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USEFUL DOMESTICATED AND WILD PLANTS
OF
AMERICAN ORIGIN
(* = KNOWN PRE-COLUMBIAN USAGE)
(Contacts)
|
Aromatic
& Fleshy Fruits,
Fruit Trees |
|
COMMON & SCIENTIFIC NAMES WITH REMARKS To search for Subject Matter, Depress Ctrl/F: *American yam = Dioscorea trifida Willd. = tubers eaten, prehistoric cultivation Ańu = Tropaeolum
tuberosum R.P. = Nasturtium-like plant *Arrowroot = Maranta arundinacea = lowlands, medicinal, starchy root cooked *Aymara, Ajipa = Pachyrrhizus ahipa (Wedd.) Parodi = edible tubers & seeds Cocurito = Calathea allouia (Aubl.) Lindl. = wax, thatch *Jerusalem artichoke = Helianthus tuberosus L. = N. Amer., tubers eaten *Jícama = Pachyrrizus erosus (L.) Urban = crunchy vegetable, root *Jícama, Potato bean = Pachyrrhizus tuberosus (Lam.) Sprengel = crunchy root *Manioc = Manihot esculenta Crantz = lowlands *Oka = Oxalis tuberosa Mol = substitute for potatoes *Peruvian carrot = Arracacia
esculenta DC = aromatic tasty roots. *Potato = Solanum tuberosum L. = over 50 species in S. Amer. *Purple arrowroot = Canna edulis Ker. = S. Amer., ornaments *Ruba, Papa verde = Ullucus tuberosus Lozano = very ancient usage as vegetable *Sweet potato = Ipomoea batatas (L.) Poir = tubers eaten *Tannia, Yautia = Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. (Schott) = cultivated >1,000 yrs ago. *Yam bean = Pachyrrhizos erosus (L.) Urban = edible tuber; lowlands *Amaranth, Gautli, Haautl = Amaranthus spp. = seeds used as grain *Goosefoot = Chenopodium spp. = pot herb, cereal *Maize = Zea mays L. = flour, beverages, early cultivation (2,000 BC?) *Mango, Teca = Bromus mango Desv. = extinct now, primitive cereal in S. Amer. *Beans = Phaseolus lunatus L. = Phaseolus lunatus L.,
*Phaseolus aborigineus Burkhart, Phaseolus spp = seeds eaten (since ca. 2,000 BC) *Giant bean = Canavalia plagiosperma Piper = S. Amer. cultivar *Jack bean = Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. = slightly toxic bean *Jícama = Lupinus mutabilis Sweet = seeds require leaching *Lima bean = Phaseolus coccineus L = seeds eaten *Scarlet runner bean, Ayocote = Phaseolus acutifolius L. = seeds eaten *Tawri, Indian lupin = Canavalia spp. = S. Amer. cultivar *Tepary bean = Pachyrrhizus spp. = seeds eaten *Abilla = Caryodendron orinocense Karst = oil extracted from seed Aromatic Plant = Madia sativa Mol. = like olive oil, S. Amer. *Brazil nut, Paranut = Bertholletia
excelsa Humb. & Bonpl = still mostly wild trees *Buffalo gourt, Chilicote = Caryocar spp. = cultivars developed early *Chia = Salvia hispanica = high energy food plant of N. Amer. origin *Jojoba = Simmondsia chinensis Schneider (Link) = fatty oil extracted by boiling seeds Mellinus =
Mellinis minutiflora Beauv. = volatile sticky oil Monkeypot = Helianthus
annuus L. = N. & Cent. Amer. Origin, seeds Oil Madi, Melosa = Lecythis elliptica H.B.K. = seeds eaten Oiticia tree = Jatropha
curcas L. = purgative *Orinoco nut = Eschweilera
odorata Miers = rare species, seeds eaten *Peanut, Maní, Cacahuete = Arachis hypogaea L. = origin in Andes Physic nut = Fevillea cordifolia L = climbing herb *Soapberry, Jaboncillo = Sapindus saponaria L = substitute for soap. *Sunflower, Mirasol = Cucurbita
foetidissima H. B. K = seeds & roots eaten Uaku = Licania
