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
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Eugenia neonitida
Edible : Fruit
An evergreen shrub. It grows 1-2 m tall. The branches are horizontal. The leaves are papery and almost without stalks. They are dark green and smooth on the upper side and lighter and velvety underneath. They are 3-5 cm long. The flowers are white and in groups near the ends of branches. The fruit are oblong and with ridges. They have a thin skin and thick pulp. There are 1 -2 seeds that are easy to separate from the pulp.
Eugenia stipitata
Edible : Fruit
A shrub or small tree. It is 2-5 m tall. The tree branches from the base. The leaves are simple, opposite and oval. They are 6 -18 cm long by 3.5-9.5 cm wide. The base is rounded or slightly heart shaped. The flowers are in the axils of leaves in groups. There are usually 2-5 yellow flowers 1 cm wide. The fruit is the size of a large sized guava. They can be 12-14 cm wide. They are bright yellow. The pulp is sour-acid and pleasant. Pollination is by insects. Fruit contain 8-10 irregular shaped seeds.
A tropical plant. It grows best in a dry tropical climate. It can stand some cold for short periods. It grows naturally in the non flooding areas of the Amazon in Brazil. It grows in regions with a temperature of 26°C. The rainfall is 2000-2500 mm per year. It suits an open location.
Other Names:
Arari, Arasa, Araza, Guayaba brasilera, Jo'yaarari, Kamush, Membrillo del oriente, Membrillo silvestre, Pichi, Uba-caxi,
Synonyms :
Eugenia stipitata subsp. stipitata;
Garcinia celebica
Edible : Fruit
A tree. It grows 9-18 m tall. It can grow 35 m tall. The stems have white or yellow latex. The leaves are opposite and simple. The leaves are narrowly oval and 15 cm long by 8 cm wide. The flowers are of separate sexes. They are red outside and yellow inside. The flowers are 22 mm across. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a round berry. It is 5 cm across. It is green when young and becomes yellow or red when ripe. There are several seeds. The seeds have a fleshy layer or aril around them.
A tropical plant. It grows on sandy and rocky coasts. It grows in forests up to 1,400 m above sea level. It can be on limestone.
Other names :
Assam aur aur, Beruas, Bruas, Kalawet, Kandis, Luli, Manggis, Manggis hutan, Manggus hutan, Minjok, Perda-perda, Pohon manggis sulawesi, Proos, Sungkep, Tebar, Waa, Yamurgan,
Synonyms:
Garcinia broewas Boerl.;
Garcinia hombroniana Pierre;
Garcinia mangostana Pierre;
Garcinia sintang Boerl.;
and several others
Garcinia humilis
Edible : Fruit
A shrub or tree. It grows 10 m tall. The branches are in flat rings. The leaves are opposite and evergreen. They are narrowly oval and 28 cm long and 16 cm wide. They are leathery. The flowers are cream-yellow to white. They are 2.5 cm across. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are yellow and oval. They are 8 cm long. There are 1-3 seeds 2.5 cm long.
It is a tropical plant. It grows between 150-950 m above sea level. It grows in shady woodland
Other names :
Bois mulatre, Garcinia abricot,
Synonyms :
Mammea humilis Vahl;
Rheedia laterifolia L.;
Garcinia madruno
Edible : Fruit
An evergreen tree. It can grow to 10-15 m tall. It has sharply pointed leathery leaves. Leaves are 10 to 15 cm long. They are dark green on top and lighter green underneath. There are 20-40 male flowers and 5-10 female flowers in a group. Fruit are 3-5 cm long and oval. The fruit skin is yellow, and with a warty appearance and a brittle texture. The fruit flesh is white and with several (1-3) large seeds.
A tropical plant. It suits the hot humid tropical lowlands. It grows naturally in the eastern Amazon in Brazil. It grows in dry forests and in sandy soils. The tree has salt tolerance. Heavy frosts can damage trees. In Colombia it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level
Other names :
Achachairu, Achachairucillo, Bacuri-espino, Bacuri-verdadeiro, Bacuri, Bohiajo-sha-a, Cerillo, Cero, Charichuelo, Cozoiba, Curupita, Fruta re mono, Guayabacoa, Impiquiritoqui, Jorco, Kontaka, Machari, Madrona, Madrone rheedia, Madruno, Majoro, Ocoro, Ontomemo, Palo de cruz, Pevicho, Pungara, Punkara muyu, Punkara yura, Satro, Shiquishi, Staca cundiacium, Tahuate, Trobo, Unkara yura, Warade, Wayampinim,
Synonyms:
Calophyllum madruno Kunth;
Chloromyron verticillatum Pers.;
Rheedia acuminata (Ruiz & Pav.) Planch. & Triana;
Rheedia kappleri Eyma;
Rheedia madruno (Kunth) Planch. & Triana;
Rheedia rostrata Vesque;
Rheedia spruceana Engl.; ?
