Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Hydrilla verticillata

Edible: Leaves

A plant which grows under water. The stem is much branched. It is 15-30 cm long. The leaves are carried in rings. They are light green and sword shaped. They are 1-2 cm long by 0.2-0.5 cm wide. The leaves have fine teeth along the edge. These teeth allow light through. The leaves can have reddish-brown dashes. It develops white corms on the stolons in the soil.

It grows in warmer places in slow moving streams and lakes. It can grow in water 3-5 m deep. It is used as an aquarium plant. In Pakistan it grows to 2,000 m altitude.

Synonyms: 

Hydrilla ovalifolia Rich.;
Hydrilla polysperma Blatter;
Serpicula verticillata Linn. f.;
Vallisneria verticillata Roxb.;

Hyptianthera stricta

Edible: Leaves

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-8 m tall. The branches are flattened and angled. The leaves are oblong and 5-15 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. The flowers are small and white. The fruit are yellowish-green berries. They are 8-9 mm longb by 5-6 mm wide.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests, along streams and on mountains between 100-1,500 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Kyetyo, Pashuang

Synonyms: 

Hypobathrum strictum (Roxb. ex Schult.) Kurz;
Hyptianthera bracteata Craib;
Macrocnemum strictum Roxb. ex Schult.;
Randia stricta (Roxb. ex Schult.) Roxb.;
Rondeletia stricta (Roxb. ex Schult.) Roth;
Solena stricta (Roxb. ex Schult.) D. Dietr.;

Hyptis suaveolens

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

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 70 cm high. It can grow as an annual and can be 3 m high. The stems are rounded in the lower sections and 4-angled higher up. They are hollow. They are hairy. The leaves are produced opposite each other. They have teeth around the edge. They have a strong minty smell when crushed. The leaves are 3-10 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. They have a wavy edge and are rough underneath. The flowers are produced in small clusters in the axils of leaves. The flowers are blue. The fruit are papery brown capsules. The fruit consists of 2 nutlets. They are 3-4 mm long and flattened. They are dark brown.

A tropical plant. It grows in dry open locations. It can grow along streams and near roadsides. It can grow up to 1300 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. It grows in seasonally dry climates. In China it grows in open waste places in southern China. In Costa Rica it grows below 1,200 m altitude.

Common Names: Amotan, Ara gusumpuru, Bhambairam, Bhunsri, Bilati tulsi, Bilayati tulsi, Bointim, Bush tea-bush, Chan, Chia gordo, Dimbubuha, (es) th(ow)m, t(is)a t(oo) d(aj)i, Ganga tulsi, Gros baume, Hierba de las muelas, Jangli silam, Jukut bau, Kara, Konivari, Lampesan, Loko-loko, Lubabibe, Maeng lak kha, Malbar hutan, Mang-kamang, Mintweed, Mrubria, Padja-de-musquito, Palha-mosquito, Pokpok kemangi, Purado, Sangura, Selaseh hutan, Shan xiang, Suob-kabayo, Vilyati tulsi, Wilayati tulsi, Wild basil, Wild spikenard

Synonyms: 

Ballota suaveolens L.;
Bysteropogon graveolens (L.) Blume;
Marrubium indicum Thunb. non Burm.f.;
Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze;
Schauera graveolens (L.) Hasskarl;

Intsia bijuga

Edible: Seeds, Leaves

A tree which grows along the foreshore. It is 30-50 m tall. The trunk can be 15 m long. It has small buttresses. The trunk can be 60-90 cm across. The bark peels off in circular flakes. The crown is spreading and leaves often fall off. The leaves are divided along the stalk. The leaf is 25 cm long. There are 2 pairs of leaflets. These leaflets are oval and often different on each side of the midrib. They are shiny green. They are 8-14 cm long by 6-11 cm wide. The flower panicle has many flowers densely together and they are at the end of a branch. The petals are often crinkled and can be white or red. The stamens are dark red. The flowers have a pleasant smell. The fruit is a pod which is oblong and flat. It has a short beak. There are veins along the valves. The pod is 14-28 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. There are 2-4 or more seeds which are flat and 2-2.5 cm across.

It is a tropical plant. It usually occurs in the lowlands close to the coast. It can tolerate wet soils. It can grow in areas which are occasionally flooded. It is often on limestone. It can grow on atolls. It suits a pH of 6.1 to over 7.4. It can tolerate salty soils. It can tolerate salt spray. It grows on the side of tidal rivers. It is usually in areas with a rainfall of 1500-2300 mm per year. It is drought resistant. It grows best with temperatures around 26-27°C. It cannot tolerate temperatures below 17°C. It grows best in full sun. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 450 m altitude. In Madagascar it is usually below 50 m altitude.

