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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Aegiceras corniculatum
Edible: Leaves, Salt, Fruit, Vegetable
A small tree or shrub. It grows up to 1.5-7 m tall. It often has several stems. The young branches are reddish brown. The bark is smooth and grey to brown. The leaf stalk is 5-10 mm long. The leaves are oval. They are 2.5-8.5 cm long by 0.9-3.6 cm wide. They are leathery. There are 7-11 side veins on each side of the main vein. The midrib is easily seen under the leaf. The flower arrangement is made up of flowers from a common point arranged on stalks of equal length. They arise from a knob like point. The fruit are curved and like a cylinder up to 8 cm long by 5-6 mm across. They taper to a sharp point.
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and warm temperate areas. It occurs along banks of tidal creeks. It is also on the seaward edge of mangroves. It can grow in brackish and salty water. It likes light.
Common Names: Horned mangrove, River Mangrove, Cat, Dudumara, Halsi, Kanjala, Khalshi, La zhu guo, Narikandam, Su, Teruntum, Tra, Truntung
Synonyms:
Rhizophora corniculata L.;
Aegiceras majus Gaertner;
Aegiceras fragrans K.D.Koenig;
Umbraculum corniculatum (L.) Kuntze;
Aerva lanata
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
A low lying grey and hairy herb. It can grow to 1 m tall. The stems are 20 to 80 cm long and sometimes branched. The leaves are alternate and with leaf stalks 1-5 mm long. The ends of the leaves are blunt. The leaves are 1 to 3.5 cm long. The flowers are green and white and about 2 mm across. The fruit is flattened and 1 mm across. The seed is black and shiny. It is about 0.7 mm long.
It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It is common in dry waste land at low and medium altitudes. It is more common in places with a long dry season. In India it is on the Deccan below 1,000 m. It can grow in arid places. In Tanzania it grows between sea level and 2,000 m above sea level.
Common Names: Mountain knot grass, Astmabayota, Bhui, Bilihindisoppu, Boorati, Chaya, Chepiskut, Chepkumot, Cherupula, Chivwa kuku, Daraara, Eleturot, Eleturot, Fod cadde, Food-cadde, Gadlak biro, Gorakha ganjo, Holly, Hudhufuffilaa, Kaganza ka mwana, Kapur-madhura, Karlakem, Kaudena jhangi, Kidelele, Kinonga, Kinongo, Kivuma nyuchi, Konda pindi, Ledra ara, Lendra arxa, Lopong arak, Lopong sag, Lopung, Lwelya, Mada, Maovi long, Muana nkasi, Paramoyo, Paunsia, Pichudi-sago, Pindiconda, Pol-kudu-pala, Polpala, Pompala, Shaza, Simetwo, Sirru, Sirupulai, Tabang ahas, Tebwa, Thelagapindi koora, Vhivwa kuku, Wario
Synonyms:
Achyranthes lanata L.;
Aerva elegans Moq.;
Aerva floribunda Wight;
Amaranthus lanata Dum. Cours.;
Celosia lanata L.;
Illecebrum lanatum (L.) L.;
and others
Aeschynomene indica
Edible: Flowers, Leaves
An erect annual or perennial plant. It grows in water. It is 1.5-2 m tall. The leaves have an even number of leaflets along the stalk. There are 20 or more pairs. They do not have leaf stalks. They are 3-8 mm long by 1-3 mm wide. The flowers are yellow streaked with orange, brown or purple. They are pea like or like a butterfly. The fruit are narrow pods. They are 3-4 cm long and 3-4 mm wide They break into several one seeded sections.
A tropical plant. It grows in marshes. It can grow on sandy or clayey soils and the edges of creeks. It grows in wet grassland savannah. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level.
Common Names: Sensitive joint vetch, Angiquinho, Baombary, Budda pea, Curly indigo, Dienma an, Hard sola, He meng, Hiamotra, Ikin sihk, Kath shola, Kat sola, Kuhila, Kusanemu, Lajuari, Laugauni, Maricazinho, Nay-bin, Nellithalli, Papquinha, Pinheirinho, Ramianoka, Ramiavona, Rut nuoc, Sano hin, Snao ach moen, Soyo-nyika, Tchilambou, Tiga jiluga, Vatshola
Synonyms:
Aeschynomene oligantha Welw. ex Baker;
Aganosma marginata
Edible : Leaves, Stems, Flowers, Fruit,
A woody climbing vine 8 m long. It has milky sap. The leaves are glossy and oval. The flowers are white tubes with lobes. They can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. They have a scent.
A tropical plant. It grows in limestone areas. It can be in mountain forests or near the seashore.
