Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Piper longum

Edible: Fruit, Herb, Spice, Leaves

A twining herb. It can be several metres long. It is creeping or climbing and forms roots below. The leaves often have small hairs. The branches are smooth. The leaves have stalks. The leaf blade is 3-12 cm long by 2-12 cm wide. They are broadly oval to heart shaped. They taper to a short tip. The lower leaves have long stalks. The upper leaves do not have stalks and clasp the stem. There are usually 5 veins at the base. The flowers are green. They are opposite the leaves. The male spike is 5.5 cm long and 3 mm wide. The female spike is 1.5-1.5 cm long and 2.5-4 mm wide. The fruit is a berry. The berries stick to the axis or central stalk.

A tropical and subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows to about 800 m altitude. In China it grows at about 600 m altitude in Yunnan. It is cultivated in other provinces in the south. In XTBG Yunnan.

Common Names: Bi ba, Bithipokang, Fanfeuwali, Hippali, Jaborandi pepper, Janli pan, Kandan, Lahare pan, Likadu, Magadhi, Nallamulagu, Nga-yok-kaung, Paik-chin, Peepla, Peli ja, Phrik haang, Pimpli, Pimpoli, Pipal, Pipala, Pipali, Pipla, Piplamor, Piplamul, Pipli, Pipoli, Pippali, Pippili, Pippuloo, Pipul, Punthong, Singmalta, Siramulam, Tieu dai, Tieu lot, Tippili, Tieu dai

Synonyms: 

Chavica roxburghii Miquel;
According to PROSEA Piper longum does not occur in Malesia and has been confused with P. sarmentosa

Pisonia umbellifera

Edible: Leaves

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5-15 m high. The trunk is 30 cm across. It is branched near the base. The leaves are alternate or opposite and in clusters. The leaf blade is oval and 6-20 cm long and 4-10 cm wide. They are soft. The leaf stalk is 2-5 cm long. The flowers are small and very fragrant. They contain both sexes. The fruit are 2-5 cm long and have ribs. They are sticky.

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest and monsoon forest. In Fiji it grows from sea level to 825 m altitude. It can grow in exposed coastal strips or in forest. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Common Names: Biru, Bison tan, Bugho, Kol banda, Kulbum, Maluko, Ndainga, Papala, Parapara, Pohon gendala, Roro

Synonyms: 

Calpidia subnitens Heimerl;
Ceodes umbellifera J.R. & G. Forster;
Ceodes umbellata Forst.f.;
Pisonia alba Span.;
Pisonia excelsa Bl.;
Pisonia mooriana F. Muell.;
Pisonia viscosa Seem.;
Ceodes excelsa Skottsb.;
Ceodes umbellifera f. acuminata Heimerl;
Ceodes umbellifera var. acuminata Heimerl. ex J.W. Parham;

Pistia stratiotes

Edible: Leaves, Vegetable, Salt

A floating herb. This plant looks something like a lettuce and grows on water. The water needs to be stagnant or slow moving. The leaves are produced in a rosette. They are light green. The leaves are hairy and have 7-15 ridges. The plant sends out runners. These end with a tuft of leaves. The leaves overlap and are without stalks. They arise from the same level. Plants are of separate sexes. The female flowers occur singly and are at the base. Male flowers have a single stamen and occur as 2-8 flowers together. They are at the end of the plant.

A tropical plant. It is common and widely distributed in low and medium altitudes in the Philippines. It occurs on the surface of stagnant water and slow moving streams. It grows in water fields, lakes, ponds. It occurs in both the tropics and subtropics. It needs temperatures above 12°C. It grows in water rich in nutrients. It is sensitive to frost. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Akasa tamarai, Alface-d'agua, Antara gange, Anthara thamara, Antharai-dhaman, Apon-apon, Apu-apu, Bahata, Borajhanji, Caa pey, Chauk, Da piao, Darahero, Golfo, Gondala, Hmaw, Jalamandvi, Jalashamkhala, Jalkhumbi, Jall khumbi, Jall shamkala, Jaru, Jauk, Kajeng apu, Kambiang, Kang-jao, Kapu-kapu, Kayu apu, Kiambang, Kiapo, Koditamarai, Kudapayal, Kumbhika, Kunhui, Lechuguilla del rio, Llanten de agua, Loloan, Mbutzemelep, Murere, Murere-page, Muttapayal, Nargis, Nirubuduki, Page, Pasta, Prasni, Quiapo, Repollito de agua, Sarebafae, Takapana, Ye-salat

