Food Plants International
Food Plants International
Food Plants International
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<strong>Food</strong> plants<br />
of<br />
Papua New Guinea<br />
A compendium<br />
Revised edition<br />
1<br />
Bruce R French
3<br />
Using this information<br />
and<br />
finding other information<br />
It remains the author’s desire<br />
that the information in this revised edition of this book<br />
be used or copied wherever appropriate<br />
to increase interest in, knowledge of, and pride in<br />
food production in the tropics,<br />
especially Papua New Guinea.<br />
There are another 600 minor edible plants in Papua New Guinea that are not included in this<br />
book. For information about them you will need to look at the FPI <strong>Food</strong> <strong>Plants</strong> of Papua New<br />
Guinea database. This database also lists all the alternate scientific names and many other local<br />
language names and has coloured photographs and references for where to find other<br />
information. For the other thousands of edible plants, many of which are suitable for the tropics,<br />
including Papua New Guinea, you will need to look in the FPI Edible <strong>Plants</strong> of the World<br />
database. (FPI is an abbreviation for <strong>Food</strong> <strong>Plants</strong> <strong>International</strong>).<br />
If you want additional information of the insects and diseases mentioned in this book you will<br />
need to look at the books, “Insect Pests of <strong>Food</strong> <strong>Plants</strong> of Papua New Guinea” and “Diseases<br />
of <strong>Food</strong> <strong>Plants</strong> of Papua New Guinea.” These are available as pdf books which can be read on<br />
computer. (Or printed out). These will explain how to find out about the insect or disease you<br />
want. The Insect Pests of <strong>Food</strong> <strong>Plants</strong> of Papua New Guinea database has coloured photos.<br />
It would be appreciated if prior permission were sought before any commercial reproduction of<br />
the information was undertaken. Otherwise, if you find electronic copies you can copy and<br />
distribute them to friends or print out copies as you choose.<br />
Present address of author:<br />
38 West St<br />
Burnie<br />
Tasmania 7320<br />
Australia<br />
Phone (03) 64321080<br />
Email: bfrench@vision.net.au
4<br />
Dedication<br />
This book is dedicated to our Creator<br />
for the amazing provision and fascinating variety<br />
of food plants that he has provided.<br />
It is also dedicated to<br />
the 3 billion<br />
hardworking farmers and families around the world<br />
who cultivate these or other food plants<br />
for their own subsistence<br />
and who help conserve them in their rich diversity<br />
for other people to enjoy.<br />
Publication<br />
This edition of<br />
<strong>Food</strong> <strong>Plants</strong> of Papua New Guinea<br />
is made available as<br />
an electronic book in pdf format<br />
in 2006<br />
Privately published<br />
This second edition of this book has been compiled<br />
with the support and assistance of<br />
my Christian and supportive friends.
Contents<br />
Root crops and starchy staples 7<br />
Beans and food legumes 49<br />
Edible green leaves or kumus 83<br />
Ferns 130<br />
Palms 166<br />
Vegetables 199<br />
Pumpkin family vegetables 207<br />
Waterlilies 283<br />
Nuts 291<br />
Pandanus 314<br />
Fruit 366<br />
Including Custard apple family 385<br />
Including Citrus 406<br />
Herbs, Spices and flavourings 521<br />
Indexes<br />
Scientific name 551<br />
Common name 560<br />
Tok Pisin name 567<br />
5
Root and tuber crops and starchy staple foods<br />
8<br />
English name Tok Pisin name Scientific name Page<br />
Sweet potato Kaukau Ipomoea batatas 9<br />
Ipomoea macrantha 11<br />
Taro Taro tru Colocasia esculenta 12<br />
Chinese taro Singapo Xanthosoma sagittifolium 14<br />
Swamp taro Cyrtosperma merkusii 16<br />
Giant taro Paragum Alocasia macrorrhiza 17<br />
Elephant foot yam Amorphophallus paeonifolius var.<br />
19<br />
campanulatus<br />
Polynesian arrowroot Tacca leontopetaloides 21<br />
Greater yam Yam tru Dioscorea alata 23<br />
Nummularia yam Yam tru Dioscorea nummularia 25<br />
Lesser yam Mami Dioscorea esculenta 26<br />
Potato yam Dioscorea bulbifera 28<br />
Five leaflet yam Dioscorea pentaphylla 30<br />
Bitter yam Dioscorea hispida 31<br />
White Guinea yam Dioscorea rotundata 32<br />
Cassava Tapiok Manihot esculenta 33<br />
Potato Peteta Solanum tuberosum 35<br />
Kudzu Pueraria lobata var. lobata 37<br />
