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

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
PORTUGUESE: cipó-malva
SPANISH: bolool othow
USES/NOTES: Considered a famine food, shoots are eaten as greens.
Roots are a substitute for sarsaparilla.
NATURAL RANGE: Mexico to South America
REFERENCES: Alcorn 1984, Cristóbal 1976, UFA/NYBG n.d., Uphof 1968
Cabralea canjerana (Vell.) Mart.
FAMILY: Meliaceae (mahogany)
PORTUGUESE: cangerana, canjerana, canarana, cajarana, canharana,
caiarana, cedro-bravo, cedro-canjerana, jitó
USES/NOTES: Fruit pulp is edible.
NATURAL RANGE: Brazil
REFERENCES: Brako and Zarucchi 1993, IBGE 1980, Martin et al. 1987,
UFA/NYBG n.d.
Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. [syn. C. crista L.]
FAMILY: Fabaceae or Leguminosae subfam. Caesalpinioideae (bean or
pea)
ENGLISH: bonduc, fever nut, gray nickel, gray nicker, gray nicker
bean, hold-back, nicker bean, nickernut, sea bean
SPANISH: calentura, mato
USES/NOTES: Seeds, called “warry stones” or “pet rocks” in the West
Indies and “sea pearls” elsewhere, are used as beeds and in maracas
and are said to be used as a coffee substitute when roasted, though
Taylor notes that the seeds are poisonous.
NATURAL RANGE: West Indies to perhaps other warm regions of the
Americas and possibly beyond, now widespread
REFERENCES: Adams 1972, Duke n.d., Isely 1975, Lewis 1987, Mabberley
1987, Nellis 1994, Nelson 1996, Taylor 1998
Caesalpinia gilliesii (Wallich ex Hook.) D. Dietr.
FAMILY: Fabaceae or Leguminosae subfam. Caesalpinioideae (bean or
pea)
ENGLISH: bird of paradise tree, desert bird of paradise, yellow bird
of paradise
SPANISH: barba de chivo, mal de ojo, ponciano
USES/NOTES: Cultivated primarily as an ornamental for its showy yellow
and scarlet flowers. Stamens are dried, ground, and added to
saffron (Crocus sativus). Seeds reportedly contain anti-tumor
compounds.
NATURAL RANGE: Uruguay and adjacent southern Brazil and northern
Argentina, widely naturalized in warm regions
REFERENCES: Bailey Hortorium 1976, Facciola 1990, Mabberley 1987
Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw.
FAMILY: Fabaceae or Leguminosae subfam. Caesalpinioideae (bean or
pea)
DRAFT - DO NOT DUPLICATE OR DISTRIBUTE
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