Synonyms: 

Pistia occidentalis Blume;
and several others

Plantago major

Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Leaves - tea, Roots, Vegetable

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a short, stout rootstock. It has a ring of leaves near the ground. The leaves are ribbed. They are soft and oval shaped. The leaves narrow into the stalks. The leaf stalks are fairly long and have wings. The leaves can be 30 cm long by 15 cm wide. The leaves have 5-9 easy to see veins running along them. The flower stem is leafless and as long as or shorter than the leaves. The flowers are in a dense spike. This can be as long as or longer than its stem.
It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp places. It grows in wetlands. It grows mostly in cool places. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Common Names: Ah-gwaw-paung-ta-htaung, Akyaw-baung-tha-thaung, Babka, Baga, Bag yapragi, Balazagva, Bar preme, Belgheviz, Bolila ba lipoli, Brede weegbree, Broad-leafed plantain, Bud-gull, Centunervi, Che qian, Cheuli, Damarliot, Damar otu, Daun sejumbok, Daun sendok, Ekur anjing, Ezan lezu, Ghuzbe, Groblad, Gul, Isabgol, Isafghol, Karet, Kel-ba-an, Kesikotu, Ki arut, Kirksinirotu, Kolocier, Kolosija, Kopakopa, Kutu kiyanchi remedyu tape, Lengue pechere, Lessan-imthaur, Llanten, Llanten mayor, Luhuriya, Ma de, Mravaldzargva, Nido marto, Ominwas, Orecchie d'asino, Padaroznik, Pampina larga, Pel hewes, Pelonbas, Plantatge ample, Plantain, Planten, Podorozhnik, Pulung nyang, Rat's-tail plantain, Sangka-buwah, Sangkubah, Se-gyaw-paung-ta-htaung, Se-kyaw-gyi, Sepodi, Sinirliot, Sinirotu, Teeleht, Tharam, Tirafilo, Torraja cimarrona, Torreja cimarrona, Veliki trpotec, Wa gui, Warmi llanten, Yara otu, Yawar llanten, Yempat, Zenska bokvica

Synonyms: 

Plantago asiatica L.;
Plantago depressa Willd.;
Plantago loureiri Roem. et Schult.;
Plantago crenata Blanco;
Plantago erosa Wall.;
Plantago media Blanco;
 

Plectranthus amboinicus

Edible: Leaves, Spice, Herb

A small hairy rather succulent herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It is erect. It grows up to about 50 cm high. The base of the stem becomes woody when old. The fleshy leaves are in opposite pairs. They are egg shaped with teeth around the edge. The leaves are yellowish green and hairy. The flowers are around a central stalk and are small and pale purple. The leaves have a sweet smell.

It needs warm subtropical climates. It suits hardiness zone 10. In Fiji it grows from sea level to 250 m altitude. It often grows in rocky and sandy areas.

Common Names: Acherang, Ai reag supo, Ajerang, Bangun-bangun, Can day la, Can Day, Chi sloek kra, Coleus, Country borage, Cuban oregano, Daun bangun-bangun, Daun kambing, Daun kuching, False oregano, Five seasons herb, Five-in-one, French thyme, Hati-hati, Hom duan huu suea, Hortela-de-galinha, Hung chanh, Husia, Indian borage, Indian mint, Jamaikathymian, Karpuravalli, Mexican mint, Niam huu suea, Oregano, Pashanabhedi, Patherchur, Pathorchur, Pathurchur, Pok-hor, Pudina, Rau cang, Sivumba, Soup mint, Spanish mint, Spanish thyme, Suganda, Tan la day, Thick-leaf-thyme, Thom long, Three-in-one herb, Yin dub bo he

Synonyms: 

Coleus amboinicus Lour.;
Coleus aromaticus Benth.;
Coleus carnosus Hassk.;
Coleus crassifolius Benth.;
Coleus subfrutectosus Summerh.;
Coleus suganda Blanco;
Coleus vaalae (Forssk.) Deflers;
Majana amboinica (Lour.) Kuntze;
Majana camosa (Hassk.) Kuntze;
Majana suganda (Blanco) Kuntze;
Ocimum vaalae Forssk.;

Pluchea indica

Edible: Leaves as condiment, Spice, Flowers, Vegetable

A small shrub. It grows 1-3 m high. It has many branches from the base. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are 1-2.5 cm long by 6-8 mm wide. The flowers occur in a panicle of heads at the ends of branches. The flower heads are 3 mm across. They are mauve. The fruit is a brown nut about 1 mm across.