Yam bean Pachyrrhizus erosus 38<br />
Queensland arrowroot Canna edulis 39<br />
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus 40<br />
Oca Oxalis tuberosa 41<br />
Anu Tropaeolum tuberosum 42<br />
Ulucco Ullucus tuberosus 43<br />
Banana Banan Musa sp (A &/or B genome) cv. 44<br />
Sago Saksak Metroxylon sagu 46<br />
Solomon’s sago Saksak Metroxylon salomonense 48
9<br />
Names<br />
English: Sweet potato Scientific name: Ipomoea batatas (Linnaeus) Lam.<br />
Tok pisin: Kaukau Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Convolvulaceae<br />
Description: This is a root crop that produces long<br />
creeping vines. The leaves are carried singly along the<br />
vine. Leaves can vary considerably from divided like<br />
fingers on a hand to being entire and rounded or heart<br />
shaped. At the end of the vine, trumpet shaped flowers<br />
grow. They are purple. Under the ground fattened<br />
tubers are produced. There are a large number of<br />
varieties that vary in leaf shape and colour, tuber shape,<br />
colour, texture and in several other ways.<br />
Distribution: They grow in the tropics and subtropics.<br />
They grow from sea level up to some of the highest<br />
gardens at about 2700 m altitude in the tropics. <strong>Plants</strong><br />
can grow with a wide range of rainfall patterns and in<br />
different soils. <strong>Plants</strong> are killed by frost and can't stand<br />
water-logged soils. Sweet potato cannot tolerate shade.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: Vine cuttings are used for planting. In grassland soils it is grown in mounds, ridges<br />
or other raised beds. In bush fallow, it is mostly planted in undug loose soils. It needs a sunny<br />
position. Tubers won't form if the ground is waterlogged when tubers start to develop. Sweet<br />
potato is grown using cuttings of the vine. About 33,000 cuttings are required per hectare.<br />
These weigh about 500 kg. Vine lengths of about 30 cm are optimum. As long as the vine is<br />
adequately inserted in the soil, the length of vine inserted does not significantly affect yield.<br />
Fresh sweet potato seeds germinate relatively easily and lead to continuous production of new<br />
cultivars under tropical conditions. Excess nitrogen restricts storage root initiation and therefore<br />
excess leaves are produced without significant tuber yield. Dry matter percentage increases with<br />
increasing age of the crop. Higher dry matter tubers are normally preferred.<br />
Production: Sweet potato tends to be responsive to potassium fertiliser. Cultivars are often<br />
selected for yield under low fertility conditions. Under lowland conditions in the tropics sweet<br />
potato tubers undergo active tuber enlargement from 6 to 16 weeks. Weed control is essential<br />
especially during early stages of growth. The rate of ground coverage by foliage varies greatly<br />
with growing conditions and cultivar but once ground coverage has occurred weed control is less<br />
of a problem. Sweet potato tuber initiation is subject to aeration in the soil. Either heavy clay<br />
soils, waterlogged conditions or other factors reducing aeration can result in poor tuber<br />
production. For this reason sweet potatoes are often grown on mounded beds. The time to<br />
maturity ranges from 5 months to 12 months depending on the variety planted and the altitude at<br />
which it is being grown. Yields range from 6-23 t/ha.<br />
Use: The tubers and leaves are edible cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 86.3 168 3.9 2.9 1700 58<br />
Tubers 72.0 363 1.1 1705 15 0.3
10<br />
Insects:<br />
Achaea janata (Linnaeus) Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao false looper<br />
Agrius convolvuli (L.) Sphingidae (LEP) Sweet potato hornworm<br />
Aphis sacchari Zehntner Aphididae (HEM) Sugarcane aphid<br />
Apirocalus cornutus (Pascoe) Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Argina cribraria (Clerck) Arctiidae (LEP.)<br />
Atractomorpha crenaticeps Blanch Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Aulacophora spp. Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles<br />
Bedellia somnulentella (Zeller) Lyonetiidae (LEP) Sweet potato leaf miner<br />
Bemisia tabaci (Guen.) Aleyrodidae (HEM) Tobacco whitefly<br />
Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) Curculionidae (COL) Sweet potato weevil<br />
Ectropis sabulosa Warr. Geometridae (LEP) Cacao looper<br />
Epilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL.) Leaf eating beetle<br />
