Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Melaleuca leucadendra

Edible: Nectar, Leaves - tea, Fruit - tea, Leaves - flavouring

An evergreen tree. It grows to a height of 10-40 m and with a spread of 5-8 m. The trunk is upright and the branches hang over. The bark is pale, thick, soft and spongy. This papery bark is a distinctive feature of the tree. The leaves are simple and long. They are about 7-20 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The leaves are pale or dull dark green colour and carried one after another along opposite sides of the stalk. They have a short leaf stalk. The 5 or 6 veins of the leaf run along the leaf. The flowers are cream, green or slightly pink and are carried without a stalk. The flowers are carried on a 10 cm long stalk. The flowers are at the end of branches of the upper leaves and appear in winter. They have 1-1.5 cm long stamens. The flowers are scented. The flowers make a showy display. The fruit is a small cup-shaped woody capsule about 0.3-0.4 cm across. These capsules turn brown when ripe and carry many very small seeds.

It is a tropical plant and prefers an open sunny position. It will also grow in subtropical and warm temperate regions. Moist loose soils are suitable. It often grows naturally along streams and on deep sandy soils. It is damaged by drought and frost. It can tolerate being occasionally flooded by seasonal rains. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Common Names: Weeping Paperbark, Cajuput, Weeping Tea-tree, Cadjeput, Cajaputi, Cajuputa, Cajuputte, Gelam, Kaiyappudai, Kayaputi, Kayu puteh, Med, Punkaringa, Samed, Samet, Smach, Weeping River Teatree

Synonyms: 

Melaleuca cajaputi Roxb.;
Myrtus leucodendron L.;
 

Melastoma malabathricum

Edible: Leaves, Fruit, Flowers, Roots

An evergreen shrub. It grows about 2 m high. The branches are nearly four angled. They are densely covered with scales. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are 3.5-10 cm long by 1.4-3 cm wide. They are broadly sword shaped. They have hairs on the upper surface and a few underneath. The flowers are purple. The fruit is oval with a blunt end. The pulp of the fruit is red.

A tropical plant. It suits the hot, wet tropical lowlands. In Nepal it grows between 200-1600 m altitude. In Yunnan in China it grows below 1800 m altitude. It grows in secondary forest. It needs regular moisture and humidity. It grows in wetlands. It needs fertile, well-drained soil. It needs an acid pH. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Common Names: Pink Lasiandra, Indian Rhododendron, Akysanyi, Amkerki, Amlalas, Angeri, Asom, Augeri, Baksi, Ban-tejpata, Baynhenh, Bebei, Beyo, Bi bi nan nan, Bik bik, Bit-bit, Bol-kakkhia, Bre, Bu zhang yang, Choulisy, Dagaday, Daidassa, Dai-hitae, Datranga, Dayyamchettu, Di-sengn, Dieng-soh-khing, Dovedove, Doy oppu, Gongai, Guo gao, Harendog, Harendong, Kadu-du, Kajirai, Kakku, Kalampatti, Katokanmuela, Kemunting, Kengjang, Khlong-khleng-khii-nok, Khusim, Kluruk, Koroti, Kyet-gale, Linda-pabyin, Ma bowitiya, Malabar gooseberry, Malatangaw, Mang kre, Mang re, Moegalo, Mua la be, Myetpye, Nakkukaruppan, Nyaung-ye-o-pan, Palore, Pattuda, Phutkala, Phutki, Phutuka, Phutkola, Re, Sahkao, Sekedudok, Selngang, Seludok, Sendudok, Senggani, Shame, Sikaduduak, Sikaduduk, Singapore Rhododendron, Tagad-ay, Taitung, Tekai-chi, Thothkala, Thulo anyar, Thung khu, Tingku, Tulasi, Tungbram, Wachyang, Wagangga, Yagaidian

Synonyms: Melastoma affine D. Don;
Melastoma candida D. Don;
Melastoma cavaleriei H. Lev. & Vaniot;
Melastoma esquirolii H. Lev.;
Melastoma normale D. Don;
Melastoma polyanthum Blume;

Melochia umbellata

Edible: Leaves

A small tree. It grows 10 m high. The leaves are 22 cm long. The leaves are hairy underneath. The flowers are pink.

A tropical plant. It grows in hot places. It grows along the edges of lowland evergreen forests.

Common Names: Al-abada, Betenook, Boosi, Chapak, Endilau binchil, Jubut, Lesnu, Meloch, Methuri, Pilaw-bin, Sa dam, Senu, Singa, Tampu, Tangkal bintenu, Trungcua rung, Wesnu,

Synonyms:

Melochia arborea Blco;
Melochia velutina Bedd.;
Visenia tomentosa Miq.;
Visenia umbellata Houtt.;
 

Memecylon caeruleum

Edible: Fruit, Leaves

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-6 m tall. The stems are angular. The leaves are oblong and 8-11 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. The petals are white or greenish yellow but pale blue towards the base. The fruit are pink to red and turn purple to black as they ripen. They are oval and 1-1.5 cm across. They are juicy.

A tropical plant. It grows near the coast. It grows in forests between 900-1,200 m above sea level in southern China. In Yunnan.