Common Names: Ai-besi, Bon, Borneo teak, Choyo, Cohu, Dort, Fara, Faux teck, Fehi, Fesi, Go nuoc, Gugura, Huhula, Iban, Ifet, Ifilele, Ifit, Intsy, Ipil, Ipil-talao, Kebuk, Kivili, Kohu, Kubok, Kubuk, Kuren, Maka, Malapari, Marbau ayer, Mboan, Menau, Merbau asam, Merbau changkat, Merbau laut, Mityanmis, Moluccan ironwood, N'tor, Nator, Natora, Nkengia, Nyia nwola, Pohon merbau asam, Pohon merbau borneo, Pra du tale, Rurula, Saga-lun, Show, Tagal-tugas, Tat-talum, Thort, Tor, Tora, Tuamis, U'ula, Vehi, Vei, Vesi dina, Vesi, Vesiwai, Wantal, Zolt, Zort

Synonyms: Afzelia bijuga (Colebr.) A. Gray;
Afzelia cambodiensis Hance;
Afzelia retusa Kurz.;
Albizia bijuga (Colebr.) A. Gray;
Eperua decandra Blanco;
Intsia amboinensis Thouars. ex DC.;
Intsia cambodiensis (Hance) Pierre;
Intsia retusa (Kurz.) O. Kuntze;
Macrolobium bijugum Colebr.;

Iresine herbstii

Edible: Leaves, Leaves - colouring, Spice, Plant - tea

A perennial herb up to 1-2 m high and spreads 1.5 m across. The stem is erect and branching. It is usually dark red and has bowl shaped leaves. The leaves can be green, red, yellow or orange and with patterns of colours. The leaves are 2.5-5 cm long. The leaf stalk is 1-5 cm long. The veins have contrasting colours. The flowers are greenish yellow. They occur in spikes at the end of branches. These can be 10-40 cm long.

A tropical plant. It grows between 500 and 2500 m altitude in the tropics near the equator. It is killed by frost. It does best in a rich, moist, well drained soil. It needs a protected sunny position. It can grow in shade. It cannot tolerate drought. It needs a temperature above 10°C. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Agila abaule, Angela belaube, Herbst Bloodleaf, Hong mu er, Labuinsiptaha, Mianqneil, Miyana mangkuk, Nhunghoa

Synonyms: 

Achyranthes verschaffeltii Lam.;

Justicia gendarussa

Edible: Leaves, Leaves - tea

A shrub. It grows 1-4 m tall. It is often used as a hedge. It has purple and green smooth twigs. The leaves are sword shaped. They are 6-10 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are pointed at the end. The flowers are small and in 4-12 cm long spikes. The flowers occur in erect spikes. These can be at the end of the plant or in the axils of leaves. The flowers are white.

A tropical plant. It grows near the edges of forests and near river banks up to 1,500 m above sea level. At MARDI. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Addasaramu, Aduthoda gida, Bakas, Bawanet, Bishalya-karani, Bo Dajagipe, Bo gu xiao, Gandharasamu, Gandarusa, Gendarusa, Htingra-hpraw, Jagatmadan, Kah-gai-daeng, Kalaadulsa, Karinekki, Karinochil, Karunochchi, Kukurodonti, Mchul peech, Nallanochilli, Natchu kaddi, Nelavavili, Nila-nirgundi, Nilinargandi, Pha-wa-net, Tao, Tita-bahak, Titiria-sosoarong, Udisanbhalu, Vadaikkuthi, Vatcnkolli

Synonyms: 

Dianthera subserrata Blanco;
Dicliptera rheedei Kostel.;
Ecbolium gendarussa (Burm.f.) Kuntze;
Gendarussa vulgaris Nees;
Justicia gandarussa L.f.;
Justicia vulgaris Nees.;

Kaempferia galanga

Edible: Rhizome, Root, Leaves as condiment, Spice

A slow growing perennial herb. It grows 15 cm high. The rhizome has tuberous roots. They are fleshy. The rhizome is much branched crowded, tuberous and aromatic. The rhizomes are pale green or greenish white inside. The leaves have a mild smell like liquorice. It usually has two leaves pressed flat against the soil. The leaves are broadly oval. They are 7-20 cm long by 3-17 cm wide. They are green but often have a red upper edge. The flowers occur at the end of the shoot. The flower bracts can be 4 cm long and 1 cm wide. Each bract surrounds one flower. The flowers have a 4.5-5 cm long corolla tube and narrow lobes. Flowers are 2.5 cm long and are white. There are 2 varieties described based on the size of the leaves.

A tropical plant. It grows in open areas in S China. It grows in open forests up to 1,000 m above sea level. It needs a temperature above 18°C. It needs a fertile soil. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Bithiphaknur, Cekur, Chandramula, Chandramulika, Chandumula, Chikur, Dia lien, Galanga, Kachchura, Kacholakilangu, Kacholam, Kachoram, Kachri, Kapur-kachri, Katjulam, Kenchur, Kencur, Kesul, Khnhy prey, Kursa-gamon, Prao hom, Proh hom, Saa jiang, Sand ginger, Shan mai, Sonfwira, Sugandhavacha

Synonyms: 

Alpinia sessilis J. Koenig;
Kaempferia galanga var. latifolia (Donn ex Homem.) Donn;
Kaempferia humilis Salisb.;
Kaempferia latifolia Donn ex Hornem.;
Kaempferia plantaginifolia Salisb.;
Kaempferia procumbens Noronha;
Kaempferia rotunda Blanco [Illegitimate];

Kaempferia rotunda

Edible: Leaves as condiment, Roots, Tubers, Spice

A herb. It has rhizomes with tubers. There are 2-4 leaves. They are erect. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. It has a channel. The leaf blade usually has a pattern of dark and light green. Underneath it is tinged with purple. The leaf blade is oblong to sword shaped and 17-27 cm long by 7.6-9.5 cm wide. The base is wedge shaped. The flowering groups are on separate shoots arising from the rhizome. They appear before the false stem. There are 4-6 flowers. The bracts are purple brown.