Halticus tibialis Reut Miridae (HEM) Grass bug<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Coreidae (HEM) Cacao mired<br />
Hippotion celerio (L.) Sphingidae (LEP) Taro hawkmoth<br />
Omphisa spp. Pyralidae (COL.) Sweet potato stem borer<br />
Phaneroptera brevis Serv Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
Solephyma papuana Galerucidae (COL.)<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Ascochyta convolvuli<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora bataticola<br />
Black rot Fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. & Hallst.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Didymella sp.<br />
Scab Fungus Elsinoe batatas Jenkins & Viegas<br />
Scurf Fungus Moniliochaetes infuscans<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phoma sorghina<br />
Stems with internalbrowning Fungus Phomopsis ipomoea-batatas<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Pseudocercospora timorensis Cooke<br />
Soft rot Fungus Rhizopus stolonifer (Fr.) Lind.<br />
Tuber rot Fungus Botrydiplodia theobromae<br />
Bacteria Erwinia sp.<br />
Bacteria Erwinia chrysanthemi<br />
Fungus Fusarium sp.<br />
Fusarium wilt/ tuber rot Fungus Fusarium oxysporium Schlecht. ex Fries<br />
Storage rot Fungus Aspergillus sp<br />
And Choanephora sp.<br />
And Mucor sp.<br />
Blue mould rot Fungus Penicillium sp.<br />
Charcoal rot Fungus Macrophomina phaseolina<br />
Little leaf & vein clearing Mycoplasma like organism<br />
Potyvirus leaf curling Virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Rats often eat sweet potato in the gardens.<br />
Importance:<br />
This is the most important food plant in Papua New Guinea. It is particularly important<br />
in highland grassland areas.
11<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Ipomoea macrantha Roemer & Schultes<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Ipomoea tuba (Schlechtend.) G. Don<br />
Tok ples: Fongaar Plant family: Convolvulaceae<br />
Description: A tuberous rooted vine with large round<br />
leaves. It is a vigorous climber reaching 4-5 m high.<br />
The vine is irregular in cross section. The leaves are<br />
large and rounded. They are 9-15 cm across. The leaf<br />
stalk is 6-12 cm long. The flowers can occur as one or<br />
several together. The sepals become large and fleshy in<br />
the fruit. The capsule is a large dry one with a fleshy<br />
lid and has 4 or less black seeds inside. The seeds are 8<br />
mm long by 12 mm wide.<br />
Distribution: It occurs at low altitudes probably up to<br />
1300 m. It is a plant of the drier open woodland areas.<br />
It grows naturally near the beach.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from top pieces of the fleshy root. They need a trellis or tree for<br />
the long vines to climb over. The tubers are harvested when the leaves die back.<br />
Production: The tuber is reported to be able to be stored.<br />
Use: The fleshy roots are cooked and eaten like a yam.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Tuber<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot probably due to a fungus<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance:<br />
In Papua New Guinea it is a moderately important root crop grown in yam gardens in the<br />
Morehead area.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
12<br />
Names<br />
English: Taro Scientific name: Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott<br />
Tok pisin: Taro tru Synonyms: Colocasia antiquorum Schott<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araceae<br />
Description: This plant has large flat leaves on the end<br />
of upright leaf stalks. It grows up to 1 m high. The leaf<br />
stalk or petiole joins the leaf towards the centre of the<br />
leaf. The leaves are 20-50 cm long. Near the ground a<br />
thickened rounded corm is produced. Around this plant<br />
there is normally a ring of small plants called suckers.<br />
Many different varieties occur. If left to maturity, a lily<br />
type flower is produced in the centre of the plant. It has<br />
a spathe 15-30 cm long that is rolled inwards. The<br />
flowers are yellow and fused along the stalk.<br />
Distribution: Taro grows from sea level up to about<br />
2300 m altitude in the tropics. It grows well in humid<br />
places. It can stand damp soil and grow under light<br />
shade. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: Taro can be planted from cormels or from the top of the central corm. Other<br />
sections of the corm could also be used but this is not commonly done. They are normally put<br />