sclerophylla Mart. = fast-drying oil Ucuba oiltree =Virola sebifera Aubl. = for candles ?? = Monopterix uacu Spruce = eaten raw, boiled or as beverage *Abassu, Coruba = Orbignya martiana Barb.-Rodr. = oil, fuel *Acrocomia palms = Acrocomia spp. = alcoholic beverage, fruits eaten raw *Astrocaryum palms = Astrocaryum spp. = fruit eaten, leaves for fiber *Attalea palms = Attalea spp = fruit eaten, leaves for fiber *Batana = Jessenia bataua (Mart.) Burr. = fruit eaten, oil extracted *Dendé, Corozo = Elaeis oleifera H.B.K. = oil for cooking *Moriche = Mauritia flexuosa L. = timber, oil & fruit *Oenocarpus palms = Oenocarpus spp. = oil & fruit *Pejibaye, Pixba = Bactris gasipaes H.B.K. = seeds & fruit eatn, leaves for fiber Queen Palm = Palmitos
(Heart of Palms) = similar to asparagus but more fibrous Urucuri palm = Copernica prunifera (Miller) Moore = carnauba wax substitute Wax palm = Copernicia australis Becc. = carnauba wax substitute *Wax palms = Copernicia cerifera (Arr.) Mart. = carnuba wax ???? = Ceroxylon andicola Humb. & Bonpl. = high altitude in Colombia, wax used ???? = Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Becc. = substitute for carnauba *Agave = Agave spp. = food, drink, fiber *Cabuya = Agave cabuya Trel. = fiber *Cabuya = Fourcraea spp. = fiber *Calabash tree, Calabacero, Tecomate, = Crescentia
cujete L. = rind containers; lowlands *Cotton = Gossypium spp (double
chromosome) = fiber, oil *Dwarf aloe = Agave angustifolia Haw. = high quality fiber *Gigante = Agave gigantea Vent.= fiber *Guayule = Parthenium argentatum A. Gray = rubber substitute *Hennequen, Sisal = Agave fourcroydes Lemaire = durable, high quality mats, rope *Indigo = Indigofera suffruticosa = dye *Istle = Agave lecheguilla Torrey = coarse hard fiber, brushes Jicaro = Crescentia alata H.B.K. = fruits eaten, containers *Jicaro, Guacal = Crescentia spp. = containers *Maguey = Agave cantala Roxb. = drink, food, fiber *Maguey gigante = Agave tecta Trelease = largest agave, pulque Manicoba = Manihot glazovii Muell-Aarg. = latex *Para rubber, Caucho = Hevea brasiliensis (H.Bk.) Muell-Aarg. = rubber *Quiche = Agave quicheensis Trel. = fiber *Rubber, Caucho = Castilla elastica Cerv. = latex; lowlands *Sapota, Sapodilla = Manilkara achras (Mill.) Fosbereg = chewing gum, fruits
eaten *Silk cotton, Kapok, Ceibo = Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn = water repellent
fiber, oil seed, light timber *Sisal hemp = Agave sisaliana Perrime = highly esteemed fiber *Yucca = Yucca elephantipes = fiber, hedges Aromatics,
Narcotics, Stimulants, Spices, Aesthetics Allspice, Pimienta = Pimenta dioica (L.) Merrill = spice & food preservative *Annatto, Achiote = Bixa orellana L. = lowlands, body paint, medicine Bay Rum = Pimenta
racemosa (Mill) = perfume, after-shave lotion *Black nightshade = Solanum nigrum = pot herb *Cacao, cocoa = Theobroma cacao L. = chocolate, in lowlands (e.g., Veracruz) *Chile peppers = Capsicum spp = spice *Coca = Erythroxylon spp = narcotic, endurance medicine *Copal = Protium copal = resin as incense *Dahlia = Dahlia spp. = flower Golden root, Raicilla = Cephaelis
ipecauana (Brot.) Rich = remedy for amoeboid dysentery Guarana, Yoco = Paullinia spp. = stimulants, fish poison *Kaahée, Sweet Paraguay herb = Stevia
rebaudiana Bertoni = sweetener *Marigold = Tagetes erecta = flower, food coloring (added to animal feed) *Misc Flowers = Nasturtium spp,
Cosmos spp., etc = many genera appear on ceramics Quinine, Cascarilla = Cinchona spp. = malarial fever reduction Snake bark,