Common Names: Api-api hutan, Delek-delek jambu, Delek jambu puteh, Kelat batu, Lam lam, Phlong khee tai, Plong, Prom, Senonya, Thabye-on

Synonyms: 

Memecylon cordatum Wallich;
Memecylon floribundum Blume;

Memecylon edule

Edible: Fruit, Leaves

A small tree. It grows 23 m high. The leaves are opposite and simple. They are 10 cm long by 4 cm wide. They are oval. The flowers are blue to purple and 2 mm across. They are in bundles in the axils of leaves. The fruit are blue to purple and 8 mm long by 6 mm across. There are 1-2 seeds.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in a range of forest types including swamp forest. It grows up to 1,400 m above sea level. It is often on alluvial sites near rivers. It is usually on sandy soils.

Common Names: Red ironwood tree, Alimara, Basing, Byin-gale, Delek air, Kayu besi, Kebesi, Lee-ko-kee, Me-byaung, Mi-nauk, Moc, Nipis kulit, Obar, Pak mead aer, Phlong dam, Phlong mueat, Pohon delek air, Pohon kebes, Telinga

Synonyms: 

Memecylon edule var. typica C. B. Cl. in Hook. f.;

Mentha aquatica

Edible: Leaves, Flavouring, Leaves - tea, Flowers - spice

A small herb. It grows 90 cm high. It has a thin rhizome. It can be smooth or hairy. The leaves are 2.5-5 cm long. They have teeth around the edge. The leaves are oval or sword shaped. The flowers are at the top of the shoots. They are small and purple in 2-3 rings.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in marshes and beside running water. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 3,300 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Common Names: Water mint, Budi-nan, Dag nanesi, Herba sana, Hung lui, Koricha lega, Kurbaga nanesi, Marsh mint, Mayime, Orange mint, Patana, Pusi-nan, Pit'na, Su nanesi, Umuteekampengeri, Vodna meta, Yaban nanesi

Synonyms:

Mentha hirsuta;
Mentha x piperita var. citrata;

Mentha canadensis

Edible: Oil, Leaves - flavouring, Leaves, Leaves - tea

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It has rhizomes or underground stems. The above ground stems are erect and 30-60 cm high. They are hairy. There are many branches. The leaf stalk is 2-10 mm long. The leaf blade is oval to sword shaped and 3-5 cm long by 0.8-3 cm wide. They are hairy. The edges have coarse teeth. The flower heads are about 1.8 cm across. The flowers are purplish or white.

It is a temperate and subtropical plant. In China it grows in wet areas from sea level to 3500 m altitude in all provinces. It grows in Yunnan in China.

Common Names: Chinese mint, Angzhi, Bo he, Hung gioi, Kanadska meta, Lao su ba kuo, Qiubi, Sheng bo he, Zha hong leng

Synonyms: 

Mentha arvensis L. var. canadensis (L.) Maxim.;
Mentha arvensis f chinensis Debeaux;
Mentha arvensis subsp. haplocalyx (Briquet) Briquet;
Mentha arvensis var. haplocalyx (Briquet) Briquet;
Mentha haplocalyx Briquet;
Mentha pedunculata Hu & Tsai; [Illegitimate]

Mentha piperita

Edible: Leaves, Herb, Leaves - tea, Spice

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It can grow to 1.2 m high. The stems are slightly hairy. They are 4 sided and purple. The leaves are almost oval and 2-4 cm long. They are opposite. There are teeth towards the tip. The stalks are 3-12 mm long. The flowers are in clusters at the top of the stems. They are light purple. They are in spikes. The fruit contains 4 small nutlets.

A cool temperate plant. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Common Names: Peppermint, Budi-nan, Gamathi phudina, Hierba buena, Paudina, La menta, Menta negra, Menta piperina, Menta piperita, Metvica, Ndamba, Nsimasatu, Paparaminta, Pudina, Pusi-nan, Vilayati pudina,

Synonyms: 

Mentha x piperata;

Mentha rotundifolia

Edible: Leaves - flavouring, Leaves - drink

A small herb. The leaves are crinkled and can be variegated. They are like common mint except for a soft fuzzy appearance to the leaf surface.

A hybrid between Mentha suaveolens and Mentha longifolia.
Details and locations may be confused with Mentha suaveolens.

It is a warm temperate plant. In Hobart Botanical Gardens. 

Common Names: Round leaved mint, Apple mint, Egyptian Mint, Timijja lmanta, Yerba buena

Synonyms: Many

Mentha spicata

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

A creeping leafy herb with numerous long runners. It has underground stems. It grows to 50 cm high. The leaves have a strong smell. The plant tends to be stiff and upright with long narrow pointed leaves. The leaves have short stalks. The leaves are 2-3.5 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. They have teeth long the edge. It has pink flowers at the top. They occur in a ring of many flowers. and small brown seeds.

A cool temperate plant. In the tropics it mainly occurs in the highlands. It suits damp ground. In Nepal it grows to about 2500 m altitude. It grows in moist, open places. It suits hardiness zones 3-10. Tasmania Herbarium. Hobart Botanical Gardens. In Sichan and Yunnan.

Common Names: Spearmint, Babari, Bawari, Bibera hurik, Gilapejm, Green mint, Hierba buena, Hortelana, Klasasta meta, Lamb mint, Liu lan xiang, Menta, Metvica, Nane, Ninhe, Nunivo, Padina, Pahari, Patina, Podeno, Podina, Poodina, Pudina, Selernay, Solila, Ushila, Yabaninane

Synonyms: 

Mentha crispa L.;
Mentha pudina Buch.-Ham.ex Benth.;
Mentha sativa Roxb.;
Mentha viridis (L.) L.;
Mentha spicata var. viridis L.;
Mentha sylvestris;