into a hole and allowed to grow upwards. <strong>Plants</strong> are put into a hole 5-7 cm deep or deeper. Setts<br />
of about 150 g are optimum. Taro can be grown under flooded conditions but root rots develop if<br />
the water becomes stagnant. Taro is sensitive to weed competition throughout most of its growth,<br />
but it is more critical during early growth up to 3 - 4 months. About 7-9 weedings are required,<br />
to keep the crop clean under tropical lowland conditions, where flooding is not used. A spacing<br />
of 60 cm x 60 cm is common.<br />
Production: The general growth pattern is for an increase in top growth, in terms of leaf<br />
number, leaf area and petiole length, to continue for about 6 months under tropical lowland<br />
conditions then for each of these to decrease and tuber storage to continue to increase. Corm<br />
weight increases significantly from 5 to 11 months. Starch content also increases with time but<br />
protein content declines over the corm development period. Crops mature in 6-18 months.<br />
Yields of 5-15 tonnes per hectare are probably average.<br />
Use: The corm, leaves, and stalks are cooked and eaten.<br />
Caution: Some varieties burn the throat due to oxalate crystals.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Corms 66.8 1231 1.96 0.68 3 5 3.2<br />
Leaves 92.2 100 2.7 1.2 424 35.5 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Acrocercops sp. Gracillariidae (LEP) Aibika leaf miner<br />
Agrius convolvuli L. Sphingidae (LEP) Sweet potato hawkmoth<br />
Aphis gossypii Glover Aphididae (HEM) Melon aphid<br />
Astacops flavicollis Walk. Lygaeidae (HEM.)<br />
Astacops villicollis (Stal.) Lygaeidae (HEM.)<br />
Bemisia tabaci (Guen.) Aleyrodidae (HEM) Tobacco whitefly<br />
Dermolepida nigrum (Non f.) Scarabaeidae (COL) Dermolepida beetles
13<br />
Dermolepida noxium Britton Scarabaeidae (COL) Dermolepida beetles<br />
Ectropis sabulosa Warr. Geometridae (LEP) Cacao looper<br />
Gesonula mundata sanguinolenta Kraus Acridiidae (ORTH.)<br />
Heliothis armiger Huebner Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Hippotion celerio (L.) Sphingidae (LEP) Taro hawkmoth<br />
Oribius cinereus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Oribius cruciatus Fst. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Oribius destructor Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Papuana biroi End. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Papuana huebneri Fairm. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Papuana japenensis Arrow Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Papuana laevipennis Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Papuana semistriata Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Papuana trinodosa Prell. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Papuana woodlarkiana (Montr.) Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq Aphididae (HEM) Banana aphid<br />
Spodoptera litura (Fab) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Tarophagus colocasiae Delphacidae (HEM) Taro leafhopper<br />
Tarophagus persephone Delphacidae (HEM) Taro leafhopper<br />
Tarophagus proserpina (Kirk) Delphacidae (HEM) Taro leafhopper<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora sp.<br />
Blossom blight Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. & Rav.) Th.<br />
Brown leaf spot Fungus Cladosporium colocasiae Sawada<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
Mitimiti disease ? Hirschmanniella miticausa<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Leptosphaerulina trifolii<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Neojohnstonia colocasiae<br />
Shot hole Fungus Phyllosticta colocassicola<br />
Blight Fungus Phytophthora colocasiae Racib<br />
Diffuse yellow leaf spot Fungus Scolecobasidium sp.<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeri<br />
Root rot Fungus Pythium spp.<br />
Mosaic Virus Dasheen mosaic virus<br />
Dwarfed wrinkled plants Viruses Alomae & Bobone viruses<br />
Root rot Fungus Fusarium solani<br />
and Periconia sp.<br />
Root knot Nematode Meloidogyne sp.<br />
With corm rot Fungus Botrydiplodia theobromae<br />
And Chaetophoma sp<br />
And Rhizoctonia sp.<br />
and Athelia rolfsii<br />
Corm and stem rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora<br />
Bacterial leaf blight Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris pv. aracearum<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
It has been a very important food plant in Papua New Guinea. In some areas it is still important<br />
but in other areas it has declined because of insect and disease problems.
