Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Lycopersicon esculentum

Edible: Fruit, Spice, Vegetable, Leaves

A short lived perennial plant. It is upright but with weak stems. It can grow to 2 m tall with support for the stems. The stems have long hairs. It is bad smelling. The leaves are deeply lobed with an odd number of leaflets. They have irregular teeth around the edge. There are up to 12 star shaped flowers on each raceme. Flowers are yellow. The fruit are round and red when ripe. Yellow coloured fruit also occur. There are many varieties.

A warm temperate plant. It grows from sea level to 2400 m altitude in the tropics. It needs to be grown in fertile soil. For best production it requires much water, plenty of sunshine and low night temperatures. For germination it does best between 20-30°C. It is frost susceptible. A pH of 6.0-7.9 is best. In Nepal it grows to 1400 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Common Names: Baingan, Bunyanya bunyoro, Domado, Domate, Esalamejei, Faan kee, Golbhera, Kamatis, Kha-ran-chine, Khayan-gyin, Kibongi, Komidira, Lumantu, Ma-khay-sut, Makheua thet, Matamba, Ma-thamba, Mutamatisi, Nyanya, Peng pahs, Ta-gaw-lay, Takkali, Tamata, Tamatar, Tamatis, Thakkali, Tomat, Tomata, Tomatar, Tomati, Tumatur, Vanji, Vilayithi vengan, Vilayithi

Synonyms: Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten;
Lycopersicon esculentum P. Miller;
and many others

Lygodium microphyllum

Edible: Leaves, Fronds, Shoots, Rhizomes, Root, Vegetable

A climbing fern which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1-3 m long and spreads 30-90 cm wide. It has slender twining stems. The leaf is the climbing part. The stalk branches and produces 6-10 small fronds. The leaves are smooth fronds. They are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are light green with short stalks. The leaflets are 6 cm long. The edges have fine teeth. The spores are produced on fertile leaflets which are smaller than the others. These ones have lobes on the edge. The slender, horizontal, underground stems are fleshy and brittle.

It is a tropical plant. It can grow in warm temperate regions. It grows naturally in monsoon forest near freshwater streams. It grows naturally in mountain forest. It can form thickets in swampy coastal country. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.

Common Names: Lota dhekia, Kishor kosak, Ribu-ribu, Sama-hondo

Synonyms: 

Lygodium scandens Swartz.;
Ophioglossum scandens L.;
Ugena microphylla Cav.;

Lysimachia clethroides

Edible: Flowers, Fruit, Leaves

A herb. It grows to 75-90 cm high and is 45-60 cm wide. The leaves are large and broadly sword shaped. They are 8-15 cm long. The flowers are small and white. They are in a tapering spike.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in wet ravines and grassy mountain slopes between 300-2,100 m above sea level in southern China. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. Hobart Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Common Names: Lymac liettra, Oka-tora-no-o

Macaranga tanarius

Edible: Bark, Fruit, Leaves - for drink, Seeds

A small tree. It grows 4-10 m high. It has a spreading bushy habit. Young growth is bright green and slightly hairy. The leaves are alternate and 10 to 25 cm long by 10-15 cm wide. They are broadly oval or shield shaped. The leaf stalk joins the leaf blade in the centre. The leaf stalk is slender and 20 cm long. The leaf is bright green above and pale green underneath. The veins are pale and easy to see. The flower panicles are 4-22 cm long and in the axils of leaves. They hang downwards. The male flowers are longer and more branched. There are broad bracts near the flowers and these have fringes around them. Both male and female flowers are small and green. The fruit is a capsule 0.8 cm long and inflated. They are soft and have teeth around them. The seeds are black and shiny when ripe.

A tropical plant. It is native from Malaysia to Australia. It will grow in many types of soil. The soil should be well-drained. It does best in a sunny position. Common and widely distributed in open places and secondary forest throughout the Philippines. In Borneo it grows up to 1,400 m above sea level. It can be near beaches and along tidal streams. It is mostly on sandy or rocky soils.

