-6.5 cm long and have seedless beaks 2-3.2 cm long.
It is a temperate plant. It will grow in both the lowlands and highlands in the tropics but does best in the highlands between 1700 and 2600 m altitude. In Java it can be grown above 1,000 m above sea level. It is frost resistant. A temperature of 9-16°C is best. Also short daylength and cool weather are important. It grows in Nepal to 2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Colza, Couve-naveira, Gantemula, Mortaga, Mostacilla, Mostarda, Mostaza, Nabica, Nabo blanco, Nabo salvaje, Nabo silvestre, Navina, Naviza, Ngedon, Nuucu, Pata de cuervo, Rave, Repollo silvestre, Shita, Tenjilo, Xartala, Yuyo
Synonyms:
See Brassica rapa var. rapa
Brassica campestris var. rapa;
Brassica rapa var. campestris (L.) Peterm.;
Broussonetia kurzii
Edible: Flowers, Fruit
A wild climbing shrub. The leaves are alternate. They are oval and narrow towards the tip and are reduced towards the base. They are 7-20 cm long by 2.5-7 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2-3 mm long. The flower arrangements have male and female flowers separately. The male flowers are spikes like cylinders. They are 4-5 cm long. The female flowers are clusters with 3-5 heads. They are 5-7 mm wide. The fruit is a dry one enclosed in bracts. It is 8-10 mm across. The seeds are shaped like a lens.
A tropical plant. It is found in tropical deciduous forest and scrub. In Yunnan in China it grows between 200-600 m altitude.
Common Names: Luo ye hua sang
Synonyms:
Allaeanthus kurzii J.D.Hooker;
Broussonetia papyrifera
Edible: Fruit, Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
A small deciduous tree. It grows up to about 8-15 metres tall. The stem is often surrounded by a ring of suckers. The bark is dark grey. It has very hairy branches and a milky sap. The leaf stalk is 2.3-8 cm long. Leaves are arranged in spirals. The leaves are large, heart shaped and sometimes with 3 lobes. Leaves can be 6-20 cm long by 5-9 cm wide. The leaves are rough on the upper side and woolly underneath. Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. Male flowers are produced on stout hanging flower stalks up to 7 cm long. These have creamy anthers. Female flowers have slender purple stigmas and are produced in round heads which can be 2 cm across. It has a club shaped pulpy fruit, orange in colour. They are mulberry like and edible. Fruit do not occur on plants in the Pacific as only male trees occur.
A tropical plant. It is native to China and Japan. The trees are mostly planted. They are grown in many areas of PNG. They prefer a cool climate and do best on moist soils. They need good sunlight. In Yunnan in China it grows below 2000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 6-12. In Sichuan.
Common Names: Ai masi, Aute, Duong, Gou shu, Goushuguo, Goutao, Gouye, Guo sha, Hiapo, Hwaing-kan-setku, Jangali toot, Kaagda, Lafi, Maisa, Mai-sai-le, Mai-sau, Maisha, Mai-tun-sao, Malaing, Malo, Mamajang, Masa, Ma san, Masi, Me day, Musa, Namas, Na sha er zi, Poh-krasah, Por sa, Rou yang, Sa lae, Tapa cloth tree, Tha-le, Tomune, Tutu, U'a, Ute, Wauke
Synonyms:
Morus papyrifera L.;
Papyrius papyrifera (L.) Kuntze;
Smithiodendron artocarpioideum Hu;
and others
Brucea javanica
Edible: CAUTION
An evergreen shrub. It grows to a height of 3-7 m and spreads to 3 m across. The stem is erect and branching. It is hairy when young. The leaves are compound leaves and produced alternately. They are 30-50 cm long and have 5 to 11 leaflets. These are oval but tapering to the tip and with coarse teeth around the edge. The leaflets are 5-8 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The flowers are purple and small. The fruit are about 5 mm long.
It is a tropical plant. It grows best in rich, moist, well drained soils in a sheltered partly shaded position. It commonly grows along creek banks. It needs a temperature above 15-18°C. It grows up to 1,000 m above sea level in Borneo. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Bhakamilo, Bhakiamilo, Biji makasar, Brucea jawa, Buah Makasar, Hala, Perdu kuwalot, Pohon tongkat ali, Tiuru, Ya dan zi
Synonyms:
Ailanthus gracilis Salisb.;
Brucea amarissima (Lour.) Desv.;
Brucea glabrata Decne;
Brucea gracilis (Salisb.) DC.;
Brucea sumatrana Roxb.;
Brucea sumatrensis Spreng.;
Gonus amarissima Lour.;
Lussa amarissima O. Ktze;
Rhus javanica L. non auct.;
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Roots
A large evergreen tree up to 36 m high with stilt and knee-like roots. The trunk can be 80 cm across and is mostly straight. The bark is rough and grey on the outside and red inside. The leaves are mostly clustered near the ends of the many branches. The leaves are oval and leathery simple leaves and 15- 22 cm x 6-9 cm. They are pointed at the tip and the base is wedge shaped. The tip of the leaves does not have the midrib extended. The upper surface is shiny and the lower surface dull. The leaf stalk is red. The flowers are distinctive and often found washed up along the sand and mud. They are red and occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are 3 to 4 cm across. The outer case of sepals is bell shaped and leathery and for half its length has narrow pointed teeth. These are usually 12 to 15 in number. The fruit is long in shape and 3 cm long. It can germinate and produce a hypocotyl which is a long green structure growing from the centre of the flower and is up to 25 cm long. It has ridges along it. The leaves are more densely grouped together than with Bruguiera sexangula and also the fruit are longer.
