Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Callicarpa rubella

Edible: Leaves, ? edible or wrapping?, Bark - masticatory, Root

A compact semi-deciduous shrub. The stems are 2.7 m long. They arch over. The leaves are pale yellowish-green. They are 12 cm long. The flowers are small and pink. The fruit are deep purple berries. They remain on the plant for a long time.

It is a subtropical plant. It grows naturally in tropical and subtropical Asia. It needs a warm location. In southern China it grows between 100-3,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Common Names: Bonmala, Gopura esing, Ja-lang-kwai

Camellia japonica

Edible: Leaves - tea, Seeds - oil, Flowers, Leaves

A shrub or small tree. It grows 1.8-7.5 m tall. It spreads 1.8-6 m wide. The leaves are glossy on the top surface and dull and spotted underneath. They are broadly oval and pointed. The flowers are large and red. The fruit vary in size. Many named varieties occur.

It is a temperate plant. It is resistant to frost but sensitive to drought. In Japan it grows along river banks and on the edges of forests. It grow in forests between 300-1,100 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Arboretum Tasmania. They do well with a pH of 4.5-5.5. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Dongbaek-kkambugi, False flax, Gold of pleasure, Japonska kamelija, Kamelia jepang, Mawar musim dingin, Rose of winter, Shancha, Siberian oil seed, Trahoa nhat, Tsitsmati

Synonyms: 

Thea japonica Nois.

Camellia kissi

Edible: Fruit, Seeds - oil, Leaves - tea

A shrub 2m to 12 m high. The leaves have short stalks. The leaves are 3-10 cm long by 1.5-4.5 cm wide. The leaves are oval and have teeth along the edge. The flowers are single and in the axils of leaves. They are white and fragrant. The fruit is a capsule. It is round and reddish.

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in evergreen forest between 1,000 and 2,100 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 900-2100 m altitude. It grows on moist ground in hill forest. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Ban chiya, Diend-tyrnem-bhai, Hinguwa, Sa reng reng, Tra nhuy-ngan, Yua Cha Shue

Synonyms: 

Camellia drupifera Dyer, non Lour.;
Camellia keina Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don;

Camellia sasanqua

Edible: Seeds, Spice, Leaves - tea, Seeds - oil

A shrub. It grows 3-6 m tall and spreads 3-4.5 m wide. The leaves are small. They are very shiny. The flowers are small and have a sweet scent. The flowers are white but coloured varieties with large flowers have been bred.

It is a subtropical plant. It is frost hardy but the flowers can be damaged by frost. They need moisture but benefit from good warm sun. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Arboretum Tasmania.

Common Names: Cha hua, Chamei, Kamelia sasangkua, Mei camellia, Perdu teh sasangkua, Sazanka, Shan cha, So, Tra-mai

Camellia sinensis

Edible: Leaves - tea, Flowers, Seeds - oil

An evergreen tree. It grows to a height of 10-15 m and spreads 4 m across. Trees are normally pruned into bushes. The stem is slender. The bark is yellowish grey. It has a strong taproot and side roots just under the soil. The leaves are dark green and glossy. They are elongated and leathery. They can be 5-30 cm long. The leaves taper towards the base and the tip. The edges of the leaves have fine teeth along them. The leaf stalks are short. The flowers are white and small. They can occur either singly or in broad flat clusters. The fruit is a woody capsule. It can be 1.5 cm across. There are over 350 named cultivated varieties.

A tropical and subtropical plant. It suits warm temperate climates. It needs light, humus rich soils. Soils should be well drained. A pH less than 6 is best. It requires an open sunny position. It is damaged by drought and by frost. It is common in the wet highlands of many tropical countries. A rainfall over 1,500 mm is suitable. Temperatures in the range 13°-30°C are suitable. In Nepal it grows between 450-1200 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Hobart Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Common Names: 

Canavalia gladiata

Edible: Seeds, Leaves, Pods, Spice, Vegetable

A climbing or sometimes bushy and upright bean plant. Mostly it is a climber. It can be 4 m long. The leaves have 3 large leaflets. The leaflets are oval and 7.5-20 cm long by 5-12 cm wide. The top of the leaf can narrow abruptly to a tip while the base can be rounded or broadly wedge shaped. The leaves are slightly hairy on both surfaces. The leaf stalk is 5-12 cm long. The flowers are in groups and are white. The flower cluster is 7-12 cm long and the flower cluster stalk 4-20 cm long. The individual flower stalks are 2 mm long. The pods are long (20-40 cm) and curved. Seeds are coloured red or pink. The hilum is dark brown and almost as long as the seed.

