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
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Polyscias fruticosa
Edible: Leaves, Roots
A tall shrub. It grows 3-5 m high and spreads 2-3 m wide. The branches are spreading. The leaves are clustered near the tips. The leaves are divided 3 times. They are 75 cm long. They sheath the stem at the base. The leaflet stalks are 25 cm long and the leaflets are 1-12 cm long by 0.5-4 cm wide. They vary in shape. They can be lobed or have teeth. The flowers are 0.5 cm across and in a spreading group 60 cm long. The fruit are 0.5 cm across. They are fleshy. The plant varies a lot and it can be like Polyscias cumingiana.
A tropical plant. It suits tropical and subtropical regions. They need well drained acid soils. It is grown at low altitudes and up to about 1000 m. It is often grown as a hedge. In XTBG Yunnan. It grows on atolls.
Common Names: Parsley panax, Bebenu, Bebero, Bei, Bei ghailoro, Berobero, Danidani, Denngi, Dinh lang, Geke, Goi ca, Kadongdong laut, Kalon-letthe, Kobikobi, Kudu gerda, Kuku gerda, La nho, Lautagitagi, Lebkrud, Lep krut, Ming aralia, Momotu, Nyia kalo, Paa, Panax, Pokok teh, Siku keluang, Tagitagi, Taqala, Tataqala, Te kaimamara
Synonyms:
Aralia deleauana L. Linden;
Aralia fruticosa (L.) L. H. Bailey [Invalid];
Aralia tripinnata Blanco;
Nothopanax fruticosus (L.) Miq.;
Panax aureus Sander;
Panax diffusus W. Bull.;
Panax dumosus W. Bull.;
Panax fissus W. Bull.;
Panax fruticosus Linn.;
Panax plumatum W. Bull ex hort;
Panax plumatus W. Bull ex W. Richards;
Tieghemopanax fruticosus (L.) Viguier;
Polyscias scutellaria
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
A shrub which forms many branches from the base. It is 1-6 m high and spreads 1.5-3 m wide. The stems are bronze-green and there are distinct scars where the leaves fall off. The leaves have long leaf stalks and they can be simple or have 1-5 leaflets. The leaves are often cup shaped or saucer shaped. The leaf is elongated along the leaf stalk for about a quarter of its length. The leaves have teethed and are smooth on both sides. They are dark green on top and lighter green beneath. The leaf blade is 8-25 across and almost round or kidney shaped. The leaf stalk is 6-28 cm long. The flowers are 0.5 cm across. They are white or yellow. The fruit is 0.7 cm across and purplish-black. It is round and fleshy.
A tropical plant. It occurs in the lower altitude regions. It needs well drained soils. It often grows at low altitudes and up to 800 m altitude. It is often grown as a hedge. In XTBG Yunnan.
Common Names: Saucer leaf, Cup leaf papua, Hedge panax, Bei, Belahess, Daun belangkas, Daun mangkok, Godong mangkokan, Lala, Mamanukan, Mangkokan, Ndanindani, Platito, Semangkok, Shield aralia, Te toara
Synonyms:
Nothopanax scutellaria (Burm.f.) Merr.;
Nothopanax cochleatum Miq.;
Panax cochleatum DC.;
Polyscias cochleatum Lam.;
Portulaca oleracea
Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Herb, Spice, Vegetable, Flowers, Stems
A spreading branched herb. It lies flat on the ground. It grows each year from seed. The plants spread 10 to 50 cm wide. The stems are purplish. The leaves are fleshy, flat and shaped like a wedge at the base. They are 1.5 to 2.5 cm long and 0.3-1 cm wide. The flowers are yellow and occur in a few rounded heads. They are 0.8-1.5 cm across. They bloom about the middle of the day. The capsules are 0.5 cm long and oval. The seeds are black and shiny.