A tropical plant. They occur in mangrove swamps throughout the Philippines, and Asian and Pacific countries. It occurs in mangrove swamps but in the driest, best aerated soil. It can tolerate brackish or salt water flooded by high tide. It normally grows between sea level and 2 m altitude. It does best with temperatures between 20-30°C. It grows in acid to neutral soils with a pH between 4 and 7.4. It can grow in arid places.
Common Names: Aongo, Betut, Biiu, Bodu kandoo, Burma mangrove, Busaing, Denges, Dogo, Dogo-kana, Dogo salusalu, Dogo tagane, Etam, Etum, Fago, Fogo, Jon, Kandeka, Kankara, Kankra, Kekra, Khoa, Ko'a ania, Koa kini, Large-leaved Mangrove, Mangle machu, M'tumansi, Mchofi, Mkifu, Mshinzi, Muia, Ong, Pang ka hua sum, Pasak, Petu, Rasinia, Sigapukokandam, Sohmw, Sraol, Tangampoly, Tango, Tanjung, Te buangi, Thuddaponna, Tiotsa, Tiri, Tiri wai, Togo, Tongo, Tumbus, Tumu merah, Tumu, Tumus, Vet du
Synonyms:
Rhizophora gymnorrhiza L.;
Bruguiera conjugata (L.) Merr.;
Bruguiera australis Arn.;
Bruguiera capensis Blume;
Bruguiera cylindrica (non Blume) Hance;
Bruguiera eriopetala W. & Arn.;
Bruguiera reedii Blume;
Rhizophora conjugata L.;
Rhizophora australis (Arn.) Steud.;
Butea monosperma
Edible: Roots, Flowers, Gum, Leaves, Pods
A strongly branched tree. It has an irregular trunk. It becomes twisted with age. It grows 8 to 15 m high and spreads to 3-5 m wide. The cut bark yields a red gum. The leaves are leathery but with a silky back. They consist of 3 diamond shaped leaflets. These are 10-20 cm long by 4-20 cm wide and on stalks almost as long. The flowers are on equal length stalks around a common axis. These are 15 cm long and have rich red flowers with silver hairs. The flowers are 3-4 cm long. The flower stalks appear along the bare branches. The fruit is oblong and 10-20 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are flat, thin pods with silvery hairs. The seed are produced towards the top end of the pod. The seeds are 3.5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide and very flattened.
A tropical plant. It is native to India, Burma and Sri Lanka. They are frost tender. It grows in the Himalayas up to 1,220 m altitude. It can grow on gravels or plains soils. It needs a well-drained soil. It needs full sun. It can tolerate some soil salinity. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Bastard Tree, Bengal kino, Chan mot hot, Char, Charr, Chhar, Dangs, Dhak, Gienggieng, Khakhar, Moduga, Morud, Mutthuga, Muttuga, Palas in samatha, Palas, Palasa, Palash, Palasha, Parasa, Parsa, Plah, Ploso, Pohon api-api hutan, Pohon palasa, Polash, Thawng-kwaao, Thong-gwao
Synonyms:
Butea frondosa Koenig ex Roxb.;
Erythrina monosperma Lamk.;
Plaso monosperma Kuntze;
Calamus siamensis
Edible: Shoots
A rattan.
It is a tropical plant. It grows in scrub forest between sea level and 300 m altitude.
Common Names: Krae-batu, Wai bun
Synonyms:
Calamus siamensis Becc. var. malaianus Furtado;
Calathea lutea
Edible: Leaves - spice
A large herb. It can be 5 m high. It grows in clumps. The leaves are large and paddle shaped. They are green. The flowers are yellow.
It is a tropical plant. It can grow in partly flooded or well drained sites. Brisbane Botanical gardens. In Townsville palmetum.
Common Names: Bakuwa, Berijo, Berijado, Bijao, Bijagua, Cashibou, Cauassu, Chakra panka, Fiba jaki, Hoja blanca, Hoya de te, Ja'opo, Krigo nue, Tho
Synonyms:
Calathea cachibou (Jacq.) Lindl. ex Horan.;
Calathea discolor G. Mey.;
Calathea magnifica C.V. Morton & Skutch;
Maranta cachibou Jacq.;
Maranta casupo Jacq.;
Maranta disticha Buc'hoz;
Maranta lutea Aubl.;
Phrynium casupo (Jacq.) Roscoe;
Phrynium luteum (Aubl.) Sweet;
Phyllodes lutea (Aubl.) Kuntze;