Mambee = Colubrina reclinata (Herit.) Brongn. = stomach disorders *Tobacco (hybrid) = Nicotiana tabacum L. = hybrid produced by Amerindians *Tonka tree, Cumaru = Dipterix odorata (Aubl.) Walld. = spices, flavoring *Vanilla = Vanilla spp (fragrans
pompona Schiede, pittieri, planifolia Andr.). = tree orchids;
lowlands Wild tobacco = Nicotiana
spp. = 10 different spp., narcotic/medicinal Yerba mate = Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. = high caffeine, stimulant, ease digestion *Balsa = Ochroma pyramidalis (Cav.) Urb. = light wood for canoes, insulation, etc. *Bamboo = Bambusoideae = arrow shafts, poles, etc *Mahogony, Caoba = Swietenia
macrophylla Jaq. = valuable tropical timber *Mangroves = Avicennia germinans L. = ship masts *Pines = Pinus spp. = many North American species for timber, seeds & resin *Pino = Araucaria araucana = S. Chile *Pino de Parana = Araucaria augustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze = N. Argentina/Brazil;
fruit ???? = Languncularia racemosa Gaertn. = firewood ???? = Rhizophora mangle L. = termite resistant wood Pasture
Plants (Tropical Grass) *Arrowleaf = Gynerium sagittatum (Aubl.) Beauv = for arrows *Teosinte = Euchlena mexicana Schroder = ancestor of maiz, forage Bahia grass = Paspalum notatum Flüge = palatable forage Buffel grass = Cenchrus
ciliaris L. = drought resistant forage Guatemala grass = Tripsacum
latifolium Nash = hardy forage Panicum grass = Panicum
spp. = drought resistant Savannah grass = Bothriochloa
pertusa (L.) Camus & Brachiaria mutica (Forsk) = forage Sorghum = Sorghum
almum Parodi = hybrid American/African plant ???? = Axonopus
affinis Chase = pasture Bejuquillo = Desmodium
spp = pasture Calopo = Calopogonium
coeruleum Benth. = forage Grass pea, Almorta
= Dioclea guyanensis H.B.K. = forage Horse tamarind = Lathyrus
spp. = forage Peanut-like
plants = Arachis spp = food for humans & animals Vichada = Centrosema acutifolium L. = forage Yerba rosada = Aeschynomena americana L. = forage ???? = Leucaena spp = forage ???? = Macroptilium spp. =
forage ???? = Stylosanthes spp. =
forage ???? = Zornia spp. = forage Aromatic
& Fleshy Fruits,
Fruit
Trees Achras Zapota,
Sapodilla = Chrysophyllum cainito L. = lowlands, shade, tart fruit *Algarrobo, Mesquite = Prosopis spp. = sweet seeds, wood *Avocado, Aguacate = Persea americana Mill. = lowlands, high protein fruit; many
varieties Bacuri do Parana = Platonia
esculenta Arr. da Gamarh = seed & fruit *Barbados cherry, Acerola = Malpighia
punicifolia L = fruit very high in Vitamin C Biriba = Rollinia deliciosa Saff. = fruit eaten *Cashew = Anacardium spp. = lowlands, nuts *Chestnut = Pachira spp .= fruit & seeds (superior to
European variety, but declined) Coroboro,
Guanipol = Hymenaea courbaril L. = hard wood, implements *Cow tree, Macho = Couma utilis (Mart.) Müller = latex like milk Feijoa = Acca
sellowiana (Berg) Burket = fruit, beverages *Genip tree = Casimiroa edulis Llave & Lex. = lime-like sweet custard fruit *Guama = Inga spp. = fruit *Guava, Guayaba = Psidium guajava, Psidium spp. = lowlands, high vitamin fruit, wood *Guayabo, Pitomba,
etc. = Eugenia spp. = fruit, high vitamin content *Hog plum, Jobo = Spondias mombin L. = lowlands, fruit like plums *Jagua, Genipap = Genipa americana L. = a stain from sap *Jocote = Spondias purpurea L. = fruit pulp eaten Madrono, Naranjito = Rheedia spp. = fruit *Mamey = Mammea americana L = very sweet & aromatic fruit Mamey Colorado = Pouteria
sapote (Jacq.) H.F. Moore & Stearn = sweet & aromatic fruit *Membrillo = Gustavia superba H.B.K. = tart gelatinous cooked fruit *Milk trees = Brosimum spp = sap like milk Mountain plum,
