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

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
FAMILY: Gramineae or Poaceae (grass)
ENGLISH: cane, large cane, southern cane, switch cane
USES/NOTES: Amerindians and early European settlers used seeds like
wheat. Young shoots are prepared as bamboo shoots or asparagus
(Asparagus officinalis).
NATURAL RANGE: Eastern North America
REFERENCES: Bailey Hortorium 1976, Correll and Johnston 1970, Facciola
1990, Fernald et al. 1958, Godfrey 1988, Medsger 1939, Peterson
1977, Yanovsky 1936
Arundo donax L.
FAMILY: Gramineae or Poaceae (grass)
ENGLISH: arundo, carrizo, giant cane, giant reed, Spanish cane, wild
cane
PORTUGUESE: cana, cana-brava
SPANISH: carrizo, carrizo grande
USES/NOTES: Bamboo-like grass’ young shoots may be eaten as a cooked
vegetable or potherb and rhizomes are eaten cooked as a vegetable
or ground and mixed with grain flour. Now being considered as a
biofuel crop.
NATURAL RANGE: probably fresh water margins of India, though once
considered of Mediterranean origin, now widely naturalized in
tropical and subtropical regions and regionally invasive
REFERENCES: Bell 1997, Coyle and Roberts 1975, Kunkel 1984
Asarum canadense L.
FAMILY: Aristolochiaceae (birthwort or Dutchman’s-pipe)
ENGLISH: American wild ginger, Canadian wild ginger, wild ginger
USES/NOTES: Roots and flowers of this perennial forb are used as a
ginger substitute, mixed with brown sugar to make candy, or used
for tea. Leaves can irritate the skin.
NATURAL RANGE: Eastern North America from southeastern Manitoba to Nova
Scotia south to eastern Oklahoma through Louisiana to the Carolinas
REFERENCES: Bailey Hortorium 1976, Fernald 1950, FNAEC 1997, Gibbons
1962, Harris 1972, Mabberley 1987, Peterson 1977, Tomikel 1986
Asarum caudatum Lindley
FAMILY: Aristolochiaceae (birthwort or Dutchman’s-pipe)
ENGLISH: long-tailed wild ginger
USES/NOTES: Roots are used as a ginger substitute, and leaves are used
for tea.
NATURAL RANGE: Pacific northwestern U.S. and southwestern Canada
REFERENCES: Bailey Hortorium 1976, Facciola 1990, FNAEC 1997, Kirk
1970, Uphof 1968
Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson var. decumbens (Nutt.) Shinners
[syn. Asclepiodora decumbens (Nutt.) A. Gray]
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae (milkweed)
ENGLISH: spider antelope horn
USES/NOTES: Latex has been used for chewing gum.
DRAFT - DO NOT DUPLICATE OR DISTRIBUTE
80