It grows in tropical and temperate regions. They are common in waste places throughout the Philippines. It is a common self sown plant in lowland areas and up to 1700 m altitude in the tropics. It grows to 2,400 m above sea level in Guatemala. It prefers sandy well drained places. It can grow on salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-12. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Common Names: Purslane, Adilagae, Alang galgala, Amadilika,Anamatavy, Andracla, An ni ze che, An-thau, Atka bwslai, Ayiyoyiyo, Bagla, Bagleh, Baqleh, Balamba, Balbalia, Bam, Baralaniya, Baralaynia, Baraloniya, Barbir-frefro, Barthoslai, Beldroega, Bembe, Berbeer, Berbine, Bhuigholi, Bredo-de-porco, Brihalloni, Brucacchia, Buraloniya, Caa ounga, Chinguru, Chitu, Corie keeray, Dalda sak, Danda-danga, Dandur, Danduri, Darli arxa, Dhuras, Dooddagooni soppu, Ekalitete, Emporretos, Ensamelata, Errejla, Etebite, Farfahaina, Fique, Gaga otu, Gandhaa fellaa, Ganga pavilli kura, Ganga-pavilikura, Garyaunla jhar, Gedha, Gelang pasir, Genda-kola, Gharghas, Ghol, Ghola, Ghol bhaji, Gholu, Ghwarghostai, Golgola sag, Goli, Goni, Green purslane, Gulasiman, Hah thengia, Hamdhieh, Hangshmoi, Hangswgarma, Hong zhu mu cai, Igwanisha, Ilenjane, Ingwanitsha, Inrainuthei, Isilate, Isilele, Jangli kulfa, Kabogam, Kamama, Kamole, Kamumama, Kariecheera, Karikeerai, Karo, Katuli, Kelpomough, Kharbari, Khurfa, Khursa, Kinyukwi, Kolfa, Kozhupa, Kozhupacheera, Kozhupasoppu, Krimbua, Krokot, Kulfa, Kulfa lonak, Kundar, Kurfah, Kutbo, Laha, Leibak kundo, Leibak kundo, Lisan el bagara, Little hogweed, Llutu yuyu, Lohorok, Lonak, Lonamla, Loni, Lonika, Loonk, Lorni booti, Lorniki booti, Lor salori, Luna, Lung, Lunishak, Lunri, Ma chi xian, Machixian, Makhuluwaluvhisi, Majincai, Malbhog khutura, Malbhog sak, Ma lian cai, Matako-ya-bibi, Ma zha cai, Medinica, Mhotighol, Missikoumbere, Moti, Motiluni, Motauric, Msukana, Munyeroo, Mya-byit, Myet-htauk, Nailyara, Navadni tolščak, Nboga nene, N'bosse-kinta, Noniya, Nonte shak, Nshigilelyo, Nunabhaji, Nundhiki, Nune, Nunia sak, Nyele-nyele, Olasiman, Ora-pro-nobis, Pa bo liang, Pali echi, Pallpena, Parkhorai, Parpank, Parparik, Paroopoo, Paruppu, Paruppukiray, Pechel, Peddapail kura, Peddapayilikura, Pelpine, Perchiacchia, Perchiazze, Phak bia-yai, Pigweed, Pirpar, Pirpere, Pirpirim, Pirtugakas, Porcelana, Porcsin, Portulaca, Portulak, Postelein, Pourpier, Pucciddana, Pullikirai, Purchaccchia, Purchiazz, Purciddana, Purunisag, Pusley, Pussley, Qalqalah, Ranghol, Rau sam, Regila, Reuma tape, Rigila, Rigla, Rubidta, Salada-de-negro, Sanburtzel, Sangulah, Selele, Semizlik, Semiz otu, Silele, Soebireum, Solele, Sormai, Ssezzira, Stir, Suberi-hiyu, Summer purslane, Tamole, Taukukunivuaka, Temizlik otu, Terwikai, Thukouro, Trejla, Tshitopitopi, Tsikobona, Tuchenitsa, Tumeghio, Tumeighio, Tusac, Tust, Ubijon, Udumbukoluppukeerai, Umbintchim, Vardolaga, Varhori, Verdolaga, Verdulaga, Wakati, Warkharray, Weinya zar, Woosta, Wur, Yawati mikuna yuyu, Yi ca mo ni, Yuyo, Zangali warkhrhay
Synonyms:
Portulaca aurea Hort. ex DC.;
Portulaca consanguinea Schlecht;
Portulaca diptera Zipp. ex Span.;
Portulaca fosbergii Poelln.;
Portulaca intermedia Link. ex Schltdl.;
Portulaca laevis Buch-Ham.;
Portulaca officinarum Crantz;
Portulaca olitoria Pall.;
Portulaca parviflora Haw.;
Portulaca suffruticosa Thw.;
Portulaca viridis Hort. ex DC.;
Portulaca retusa;
Premna serratifolia
Edible: Fruit, Seeds, Leaves
A spreading shrub. It grows 2-4 m tall. It can be 12 m tall. The leaves are opposite and large. They are oval and shiny green. They are leathery and have prominent veins. The midrib is raised underneath the leaf. The flowers are in clusters near the ends of branches. They are greenish white. Fruit are small and green. They turn black at maturity.