A tropical plant. It often grows in salty locations. It grows around the coast. It is often near sea level and in mangroves. It grows in wetlands. It can be on hard, stony ground. In Java it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Common Names: Baluntas, Beluntas, Beluntas paya, Indian fleabane, Khayu, Khlu, Kukronda, Lontas, Luntas, Mili, Munjhu, Rukha, Wabalu, Xie la

Synonyms: 

Baccharis indica L.;
Conyza corymbosa Roxb.;
Conyza foliolosa Wall. ex DC.;
Conyza indica (L.) Blume ex DC.;
Conyza indica var. integerrima Miq.;
Erigeron denticulatus Burm. f.;

Plumbago zeylanica

Edible: Caution - poisonous, Roots - drink, Leaves

A herb. It grows as a shrub to 1-3 m tall. It can spread to 2 m wide. The branches are spreading. The stems are ribbed. The base of the leaf stalk can be ear shaped. The leaf blade is oval. It is 5-8 cm long by 2.5-4 cm wide. They can be larger or smaller. The base is wedge shaped and it tapers to the tip. There are 5-70 flowers in a flower cluster. The flowers are white or pale blue. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule. The seeds are red-brown. They are 7 mm by 1.5 mm.

It suits tropical and subtropical locations. It is damaged by frost. It suits shaded sites. It can grow in acid or slightly alkaline soils. It grows between 100-1600 m altitude in S China. It can grow on termite mounds. In XRBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Common Names: Amera, Bachhoaxa, Bama, Bau hua dan, Buombuom tichlan, Cheraka, Chet tamun plengkao, Chitrak, Chitramulan, Chitur, Duoi-cong, Elkuus, Godong enchok, Jarak, Kan-gyok-phyu, Kengoi, Keriyontus, Ki enchok, Kodiveli, Leadwort, Melekuya, Perdu dokter, Plumbago, Plumbago seilon, Poksor, Seto cheetu, Tshuaj zoo ntxhia

Polyalthia longifolia

Edible: Fruit, Leaves

This tree grows up to 14 to 28 m tall. It is an evergreen tree keeping its leaves throughout the year. The bark can become gnarled and distorted. The trunk is straight. The leaves are long and narrow with a wavy margin. They are 22 cm long. They are dark green and shiny. New leaf growth is yellow. It has small flowers 2 cm across. The flowers are greenish yellow and have an appearance like a star. They occur in bunches. The small plum like fruit which develop change from green to black when ripe. They contain a ringed seed. The fruit are 2 cm across. There is a variety where the branches hang down (var. pendula)

A tropical plant. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. It grows in India on the Deccan. It grows in lowland rainforest. It can grow in dry forest. It needs a fertile, well drained soil. It needs full sun. It is cultivated between 300-400 m altitude in southern China. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Yunnan. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens.

Common Names: Arana, Ashoka, Ashupal, Asoka, Asoothi, Asopalav, Assothi, Asupal, Cemetery tree, Chorana, Debdari, Debdaru, Devdaru, Dhebudhaaru, Hessare, Indian willow, Kambadamara, Nara maamidi, Netti-lingam, Ubbina, Unboi

Synonyms: Guatteria longifolia (Sonnerat) Wallich;
Unona longifolia Dunal.;
Uvaria longifolia Sonnerat;

Polyalthia suberosa

Edible: Fruit, Leaves

A tree or shrub. It grows 2-4 m high. The bark is thick and corky and deeply ridged. The leaves are oval or oblong and rounded at the tip. The edges are wavy. The leaves are 2-12 cm long and 1-3 cm wide. The flowers are pale yellow. They occur singly among the leaves. The fruit are in clusters. The fruit is reddish-purple. It is 6 mm across. They contain 1 or 2 seeds. The fruit are edible.

A tropical plant. It grows in open forest at lower elevations. In XTBG Yunnan.

Common Names: Bandor kola, Bara chali, Burhi chamri, Cham-khirni, Chilaka duduga, Habida cha, Ilang-ilang gubat tree, Karadia, Kodinaaval, Kukuriam, Lohania mossu, Makhamsra-phang, Murmuri, Pohon banitan puti, Pohon lanutan puti, Sandiome

Synonyms: 

Guatteria suberosa (Roxb.) Dunal;
Uvaria suberosa Roxb.;