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
7000 Legumes
6000 Leafy Greens
5000 Fruits
4000 Vegetables
3000 Nuts, Seeds, Herbs, and other foods
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Helminthostachys zeylanica
Edible: Fronds, Leaves, Stalks, Vegetable
A fern. It is erect and grows in soil. It grows 15-90 cm tall. It has a deep creeping rhizome of underground stem. There are 1-2 leaves. The leaf stalk is thick. It is 10-60 cm long. The sterile part of the leaf is divided 3 times and these each have 2-5 segments. The segments are sword shaped and taper to the tip and have fine teeth along the edge. They are 5-25 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The fertile spike is at the top. It is on a stalk 3-30 cm long and the spike is 5-21 cm long.
It is a tropical plant. In Indonesia it grows from sea level to 725 m above sea level. It grows in moist poorly drained soil. It is often along rivers and on the edge of forests.
Common Names: Kamraj, Asi bisi, Feciruk, Han votar, Majur goda, Manon, Olipien, Pakis urang, Paku manis, Paku payung, Paku tunjuk langit, Pantjar bumi, Musitop, Sam dat, Tapak chalak, Tungkod-langit
Synonyms:
Osmunda zeylanica L.;
Hemerocallis fulva
Edible: Flowers, Leaves, Root, Bulb, Shoots, Vegetable
A herb. It grows 40-150 cm tall. Plants usually lose their leaves during the winter. The roots are fleshy with swollen tubers near the tip. There can be stolons or runners up to 30 cm long. The leaves are narrow and 50-90 cm long by 1-2.8 cm wide. The flowers occur as double groups of 2-5 flowers. The flowers are yellow or orange. They do not have a scent. They open in the morning and close in the evening of the same day. The fruit is a capsule. It is oval and 2-2.5 cm long by 1.2-1.5 cm wide. Several varieties are recognised.
It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests and thickets in grasslands and near streams from 300-2500 m altitude in China. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Common Names: Common day lily, Tawny Daylily, Chin cheng tsai, Chu-ta, Dok mai cheen, Fulvus daylily, Golden needles, Hoa hien, Huanghuacai, Kanzou, Kim cham, Orange day lily, Rumenorjava maslenica, Shina-kanzo, Wonchurri, Xuan cao, Yabu-kanzo, Yellow flower vegetable
Synonyms:
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus var. fulva L.;
Heritiera littoralis
Edible: Fruit, Seeds, Nuts, Leaves - tea
A tree up to 30 m high with a silvery crown and wide spreading branch-like buttresses. The trunk can be 90 cm across. The bark is light coloured and coarsely furrowed. The leaves are grouped near the ends of branches and are dark green on top and with silvery scales underneath. The leaves are 14-29 cm long. The upper side of the leaves is smooth and without hairs while the under side is silvery. The flowering branches are borne in the axils of leaves and have many flowers. The flowers are small, and hang in tassels. The flowers are of one sex, yellowish green and bell shaped. The fruit are hard, woody, smooth and shiny and boat shaped. The fruit are in clusters near the ends of branches. Fruit are 5-10 cm long. There is one seed inside which is edible. The wood is very hard.
A tropical plant. They are found in the inner part of the mangrove swamp and sometimes on dry land just at the back of the swamp in the tropics. They grow on sandy and rocky coasts. It can tolerate salt. They occur up to 50 m altitude. The trees occur from tropical Africa, India through Malaysia to Polynesia. It can grow in arid places. In Townsville palmetum.
Common Names: Looking Glass Mangrove, Adavibadamu, Chandmara, Chebibech, Chomuntri, Cui, Dugun kecil, Dungun ayer, Dungun, Etuna, Itik-itikan, Kalampu, Kannadi-yilai, Kolland, Mawtda, Mkokoshi, Mkungu, Msikundazi, Mukuram, Nakam, Pinle-kanazo, Pohon dungun teropong, Sundari, Sundrichand, Thhiey, Tulip mangrove
Synonyms:
Amygdalus littoralis (Dryander) O. Kuntze;
Amygdalus minor (Gaertn.) O. Kuntze;
Atunus litorea Rumph.;
Balanopteris minor Gaertn.;
Balanopteris tothila Gaertn.;
Heritiera fomes Wall.;
Heritiera minor Lam.;
Heritiera tothila (Gaertn.) Kurz;
Nagam Rheede;
Samandura littoralis Oken;
Sterculia ambiformis Ahern;
Sterculia cymbiformis Blanco;
Sutherlandia littoralis J. F. Gmelin;
Heteropanax fragrans
Edible: Leaves
A tree. It grows 30 m tall. The leaves have 3 to 5 leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 50-100 cm long and the leaflets are opposite. The leaflets are narrowly oval and 6-13 cm long by 4-6 cm wide.
It is a tropical plant. It grows near sea level and up to 1,000 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan.