A tropical plant. It occurs in coastal vine thickets and on dunes. It grows in sandy soil along sea coasts and mangrove forests. It grows from sea level to 500 m altitude in Samoa. In Fiji it is usually below 200 m altitude. It grows in sandy soils and limestone. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.
Common Names: Creek Premna, Coastal premna, Adau, Agetha, Agnimanda, Agnimanthah, Aguyabat, Alagua-dagat, Aldas, Aloalo, Aran, Arani, Bachanige, Bagr, Baloh, Bhut-bhiravi, Bhuto bairi, Buas laut, Buas-buas, Chamari, Dhakandhaa, Dieng-lah-marwai, Eegigida, False elder, Gaebbu nelli, Ganiari, Ganioli, Genderi, Ghebboon nellie, Ginaveli, Gineri, Headache tree, Idibinerr, Kaar, Kayu buas, Khara-narvel, Ki pahan, Laban putih, Lambuas, Mara, Mooney do, Mothi-arni, Muney kiray, Munna, Munnay, Padda narva, Pohon malbo, Pohon premna batas, Pohon premna pantai, Pomantii, Singkel, Singkil alas, Takkite, Te ango, Ustabunda, Varvara, Yamgurum,
Synonyms:
Citharexylum paniculatum Poir. [Illegitimate];
Cornutia corymbosa Burm. f.;
Gumira abbreviata (Miq.) Kuntze;
Gumira attenuata (R.Br.) Kuntze;
Gumira integrifolia Hassk. [Illegitimate];
Gumira laevigata (Miq.) Kuntze;
Gumira opulifolia (Miq.) Kuntze;
Gumira truncata (Turcz.) Kuntze;
Premna abbreviata Miq.;
Premna angustior (C.B.Clarke) Ridl.;
Premna attenuata R.Br.;
Premna benthamiana Domin;
Premna corymbosa (Burm.f.) Schauer [Illegitimate];
Premna corymbosa var. obtusifolia (R.Br.) H.R.Fletcher;
Premna corymbosa var. sambucina (Wall. ex Schauer) Moldenke;
Premna gaudichaudii Schauer;
Premna glabra A.Gray ex Maxim.;
Premna glycycocca F.Muell.;
Premna guillauminii var. serrata Moldenke;
Premna hircina Wall.;
Premna integrifolia Willd. [Illegitimate];
Premna integrifolia L. [Illegitimate];
Premna integrifolia var. angustior C.B.Clarke;
Premna integrifolia var. minor Ridl.;
Premna integrifolia var. obtusifolia (R. Br.) C. P'ei;
Premna laevigata Miq.;
Premna littoralis King & Gamble;
Premna media R. Br.;
Premna nauseosa Blanco;
Premna obtusifolia R. Br.;
Premna obtusifolia var. gaudichaudii (Schauer) Moldenke;
Premna obtusifolia var. velutina Benth.;
Premna opulifolia Miq.;
Premna ovata R.Br.;
Premna sambucina Wall. ex Schauer;
and others
Premna serratifolia var. minor (Ridl.) A. Rajendran & P. Daniel;
Premna spinosa Roxb.;
Premna subcordata Turcz.;
Premna tahitensis var. rapensis F. Br.;
Premna tahitensis var. rimatarensis F. Br.;
Premna truncata Turcz.;
Scrophularioides arborea G. Forst. [Invalid];
Prunella vulgaris
Edible: Leaves, Leaves - tea, Flowers
A creeping herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has short underground stems or rhizomes which then produce upright stems. It can be slightly hairy. The stems can be 50 cm long. They are square or flattened in cross section and purple in colour. The leaves are oval and can be slightly scalloped. They have leaf stalks. The flowers are deep blue or purple but can be white. They grow in spikes. They are surrounded by rounded bracts with a long tapering point. They are purplish and with white bristles underneath.
