Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Dracontomelon dao

Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Seeds, Flowers

A large tree up to 50 m tall and with an umbrella shaped crown of leaves. It often has buttresses at the base. The leaves are hairy and compound with both the leaflets and leaves carried alternately. The leaves come one after the other on opposite sides and have 5 to 7 pairs of leaflets. The leaves are pointed at the end and bluntly pointed at the base. The leaflets have a smooth edge. Young leaves are reddish colour. The flowers are small white, with no smell and carried as several on a stalk. The fruit are yellow and round. The fruit is 2-3 cm across and has 5 flecks around it. There is little edible flesh around a flattened seed.

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest and in valleys up to about 800 m. It occurs in high rainfall areas. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 1,800-2,900 mm. It is common throughout the Philippines at low altitudes. The tree also occurs in other SE Asian countries. They are common from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao in the Philippines.

Common Names: Alauihau, Argus pheasant tree, Basuong, Belgian walnut, Bengkuang, Challigan, Chengkuang, Dahu, Dar, Dau, Djakan, Halowihaw, Jan-mien-tzu, Ka-kho, Kamarag, Ko, Lamio, Ngar-bauk, Ngkung, Paldao, Paya-ngar-su, Peldao, Pohon dahu, Prachao haa, Ra, Rau, Saentaalom, Sakal, Sa-kuan, Sang-kuan, Sarunsab, Sau, Sekuang, Sengkuang, Singkuang, Sorosob, Surgan, Suronsub, Tako, Takuu, Talantjap, Tarosoup, Taw-thit-kya, Tehrengzeb, Ungkawang, Urui, Yun meen

Synonyms: 

Comeurya cumingiana Baillon;
Dracontomelon brachyphyllum Ridl.;
Dracontomelon celebicum Koord. [Invalid];
Dracontomelon cumingianum (Baillon) Baillon;
Dracontomelon edule (Blanco) Skeels;
Dracontomelon lamiyo Merr.;
Dracontomelon laxum K. Sch.;
Dracontomelon mangiferum (Blume) Blume;
Dracontomelon mangiferum var. puberulum (Miq.) Engl.;
Dracontomelon mangiferum var. pubescens K. & V.;
Dracontomelon puberulum Miq.;
Dracontomelon sylvestre Blume;
Paliurus dao Blanco;
Paliurus edulis Blanco;
Paliurus lamiyo Blanco;
Pomum draconum Rumph.;
Pomum draconum silvestre Rumph.;
Poupartia mangifera Bl.;

Ixora chinensis

Edible : Fruit, Flower

A small round evergreen shrub. It grows 0.5-2 m tall. It spreads 1.5 m wide. The leaves are glossy and deep green. They are oval and 6-18 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are in rings of about 4. The flowers are red or yellow. They are in heads 12 cm across. The fruit is reddish-black and 6-7 mm long by 6-7 mm wide.

A tropical plant. It can grow in the subtropics. It is native to southern China where it grows between 200-800 m above sea level. It is common on hillsides. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Common names : Dragon-boat flower, Chinese ixora, Da'k khem, Jarum-jarum merah, Kam rotesh, Longchuanhua, Pechah periok, Pial ayam hutan, Santan tsina, Siantan hutan, Siantan jantan, Soka cina,

Synonyms : 

Ixora stricta Roxb.;
Ixora amoena Wall.;
Ixora dubia Schult.;
Ixora incarnata Roxb. ex Smith;
Ixora rosea Sims.;
and others

Desmodium velutinum

Edible: Leaves

A woody shrub. It grows from 0.5-2 m high. The stems are densely covered with pale hairs when young. The leaves normally have one leaflet but occasionally 3. The leaflet is 2.5-19 cm long by 1.1-13 cm wide. It is bluntly rounded at the tip. There a hairs which are more rough on top and velvety underneath. The flowers are 5 mm long in clusters either at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. These flower clusters are 2-30 cm long. They are covered with hooked hairs. The flowers are mauve, red or blue. The fruit are pods 1.2-2.4 cm long and with 2-7 segments.

A tropical plant. It tends to grow in grassland and drier areas. In Papua New Guinea is occurs from 2 m to 600 m altitude. In Zimbabwe it grows between 100-1,320 m above sea level.

Common Names: 'Danka ' dafi, Damgere, Kulenhimaba, Macabreu, Nhacanama, Nangata-tchenche, Rap-rap, Tamron, Tam, Thoclep, Trangqua long

Synonyms: Anarthrosyne cordata Klotzsch;
Hedysarum velutinum Willd.;
Desmodium lasiocarpum (Beauv.) DC;
Desmodium latifolium (Ker-Gawl.) DC.;
and others

Diplocyclos palmatus

Edible: Leaves, Fruit, Caution, Vegetable

A herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It is a slender climbing plant with angular stems. The stems are weak but the lower part can be somewhat woody. It can climb to 2-4 m high. The stems are angular and grooved. The rootstock is fleshy. The leaves have 3 or 5 lobes divided like fingers on a hand and are 10-15 cm wide by 6-17 cm long. There are fine teeth on the top edges of the leaves and the leaves are angular. The leaves are rough on top but smooth underneath. The leaf stalks are 3-9 cm long. The stem has tendrils which have 1 or 2 branches. Flowers are small and yellow or green. Male and female flowers are separate but often together near a leaf. Often one or two female flowers are surrounded by several male flowers. The fruit is 4 cm long and green with pale streaks along it. The leaves and stems give off a bad smell when damaged.