Verticillaria acuminata Ruiz & Pav.;
Verticillaria peruviana G. Don;
Garcinia spicata
Edible : Fruit
A tree. It grows to 10 m tall. It is a wide spreading tree. The leaves are deep green. The leaves are large and broadly oval. They are 20 cm long. New leaves are coppery pink. The flowers do not have stalks. They are white and waxy and grow on the stems and twigs. The fruit are round and dark green. They turn orange to yellow when ripe. They are 2.5 cm across.
A tropical plant. It needs a warm humid location. It can tolerate salt spray. It grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. In Rockhampton Botanical gardens.
Other names :
Dieng-soh-kwang, Haldi, Jangli-ramphal, Kokattai, Manja nangu, Manjananku, Pidatha, Tavir, Garlic Berry
Synonyms :
Garcinia ovalifolia (Roxb.) Hook.f. ex T. Anderson; [Invalid]
Stalagmites cambogioides Murray;
Xanthochymus ovalifolius Bedd.;
Xanthochymus spicatus Wight & Arn.;
Garcinia xanthochymus
Edible : Fruit
A tree. It grows 8-15 m tall. The trunk is short and straight. The trunk is 40-50 cm thick. The crown is dense and shaped like a pyramid. The bark is grey-brown. The latex is white and sticky. The branches and leaves often droop. The twigs are angular. The leaves are large. They are 12-24 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. They are shiny above and rough underneath. They are pale green when young. The leaf stalk is 1-2.5 cm long. The male and female flowers are separate. The flowers occur in tufts of 4 -10. These are white and about 1 cm across. The fruit is a golden yellow berry. They are 6-9 cm across. The skin is smooth and pale orange to dark yellow. The pulp is yellow, juicy and acidic. It usually contains 1-5 seeds. These are brown and 2.5 cm long.
A tropical plant. It suits the hot humid tropical lowlands. It grows in dense humid forests of valleys or on hills; (100-(600)-1000 (-1400) m altitude in China. It grows in seasonal rainforest and monsoonal rainforest. It suits humid locations. The tree will grow in cooler regions but fruit are not produced. It can tolerate shade and grow in poor soils including a high pH. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan.
Other names :
Asam gelugur, Asam kandis, Chakhasa, Chiuri, Cochin-goraka, Da ye teng huang, Dampal, Daungyan, Dawyan-ban, Dem-gola, Dephal, Demphal, Dharamba, Dieng-soh-rynsan, Dongbei, False mangosteen, Gavei, Guomanda, Heirangkhoi, Hmandaw, Hong Phap, Jevra memadie, Jharamb, Jhrambi, Mada-luang, Mada, Madaw, Mysore gamboge, Ota, Pinar, Pohon manggis asam, Sitambu, Suagke, Tamal, Tamala, Tempwr, Tepor tenga, Thesampreng, Tinctoria, Tuai-ha-bet, Yellow mangosteen, Gamboge, Himalayan garcinia
Synonyms :
Garcinia pictoria (Roxb.) Engl.;
Garcinia tinctoria (DC.) W. Wight;
Garcinia tinctoria (DC.) Dunn;
Stalagmitis pictoria G. Don;
Xanthochymus pictorius Roxb.;
Xanthochymus tinctorius DC.;
Hibiscus tiliaceus
Edible : Roots, Flowers, Leaves, Bark, Sap, Fruit
A tree which keeps its leaves throughout the year. It is small and spreading. It grows to 5-9 m tall and spreads to 3-6 m across. The stem is erect and short. The bark is grey and smooth. The branches spread widely. The crown has an open texture. The leaves are light green. They can be round or heart-shaped. They are 12 cm long. They are densely hairy underneath. They have a short pointed tip. The flowers are yellow and have a deep pink/purple centre. They are 12 cm across. They have 5 overlapping petals. The flowers are in the axils of the upper leaves. The fruit is a hairy partly woody capsule. It is 2 cm across and brown and splits open when ripe. It contains several small kidney shaped seeds. There are same named varieties. The plant varies a lot.