It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist shaded and partly shaded ground. In Argentina it grows between 200-1,200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common Names: Self Heal, Healall, All-heal, Brinola, Brunela, Czemborek, Metspiparmunt, Prunela
Synonyms:
Prunella incisa;
Helichrysum luteoalbum
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
A small herb. It can grow a few cm or 60 cm high. The whole plant has a white covering. The leaves are sword shaped and narrow. They are woolly and stalkless. The flower heads occur in dense clusters at the top of the plant. There can also be smaller clusters in the axils of leaves lower down. The flowers are a pale whitish yellow. They are surrounded by shiny bracts which are green near their bases. A head consists of many female flowers and a few bisexual disk flowers.
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in well-drained dry sandy soils. In Africa it grows between 5-3,850 m above sea level. It can grow in mountain grassland as well as along the edges of streams. It often grows in poor sites. It is often close to water. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan
Common Names: Jersey Cudweed, Bal raksha, Muluvi-luvi, Umgilane
Synonyms:
Gnaphalium luteo-album L.;
Gnaphalium trifidum Thunb.;
Pseudognaphalium luteo-album (L.) Hilliard & B. L. Burtt;
and many others
Psidium cattleianum
Edible: Fruit, Flowers
An evergreen shrub. It grows 3-6 m high. The young shoots are rounded. They can be hairy or smooth. The leaf stalk is 4-15 mm long. Leaves are dark green and shiny above and 4-6 cm x 2-3 cm. The edges of the leaves curl backwards. The leaves are wedge shaped at the base. There are several glands under the leaf. Flowers are white and singly in the axils of leaves. The flower stalk is 3-7 mm long. It has small round red or purplish fruit. The flesh is white. There are several hard seeds inside. The seeds are 3 mm long by 2.5 mm wide. The fruit are edible.
A tropical plant. It is native to Brazil. It does quite well in highland areas in the tropics. It grows from sea level to 1,900 m. It is more frost resistant than common guava. It can be grown on a range of soils. It is fairly drought resistant. It suits hardiness zones 8-12. In Hobart Botanical gardens. Melbourne Botanical gardens. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Cherry guava, Araca, Araca-amarelo, Araca-vermelho, Bella seebai, Cattley guava, Cheena pera, Goavitsinahy, Guayabita fresa, Jambu stroberi, Konda jamipandu, Malam perakka, Mpera-ngombe, Mpera, Pahadi pijuli, Pahari payara, Pohon jambu stroberi, Porpay, Purple guava, Purple strawberry guava, Quwawa ni vavalagi, Red Strawberry guava, Seemai koyya
Synonyms:
Eugenia ferruginea Sieber ex C. Presl;
Eugenia oxygona Koidz.;
Eugenia urceolata Cordem.;
Guajava cattleiana (Afzel. ex Sabone) Kuntze;
Guajava humilis (Vell.) Kuntze;
Guajava obovata (Mart. ex DC.) Kuntze;
Psidium cattleianum var. coriaceum (O. Berg.) Kiaersk.;
Psidium cattleianum var. littorale (Raddi) Fosberg;
Psidium cattleianum f. lucidum O. Deg.;
Psidium coriaceum var. grandiflorum O. Berg.;
Psidium coriaceum var. longipes O. Berg;
Psidium coriaceum var. obovatum O. Berg.;
Psidium ferrugineum C. Presl.;
Psidium littorale Raddi;
Psidium littorale var. longipes (O. Berg) Fosberg;
Psidium obovatum Mart. ex DC.;
Psidium chinense Hort.;
Psidium variabile O. Berg.;
Pteris ensiformis
Edible: Leaves, Fronds
A compact fern. It grows 20-30 cm high and spreads 20-30 cm wide. It has a short creeping rhizome. The fronds are triangle shaped. They are of different lengths. They can be 15-30 cm long. The leaflets at the end are compound with 4-5 pairs of side leaflets cut into 2-6 oval lobes with teeth. Fertile fronds are one and a half times as long as sterile fronds. Some varieties have white or silver markings.
