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

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
ENGLISH: coral vine, Mexican creeper, love chain, mountain rose,
queen’s jewels, queen’s wreath
SPANISH: bellisima, cadena de amor, coamecatl, colación, coralilla,
coralita, enredadera, mecate rojo, rosa de montaña
USES/NOTES: Tubers and flowers are eaten, the former reportedly having
a “nutty” flavor, the latter typically as a cooked vegetable and
only rarely. Climbing vine is also planted for its showy pink to
white, papery flowers.
NATURAL RANGE: Mexico, widely naturalized in warm regions
REFERENCES: Adams 1972, Alcorn 1984, Duke 1986, Duke n.d., FLEPPC
2003, Kermath (notes), Mabberley 1987, Nelson 1996, Williams 1981,
Uphof 1968
Aphandra natalia (Balslev & Henderson) Barfod [syn. Ammandra natalia
Balslev & Henderson]
FAMILY: Arecaceae or Palmae (palm)
PORTUGUESE: piaçaba, piaçava, piassaba, piassava
SPANISH: chilimoyo, piassaba, tagua, wamowe
USES/NOTES: Immature liquid endosperm is drunk, mesocarp is eaten, and
heart is edible. Leaf fiber is used for weaving or for brooms and
hard seed is a vegetable ivory source.
NATURAL RANGE: Western Amazonia, from Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru
REFERENCES: Bennett et al. 2001, Henderson 1995, Henderson et al.
1995, Pedersen and Skov 2001
Apios americana Medikus [syn. A. tuberosa Moench, Glycine apios L.]
FAMILY: Fabaceae or Leguminosae subfam. Papilionoideae (bean or pea)
ENGLISH: American potato bean, apios, Dakota peas, ground bean,
groundnut, hopniss, Indian potato, pea vine, potato bean, sea
vines, wild-bean, wild potato, wild sweet potato
SPANISH: apio
USES/NOTES: Small, sweet tubers, appearing chain-like in form, are
eaten boiled, roasted, or fried, and were an important pre-
Columbian food for Amerindians and early European colonists of
eastern North America. The tubers, which taste somewhat like
turnips, were harvested primarily from the wild, though the plant
was cultivated on a small scale in the southeastern U.S. Fruits,
flowers, and seeds are said to be edible as well, the latter eaten
like dried peas. Introduced to Europe as early as 1597.
NATURAL RANGE: Widespread in eastern and central North America
REFERENCES: Bennett 1997, Duke 1992, Harris 1972, Mabberley 1987,
Peterson 1977, Reynolds et al. 1990, Seabrook 1973, Sturtevant
1972, Usher 1974, Wiersema et al. 1990, Yanovsky 1936
Apium graveolens L. var. dulce (Miller) Pers.
FAMILY: Umbelliferae or Apiaceae (carrot)
ENGLISH: celery
PORTUGUESE: aipo, aipo-bravo, aipo-hortense, aipo-silvestre, rabaça,
salsão, salsão-selvagem (refers to wild-growing, naturalized
plants)
DRAFT - DO NOT DUPLICATE OR DISTRIBUTE
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