It grows in warm temperate regions. It can grow in the tropics and subtropics. It suits light soils in an open, sunny position. The soils are best to be well drained but moist. It is damaged by frost. It can tolerate drought and salt spray. It often grows naturally near the seashore. It grows along most tropical coasts in tidal forests. It will grow in soils with pH between 5.0 and 8.5. In Samoa it grows from sea level to 650 m altitude. It does not grow well on atolls. It grows on the edges of mangroves. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Other names:
Ai-fau, Attu parathi, Bade-luti, Baharu, Bamede, Bameo, Bane-bane, Bane, Baniah, Baro, Baru-baru, Baru, Bebane, Belapata, Bola, Bourao, Bup tra, Burao, Butsu raava, Chelwa, Coast Cottonwood, Coast hibiscus, Cottonwood, Cuan bast, Darah-darah, Dhiggaa, Emajagua, Epainta, Ermall, Etagogu, Fau, Fautu'u, Fou, Gaal', Hau, Huang jin, Kalau, Kali bang-bang, Kayu baru, Kilife, Langkubing, Lenya-shaw, Linden hibiscus, Lo, Mahoe, Majagua, Menoa, N'farande, Nirparathi, Nwohwea, Pago, Pah, Pauat, Paw-talay, Purau, Purundu, Safed chika, Sea Hibiscus, Tapai-tapai, Te kiaiai, Te rau, Thinban, Tra lam cheo, Unfarande, Vau ndamu, Vau, Vo, Vole, Wulolo, Yellow mallow tree, Ye-ngan-shaw, Beach Hibiscus, Cotton Tree, Country Mallow
Synonyms :
Hibiscus abutiloides;
Hibiscus azanzae Roxb.;
Hibiscus bracteosus DC.;
Hibiscus celebicus Koord.;
Hibiscus elatus Sw.;
Hibiscus hastatus L.f.;
Hibiscus similis Blume;
Kydia calycina Roxb.;
Pariti tiliaceum (L.) Britt. ex Britt & Millsp.;
Paritium tiliaceum (L.) A. Juss. ex St Hil.;
Talipariti tiliaceum (L.) Fryxell;
Hibiscus tortuosus Roxb.;
Inga spectabilis
Edible : Fruit - aril, Pod pulp.
A tree. It grows 5-20 m tall. The branches are angular and hairy. The leaves are compound and alternate. There are 2 pairs of leaflets. The end pair are the largest. The leaves are 10-30 cm long by 5-18 cm wide. The fruit is a pod. They are 20-80 cm long by 4-5 cm wide and 2-3 cm thick. It is constricted between the seeds. The pod has black seeds. The pulp is white.
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical America. In Panama it grows up to 1,000 m altitude.
Other names :
A'cho fino, Bribri, Bu, Castella pakay, Guaba, Guaba pi-tsan, Guama, Guamo macheto, Guavo de castilla, Guavo real, Machetona, Machitnius, Manka allpa kachi, Monkey tambrin, Paben, Pabenka, Pakay, Spectacular inga, Ttembonga fino, Ice Cream Bean
Synonyms:
Acacia fulgens Labill.;
Albizia fulgens (Labill.) Benth.;
Archidendron fulgens (Labill.) I. C. Nielsen;
Feuilleea spectabilis (Vahl) Kuntze;
Inga fulgens (Labill.) Kunth;
Inga lucida Kunth;
Inga smithii Britton & Killip;
Mimosa spectabilis Vahl.;
Juglans nigra
Edible : Nuts, Seeds, Seeds-oil, Sap - syrup,
A tall deciduous tree. It grows up to 30 m high. It has a large crown. The trunk can be 120 cm across. The trunk is straight and the crown open. The leaves are alternate and there are 14-22 leaflets then a leaflet at the end. The end leaflet is often small. The leaves are 20-60 cm long. They are yellowish-green above and slightly hairy underneath. The flowers are separately male and female. The male pollen flowers are in catkins 5-10 cm long. The seed flowers are in erect clusters of 1-4. The husk is slightly hairy. The fruit are round and 4-6 cm across. They occur in drooping clusters of 1-3. The kernel has deep grooves. It is strongly flavoured and oily.
It is a temperate plant. It is native to C. & E. United States. It prefers deep, well-drained fertile soils. It cannot tolerate shade. It suits hardiness zones 4-10. Arboretum Tasmania.
Other Names :
črni oreh, Black walnut, Eastern black walnut,
Synonyms :
Wallia nigra (L.) Alef.;