A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in open moist places at low altitudes in the tropics. In Indonesia it grows up to 750 m above sea level. It grows in damp places including rock crevices and in old stone walls. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Common Names: Slender brake fern, Dhekia sak, Dhingkha mwigong, Dingkia, Feng wei mao, Hoko-shida, Paku padang, Paku pelandok, Sere, Sir'ia, Slender brake, Sword brake
Synonyms:
Pteris crenata;
Pyracantha crenulata
Edible: Fruit, Leaves - tea
An evergreen shrub. It grows to about 3 m high. It has spines. The leaves have stalks. They are crowded on short side branches. The leaves are 1.5-5.5 cm long by 0.8-1.8 cm wide. They are oblong or oval. They narrow towards the base. They are rounded teeth. The flowers are on stalks. The flower petals are white. The fruit is round and red. They are 6 mm across.
It is a subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows between 1000-2500 m altitude. In grows on open hillsides among other shrubs. In Vietnam it grows at 1,600 m above sea level. In Garhwal Himalayas in India. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common Names: Nepal Firethorn, Nepalese white thorn, Broad-leaf firethorn, Chaido, Chinese firethorn, Cha-kou-tzu, Choota seb, Duri api cina, Duri api merah, Ghangaru, Ghangyar, Ghingaru, Himalayan firethorn, Kaatha gedi, Small round serrate firethorn, Xiyuanchi Huoji
Synonyms:
Cratægus crenulata Roxb.;
Mespilus crenulatus D.Don;
Raphanus sativus
Edible: Roots, Leaves, Herb, Fruit, Vegetable, Flowers
A cabbage family herb. It is a small quick growing plant with a thickened edible root. The leaves are divided along the middle nerve and are hairy. The end lobe is largest. The flowers are white or lilac with purple veins. The fruit is a pod. It is round in cross section and does not open at maturity. It is constricted between the seeds. The fattened roots can be red, white, purple or black. They can be round, oblong or long and narrow. There are several cultivated varieties especially in China.
A temperate plant. It grows from the coast up to at least 2400 m in the tropics. It grows best in a cool climate of about 15°C. It is frost resistant. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Radish, Cai cu, La-phug, Lobak, Luo bo, Meelay, Monla, Monla-u, Mula, Nabo silvestre, Papay yuyu, Rabanete, Rabanillo, Rabanito, Rabano, Radeisshu, Radijs, Radis, Ravanello, Rdeča redkvica, Rediska, Rettich
Synonyms:
Probably now Raphanus sativus Radicula group;
Raphanus acanthiformis J. M. Morel;
Raphanus chinensis Miller (1768), not (Linnaeus) Crantz (1769);
Raphanus macropodus H. Léveillé;
Raphanus niger Miller;
Raphanus raphanistroides (Makino) Nakai;
Raphanus raphanistrum Linnaeus var. sativus (Linnaeus) Domin;
Raphanus sativus var. macropodus (H. Léveillé) Makino;
Raphanus sativus f. raphanistroides Makino;
Raphanus sativus var. raphanistroides (Makino) Makino;
Raphanus taquetii H. Léveillé;