Common Names: Binunga, Brush Macaranga, Butsu veene, Hairy Mahang, Kakat, Kamala, Limboga, Lingkobong, Melang kabau, Naupata, Pada, Parasol leaf tree, Sedaman, Singkabong, Tubbig, Venu, Venue, Wenurapi

Synonyms: 

Croton lacciferus Blanco;
Macaranga molliuscula Kurz;
Mappa moluccana Wight;
Mappa tanarius (L.) Blume;
Mappa tomentosa Blume;
Ricinus tanarius L.;
Rottlera tanarius (L.) Hassk.;
Rottlera tomentosa (Blume) Hassk.;
 

Maclura cochinchinensis

Edible: Fruit, Leaves

A thorny climbing shrub. It grows 4-10 m long. It has cane like twigs. It forms thickets. It can be erect or spreading. It has spines which are curved. They are about 1 cm thick. The leaves are alternate and oblong. The base is wedge shaped and it tapers to a short tip. They are 7-15 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 6-10 mm long. They are leathery. Broken leaves and twigs ooze milky sap. The male and female flowers are separate on separate plants. The male flowers are 6-10 mm wide. The female flowers are hairy. The fruit is a composite round fruit 2-5 cm across. It has a pattern of squares over the surface and is green but turns yellow-orange when mature. They are hairy. The fruit are edible. There are several very small seeds inside.

A tropical plant. It grows in the forest. It can grow on coral soil. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 1600 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 600-1200 m altitude. It grows on the outer edge of the forest. It grows near villages in S China. It can be in mangrove forest. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Common Names: Amali, Bapou chuni, China maclur, Damaru, Damru, Gou ji, Kamgu, Kangu, Ke le, Kederang, Khmea, Kuderang, Manda, Mangei, Peinne-nwe, Pulikait, Tegerang, Tekum esing, U-sia-kiang

Synonyms: 

Cudrania cochinchinensis (Lour.) Kudo & Masamune;
Cudrania javanensis Trec.;
Maclura javanica Bl.;
Vaniera cochinchinensis Lour.;
and several others
 

Maesa perlaria

Edible: Leaves - tea

A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-12 m tall. It is densely hairy. The leaf stalk is 10 mm long. The leaf blade is oval and 7-11 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge towards the tip. The leaf tapers to the tip. There are 7-9 side veins each side of the main vein. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are small (2 mm) but the flowering stalk is 2-4 cm long. The flowers are white. The fruit is round and about 3 mm across.

A tropical plant. It grows in sparse broad-leaved forests and shrubby areas in damp places between 200-1400 m altitude in S China. In Vietnam in mountainous areas and along roads. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Common Names: Don nem, Ji yu dan, Kayu nasi

Synonyms: 

Dartus perlarius Loureiro;
Maesa sinensis A. DC.;
Maesa tonkinensis Mez.;

Malva verticillata

Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Vegetable

An erect herb. It takes 1 or 2 years to complete its life cycle. It grows to about 1 m high. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are half round or heart shaped. There are 3-5 lobes. The leaves are 5-11 cm long by 5-11 cm wide. The lobes are rounded and with shallow round teeth. The flowers have short stalks. They are pink or white. They are crowded in the axils of leaves. The fruit is flat and round and 5-7 mm across. The seeds are kidney shaped and 1.5 mm across. They are purple-brown.

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal it grows between 2000-3500 m altitude. It grows in moist soil near villages. It grows in Yunnan in China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Common Names: Auk, Bod cham, Boecham, Chamba, Chamla, Champa lhamo, Champa metog, Chinese mallow, Chyampa pho, Chyatalama, Cluster mallow, Ekituruguma, Iamuda, Har-a nogug-a, Icam pa, Jiangba, Jin kui, Lafesag, Laffa, Laphe sag, Majino, Majaino, Ma ning cham pa, Mikanchi, Napa shak, Ninagu, Nyiga, Suchel, Tangshang, Tsangs-spa-la-mos, Tugur nago, Whorled mallow, Wild Kui, Ye Kui

Synonyms: 

Malva alchemillaefolia Wall.; ?
Malva neilgherrensis Wight; ?
Althaea crispa (L.) Alef.;
Althaea verticillata (L.) Alef.;
Malva chinensis Mill.;
Malva crispa (L.) L.;
Malva meluca Graebn. ex Medw.;
Malva meluca Graebn. ex P. Medw.;
Malva mohileviensis Downar;
Malva pulchella Colla;
Malva pulchella Bernh.;
Malva verticillata subsp. chinensis (Mill.) Tzvelev;
Malva verticillata var. chinensis (Mill.) S.Y.Hu;
Malva verticillata subsp. crispa (L.) Tzvelev;
Malva verticillata var. crispa L.;
Malva verticillata var. verticillata;

Marsilea minuta

Edible: Fronds, Leaves, Vegetable

A small fern. It grows in water or damp locations. It has creeping rhizomes. The fronds float. It has four leaflets. These are rounded or delta shaped and 1-2.5 cm long and wide. They are at the top of a slender leaf stalk. It only forms spore bodies in water.