It is a tropical plant. It occurs on the coast in Papua New Guinea and grows up to about 1000 m above sea level. It Africa it grows to 1,830 m above sea level. It needs a well drained soil and can grow in a sunny or partial shady position. The plant also grows in Africa, India, Malaysia, China and Australia. There are a couple of subspecies. It can grow in arid places.

Common Names: Aattupudal, Ba-da, Ban kakra, Bankarela, Ghungarubhaji, Kavdoli, Kongakonga, Korek kotok, Kuniyanchappu, Lollipop climber, Luongluan chan-vit, Mahadevpind, Malaipusanni, Shanker-vel, Shivlingi, Sivalingakkai, Sivalingi, Tendu, Uvakandasopu

Synonyms: 

Bryonia affinis Endl.;
Bryonopsis affinis (Endl.) Cogn.;
Bryonia lacinosa L.;
Bryanopsis lacinosa (L.) Naud.;
Bryonia palmata L.;
Bryonopsis pancheri (Naudin) Naudin;
Ilocania pedata Merr.;
Trichosanthes muelleri Cogn.;
Zehneria erythrocarpa F. Mueller;

Sterculia pexa

Edible : Seeds

A deciduous tree. It grows 5-10 m high. The young branches are chalky white. The leaves are compound. They have leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. There are 7-9 leaflets. They are 9-23 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. The flowers are greenish-white. The fruit are follicles. These are 4-9 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The outside is woody. The seeds are oblong and 1.5 cm long by 1 cm wide. They are shiny black.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open deciduous forest or dry evergreen forest. In Thailand it grows between 100-900 m above sea level.

Common names : Woolly pingpo, Jia ma shu, Trom hoe,

Synonyms :

Sterculia pexa var. yunnanensis (Hu) H. H. Hsue;
Sterculia yunnanensis Hu;

Debregeasia longifolia

Edible: Fruit, Leaves

A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-3 m tall. The small branches are dark brown. The leaves are long and oval with teeth along the edge. They are 6-20 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. They are dark green above when mature and ashy soft hairs underneath. The male and female flowers are produced separately on the same plant. The flowers are whitish and in small heads. The fruit are yellow when ripe. They have many small embedded nutlets.

A tropical plant. In Nepal it grows from 500-2200 m altitude. It grows along river banks. In central and western China it grows to 1,400 m altitude. It suits shady moist places. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Bayo esing, Bol-tysim, Chyet-kyi-dauk, Daar, Dalah esing, Githi, Hka-numri, Jirepole, Kattunochi, Kowlousii, Ling-shi-ting, Lingsi, Madeilo, Mao ma qiang ga, Monili, Namey, Neerinch, Ngamey, Ngamoy, Put-chaw, Qia bu ren, Sansaru, Sifei, So-tyrsim, Tashiari, Tatamtanam, Tsunyu, Tusaray, Tusare, Tushaare, Tushar, Tushiari, Tushiyari, Tussara, Udu, Wild rhea, Yangyangpa, Ye-tha-kwa

Synonyms: 

Conocephalus niveus Wight;
Debregeasia dichotoma (Blume) Weddell;
Debregeasia libera Chien & C. J. Chen;
Debregeasia velutina Gaud.-Beaup.;
Morocarpus dichotomus (Blume) Blume;
Morocarpus longifolius (N. L. Burman) Blume;
Morocarpus velutinus Blume;
Urtica angustata Blume;
Urtica dichotoma Blume;
Urtica longifolia Burm.f.;

Deeringia amaranthoides

Edible: Leaves, Seeds

A small shrub or climber up to 5 m tall. The stem is woody and it branches. Young shoots are slender and smooth. The leaves are alternate and oval or sword shaped. They are 10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. They are drawn out to a long point and are bright green with a thin texture. The flowers occur in slender spikes up to 25 cm long. These are in the axils of the upper leaves. Flowers are 0.4 cm across and greenish white. Flowers contain both sexes. Seeds are about 1.2 mm across, smooth and black. They are inside a bright red berry which is carried in clusters on long slender spikes. The fruit are 0.5 cm long with 3 furrows long it.

A tropical plant. It occurs in the Sepik, Madang, Morobe and Central Provinces in Papua New Guinea. It is often near forest edges near creeks in the rainforest. It occurs up to 1200 m altitude. This plant is also used as food in Fiji, Indonesia and Taiwan. It needs a well drained humus rich soil. It needs a sheltered position and partial shade. It is drought and frost tender.

Common Names: Bajam besar, Bajam pohon, Bakri sag, Bayam besar, Bayem luur, Chhorachhuri saag, Dalbergia karat, Dialinh den, Ditiran, Gaulmauni, Gola-mohani, Handing, Hanthai, Janger, Kakum, Kala-loari, Khruea yang, Kyet-sa-gwe, Latman, Mathak thuka, Mborowa, Men meni, Monbir, Onno ligbo reibe, Parongbee, Peh-zerak, Phaahom plaa, Rangoli lota, Rangoli-lota, Sili-silihan, Tokoi

Synonyms: 

Achyranthes amaranthoides Lam.;
Celosia baccata Retz.;
Cladostachys frutescens D. Don.;
Cladostachys amaranthoides (Lam.) K. C. Kuan;
Deeringia celosioides R Brown;
Deeringia baccata (Retz.) Moq.;

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.