Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Ceratophyllum demersum

Edible: Leaves

A plant which grows in water and under the water. It forms tangled colonies. The stems are brittle and do not have roots. They are branched. They can be 2 m long. The leaves are 1.5-4 cm long and slender. They are dark green and forked. There are 7-12 leaves in a ring. The flowers are small and occur singly at the nodes. The flowers are of one sex. Male flowers have several stamens on a common stalk. Female flowers have an ovary without a stalk. The fruit are black and 4.5 mm long. There are 3 spines one at the end and 2 at the sides.

They grow in temperate to tropical waters. It occurs in streams, ponds and lakes. It grows in still or slow-flowing water. It can be in water up to 10 m deep. Flowers and fruit occur in water about 25°C. It grows best in slightly alkaline water rich in nitrogen. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,600 m above sea level. in Sichuan and Yunnan. In Uni of Calicut BG.

Common Names: Hornwort, Rigid hornwort, Candelabroaquatica, Cola de mono, Coontal, Foxtail, Gamban, Jin yu zao, Ksitsi, Mpusi, Nambha, Nasu, Navadni rogolist, Sheoyala, Shivala, Sivara, Ye-hnyi

Synonyms: 

Ceratophyllum oxyacanthum Cham.;
Ceratophyllum tuberculatum Cham.;
and several others

Ceratopteris thalictroides

Edible: Leaves, Fronds, Vegetable

A fern which grows in water. It is an annual plant. It grows 10-35 cm tall. It has soft upright stalks with light green soft fronds. The rhizome is short and sticks up. There are thin, clear, scales on the rhizome. The leaves vary from simple leaves, to leaves which are divided 3 times. The stem is anchored in mud. It grows as tufted clumps. Leaves are like carrot tops. The stem of the frond is spongy and air filled. It can grow under the water or be free floating. It produces small plants on the fronds. The fertile fronds which produce the spores, are longer and more finely divided, than the other fronds. They are more stiff and erect and turn brown when mature. The plant only lasts a few months.

A tropical plant. It grows in still or slow flowing fresh water in the tropics. It occurs in swamps up to 1300 m altitude in Papua New Guinea, but it is mostly below 500 m. It can float. It is found in all tropical countries. It is very frost tender. They occur throughout the Philippines near sea level on mud and are able to thrive in shallow water. It grows well in acidic soil (pH 5-6.5) and in shady places. It needs temperatures above 18°C. It grows in wetlands.

Common Names: Swamp fern, Water sprite, Water hornfern, Floating stag's horn, Hihiawai, Oriental water fern, Pakis air, Pakis rawa, Pakis tespong, Paku chai, Paku roman, Paku tespong, Pani dhaniya, Pani dhekia, Pani shak, Sachi, Sayur kodok, Sumatra fern, Water fern

Synonyms: 

Acrostichum thalictroides L;
Ceratoperis cornuta (P. Beauv.) Lepr.;
Ceratopteris siliquosa (L.) Copeland;
and others

Cerbera manghas

Edible: Leaves, CAUTION, Seeds VERY POISONOUS

An evergreen tree up to 8 m tall. It can reach 20 m high. It spreads to 2-5 m across. The stem is erect and branching. It has milky sap. The bark is grey brown. The branches come out in whorls, and they are marked with leaf scars. The leaves are bright green. The leaf stalk is 3-6 cm long. The leaf blade is oblong, and narrowing towards the tip. It is 6-37 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. Leaves are deeply veined and arranged in spirals around the stem. The flowers are white with a yellow throat. They are like tubes and 7.5 cm long by 2.5-5 cm across. They occur in dense clusters at the ends of branches. The flowers have a strong scent. The fruit are round and fleshy berries, which are 7.5 cm across. They are pink, tinged with purple. Often the fruit occur in pairs. They hang down.

A tropical plant. It grows best in rich, moist, well drained soils. It needs a sheltered and partly shaded position. It is drought and frost tender. It is often near swamps, near the sea and on rocky and sandy coasts. It can tolerate exposure near the coast, but is cold sensitive. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Townsville Anderson BG.