A tropical plant. It can grow in seasonally moist and humid or dry climates. It needs fertile, organically-rich, well-drained soil. It needs an alkaline pH. It grows in open grassland and is also cultivated in S China. It grows up to 750 m above sea level. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Common Names: Ardong, Bhuichampa, Bhuichampo, Bhumichampa, Buchampaca, Buchampakamu, Chenchineerkilangu, Hai nan san qi, Kenchur, Kondakalava, Kunci pepet, Kunir puteh, Kuntji puti, Malankua, Nelasampige, Nerpichan, Pagi, Punchi pepet, Temu pepet, Temu puteri, Wan hao non

Synonyms: 

Kaempferia bhucampac Jones;
Kaempferia longa Jacq.;
Kaempferia versicolor Salisb.;
Zerumbet zeylanica Garsult [Invalid];

Kleinhovia hospita

Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Stems, Vegetable

A medium sized tree with a round dense crown and the trunk often has buttresses and suckers at the base. It can grow 3-15 m high. The young twigs are velvety. The leaves are simple, oval and alternate. They are thin and paler beneath. They are hairless but the young ones are finely woolly. The leaves are up to 20 cm long by 15 cm wide. The leaf stalks can be 10 cm long. It produces sprays of pink flowers at the ends of the branches. The flowers are small and finely woolly on the inside. The fruit is a pinkish brown five shouldered capsule. The capsule is like a pliable sheet and hangs down. It is inflated and an irregular oval shape. The seeds are round and brown and roughened with abnormal growths. There are 1 or 2 seeds in each cell.

It is a tropical plant. They are common throughout the Philippines in areas of shrub. Trees grow in coastal areas up to about 500 m altitude. They occur near banks of streams and in open country. Seedlings need to be in a sunny position. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Common Names:  Abwramat, Bitnung, Bola, Fu'afu'a, Hatsakun, Kati mahar, Katimaha, Katimanga, Kavinjimbat, Matal, Matala, Panaitteku, Pashu-phet-wun, Po farang, Pohon timanga, Tan-ag, Tangkalo, Tangkele, Temahai, Timaha, Tra do, Wudung

Synonyms: 

Kleinhovia serrata Blanco;
Grewia meyeniana Walp.;

Lablab purpureus

Edible: Leaves, Fruit, Pods, Seeds, Root, Flowers, Vegetable

A climbing bean which can have vines 1-5 m long. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems can be smooth or hairy. Leaves are made up of 3 almost triangular leaflets. The leaflets are 5-15 cm long and 3-14 cm wide. The side leaflets are somewhat asymmetrical. Often the plants are flushed purple. The flowering clusters are 5-20 cm long. Flowers are often white but can vary from red to blue. The pods are flattened, pointed and up to 12 cm long and 2 cm wide. They can be green, purple or white. Inside there are 3-5 white or dark seeds. Seed pods have a wavy margin. The seeds are 0.5-1.5 cm long. (This bean is similar to Lima bean but the keel of the flower in not spirally twisted, the pod ends more bluntly with a long thin style at the end and the hilum on the seed is longer.)

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It mostly grows between 750 and 2175 m altitude in the tropics. It is drought resistant and can grow in quite low rainfall areas. Some varieties are short day and some are long day kinds. In Nepal it grows to about 2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Antaka, Ataka, Avara, Avarai, Awuje, Bach bien dau, Bak pap, Bepi, Bian dou, Bonavist bean, By-lap, Carmelita, Caruana, Chapparada avare, Chikkudu, Cinkamba, Coelhinho, Dau van, Dolic, Dralawa, Fagiolo egiziano, Feijao, Frejol comestible, Frijol caballero, Fuji mame, Habichuela, Helmbohne, Hiunde simi, Hyacinth bean, 'itab, Kacang kara, Kachang jeriji, Kachang kara, Kara-kara, Kattuavaral, Kekara, Khungudzi, Mbumbu, Munkamba, Ngiima, Nhaperepere, Nwai-pe, Nzavi, Papuri, Pavta, Pe-letma, Pe-maung-makaw, Pe-pazum, Pe-seik-gyo, Pe-wa-kyeik, Pe-wet-swe, Roway katopes, Samdaek holann tao, Sem, Shim, Sokol, Toba, To-tat, Tua nang, Tua pep, Tua-paep, Umuharakuuki, Val, Waken baibayi

Synonyms: 

Lablab niger Medik;
Dolichos benghalensis Jacq.;
Dolichos lablab L.;
Lablab purpurea (L.) Sweet;
Lablab vulgaris (L.) Savi;
Dolichos purpureus L.;
Vigna aristata Piper;