Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

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.;

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;

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.;

Aglaomorpha quercifolia

Edible: Rhizome, Root, Young fronds, Leaves

A large fern which grows attached to other plants. It climbs on trees. It can be 1 m high. It forms large spreading clumps. The rootstock is thick and fleshy. There are two kinds of fronds. One forms the "nest" and these do not have a stem and the others which are more like leaves and have a stem. The second ones have stems which are 30 cm long. The frond is one m long by 40 cm wide. It has deep lobes. The first kind of fronds have lobes and teeth around the edge. These turn brown with age but do not fall off the fern. The young fronds of this fern are different shape from the mature fronds on established ferns.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest. It does best in warm humid conditions. It can tolerate cool temperatures. It can grow on rocks and trees in open forests in the tropics. In Hainan in China it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Common Names: Ashvakatri, Basingh, Garur, Gurar, Jurntuma, Kabkab, Kadikapana, Kammaru, Koi hin, Kupana thinga kop, Mudavaatukkal, Pakis kepala tupai, Pakpak lawin, Pannakilhan-numanavala, Waluminikima

Synonyms: 

Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith;
Polypodium quercifolia L.;

Duchesnea indica

Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Leaves - tea

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 10 cm high and spreads 1.8 m wide. It is silky and has soft hairs. It has a rootstock that lasts from year to year and puts up slender runners. It has runners which root at the nodes and the tips forming new rings of leaves. The leaves are dark green and have 3 leaflets. The leaves have leaflets which are oval and wedge shaped at the base. They have coarse teeth. They are rounded at the tip. The end leaflet is 1-3 cm long and 0.7-2.5 cm wide. The side leaflets are slightly smaller. The flowers occur singly. The sepals are triangle shaped and 5-10 mm long. The petals are narrowly oval and 5 mm long. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are dry. They spread over a red, swollen, pulpy receptacle. The fruit are 2 cm long.

See Potentilla indica - this covers some varieties.

It suits warm temperate places. It grows in moist shaded places. It grows in wetlands. It is often near river banks and grows in Assam up to 2,000 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-11. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan.

Common Names: Baemttalgi, Bangros, Bhi-kafal, Bhium-kaphal, Bhui aiselu, Bhui kafal, Bhusyai kafla, Bunmala, Bu shi du za, Dau dat, Dhartimian, Dihongpao, Eki tangkin, Falsa frutilla, Fresa silvestre, Frutilla insulsa, Frutilla silvestre, Garukhisi, He shang tou cao, Indijski jagodnjak, Jalinkhumthera, Jangali shatawari, Jongli strawberry, Kaphliya, Kikoloh mukbursa, Kiphaliya, Likhodaphrushi, Makbursa, Mayako, Nenye pepror, Pungbang, Pu-tshu-la-gong, Shemei, Snake berry, Soh shan, Viepakhe-hamang, Zmakey toot

Synonyms: 

Fragaria indica Andr.;
Duchesnea fragiformis Sm;
Potentilla denticulata Ser.;
Potentilla indica (Andrews) Wolf;
Potentilla wallichiana Ser.;

Elettaria cardamomum

Edible: Fruit, Herb, Spice, Seeds, Leaves

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows to 3 m high and spreads to 1 m across. It has a clump of leafy aerial stems and then thick fleshy underground stems. The leaves are long and can be 1 m x 30 cm. They are dark green and alternate. The leaves are paler and softly hairy underneath. The flowers are green and white and produced on a branched flower stalk near the ground. The flowers have a violet tip. Seed capsules with several wrinkled seeds develop. The capsule has 3 cells. They are pale green and have a sweet smell.

It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to about 1,800 m altitude in the tropics. In PNG it is mostly between 550-1,700 m above sea level. It prefers warm, rich, moist soils. It needs a protected and partly shaded position. It is drought and frost tender. Seed need a temperature between 19 and 24°C to grow. Plants need a temperature above 10°C. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Common Names: Bai dou kou, Buah pelaga, Cardamone, Choti-elachi, Ela, Elach, Elaichi, Elchi, Ella-kai, Enasal, Ensal, Hai, Ilaayaci, Illaichi, Kapulaga, Karadamungu, Kardemon, Krakao sbat, Kravan, Luk grawan, Luk kravan, Pai-tou-k'ou, Periyayalum, Phalazee, Phalar-phyu, Phalar-yaing, Upakunchika, Veldode, Xiao dou kou, Yelak-kayalu, Yelakkai, Yelakki, Yelam

Synonyms: 

Alpinia cardamomum (L.) Roxb.;
Amomum cardamomum L.;
Amomum ensal Raeusch.;
Amomum racemosum Lam.;
Amomum repens Sonn.;
Amomum uncinatum Stokes;
Cardamomum malabaricum Pritz.;
Cardamomum minus (Gaertn.) Puntze;
Cardamomum officinale Salisb.;
Cardamomum verum Oken;
Elletaria cardamomum var. minus Watt;
Elettaria cardamomum var. minuscula Burkill;
Matonia cardamomum (L.) Stephenson & J. M. Churchill;
Zingiber minus Gaertn.;