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

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
PORTUGUESE: confrei, confrey, consolda-do-cáucaso, consólida-maior,
erva-do-cardeal
SPANISH: chuncu-chuncu, consólida, consuelda, sínfito, suelda
consuelda
USES/NOTES: Young shoots are eaten like asparagus. Leaves and roots
of S. officinale are edible, used in cosmetics, or fed to
animals. Leaves of S. asperum are medicinal.
NATURAL RANGE: Europe, naturalized in the Americas
REFERENCES: Bourke et al. 1987, Guia Rural n.d., Guia Rural 1990,
Jardim Botânico de Brasília 1990, Mabberley 1987, Soukup 1970
Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Salisb. ex Nutt.
FAMILY: Araceae (arum or aroid)
ENGLISH: skunk cabbage
USES/NOTES: Roots are eaten fried, baked, or made into a bread.
Leaves are eaten as a cooked vegetable.
NATURAL RANGE: Eastern North America
REFERENCES: Plowman 1969, Uphof 1968
Symplocos serrulata Humb. & Bonpl.
FAMILY: Symplocaceae (symplocos or sweetleaf)
SPANISH: azajar
USES/NOTES: Fruit pulp is edible.
NATURAL RANGE: Colombia to Costa Rica, 2,000 to 3,000 meters
REFERENCES: Martin et al. 1987
Symplocos theiformis (L.f.) Guerke
FAMILY: Symplocaceae (symplocos or sweetleaf)
ENGLISH: Bogotá tea
USES/NOTES: Leaves are used as a tea substitute in Colombia.
NATURAL RANGE: Central America
REFERENCES: Foster 1958, Mabberley 1987
Symplocos tinctoria (L.) L’Hér.
FAMILY: Symplocaceae (symplocos or sweetleaf)
ENGLISH: horse sugar, sweetleaf
USES/NOTES: Sweetish, tart leaves may be chewed as a refreshment.
Inner bark and leaves are a yellow dye source. The only species
of the Symplocaceae in the U.S., S. tinctoria is also attractive
for its fragrant, yellow flowers.
NATURAL RANGE: Eastern North America from Florida, to southeastern
Canada, and Texas
REFERENCES: Facciola 1990, Fernald 1950, Fernald et al. 1958,
Gibbons and Tucker 1979, Nelson 1994, Taylor 1998
Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertner
FAMILY: Asteraceae or Compositae (aster, composite, or sunflower)
USES/NOTES: Young leaves are eaten cooked in Indonesia, where the
plant is called babadotan lalaki.
NATURAL RANGE: Neotropics, naturalized in Old World tropics
DRAFT - DO NOT DUPLICATE OR DISTRIBUTE
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