Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Typha domingensis

Edible : Leaves, Shoots, Rhizome, Root, Pollen, Pith, Vegetable, Flowers,

A tall reed-like plant. It grows in water and keeps growing from year to year. They grow up to 4.5 m high. They form dense thickets around swamps. The leaves are long and blade-like and enclosed in a sheath. They are grass-green. They grow in two opposite rows. The flowers are brown. They are produced in long cylindrical spikes. These look like sausages on spikes. These are up to 20 mm wide. The flowers are usually separated into male (above) and female (below) sections. When mature they turn into a mass of fluff.

It is a subtemperate plant. They grow in stagnant and slow moving water. It grows in wetlands. It needs wet soils and an open sunny position. It is resistant to frost. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows below 100 m above sea level. Tasmanian Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Common names : Bulrush, Cattail, Narrowleaf Cumbungi, Aanechondu, Aane jondu, Aapu, Akho, Ane jondu, Baaliyan, Cheena, Chi'na, Chiena, Dabbu-jammu, Ekho, Fapu', Ghabajario, Googol bon, Hati ghah, Hogla, Jammu, Jammugaddi, Jangli-bajri, Jwi'na, Kai, Kaw, Kaylampa, Kundar, Lesser cats tail, Lookh, Malo, Maranda, Maribala, Ngallowayn, Panjabris, Pankanis, Pario, Patera, Pitz, Pun, Poorteetch, Puwarji, Reedmace, Sambu, Taboa, Tabua, Totora, Tule, Wana-yuk, Wa'na, Wonga,

Synonyms :

Typha angustifolia L. var. domingensis (Pers.) Griseb.;
Typha angustata Bory & Chaub.;
Typha australis Schum. & Thonn.;

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Edible : Seeds, Leaves, Herb, Spice, Young pods, Vegetable,

A small herb. It grows up to 30-60 cm tall. It spreads 20-30 cm wide. It grows each year from seed. The leaves have 3 leaflets like clover. The leaflets are oval and do not have stalks. They are 1.3-2.7 cm long by 0.5-1.7 cm wide. They are spoon shaped with teeth and a rounded tip. They narrow towards the base. The leaves are light green. The flowers are small and pea like. They are yellow. The fruit is a long narrow pod. It has a pronounced beak. The seeds are like small golden brown pieces of gravel.

It suits dry temperate and subtropical regions. It needs a well-drained soil. It needs a sunny position. In Nepal they grow up to 2500 m altitude. It can tolerate frost. It can grow in acid, neutral and alkaline soils. It can grow in salty soils. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 380-1,530 mm. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Hobart Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan.

Common names : Fenugreek, Alba, Alholva, Asumodhagam, Bhaji, Bird's foot, Bockshornklee, Cemenotu, Chandrika, Cow's horn, Fenogreco, Fenugrec, Fieno greco, Goat's horn, Greek hay seed, Helbeh, Hilbah, Hilbeh, Ho-lo-ba, Hoemgreeb, Houjeh, Ku tou, Manthya, Menk-palle, Mente, Mentesoppu, Mentikoora, Mentulu, Methi ka saag, Methi sak, Methi-shak, Methi, Methika, Methini, Methuka, Mnogosemenski triplat, Muthi, Pe-natha, Uluhaal, Uluva, Vandeyam, Venthiam,

Synonyms :

Trigonella tibetana (Alef.) Vassilcz.;

Trichosanthes cucumerina

Edible : Leaves, Fruit, Vegetable,

A pumpkin family plant. It is a climber with tendrils. It grows 2.4-6 m high and spreads 1.5-3 m wide. The vine has furrows along it. The leaves have 3 to 7 lobes and a tooth like edge. The flowers are white. The male flowers are without a bract and the female flowers are produced singly. The flowers have long stalks. The long fruit tend to curve. They can be 1-2 m long. When ripe they turn orange or red, but are grey and green when young.