Manzanilla = Ximenia americana L = candles made from seeds *Nance, Chaparro = Byrsonima
crassifolia (L.) H.B.K. = fruit *Papaya = Carica papaya L. = fruit/vegetable; lowlands *Papayas = Carica spp. = fruit/vegetable, lowlands & highlands *Peruvian pepper = Schinus molle L = alcoholic beverage, spice Red mulberry = Morus rubra L. = fruit *Sapota = Chrysophyllum spp. = fruit Sapote Mamey = Pouteria spp. = fruit *Sour- & Sweetsops = Annona spp. = lowlands, prized aromatic sweet fruit (painting in Pompeii,
Italy) *Soursop (Guanabana) = Annona muricata L. = lowlands, prized aromatic tart fruit *Star apple = Calocarpum spp. = latex from fruit used Taruma = Vitex triflora Vahl. = sweet fruit Trumpillo,
Madrońo = Aliberta edulis Rich. = fruit *Uvero de Playa, Sea Grape = Coccoloba uvifera (L.) Jacq. = grape-like fruit, occurs at tropical & sub-tropical sea coasts Uvilla, Guarumo = Pourouma spp = fruit *White sapote = Psychotria spp = white custard apple *Yba-Puro = Myrciaria cauliflora (Dc.) Berg = grape-like fruit *Yellow Genip = Melicocca bijuga L. = fruit *Zapote = Diospyros spp. = sweet fruit *Zapote del Monte = Matisia
cordata H.B.K. = tasty fruit (many related species) *Zapote Verde = Talisia olivaeformis Radlk. = aromatic fruit ???? = Manilkara spp. = sap for chicle & plastic ???? = Pouteria domingensis Gaert.) Baehni = lowlands, fruit *Boro-boro, Moco-moco = Montrichardia
arborescens Schott = edible fruit *Bottle gourd, Tecomate = Lagenaria
siceraria (Mul.) Standl. = African origin, containers *Cochineal plant = Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm. = cochineal from insects on cactus *Chayote = Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz = kind of squash *Chilean strawberry, Fresa = Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Miller = large-fruited strawberry *Liane = Monstera deliciosa Liebm. = tasty fruit on vine *Liane = Philodendron bipinnatifidium Schott = fruit eaten fresh or cooked *Melon pear, Pepino
Dulce = Solanum
muricatum Ait. = vegetable *Orinoco Apple, Topiro
= Solanum
topiro Humb. & Bonpl. = seeds, fruit *Passion Vine = Passiflora spp. = aromatic tart fruits *Pepino Hueco = Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad. = vegetable *Pineapple, Ananas,
Pińa = Ananas
comosus (L.) Merr. = fruit *Pitahaya = Hylocerus undatus = epiphyte cactus; lowlands *Prickly pear = Opuntia spp. = seedy fruit of cacti & pads for vegetable *Prickly pear, Tuna = Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. = fruit, vegetable *Pumpkin = Cucurbita pepo L. = vegetable *Secana, Cajuba = Sicana odorifera Naudin = fruits used for fragrance *Sponge gourd, Luffa = Luffa spp. = sponge substitute *Squash (summer) = Cucurbita spp. = vegetables Tacaco = Polakowskia
tacacco Pittier = squash-like fruit *Tomatillo, Husk
tomato = Physalis
ixocarpa Miller = vegetable *Tomato = Lycopersicon esculentum = fruit & vegetable *Tomato, Tomate = Physalis spp. = fruit & vegetable Tree tomato, Tomatillo = Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendt = fruit & vegetable *Walnut squash = Cucurbita mixta Pang. = vegetable *Warty Crookneck
Squash = Cucurbita moschata Duch. Ex. Poir. = vegetable *Winter Squash = Cucurbita maxima Duch = vegetable *Yucca = Yucca elephantipes = flowers edible, fiber |
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1/ , Brüchner (1989),
Coe (1994)