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

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
ENGLISH: Carolina tea, cassina, emetic holly, winterberry, yaupon,
yaupon holly
PORTUGUESE: apalachina, chá-dos-apalaches
SPANISH: apalachina
USES/NOTES: Dried, caffeine-rich, young leaves and twig tips have long
been used by Amerindians to make a ceremonial or medicinal tea
known as black drink, dark drink, or Carolina tea. Early pioneers
used the brew as a beverage tea, though it must be consumed in
moderation due to its emetic effects. Leaves also have been used to
flavor ice cream and soft drinks. Berries are an emetic medicinal.
Also planted as a landscape specimen, including a dwarf, fruitless
variety, known as Schillings, used especially for hedges.
NATURAL RANGE: Southeastern U.S.
REFERENCES: Alston and Schultes 1951, Bailey Hortorium 1976, de Gámez
1973, Facciola 1990, Houaiss 1982, Jeffords 1949, Kermath (notes),
Nelson 1994, Peterson 1977, Taylor 1998, Usher 1974, Wunderlin and
Poppleton 1977, Yanovsky 1936
Illicium floridanum Ellis [syn. I. mexicanum A.C. Sm.]
FAMILY: Illiciaceae (star-anise) or Magnoliaceae (magnolia)
ENGLISH: Florida anise, Mexican anise tree, pole-cat-tree, purple
anise, red-flowered anise, star anise, starbush, stink-bush,
stinking laurel, tree anise
SPANISH: anís
USES/NOTES: Small dark seeds of the star-shaped, fluted fruit pod
reportedly have been used as a spice. Fruit pods eventually explode
after drying, which can send seeds flying up to several meters. The
small, evergreen, understory shrub is also used in moist, shady
landscapes for its showy, dark red to purple or rarely white,
highly aromatic flowers. White-flowered cultivars are being sold in
the horticultural trade.
NATURAL RANGE: Flood plain forests of southern Georgia and adjacent
Florida to Louisiana and an isolated population in Vera Cruz
Mexico, which has been treated as a distinct species (I. mexicanum)
REFERENCES: Bailey Hortorium 1976, Facciola 1990, FNAEC 1997, Godfrey
1988, Hopkins 1972, Kermath (notes), Mabberley 1987, Nelson 1994,
Thien et al. 1983
Illicium verum Hook.f.
FAMILY: Illiciaceae (star-anise) or Magnoliaceae (magnolia)
ENGLISH: China star anise, Chinese anise, star anise
PORTUGUESE: anis, anis-estrelado, badiana-de-China
SPANISH: anís estrella, anís estrellado
USES/NOTES: Unripe fruits are chewed to freshen breath, dried fruits
are used as a spice, and the distilled essential oil is used as a
flavoring agent, especially for sweets and liqueurs. USES/NOTES:
Cultivated for nearly two thousand years as a flavoring agent, the
seeds are used in cooking, beverages, liqueurs, and confections.
Both I. verum and the unrelated Pimpinella anisum (aniseseed)
contain the compound “anethole,” which is used to make the
DRAFT - DO NOT DUPLICATE OR DISTRIBUTE
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