A tropical plant. It requires a tropical climate. Temperatures of 20-30°C suit it well and it grows from sea level to about 1000 m altitude in equatorial zones. They are drought and salt resistant. They can grow on lowland tropical nutrient depleted soils. They can grow on soils with pH from 4.5-7.0. They can tolerate some shade. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Abai, Abbo, Alad, Baikang, Baikng, Bara sem, Bo ba ji noe, Bon shim, Carabanz, Chemma kaaya, Dau-rua, Frijol cafe, Frijol de machete, Ghevada, Habas, Jangli Sem, Jungli abhui, Kacang parasman, Kacang polong, Kachang hantu, Kachang nyonya, Kachang parang, Kaos parasman, Kara pedang, Kara wedung, Koas bakol, Lal kadsumbal, Madezo, Magtambokau, Makhan shim, Moushim, Naga sem, Nam-nawbaw, Namtaipee, Nkasa, Pe-dalet, Pe-dama, Pe-damouk, Pe-det, Pe-gale, Pe-naung-ni, Rar bu-shot kwen-e, Sanndaek triehs, Scimitar-bean, Segapu thambattai, Sem, Shembi avare, Tarvardi, Thampattai, Thua phraa, Tioeuhs, Tua pra, Tumbekai, Yerra tamma

Synonyms: 

Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. var. alba Makino;
Canavalia ensiformis auct. non (L.) DC.;
Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. var. gladiata (Jacq.) Kuntze;
Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. var. alba (Makino) Hisauti;
Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. var. machaeroides DC.;
Canavalia gladiolata J. D. Sauer;
Canavalia incurva (Thunb.) DC.;
Canavalia incurva Thouars;
Canavalia loureirii G. Don.;
Canavalia machaeroides (DC.) Steudel;
Canavalia maxima Thouars;
Dolichos gladiatus Jacq.;
Dolichos incurvus Thunb.;
Malocchia gladiata (Jacq.) Savi;

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Edible: Leaves, Tea, Seeds, Vegetable, Caution, Pods, Flowers, Root

A cabbage family herb. It is an annual plant or it can take 2 years to complete its life cycle. The stem is erect. It grows to 60 cm high. It has a rosette of leaves near the base. The leaves vary in shape and are toothed along the edge. The upper leaves are smaller, sword shaped and without stalks. The flowers are white. They are in clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit is a flat, triangular, pod.

It grows in temperate and subtropical places. In Nepal it grows to 4,800 m altitude. It grows best in moist soils. It grows in higher rainfall areas. It is resistant to frost and drought. It survives the winter snow. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,490-1,920 m above sea level. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Common Names: A zu o qi, Badman’s Oatmeal, Bhursa di picararu, Bicibici, Bit otu, Bo bo lei zhu, Bo guo guo, Bolsa de pastor, Borsa del pastore, Camarak, Capsell, Chalne, Chamso, Chamsure jhar, Cha-tsho-thamh, Chhyamachhyaru, Chibotey, Chinese cress, Chiri halian, Chmso, Chorrontelas, Cimlik, Coban cantasi, Cocowort, Derelahanasi, Devanaeras, Didicai, Entanenga, Erba de poute, Gjetertaske, Hiirekorv, Insalata selvaggia, Ireqerece, Jag-jag, Jangli sarson, Kazayagi, Kazbagsi, Kokoska pastusi tobolka, Kralmund, Kusayagi, Kusekmegi, Kuseppegi, Kuskus, Lady's purse, Laihyane, Leylek biti, Medik, Mother's heart, Naengi, Naeng-i, Nana shuwaan, Nanchevik, Nazuna, Non mircikon, Odelia, Pastariz, Pasztortaska, Pironek, Pirxalack, Qi, Raslet, Rusomaca, Sarmay, Shamsho, Shepherd's heart, Simlik, Sog-karpu, Sokapa, Sokawa, Sumacka, Surlin, Surljan, Surljen, Susanka, Tori ghans, Tori jhar, Traista ciobanului, Triskiaute, Ts’its’mat’ura, Tstapashar, Tuntkya, Water chestnut vegetable, Zengil zava, Zijisuana, Zvakide

Synonyms: 

Thlaspi bursapastoris L. for more than 250 synonyms, see Index Kewensis.

Capsicum annuum

Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Herb, Spice, Vegetable

An annual plant up to 1.5 m high. The leaves can be long and sword shaped or oval to rounded. The leaves can be 12 cm long. The flowers are produced singly, and are yellow or white. They are bell shaped. The flowers are 1.5 cm across and in the axils of leaves. Fruit are about 10 cm long and 6 cm wide and red when fully ripe. They are hollow. They contain many seeds. Kinds with different shaped fruit also occur.

A tropical or subtropical plant. Plants grow from sea level up to about 2400 m altitude. They are killed by frost. Soils need to be well drained and fertile. The fruit and plants can rot in the middle of the wettest seasons. They need a temperature above 4°C. A night temperature of 16-18°C and a day temperature of 26-28°C is best. A pH of 5.4-6.9 is suitable. They suit plant hardiness zones 8-12.