A tropical plant. It is common in the humid tropical lowlands up to 500 m. It does not tolerate dry soil and requires a good moisture reserve in the soil, but is sensitive to water-logging. The optimum temperature for growth is 30-35°C with a minimum of 20°C. It occurs throughout the Philippines at low and medium altitudes up to 1200 m. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Common names : Snake gourd, Amritaphala, Ban chichinda, Banpatal, Banpatol, Ban potol, Begul, Bettada-padawala, Binisi noki, Boap nguu, Bonlon, Buap ngu, Buap nguu, Buap-khom, Calabaza de culebra, Chachinda, Chayud pottah, Chetipotla, Chhachhindara, Cichanda, Chichinda, Chichindo, Chichinga, Chikonda, Chichinda, Chirchira, Club gourd, Galartori, Hebi-uri, Jangli chachinda, Jangli-chachinda, Jangli chichanda, Kadwamparwal, Kashtbhanjan, Lilkaetha, Lingapotla, Melon-melonan, Na-we-ngon, Padavalanga, Padivilangu, Padval, Padwal, Padavali, Paeypuda, Pakupis, Pare welut, Pare-belut, Pathola, Pe-lin-mwe, Pe-lum-mwe-thi, Pepatolam, Pepoodel, Petola ular, Petola-ular, Podalangai, Potlakaaya, Pudal, Pu-lultha, Ranacha padawal, Sze gwa, Thabut-kha, Timun bengkok, Tola ular,

Synonyms : Trichosanthes anguina L.;
Trichosanthes brevibrachteata Kundu;
Trichosanthes pachyrrhachis Kundu;
and others

Trifolium pratense

Edible : Leaves, Flowers, Seeds, Nectar, Tea,

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows up to 40 cm high. The stems are hairy. It has a single taproot. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are smooth and oval. They have a pale V shaped mark. The flowers are purplish-mauve of pink. They are rounded. The pods have 1 seed.

It is a temperate plant. It suits high rainfall areas. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 3,000-3,800 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. Tasmania Herbarium.

Common names : Red clover, Argud, Che-ba do, Chilean clover, Crvena djetelina, Chupamieles, Ereqnuk, Kana eshpet, Kirmizi yonca, Koniuczya, Nefil, Peavine clover, Purple clover, Rodklover, Rotklee, Shataala, Shotal, Trebol, Trebol morado, Trebol rojo, Trebol rosado, Trevo-dos-prados, Trevo-roxo, Trevo-vermelho, Trifoglio dei prati, Trifoi,

Toona sinensis

Edible : Fruit, Leaves, Buds, Leaves - tea, Vegetable,

A deciduous tree. It grows 20-30 m tall. The trunk is 60-100 cm across. The trunk is straight with few branches. The leaves are 60 cm long. There are 10-24 leaflets along the stalks. The leaves have teeth along the edge. The leaflets are red-bronze when young and turn yellow before they fall. The flowers are cream and small. They have a scent. They occur in drooping panicles. These are 30 cm long. The fruit is a woody brown capsule. It is 3 cm long. There are several winged seeds.

A subtropical plant. It is native to China. It grows on mountains between 800 and 2,000 m altitude. It suits subtropical and temperate climates. It needs deep loamy-sandy soil. It suits a pH of 5.5-8 and does well on calcareous soils. It suits hardiness zones 6-11. In Yunnan. In Sichuan. National Arboretum Canberra.

Common names : Chinese cedar, Cedrela, Ch'amjuknamu, Chanchin, Chinese mahogany, Chinese toon, Chun Tsei Shue, Daaraluu, Fragrant chun, Fu mei rong, Gushi, Jimu, Main chen, Maiyoneng, Red toon, Suren, Surian tanam, Tong du, Tsaizime, Xianchun, Xiangchuan, Xuan su, Ye bu, Zong,

Synonyms : 

Cedrela longifolia Wall. ex C. DC.;
Cedrela serrata var. puberula C. DC.;
Cedrela serrulata Miq.;
Cedrela sinensis Juss.;
and several others

Bacopa monnieri

Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable, Tea

A herb which grows in rice fields and lies along the ground. It grows 30 cm high. The stems are much branched. They form roots at the nodes. It can grow each year from seed or keep growing from year to year. The leaves are opposite and about 1.5 cm long by 1 cm wide. They are almost without stalks. The flowers contain both sexes. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. The flowers are on stalks about as long as the leaves. The flower tube has 5 lobes. They are white or light blue. The seeds are very small.