14<br />
Names<br />
English: Chinese taro Scientific name: Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott<br />
Tok pisin: Taro kongkong, Singapo Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araceae<br />
Description: A herb up to 2 m tall. It has a short<br />
stem. At the top of the stem it produces large<br />
leaves. A corm is produced at the base of the<br />
plant. It produces about 10 cormels on the<br />
underground corm. These are about 15-25 cm<br />
long and flask shaped. They get wider towards<br />
the tip. Leaves are large and the stalk joins to the<br />
edge of the leaf. The leaves stand erect on stout<br />
petioles. There is a vein around the edge of the<br />
leaf. The leaf stalks can be 1 m long. The leaf<br />
blade is oval and 50-75 cm long. The leaf has<br />
triangular lobes at the bottom. The flower is<br />
produced below the leaves. The large bract<br />
around the flower is pale green and about 20 cm<br />
long. The base of this bract overlaps. The<br />
closely arranged spike of flowers is about 15 cm<br />
long. The smaller female section is at the bottom<br />
and the male section is larger and towards the top.<br />
Distribution: It suits tropical rainforest regions. It can stand high rainfall. It can tolerate light<br />
shade. It grows from sea level up to about 2000 m. Soils need to be well drained but should be<br />
moist.<br />
Cultivation: Xanthosoma taro is normally planted by using the top piece of the main central<br />
corm or stem. Pieces weighing 1.5 kg are often used. It can also be grown by using the small<br />
side corms that may weigh 0.3 kg; or pieces of the corm can be used as long as they have some<br />
buds on them. These are often presprouted before planting. To multiply large amounts of<br />
planting material and still achieve acceptable yields, the latter method of using sections of the<br />
main corm works well. In crop growth, an axillary bud is produced in the axil of each leaf but<br />
only some of these develop into cormels. Often 10 or more cormels develop per plant into<br />
cormels 15-25 cm long.<br />
Production: The crop duration is about 9 months although crops are often left for 12 months<br />
before harvesting. <strong>Plants</strong> are often planted to make the maximum benefit of natural rainfall.<br />
They can be planted at any time of the year but in dry areas the middle of the dry season should<br />
be avoided. <strong>Plants</strong> are spaced at varying distances but there is often about 0.9m x 1.5m between<br />
plants. If soils are hard and compact, yields are low. The water table needs to be 45 cm below<br />
the soil surface. It can grow in light shade and in poorer soils.<br />
Use: The small side corms are eaten roasted or boiled.<br />
Young leaves can be eaten after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Corms 67.1 559 1.6 0.4 5 13.6 0.5<br />
Leaves 90.6 143 2.5 2.0 3300 37
Main corms are often fed to pigs.<br />
Insects:<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Signoret Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM) Soft scales<br />
Papuana spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Planococcus dioscoreae Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM) Tam mealy bug<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Longtailed mealybug<br />
Diseases:<br />
Root rot Fungi Phytophthora citricola<br />
and Phytophthora nicotianae<br />
and Pythium arrhenomanes<br />
and Pythium vexans<br />
and Rhizoctonia solani<br />
Nematodes ? Aphelenchoides sp.<br />
and ? Bursaphalenchus sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Glomerella cingulata<br />
Leaf wrinkle Virus Bobone<br />
Leaf speckle Virus Dasheen mosaic<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
It is of considerable importance in many coastal and mid altitude areas of Papua New<br />
Guinea especially in wetter areas. A major root crop in the humid tropics.<br />
15
16<br />
Names<br />
English: Swamp taro Scientific name: Cyrtosperma merkusii (Hassk.) Schott.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Cyrtosperma chamissonis (Schott) Merr.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araceae<br />
Description: A large perennial taro family plant up to 2-3 m<br />
high, with the pointy ends to the leaf lobes. The leaves are<br />
very large, upright and with points on the bottom lobes. The<br />
leaf stalks are up to 2.5 m long and 10 cm across. The leaves<br />
are 1.5 m long. Other aspects of the plant can vary such as<br />
kinds that are more spiny on the leaf stalks than others. The<br />
plants can grow up to 4 metres tall. Under the ground there is<br />
a large fattened rhizome or corm. This is shaped liked a<br />
cylinder and can be up to 70 kg in size. The plant produces a<br />
large purple lily type flower that then produces a group of<br />
seeds that are orange in colour. The plant produces suckers.<br />
The number of suckers varies with varieties<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant and grows from 18°N to<br />