Common Names: Sea Mango, Grey Milkwood, Baraibai, Batano, Bentan, Bintaro, Bintaru, Cande, Chattankaya, Chemeridech, Dabur, Derei-yongo, Dhakur, Dog bane, Dteen-ped-nam, Hahoo, Kalwa, Kameduangel, Kassi Kattarali, Khakhou, Kodalma, Kottuma, Laholaho, Leva, Magkana, Monde, Native Frangipani, Pink eyed Cerbera, Pompong, Pong-pong, Reva, Rewa, Rubber tree, Salut, Sukanu, Te reiango, Tiin-pet-lek, Tin ped, Tok-tok kalau, Toto, Truc dao, Utalam, Vasa, Vasavasa, Za-lat

Synonyms:

Cerbera odollam Gaertn.;
Cerbera lactaria Buch.-Ham.;
and others

Chaetocarpus castanocarpus

Edible: Leaves

A shrub 1-5 m tall or a tree 45 m tall. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaf blades are 4-18 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The flowers are greenish-yellow. They are 3 mm across. The fruit are 1-2 cm across. They are yellow but turn reddish-brown as they ripen. The seeds are black with a small fleshy layer (aril) around them.

A tropical plant. It grows in dense forests in tropical Asia. It grows from sea level to 500 m altitude. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Akang, Bedi, Bukir, Dengin bobok, Dusun bukit, Hmanba, Jamilas, Jentian, Kantecha'l, Kayu batu, Kayu dusun, Lawang, Masam, Mauhi, Medang serukan, Nampadu, Obah nasih, Perupuk batu, Pingas, Sa-o-ya, Ubar bantan

Synonyms: 

Adelia castanocarpa Roxb.;
Chaetocarpus castanocarpus var. genuina Mull.Arg.;
Chaetocarpus pungens Thwaites;
Gaedawakka castanocarpa (Roxb.) Kuntze;
Regnaldia cluytioides Baill.;

Cheilocostus speciosus

Edible: Seedlings, Rhizomes, Roots, Stem, Leaves

A herb.

It is a tropical plant. It suits shady places. In Sikkim it grows between 300-1,800 m above sea level.

Common Names: Crepe ginger, Betlauri, Cheki kanda, Gaigobara, Harduli, Keukand

Synonyms: 

Costus speciosus (J. Koenig) Sm.;
and many others

Chenopodium ficifolium

Edible: Leaves, Seeds

It is a herb. It grows 20-50 cm tall. The stems are green and have ridges along them. The leaf blade is oval and 3-5 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. They usually have 3 lobes. The flowers are in round groups spreading along the ends of the branches. The seeds are black and 1 mm across.

It is a temperate plant. In Bhutan it grows between 500 and 1600 m above sea level.

Common Names: Fig-leaved goosefoot, Bethu, Kinhgioi trang, Ma lan gai, Nui za, Pa hong ge, Rau muoi

Synonyms: 

Anserina ficifolia (Sm.) Montadon;
Chenopodium blomianum Aellen;
Chenopodium filifolium Krock.;
Chenopodium populifolium Moq.;
Chenopodium trilobum Schult. ex Moq.;

Choerospondias axillaris

Edible: Leaves, Fruit

A tree that loses its leaves. It is 15-30 m high and has a trunk 40-50 cm across. The young branches are stout. They are 5 mm across. The small branches are purple brown in colour. The leaves are alternate. They are compound made up of pairs of leaflets with one leaflet at the end. The leaves are 25-40 cm long. The leaflets are in 5-13 pairs and 10 cm long by 3-3.5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2 cm long. The male and female flowers occur on separate trees. The male flowers are in loose irregular arrangements either at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. They are 15-20 cm long. The female flowers occur singly or in 2's or 3's in the axils of leaves. The flowers are reddish-purple. The fruit is fleshy and has 5 stones inside. The fruit is 3 cm across and is yellow.

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in Northern Vietnam and below 600 m altitude. It is mostly on deep, wet red soils. It grows between 600-2000 m altitude in southern Yunnan. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Common Names: Lapsi, Nepalese hogplum, Amali, Biu la yang, Del-cline, Hamoi-tenga, Ju-ru-ra, Kalah, Khamoli-sali, Labshi, Lapsee, Lapsi, Lat xoan, Lobsi, Maimeo, Makok nang, Mamue, Manang, Mang men, Mu, Nan-suan-zao, Njing-chi, Nying sho sha, Pako chi, Phindruwa, Pindumsi, Pintupsi, Pohon lapsi, Saa-lee-puu, Seesiat thet, Silot-kung, Siolt-kung, Sning-zho-sha, Southern sour jujube, Thaisudi-khasiba, Wu yan liu tong, Xoan nhur, Xuyen coc

Synonyms: Poupartia axillaris (Roxb.) King & Prain;
Poupartia fordii Hemsl.;
Spondias axillaris Roxb.;
Spondias acuminata Gamble, non Roxb.;

Cibotium barometz

Edible: Root, Leaves, Fronds

A tree fern. It lies along the ground or can be erect. It has long yellow hairs over the tips. The fronds are twice divided and have hairs at their base.