Common names : Common aganosma, Aganosma biasa, Akar ara tanah, Akar gerit puteh, Kaung-nwe, Khaung-tan, Kro lan per, Kyetmauk-po, Kyet-paung-bo, Maduea-din, Mai pit, Mok khruea, Sai tan, Thow-wan,
Synonyms :
Aganosma acuminata G.Don;
Aganosma euloba Miq.;
Aganosma macrocarpa A.DC.;
Aganosma marginata (Roxb.) G.Don;
Aganosma velutina A.DC.;
Amphineurion acuminatum (G.Don) Pichon;
Amphineurion velutinum (A.DC.) Pichon;
Chonemorpha cristata (Roth) G.Don;
Chonemorpha dichotoma G.Don;
Echites acuminatus Roxb. [Illegitimate];
Echites apoxys Voigt;
Echites cristatus Roth;
Echites marginatus Roxb.;
Echites procumbens Blanco;
Echites repens Blanco [Illegitimate];
Holarrhena procumbens (Blanco) Merr.;
Ichnocarpus acuminatus (G.Don) Fern.-Vill.;
Ichnocarpus macrocarpus (A.DC.) Fern.-Vill.;
Ichnocarpus velutinus (A.DC.) Fern.-Vill.;
Zingiber zerumbet
Edible : Rhizomes, Root, Leaves, Flowers,
An upright clumpy ginger family herb up to 0.4-1 m high. The rhizome is thick and yellow. The stems are stout. The leaves do not have a leaf stalk. Leaves are broadly sword shaped. The base is narrowed. They taper to the tip. The leaves are shorter and fatter than true ginger. They are 15-40 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. The flower cone is also longer and thinner than true ginger. The flower comes from the rhizome and is cone shaped and 6-15 cm long by 3.5-5 cm wide. The stalk is 10-30 cm long. The sheaths are scale like. The bracts are green when young and red when old. The fruit is a capsule which is 0.8-1.2 cm across. The seeds are black.
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Asia. It occurs in coastal areas in the Philippines. It is most common in damp open forest. It suits seasonally moist and dry climates. It needs a fertile, organically-rich, well-drained soil. It grows in S China. It suits hardiness zones 8-12. In Yunnan.
Common names : Wild ginger, Pine cone ginger, Fragrant ginger, 'Avapui, Awapuhi, Bitter ginger, Drove, Hong qiu jiang, Karpooraharidra, Karrallamu, Kattinji, Katu, Kra tue, Lampoyang, Lampuyang pahit, Lempoyang, Lempuyang emprit, Lempuyang gajah, Lempuyang wangi, Linne-gyi, Martinique ginger, Narkachur, Phtu, Phtue, Phrilang dung, Poloi, Red pinecone, Shampoo ginger, Vorek hanso, Zerumbet ginger,
Synonyms :
Amomum silvestre Poir.;
Amomum zerumbet L.;
Cardamomum spurium (J. Koenig) Kuntze;
Zingiber amaricans Blume;
Zingiber aromaticum Valeton;
Zingiber spurium Koenig;
and several others
Zingiber officinale
Edible : Rhizome, Root, Leaves, Herb, Spice, Vegetable, Flowering stalk, Flowers,
A perennial herb with swollen underground stems. It can grow 30-100 cm tall. The underground stem or rhizome branches and is horizontal near the soil surface. It is about 1.5-2.5 cm thick. Inside the rhizome is yellow and it is covered with scales forming a circle around it. The leaves are long (30 cm) and narrow (4 cm). Each leafy shoot usually has 8-12 leaves in two vertical lines on opposite sides of them. The leaf blade narrows evenly to the leaf tip. The flower is a cone 6 cm long on a stalk up to 30 cm long. (Flowers are not produced in all locations.)