20°S. It grows in fresh or brackish swamps up to 150 m<br />
altitude. Water 0.6-0.9 m deep and rich in humus is the<br />
environment used. It can stand shade. It can withstand<br />
flooding. It occurs in Papua New Guinea, the Solomons and<br />
the Philippines as well as in other countries. In Papua New<br />
Guinea it becomes important in Bougainville. It grows in<br />
fresh or brackish swamps up to 150 m altitude. It occurs on<br />
atoll islands.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally put in swamps or ditches. Parts of the main corm, or suckers<br />
can be used for planting. It can be intercropped with Colocasia taro. A spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m is<br />
suitable. It normally receives little management. It is known to respond to organic matter.<br />
Production: Yields of 10-15 tons/year/ha have been recorded. It takes 2-6 years to mature.<br />
Tubers become more fibrous with time so that 2 years is a suitable harvesting time. Individual<br />
corms can weigh 2-50 kg.<br />
Use: The corms are peeled and boiled or roasted. They are also used to make flour.<br />
Leaves and young flowers can be eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Corm<br />
Leaves<br />
72.4 343 1.1 1.3 5 15.7 0.11<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: This taro is seen in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea but only becomes<br />
important in some of the coral atoll islands. It is a major crop in Atoll Islands in the Pacific.
17<br />
Names<br />
English: Giant taro Scientific name: Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Alocasia indica (Lour.) Spach<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araceae<br />
Description: A very large herb. A taro family plant. It<br />
has a stout erect trunk up to 4 m tall. This has upright<br />
leaves which are arrow shaped. Leaves have round<br />
lobes at the bottom. The leaves are leathery and are<br />
often wavy around the edge. The secondary veins are<br />
not prominent. The leaf blade can be 1-1.2 m long.<br />
The leafy structure around the flower is yellow in the<br />
upper section. It forms a hood and drops off as the<br />
flower opens. The fruit are bright red berries. The<br />
corm is large, often curved and above the ground. It<br />
often has small cormels at the side. Brown trailing<br />
fibres of the leaf bases often hang from the stem. The<br />
leaves and petioles contain stinging crystals<br />
Distribution: It is widely distributed in open wetlands<br />
and along streams and in some types of humid forest.<br />
The plant grows wild from sea level up to 2600 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. Giant taro is a tropical plant and<br />
will not grow well below 10°C. It requires a well<br />
distributed rainfall and does not tolerate drought. Even<br />
though it grows along creek banks it cannot tolerate<br />
waterlogged soil. It is only used as food in a few<br />
coastal areas. Wild forms commonly seen growing are<br />
bitter and not used. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: The top of the main corm is planted. The small round cormels can be planted, but<br />
are slow to mature. A spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m is suitable. Because the giant taro takes more than<br />
a year to be ready to harvest, it often ends up left growing in an old garden site without much<br />
care or weeding, until the owner wants to harvest it.<br />
Production: Corms of 8.5 to 40 kg have been harvested from individual plants of unknown age.<br />
The time to maturity is about 12 months but plants are often left for 2-3 years.<br />
Use: The stems and corms are eaten after roasting or boiling.<br />
The main corm is cooked and eaten after being carefully peeled.<br />
The young leaves are edible.<br />
Caution: The mouth can be irritated by chewing improperly cooked plant parts due to chemicals<br />
called oxalates.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Corm<br />
Leaves<br />
84.0 256 0.6 1.0 0 5 1.5
18<br />
Insects:<br />
Aspidiella sacchari (Cockerell) Diaspididae Armoured scale<br />
Chaetanaphothrips orchidii F. Thripidae (THYS) Banana rust thrips<br />
Dysmicoccus nesophilus Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Eucalymnatus tessellatus (Signoret) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Lepidosaphes gloverii (Packard) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Papuana spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Long tailed mealybug<br />
Pulvinaria ubicola (Cockerell) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Mycosphaerella alocasiae Sydow<br />
Rust Fungus Uredo alocasiae P. Henn<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Yellow spot Alga Phyllosiphon sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
This taro is of local importance only in some coastal areas and islands of Papua New Guinea e.g.<br />
Rabaul, Namatanai. It is important in several Pacific Islands.