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It grows up to 500 m altitude. It grows in damp areas. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in salty conditions. It is damaged by drought and frost. It can be on sandy beaches. It grows below 1,100 m above sea level in southern China. Brisbane Botanical garden. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Bacopa, Water Hyssop, Thyme leaved Gratiola, Bam, Brahmi, Brahmichappu, Brahmisak, Brakhi shak, Brammi shak, Brithmi-sak, Byone-hmwe, Herpestis, Hissopo-d'agua, Neerbrahmi, Nira-brahmi, Nir-brahami, Nirbrahmi, Nirubrahmi, Rau dang, Smau snao, Thiphu maigong, Veppilaa, Verdolaga de agua, Ye-myin-hkwa

Synonyms: 

Bramia monnieri (L.) Drake;
Gratiola monnieri (L.) L.;
Herpestis monnieri (Linn.) H.B. & K.;
Lysimachia monnieri L.;
Monniera monnieri (L.) Britton;
and others

Baliospermum solanifolium

Edible: Leaves

A stout shrub. It is woody and grows 1-2 m high. The stems are fairly stout and have few branches. The leaves vary in shape and size. They are 2-11 cm long by 1-6 cm wide. There can be lobes and teeth around the edge.

A tropical plant. In Pakistan it grows between 600-1,200 m altitude.

Common Names: Adal-adal, Akar kara nasi, Kasingsat, Maharaja lela, Parok hanthu, Piriya, Pririya, Srintil, Terap kompong, Tongtek ton-di

Synonyms:

Baliospermum axillare Blume;
Baliospermum montanum (Willd.) Mull.Arg.;
Jatropha montana Willd.;
and others

Bambusa oliveriana

Edible: Shoots

A bamboo.

It is a subtropical plant. It grows at high altitudes. In Cairns BG.

Common Names: Khokwa, Khuak, Rokhu, Sinmi-du, Talan, Wapyu-gale, Wapyu-san

Synonyms: 

Bambusa mizorameana H. B. Naithani;

Barbarea verna

Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Vegetable

A cabbage family herb. The leaves are dark smooth and shiny. They come from the ground in many stemmed rings. Each stem has leaflets arranged in 2 rows. There is a large rounded leaflet at the end. The flowering stem can be 60 cm high. The flowers are bright yellow. The seed pods are narrow and like a cylinder. There is a short point at the end.

It is a temperate plant. It will grows in the hills in Malaysia. In Haiti it occurs at 1600 m. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 600 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Common Names: Early cress, American land cress, Anadndrano an tanety, Bank cress, Land cress, Scurvy grass, Sunnar

Synonyms: 

Barbarea praecox (Sm.) R. Br.;
Erysimum vernum Mill.;

Barringtonia acutangula

Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Fruit

A small tree. It grows 4-15 m tall. The trunk can be 40-80 cm across. It can have several stems. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are broad and sword shaped. They taper to the base. They are bright green. The edges sometimes have small teeth. They are 4-14 cm long by 2-4.5 cm wide. The flowers are bright red. They are in heads 30 cm long. These hang downwards. The fruit are green and 4 angled. They are woody and 3.5 cm long. There is one seed and it has a groove.

A tropical plant. It grows in moist places along rivers. It needs light and humidity. It grows near lakes and can grow in brackish water. It suits humid shady places. It is damaged by drought and frost. It occasionally grows up to 400 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Common Names: Indian oak, Red Barringtonia, Barrenka, Chiec, Chik na, Chik num, Freshwater Mangrove, Hijal, Himbabalod, Hole kauva, Ingar, Ipil, Itchy Tree, Jiig, Kadapa, Kadon naam, Kandu almond, Kra don, Kyi, Kyi-ni, Lik vung, Loc vung, Mai chik, Neerpezhu, Pak kradon nam, Pangpanik, Phak kadon naam, Piwar, Poetat, Pooy-sai, Putat lembik, Putat nasi, Putat tayap, Putat, Raing toek, Reang toek, Stream Barringtonia, Ye-kyi

Synonyms: 

Barringtonia alba Kostel. invalid;
Barringtonia rubra Baill. ex Laness. [Illegitimate];
Barringtonia terrestris (Miers) Kunth;
Butonica acutangula Lam.;
Butonica terrestris Miers;
Careya coccinea (Lour.) A. Chev.;
Caryophyllus acutangula (L.) Stokes;
Eugenia acutangula L.;
Huttum acutangulum (L.) Britten;
Michelia acutangula (L.) Kuntze;
Stravadia alba Pers.;
Stravadia rubra Pers.;
Stravadium acutangulum (L.) Miers;
Stravadium acutangulum (L.) Sweet;
Stravadium rheedii Blume;
Tsjeria-samstravadi Rheede;
and others