It is a tropical plant. It is mainly grown from sea level up to 1900 m altitude in the tropics but will grow at higher places. It needs a loose fertile soil. It does best with plenty of humus. It requires a rainfall of 1500 mm or more per year. It does best where there is a short dry season and a good hot temperature. It cannot stand water-logging. In Nepal it grows to about 2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common names : Ginger, Ada, Adi, Adrak, Aduwa, Ahirinri, Ai thing, Ale, Aliah, Allam, Allamu, Allan, Amada, Andrakam, Ardraka, Binzali, Cagolaya ni vavalagi, Chiang, Citta, Entangawuzi, Fiu, Gengibre, Gernber, Gin, Gingembre, Giung, Gung, Gyin, Gyinsein, Hajing, Halia, Haliya, Hanso, Hasisunti, Imbir, Inchi, Inguru, Ingwer, Inji, Inngy, Jahe, Jambu air, Jengibre, Jeung, Jiang, Jinjaa, Kaphu, Kari, Kebab, Keung, Khing, Knei, Luya, Mutugururu, Sawh-thing, Shibiri, Shoga, Shombiy, Sigaram, Siing, Soanth, Subru, Take, Tangawisa, Tangawisi, Tangawusa, Theing, Tubanka, Zangabil, Zenzero, Zimioga,
Synonyms :
Amomum angustifolium Salisb.;
Amomum zingiber L.;
Zingiber aromaticum Noronha;
Zingiber cholmondeleyi (F. M. Bailey) K. Schum.;
Zingiber missionis Wall.;
Zingiber sichuanense Z.Y. Zhu et al;
Zingiber zingiber (L.) H. Karst;
Zanthoxylum nitidum
Edible : Spice, Fruit, Leaves - flavouring,
A shrub or scrambling vine. There are hooked thorns on the stems. Plants are separately male and female. The leaves are compound and alternate. Leaves are spiny underneath and also have small hairs. There are 5-9 leaflets and they are 5-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. A group of flowers occur in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers have 4 petals. They are cream, yellow or pink. They are 2 mm long. The fruit is a red follicle. It is 4-7 mm long and wide and has one seed. The seed is black and 4-5 mm long.
A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest. It grows between sea level and 500 m altitude in tropical Queensland. In Sikkim it grows between 1,000-2,000 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan.
Common names : Baghanchora, Honyor, Leuer, Parpartimur, Purpuray timur, Rau sung, Ri'kom, Singite, Sung, Tejmoi, Tejmuri, Tezamul, Tezmuri, Timur, Trong,
Synonyms :
Fagara nitida Roxb.;
Fagara torva (F. v. Mueller) Engler;
Zanthoxylum hirtellum Ridley;
Zanthoxylum hamiltonianum Wall. ex Hook.f.;
Zanthoxylum torvum F. Muell.;
Wrightia tinctoria
Edible : Flowers, Leaves, Stems, Seeds, Pods, Fruit,
A small deciduous tree. It grows 8 m tall. The bark is grey or pale brown and becomes cracked with age. The leaves are in pairs opposite each other. They are pointy at the tip. They can be 15 cm long. The are softly hairy. The leaf stalk is very short. The flowers are white and about 3 cm wide. There are 5 narrow twisted petals. The stamens form a cone at the centre. There are lacy threads around the cone. The flowers have a smell of vanilla. The fruit are a pair of long slender cylinders. They hang down and are joined below at the tip. They are green when young.
A tropical plant. It grows in dry deciduous forest. It grows up to 1,200 m altitude in Peninsula India.
Common names : Pala Indigo-plant, Aiyapala, Amkuda, Bepalle, Doodhi, Dudh kuvad, Dudhokriya, Hyamaraka, Indrajau, Irumpalai, Jeddapaala, Kala Huda, Kala kuda, Karu, Khirni, Kodamurki, Kodesige, Kotakappalla, Krya, Milky way, Mitha-indrajau, Pita karuan, Runchallo-duhlo, Safed kuvad, Sweet Indrajau, Tedlapaala, Thonthapalai, Toothache plant, Veypale,
Synonyms :
Wrightia rothii G. Don;
Nerium tinctorium Roxb.;
Wolffia globosa
Edible : Plant, Leaves, Stem, Flowers,
A very small herb. It floats on water. The fronds are free floating. They are green on the upper surface and transparent green underneath. The plant body is 0.6 mm long. It is one of the smallest flowering plants of the world.
A tropical and subtropical plant. They grow in lakes, pools and ditches in warm or tropical regions. It grows in wetlands. It grows in full sun.
Common names : Water-eggs, Asian watermeal, Khai nae, Khai-nam, Kipum, Mijinko-uki-kusa, Panidala, Pham, Phum, Tropical watermeal, Wu gen ping, Ye-u,
Synonyms :
Grantia globosa Griff. ex Voigt;
Lemna globosa Roxb.;
Wolffia arrhiza auct. mult. non (Linnaeus) Horkel;
Wolffia schleideni Miq.;
Wikstroemia indica
Edible : Caution, Toxic, Medicine,
A shrub or small tree. It grows 1.5 m high and spreads 0.9 m wide. The leaves are oval and 6 cm long. The flowers are white, cream or greenish and in heads at the ends of the branches. The fruit are red to dark purple and 7-8 mm across.
POISONOUS.
A tropical plant. It grows in forests and on rocky slopes below 1,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Common names : Tiebush,
Synonyms :
Daphne indica L.;
Wikstroemia shuttleworthiana Meisn.;
Wikstroemia shuttleworthii Meisn.;
Wikstroema viridiflora Meissn.;