Common Names: Fragrant aralia, Chang-khen, Kyaundauk, Kyaung-sha-letto, Mai-aw-sang, Mai-mak-long-ka-hkam, Tachanza
Synonyms:
Aralia fragrans (Roxb.) G. Don ex Loud.;
Panax fragrans Roxb.;
Panax fragrans Roxb. ex DC.;
Hibiscus mutabilis
Edible: Leaves, Root, Flowers, Leaves - tea
A shrub which loses its leaves during the year. It grows to 3 m high and spreads to 2m across. The stem is erect and branching. The stem is covered with soft, star shaped hairs. The leaves are large and oval and divided like fingers on a hand and have 3-7 pointed lobes. The leaves can be 17 cm long. The flowers are funnel shaped and white and turn deep pink in a day. They can be double or single. They are 10 cm across. There are some named varieties.
A tropical plant. It grows best in light to medium, well drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It needs a humus rich, fertile soil. It is damaged by frost and cannot tolerate drought. It needs a temperature above 13°C. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common Names: Rose of Sharon, Confederate rose, Bettada tavare, Changeable rose, Changing Rose, Chinaparatti, Chinese rose, Cotton rose, Fu rong hua, Gul-i-ajaib, Hinaparutti, Irratai-vellaichembarattam, Jushuanghua, Kyet-shaw, Mu fu rong, Neladavare, Phudung, Phuttan, Resisting frost flower, Sembarattai, Shalapara, Sthal kamal, Sthalopidmo, Sthalpadma, Suryakanti, Taw-wah, Tholopodmo, Thon-ban-hla, Tree lotus, Waru ladak, White Mallow
Synonyms:
Abelmoschus mutabilis (L.) Wall. ex Hassk.;
Abelmoschus venustus Walp.;
Hibiscus immutabilis Dehnh.;
Hibiscus javanicus Weinm.;
Hibiscus malvarosa Noronha;
Hibiscus sinensis Mill.;
Ketmia mutabilis (L.) Moench;
Hibiscus sabdariffa
Edible: Calyces, Leaves, Seeds, Flowers - tea, Vegetable, Fruit
A branched shrub up to 2 m high. It has reddish stems, leaves and fruit. Different types vary in their height, shape and leafiness. The leaves are 7-10 cm across and lobed. The upper leaves often have more lobes than the lower leaves. The flowers are large and yellow and in the axils of the leaves. They are carried singly. The bracts at the base of the flower are enlarged and form a fleshy red fruit. This capsule is 3 cm long and contains 22-34 seeds. The seeds are dark brown and 4-6 mm long. 1000 seeds weigh about 25 g.
A tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to about 1,700 m altitude. It will tolerate a range of soils. It requires short days for flowering. They will grow in semi arid locations. It grows best where average temperatures are in the range 25-30°. It needs a temperature above 10-13°C. It is very sensitive to frost. Plants will tolerate high temperatures. They grow up to 800 m altitude in Africa. A rainfall of 450-550 mm distributed over a 90-120 day growing period is required. It cannot tolerate waterlogged soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.
Common Names: Roselle, Rosella, Abema, Abin kan iyaakaa, Amukan, Ankpama, Asam ruso, Asam susur, Bamya, Bare-see, Beet, Bilat-chinbaung, Bissap, Carcade, Cay bup giam, Chhuka, Chidede, Chinbaung-ni, Chinbaung ywet, Chinebaune, Chukar, Chukiar, Dah, Divay, Ekiganga, Ekikenke, Emalakany, Emelakwang, Essang, Fol-lere, Folere, Florida cranberry, Gamet walanda, Gisima, Gisma, Gurguzu, Hanserong, Hasip, Indian sorrel, Jajewdet, Kahcieb priew, Kalabi, Karcade, Karkady, Ka-santhor, Kasturi roriha, Kata bahaji petua, Khatabhaji, Khirmoishak, Kpakpala, Krachiap-daeng, Krachiap, Kubab, Kudiass, Kuluba, Labog, Lakher-anthur, Lal-ambadi, Lal-ambari, Lal mesta, Lal-mista, Langkamit, Lokeke, Malakwang, Mei gui qie, Mesta tenga, Mphesya, Ngayi-ngayi, Ojo, Oseilla rouge, Oseille, Patwa, Phakkengkheng, Phat-swon-pan, Polechi, Pulichchai, Pulincha kira, Pundibija, Quimbombo chino, Rata bilincha, Red Sorrel, Roozera, Rosel, Rosela, Sakpa, Sangume, Sato, Sawa-sawa, Shan qie zi, Shilot sougree, Slok chu, Sodo, Som pho di, Sorel, Sour-sour, Sum-bawng, Sununkru, Sure, Talingsiag, Tenga more, Thakhlao maikhri, Tikonn'te, Tikwouann'ti, Tropical cranberry, Vaianthuh, Vai anthuk, Vinagreira, Yakuwa, Yakwa, Yerra gogu
Synonyms:
Abelmoschus sabdariffa;
Furcaria sabdariffa Ulbr.;
Hibiscus cannabinus Hiern.; ?