19<br />
Names<br />
English: Elephant foot yam Scientific name: Amorphophallus paeonifolius var.<br />
campanulatus (Decne.) Sivadasan<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Amorphophallus campanulatus (Decne);<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araceae<br />
Description: A taro family plant but with a very<br />
divided leaf. It grows to 0.75-1 m high. It is a<br />
herbaceous plant with rough and mottled leaf<br />
stalks. It has a straight stem and the leaf is<br />
divided into leaflets. The leaves can be 1 m in<br />
width. The leaves usually come singly from the<br />
ground. The leaf blades are divided into many<br />
lobes. The leaflets can be 3-35 cm long and 2-13<br />
cm wide. The flower stalk can be 3-20 cm long.<br />
The bract around the flower is bell shaped and<br />
fluted. It can be 60 cm across. The edge is<br />
curved back and wavy. The flower is dull purple<br />
and up to 30 cm across. It can be 70 cm long.<br />
The flower gives of a bad smell like rotting meat<br />
and this attracts flies. The flower only develops<br />
after the leaves have died off. The leaves and<br />
corms especially in the wild varieties contain<br />
many stinging crystals. Edible kinds have a<br />
smooth petiole. It has a large round tuber up to<br />
25 cm across. The large round underground corm<br />
produces small corms around the side. These can<br />
be 10 cm long. These are usually used for<br />
planting.<br />
Distribution: It occurs mainly in seasonally dry areas and grassland up to 800 m altitude in<br />
equatorial zones. It requires an average temperature of 25-35°C and rainfall of 1000-1500 mm<br />
during the growing season. Soils need to be well drained as it cannot stand waterlogging. It<br />
occurs widely around the Philippines in low altitude places especially where people have cleared<br />
the forest. It is common in Indonesia and Vietnam.<br />
Cultivation: The cormels are planted. Seeds will grow but flowers need hand pollination.<br />
Small corms from around the side are the normal part planted. If a very small corm is planted,<br />
the plant may need to grow for several seasons to produce a large yield. Setts or small cormels<br />
of 200 g are suitable for use planted at 30 cm x 30 cm spacing and produce seed corms of about<br />
500 g. Larger corms take 3-4 years to produce. This is achieved by digging up corms and<br />
replanting next season. Each crop takes about 8 months to mature. Corms are planted 15 cm<br />
deep. Spacing is increased between plants in successive years of growth. After harvest, the<br />
corm needs to be kept for a few months before it is ready to produce a new shoot and regrow.<br />
Production: The stalk dies back when the plant is mature. The corm will keep for several<br />
months. An individual corm can finally weigh 8 kg. When it is planted a single leaf stalk is<br />
produced and the irregular shaped leaf is produced at the top of the stalk. Eventually the corm<br />
under the ground increases in size then the leaf dies back. The corm could be harvested and<br />
stored, or eaten at this stage. If it is just left, a very large flower is produced. This type of<br />
growth pattern where vegetative growth is followed by a storage organ that becomes dormant, is<br />
the type of growth that suits areas with a distinct wet and dry season. It has the advantage that<br />
the corm will store well after harvest and can be eaten in the dry season when food is short.
