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

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
REFERENCES: FUDENA n.d., Johnston and Colquhoun 1996, Roosmalen
1985
Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H.E. Moore [syn. C. cerifera (Arruda
ex Koster) Mart.]
FAMILY: Arecaceae or Palmae (palm)
ENGLISH: carnauba palm, carnauba wax palm, wax palm
PORTUGUESE: carnaúba
SPANISH: caranday, carnauba, cera (de) carnauba, palma de cera
USES/NOTES: Roots are used as a flavoring agent, fruits and
inflorescences are edible, seeds may be used like coffee, and
stems are an edible starch source. Leaves’ waxy coating is the
carnauba wax of commerce, used for candles and automobile
polishes.
NATURAL RANGE: Arid northeastern Brazil, now cultivated beyond
REFERENCES: Bourke et al. 1987, Dahlgren and Glassman 1961, Genders
1994, Guia Rural n.d., Johnson 1970, OAS 1973, Purseglove 1972,
Rehm and Espig 1991
Corchorus capsularis L.
FAMILY: Tiliaceae (linden)
ENGLISH: jute, white jute
PORTUGUESE: juta
SPANISH: cáñamo de las Indias, yute
USES/NOTES: Plant’s long fiber is the principal jute of commerce,
made into sacks, such as those used for dried foodstuffs like
coffee beans, and other durable woven items. Young shoots are
eaten like spinach (Spinacia oleracea), though consumed
infrequently in the Americas, and leaves can be used like tea.
Grows well in inundated areas. The.
NATURAL RANGE: Southern China, diffused to India and beyond, or
perhaps India, now naturalized in many areas of the tropics
REFERENCES: Anochili and Tindall 1986, Bailey Hortorium 1976,
Denton 1993, Facciola 1990, Fearnside 1985, Guia Rural n.d.,
Mabberley 1987, Martin and Ruberté 1979
Corchorus olitorius L.
FAMILY: Tiliaceae (linden)
ENGLISH: bush okra, Jew’s mallow, jute, tossa jute
PORTUGUESE: juta
SPANISH: cáñamo de las Indias, yute
USES/NOTES: Plant’s long fiber is made into sacks, such as those
used to contain dried foodstuffs like coffee beans, and other
durable woven items. Young shoots can be eaten like spinach
(Spinacia oleracea), though consumed infrequently in the
Americas, leaves are a tea substitute, and fruits are edible.
Grows well in upland sites. Uncommon in the Americas.
NATURAL RANGE: Tropical Asia, perhaps India or elsewhere in South
Asia, or possibly Africa
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