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. In southern China it grows between 200-600 m above sea level but can be at higher altitudes. It grows on open hill slopes and near streams between 500-1,600 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan.

Common Names: Golden chicken fern, Golden lamb fern, A cong, Can tich, Dalie, Debademao, De bu, Golden moss, Guogu, Long culy, Pakis domba emas, Pakis penawar jambi, Pakis simpei, Woolly fern

Synonyms: 

Polypodium barometz L.;
and others

Cicer arietinum

Edible: Seeds, Leaves, Roots - coffee, Vegetable

An annual legume herb. Plants are 40-60 cm high and all parts are hairy. It is erect with many branches. Plants are often bluish green in colour. Plants have a strong taproot. The root carries many nodules. The leaves are 5 cm long. It has leaves made up of 9-15 pairs of leaflets along a stalk and a single leaflet at the end. The leaflets are 1-2 cm long by 0.3-1.4 cm wide and strongly pointed and with a saw toothed edge. The flowers can be white, pink or purple. The flowers are carried singly on long stalks in the axils of leaves. The flowers normally never open and are self pollinated. The pods are inflated. Pods are 2-3 cm long and have 1 or 2 seeds. The seeds are angular and up to 1 cm across. They have a pointed beak. The seed colour can vary from brown, white, red or black. There are many named cultivated varieties.

A subtropical crop. It suits high altitudes in the tropics because it needs cold nights with dew. It is well suited to semi arid regions. It can tolerate salt and drought. It does not do well in warm, humid places. It needs well drained soil. It is damaged by frost. For best growth, night temperatures between 18-26°C and day temperatures of 21-29°C, are required. The temperature range of 8°C between day and night is required. Rainfall of 600-750 mm and a relative humidity of 20-40% is suitable. The best pH is 5.5-7.5 but they will grow on alkaline soils. In Nepal they are grown up to 1300 m altitude. In Ethiopia it grows between 1,600-2,200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.

Common Names: Chickpea, Bengal gram, But, Ceci, Chana, Chanaka, Chania, Channa, Chayote, Chhola, Chola, Chunna, Davulga, Egyptian pea, Garbanzo, Garvance, Hamsa, Harbara, Hiyoko mame, Hummus, Indian gram, Kadalai, Kadale, Kala-pe, Mukhudo, Myinsa-pe, Navadna čičerika, Nhana, Pitipoankarany, Pois chiche, Sanagalu, Singaung-pe, Ying zui dou

Synonyms: 

Cicer album Hort.;
Cicer asiaticum;
Cicer grossum Salsib.;
Cicer nigrum Hort.;
Cicer orientale;
Cicer physodes Reichb.;
Cicer rotundum Alef.;
Cicer sativum Schkuhr.;
Ononis crotalarioides M. E. Jones;

Spathodea campanulata

Edible : Seeds, Flowers,

A tree. It grows 25-30 m high. The bark is light grey. It forms buttresses. Leaves are opposite. The branches are rather short. In moist climates it may keep its leaves and in dry climates it may shed its leaves for a short time. The leaves are compound and divided into an odd number of leaflets. There are 9-19 pairs + one. The leaflets are oval and sword shaped. They have a long point. They are 5-10 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. The flower buds are velvety brown. They are in cone like masses at the ends of branches. The flowers are large and scarlet red. The flowers are wide and bell shaped. The fruit is a long, pointed woody pod. It is 20 cm long. It contains many winged seeds.

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in tropical Africa. It has been spread to all parts of the tropics. In Nigeria it grows up to 900 m above sea level. It grows in forest along river banks. It suits plant hardiness zones 11-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Common names : African Tulip Tree, Ar-fri-ka-hyu-lit-pin, Arvore das chamas, Cafauano, Culasseque, Flame of the Forest, Flame tree, Fountain tree, Gabonski tulipovec, Hirunduni, Kibobakasi, Kifabakazi, Lujjekaye, Masamasa, Mukulukulu, Munsasa, Nandi flame, Neerukaye, Nsasa mpwatu, Panchut-panchut, Patade, Patadi, Patadiya, Piquerio, Pohon cahaya hutan, Pohon kecrutan, Rugtoora, Scarlet bell tree, Sebetaiyet, Squirt tree, Sula-selo, Suncunde, Teme, Tombo-lembei, Tulip tree, Tumbo-lembei, Zowa zowa,

Synonyms : 

Bignonia tulipifera Schum.;
Spathodea nilotica Seemann;
Spathodea tulipifera (Schum.) G. Don;
and others