Hibiscus masuianus De Wild. & T. Durand; ?
and others
Hibiscus syriacus
Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Leaves - tea, Seeds - oil, Flowers - tea
A shrub 3-4 m high. It spreads 1.2-1.8 m wide. It loses its leaves in cooler climates. The leaves are oval with teeth around the edge. They are small and hairless. The flowers are purple with crimson centres. The flowers are bell shaped and can be single or double. They are produced in the axils of leaves. There are a range of cultivated varieties.
It is a temperate plant. In the tropics it grows at high altitude. It is frost hardy but flowers are damaged by frost. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. At Anvers Chocolate factory. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common Names: Syrian Hibiscus, Blue Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon, Bai jin hua, Chaba, Gurhal, Kembang sepatu mawar, Kembang sepatu saro, Mu jin, Shrubby Althæa, Sirski oslez, Swet jaba, Thon-ban-hla, Woody Hibiscus
Synonyms:
Althaea frutex Mill.;
Hibiscus acerifolius Salisb.;
Hibiscus arborescens Gaterau;
Hibiscus floridus Salisb.;
Hibiscus rhombifolius Cav.;
Hibiscus syriacus var. micrantha Y. N. Lee & K. B. Yim;
Ketmia arborea Moench;
Ketmia syriaca (L.) Scop.;
Ketmia syrorum Medik.;
Homalomena occulta
Edible: Root, Stem, Leaves
A herb. It has creeping rhizomes. The end of the stem is erect and 30-50 cm tall. The leaf stalk is 25-40 cm long. The leaves are sword shaped to heart shaped and 15-30 cm long by 15-28 cm wide. There are 1-3 flowering shoots together.
A tropical plant. It grows in dense valley forests and bamboo forests between 100-1,100 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan.
Common Names: Mon thuc
Synonyms:
Calla occulta Loureiro;
Homalomena cochinchinensis Engler;
Homalomena tonkinensis Engler;
Houttuynia cordata
Edible: Leaves, Rhizomes, Fruit, Vegetable, Roots, Plant - tea, Flowers
A herb 10-30 cm tall. It climbs slightly. It has stolons and continues to grow from year to year. The leaves are alternate and oval. They narrow to the tip and are heart shaped at the base. They are 10 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are slightly hairy on the veins. They have a smell of oranges when crushed. The leaf stalk is 3-4 cm long. The flowers are in a spike. This is at the ends of branches and is 2.5 cm long by 6 mm wide. There are 4 developed bracts. These are oval and 1.5-2 cm long and white. The fruit is an urn shaped capsule. The seed are oval and 1 mm long.
A tropical to temperate plant. It is frost hardy. In Nepal it grows between 700-2500 m altitude. It grows in moist, shady places. It will grow in water up to 3-5 cm deep. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Common Names: Fishwort, Swamp pepper, Fish smelling herb, Aithanglou, Ai thang, Amuli, Arunaha, Azina, Bagnetra, Checha peya, Chi pahoa, Chu tsai, Dokudami, Eshakama, Fish mint, Fitta dhu, Ganaune jihar, Gandhe, Gane, Gardhe, Gaycho, Gaytsho, Giap ca, Gou tie wu, Hankumphi, Heartleaf, Heeli jhar, Hiley-jhar, Hongyea, Houttuynia, Ja mardoh, Ja-myrdoh, Jarmendo, Jukut hanyir, Kaiyukhing, Ke sa li guo, La diep ca, Lizard's tail herb, Lu lin, Machundari, Maisundri, Majoukhom bua, Masundari, Mesandori, Mojoukhmo, Mombering, Mosondari, Mosondoi, Mreptang, Myrdoh, Nga-nyi, Pahaodong, Pa huai, Pa hui, Palhao, Parushampabi, Phak khaao thong, Phapre jhor, Phluu kae, Rau daap, Rau diep ca, Roram, Sabiegeye, Thalai naam, Thingnaluk, Tokningkok, Toninkhok, Tri-okudami, Tsi, Tufo, Tuningko, Ui-thin-thang, VeSiahamang, Wu se b, Yu xing cao, Yuxingcao, Zhergen
Synonyms:
Houttuynia emeiensis Z. Y. Zhu & S. L. Zhang;
Houttuynia foetida Loudon;
Polypara cordata Kuntze;
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.
Common Names: Hydrilla, Water thyme
Synonyms:
Hydrilla ovalifolia Rich.;
Hydrilla polysperma Blatter;
Serpicula verticillata Linn. f.;
Vallisneria verticillata Roxb.;
