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

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
USES/NOTES: Soft, red fruit arils, about 1 cm in diameter, are
edible fresh or preserved, though seeds and other plant parts
contain the highly toxic poison taxine. Both cultivated as
ornamentals. A brown dye is obtained from the wood of T.
cuspidata.
NATURAL RANGE: Eurasia
REFERENCES: Facciola 1990, FNAEC 1993, Kunkel 1984, Tanaka 1976,
Usher 1974, Uphof 1968
Taxus canadensis Marshall
FAMILY: Taxaceae (yew) or Cephalotaxaceae (plum yew)
ENGLISH: American yew, Canada yew, ground-hemlock, yew
USES/NOTES: Fleshy red aril is sweet, though seeds and other plant
parts contain taxine, a highly toxic, alkaloid that slows the
heart and must be avoided.
NATURAL RANGE: Eastern Canada and northeastern U.S. to Kentucky and
eastern Iowa, becoming rare in much of its U.S. range
REFERENCES: FNAEC 1993, Peterson 1977, Tomikel 1986, Uphof 1968
Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. ex Kunth
FAMILY: Bignoniaceae (bignonia or trumpet vine)
ENGLISH: ginger-thomas, trumpet bush, yellow bells, yellow elder,
yellow trumpet bush, yellow trumpet flower
PORTUGUESE: ipê
SPANISH: bapsarukua, cameri, corneta amarilla, esperanza, flor de
noche, flor de San Pedro, giabiche, gloria, guibelchi, hierba de
San Juan, hierba de San Nicolás, hierba de San Pedro, hoja de baño,
istamasúchil, ixnotl, k´anlol, kanló, kusí urákame, lluvia de oro,
matilimi, mazorca, miñona, miñona, nixtamalxochitl, nixtamaxochitl,
nixtamaxuchiltl, palo de arco, retama, San Andres, trompeta,
trompetilla, tronadora, tulasuchil, yuku-ñini
USES/NOTES: Cultivated mainly as an ornamental for its showy yellow
flowers, though an aromatic extract from an undetermined plant part
reportedly is used to flavor syrups. The plant is also medicinal.
NATURAL RANGE: Arid regions from Texas and Arizona to Argentina,
naturalized in other warm areas
REFERENCES: Bye 1985, Torres n.d.
Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers.
FAMILY: Fabaceae of Leguminosae subfam. Papilionoideae (bean or
pea)
ENGLISH: purple tephrosia
SPANISH: brusca cimarrona, indigo
USES/NOTES: Roots are said to be used as a flavoring agent in
Africa and seeds may be used like coffee (Coffea spp.). Also used
as green manure in agricultural fields.
NATURAL RANGE: Southern Texas to Brazil
REFERENCES: Adams 1972, Facciola 1990, Uphof 1968
Terminalia catappa L.
DRAFT - DO NOT DUPLICATE OR DISTRIBUTE
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