Abelmoschus esculentus (L - the University of Maine at Fort Kent

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
ENGLISH: achiote, anatto, annatto, arnatto, lipstick tree, parwah,
roucou
PORTUGUESE: açafroa, açafroa-da-serra, annato, colorau, ocucu, uruuva,
urucu, urucum
SPANISH: achihiuti, achiolillo, achiote, achiote amarillo, achiote
colorado, achote, bija, bijo, bijo de monte, cacicuto, caituco,
changuarica, cuajachote, esacacuya, haru, k’u-zub, ku’xub, mandur,
maxë, misar, onato, onotillo, onotillo rebalsero, onoto, onoto
montañero, oronoto, piatu, pumacua, rocú, rouco, rucú, sacha
achote, shambre, shambu, shambu huayo, shambu quiro, shambu-shambu,
urucú, urucúm, urukú
USES/NOTES: Seeds, rich in vitamin A, are used as a spice and are
covered by a red to red/orange or yellow paste used as a body
paint, insect repellent, textile dye, or commercial food colorant,
now widely used in the food industry. Fruits can be eaten cooked
with butter, leaves can be brewed into a stimulating beverage, and
bark is the source of a gum that can be used like gum arabic
(Acacia spp.). Also grown as a medicinal, a living fence, and an
ornamental. One of the first domesticated plants in the Neotropics,
now widely cultivated.
NATURAL RANGE: Amazonia, perhaps southwestern Amazonian Brazil, widely
naturalized
REFERENCES: Adams 1972, Antúnez de Mayolo 1989, Boom 1987, Bourke et
al. 1987, Carneiro Martins 1989, Duke 1986, Duke and Vásquez 1994,
Estrella 1991, FUDENA n.d., Guia Rural n.d., IBGE 1980, Kermath
(notes), Mabberley 1987, Mors and Rizzini 1966, Omawale 1973, OAS
1973, Rehm and Espig 1991, Rodríguez Martínez 1990, Roosmalen 1985,
Schultes 1984, Silva et al. 1977, Smith et al. 1992, Soukup 1970,
Williams and Williams 1969
Blakea spp.
FAMILY: Melastomataceae (dissotis or melastome)
USES/NOTES: Fruit of some species are edible. The genus has many rare
and endemic species.
NATURAL RANGE: Neotropics from southern Mexico to Bolivia and portions
of the Antilles
REFERENCES: Mabberley 1987, Martin et al. 1987
Blephilia ciliata (L.) Benth.
FAMILY: Labiatae or Lamiaceae (mint)
ENGLISH: downy wood-mint
USES/NOTES: Aromatic leaves are used for tea.
NATURAL RANGE: North America
REFERENCES: Bailey Hortorium 1976, Facciola 1990, Peterson 1977,
Radford et al. 1968
Blephilia hirsuta (Pursh) Benth.
FAMILY: Labiatae or Lamiaceae (mint)
ENGLISH: Cherokee mint, hairy wood-mint
USES/NOTES: Aromatic leaves are used for tea.
DRAFT - DO NOT DUPLICATE OR DISTRIBUTE
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