A tropical plant. It grows in swamps and stagnant pools. It is rare in Swaziland. In Bangladesh it grows in ditches and rice paddies. It grows in wetlands. In southern China it grows in rice fields and in ditches between 100-1,400 m above sea level.

Common Names: Araikeerai, Chabarchilu, Chatom ara, Chick-lintakura, Chilo, Chitigina soppu, Dhel manimuni, Godhi, Guersel, Ishing-yensang, Kundo arxa, Mudugotamara, Paflu, Pani tengesi, Reu-reua, Sunsunia, Sun-suniya, Sushni, Susni, Susnishak, Tengesi, Tripattra, Zarzuri

Synonyms: 

Marsilea aegyptiaca Wall.;
Marsilea diffusa var. approximata A. Braun;
Marsilea perrieriana C. Chr.;

Marsilea quadrifolia

Edible: Fronds, Leaves, Seeds, Leaves - tea

A long crawling fern. It can float on water. It has slender creeping rhizomes. It forms roots at the nodes. The young leaves are downy but become smooth. There are 4 triangle shaped leaflets. Each one is 1-2 cm across. The stalks are slender and 15 cm long. The sori or spore bodies, are narrow and enclosed by fronds.

It grows in wet places. It grows in temperate and subtropical places. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Aarai keerai, Chantuel phnom, Chapatray, Charpate behuli, Chapatri, Chuka chook. Co bo, Kundo arxa, Ishing yenthang, Liu yue xue, Pani tengesi, Rasun ara, Rau bo, Shusni shak, Square herb, štiriperesna marzilka, Sushni shak, Susni sag, Susnisak, Vattachappu,

Medicago polymorpha

Edible: Flowers, Leaves, Seeds, Fruit, Pods

An annual herb. It lies along the ground. The stem are 50 cm long. Sometimes they twine and climb over other plants. The leaves are made up of 3 small leaflets on a short stalk. The leafy stipules near their base are deeply lobed and taper to a point. The flowers are yellow and pea-like. They are 6 mm long. Up to 6 flowers occur at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves near the ends. The fruit is a spiny spiral pod. It is 8 mm across. There are 3 varieties depending on the shape of these spines.

It grows in temperate regions. It grows in dry coastal pastures. It can grow in acid, neutral or alkaline soils. It grows below 2,200 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Common Names: Alfafinha, Alfalfilla, Alfilla, Bindo arxa, Californian bur clover, Chandausi, Chinese clover, Churgali, Gaejari, Hualputa,Hualputra, Maina, Miana, Midiki, Millma garotilla, Nettho sag, Nusaka, Pega mono, Qunjirka, Rodajilla, Shanghai trefoil, Shpaishtay, Shpestaray, Sinji, Speshtai, Speshtaray, Speshtlarai, Toothed clover, Toothed medick, Trebol de caracol, Trebol de carretilla, Trevinho

Synonyms: Medicago apiculata Willd.;
Medicago denticulata Willd.;
Medicago hispida Gaertn.;
Medicago lappacea Desr.;
Medicago loretii Albert;
Medicago nigra (L.) Krocker;
Medicago nigra (L.) Krocker subsp. microcarpa (Urban) O. Bolos & Vigo;
Medicago nigra (L.) Krocker var. nigra;
Medicago pentacycla DC.;
Medicago polycarpa Godron & Gren.;
Medicago polycarpa Godron & Gren. subsp. polymorpha (L.) Cadev. & Sall.;
Medicago polycarpa Godron & Gren. subsp. reticulata (Benth.) Coste;
Medicago polymorpha L. subsp. hispida (Gaertner) Ponert;
Medicago polymorpha L. subsp. lappacea (Desr.) Bonafe;
Medicago polymorpha L. subsp. polycarpa Romero Zarco;
Medicago reticulata Benth.;
Medicago terebellum Willd.;