Common Names: Adimaeti, Aji, Aji dulce, Aji rojo, Amashito, Bell peppers, Berbere sibira, Chilar de monte, Chile de color, Epeba, Gochu, Kamalra, Kamulali, Khursani, Laat jiu, Libokeg, Malu miris, Mermit, Milagai, Mirch, Miris, Misewe, Mixamixo, Niba, Ndungu zi mafofolo, Ngayok, Ot, Perec, Pilopilo, Pimentao, Pirpiri, Prik chee faa, Sakay, Sakay fanendy, Sakay tsilandimilahy, Tattasai, Togarashi, Tsilampin, Tsi-tra-ka,

Cardamine hirsuta

Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Stem

A cabbage family herb. It is an annual or perennial plant. It forms a rosette or ring of leaves. It grows to a height of 50 cm and spreads to 30 cm. The stem is erect and the leaves are green and sword shaped. They usually have 3-7 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are pale mauve and small. They have 4 petals. They occur in clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit are 15-25 mm long pods, which are narrow and erect. They are about 1 mm thick. The seed are brown and with a smooth coat. They are about 1 mm long.

It is a temperate plant. It does best in humus rich, damp soils. It is frost resistant. It is drought tender. It grows in shady places. It grows in temperate and tropical zones. It grows on mountain slopes, roadsides, fields, clearings, wastelands, damp places, grassy areas; near sea level to 3000 m altitude in China. In Haiti it grows at about 1500 m. In Argentina it grows up to 2,000 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Common Names: Aruculicedda sarvaggia, Chantruk mana, Chantruk-maan, Common bittercress, Goj ao, Hairy wood cress, Kosanini, Lamb's cress, Mastuerzo cimarron, Monnyin, Oram-petsik, Serampeti, Serampidi, Splitting Jenny, Sui mi qi, Tosanini vu, Tsitsmat'ura, Veluri, Vlaknesta gorva, Wang ye gai, Yangs-chung

Synonyms: 

Cardamine hirsuta var. formosana Hayata;
Cardamine regeliana Miquel

Celosia argentea

Edible: Leaves, Seeds - oil, Vegetable, Flowers, Tea

An erect short lived annual herb up to 1 m tall. The leaves are alternate and light green. They are 2 cm wide and 6 cm long. They are dark green and longer on flowering shoots. The flower spike grows on the end of the main stem and is red or purple. It is 20 cm long. The seeds are small (1 mm across). Two kinds occur as red and green forms.

It is a tropical plant. It grows well in the lowlands humid forest zone. It suits damp humid places and is often on clayey soil. The plant is widespread as a wild plant at low altitudes. It grows up to 1700 m in Ethiopia. Temperatures between 25-30°C at night and 30-35°C in the day are best. It needs good sunlight and does best in soils with high organic matter. It can grow in light shade and in dry conditions. In Nepal it grows up to 1600 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Common Names: Adefo, Aem, Alefo, Anandasoa, Anne soppu, Avunvo, Ayinkpinnan, Bayam ekor belanda, Bayam ekur kuching, Bayam merah, Borocho, Bostan afras, Chare maguri, Chinese Cock’s Comb, Dedogime, Dhura dru, Ekaliyo, Foxtail amaranth, Garka, Gurugu, Guruvu kura, Horbaita, Huldi murga, Jengger ayam, Ji guan hua, Kanju, Kima arxa, Kodijuttutotakura, Kokan, Koontha, Kukudda, Kunjru, Kurada, Kurdu, Kyet-mauk, Kyet -monk, Lagos spinach, Lahenga, Lal murga, Lal murghka, Lambadi, Lapadi, Lasor, Leheti sak, Lemdi, Lunadalandala, Maendeurami, Makhumaa, Mamiratsy, Mawal, Mayura-shikha, Mesor, Mora shikha, Morogful shak, Morogihutishak, Ninga, Niu mu wo, Nyaayu, Panchechettu, Pannae, Pannai, Pila murghka, Pile murghka, Safed murga-ka-phul, Saigatya, Salara, Sankokolo, Sarpankha, Sarwari, Sawari, Shelar, Sifaid murgha, Silairi, Silgizara, Siliari sag, Siliyari, Silver and red foxtail, Silwari, Sirgit ara, Sirmali, Soko pupa, Sokoyokoto, Soman, Somon, Srebrna celozija, Suggi sak, Surli, Surwari, Suwari, Swet morog, Swetmurga, Taji khoros, Tambadi, Tchokoyokoto, Tetekpkpo, Tinonyawouti, Tipekenonte, Torcha, Torchata, Vitunna, Zo-ci

Synonyms: 

Amaranthus cristata Noronha;
Amaranthus huttonii H. J. Veitch;
Amaranthus purpureus Nieuwl.;
Amaranthus pyramidalis Noronha;
Celosia argentea L. var. cristata (L.) O. Kuntze;
Celosia argentea f. cristata (L.) Schinz;
Celosia aurea T. Moore;
Celosia castrensis L.;
Celosia coccinea L.;
Celosia comosa Retz.;
Celosia cristata L.;
Celosia debilis S. Moore;
Celosia huttonii Mast.;
Celosia japonica Mart.;
Celosia margaritacea L.;
Celosia marylandica Retz.;
Celosia pallida Salisb.;
Celosia plumosa (Voss) Burv.;
Celosia purpurea J. St.-Hil.;
Celosia pyramidalis Burm.f.;
Celosia splendens Schumach. & Thonn.;
Celosia swinhoei Hemsley;
Chamissoa margaritacea (L.) Schouw;
Lophoxera comosa Raf.;
Lophoxera racemosa Raf.;