20<br />
Use: The corm is cooked and eaten.<br />
The leaves are edible.<br />
The young petioles or leaf stalks are eaten cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Corm<br />
Stalks<br />
78.0 340 2.0 2.4 0 6 1.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea this plant is only grown and used by people in a few<br />
locations. It is more important in some other countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and India.<br />
Flower
21<br />
Names<br />
English: Polynesian arrowroot Scientific name: Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) O.Kuntze<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Tacca pinnatifida J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Taccaceae<br />
Description: A perennial herb with no stem but leaves<br />
up to 1 metre long and divided into 3 segments. The<br />
leaf stalks are 1.5 to 2 cm across and about 1 m long.<br />
The leaves are 1 to 1.5 m across and divided into 3<br />
parts that are again divided. A single flower stem<br />
grows up beside the leaf stem. The flowers are green<br />
and purplish on top of a 1 m long flower stalk. There<br />
can be 30-40 small flowers and several long spreading<br />
and drooping coloured bracts or long thin threads hang<br />
from the flower. The leaf and flower stalks are hollow<br />
and ribbed which helps distinguish it from the<br />
somewhat similar looking leaf of elephant foot yam<br />
(where it is smooth and solid). The fruits are yellowish<br />
green, long shaped and with 6 raised lines along the<br />
side. They can be 4 cm long and 2 cm wide and have<br />
several seeds inside. Under the ground there is a round<br />
swollen root or tuber. It can be 30 cm across and weigh<br />
1kg. Some varieties produce several smaller tubers.<br />
Distribution: It grows on the coast in the equatorial tropics and up to 200 m altitude and is<br />
mostly seen on sandy beaches, under coconuts and in grassland. It suits drier areas. It is grown<br />
on some of the coral atoll islands. It needs a neutral to acid pH. It needs fertile, humus-rich,<br />
well-drained soil. It can grow in light shade. This is a crop mainly grown in tropical Asia and<br />
Polynesia. It is also grown in East Africa. They occur throughout the Philippines near the<br />
seashores. It suits hardiness zones 10-12<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from division of the small tubers. A spacing 0.6 x 0.6 m is<br />
suitable. Polynesian arrowroot is a plant that grows during the wet season and dies during the<br />
dry season. When the leaves turn yellow and the plant dies back, the tubers are harvested. Small<br />
tubers are kept for replanting. Often plants just regrow naturally from these small tubers that are<br />
left in the ground after harvesting. The plant takes between 8 and 10 months to reach maturity.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. The small tubers produced from seeds are then replanted or left<br />
to grow for another year.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> take 8-10 months to maturity. The tubers are scraped and mashed in cold<br />
water for 4-5 days. It is then prepared like sago. A tuber can weigh 1 kg.<br />
Use: The starchy tuber is eaten. The tubers are scraped and mashed in cold water for 4-5 days.<br />
It is then prepared like sago. That is, normally the tuber is scraped into small shreds and then<br />
washed in water. The starch is filtered out and allowed to settle. The starch is washed several<br />
times to get rid of bitterness that is common with this plant. To get clean white starch, the tuber<br />
needs to be carefully peeled.<br />
The starch can be hung in a cloth to allow the water to drain and then it can be sun dried. Once<br />
dry, the fine powdered arrowroot starch will store well in a sealed jar. The arrowroot starch is<br />
tasteless. The leaves have been recorded as eaten in Africa. The yellow fruit is also eaten by<br />
children in some places. The seeds are edible.
22<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tuber 71.3 512 2.3 1.4 47 0.8<br />
Seeds 85.1 2.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora taccae (Sydow) Chupp<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
A minor root crop in Papua New Guinea. Of local importance in islands off North Solomons<br />
and in Milne Bay Province.
23<br />
Names<br />
English: Greater yam Scientific name: Dioscorea alata L.<br />
Tok pisin: Yam tru Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dioscoreaceae<br />
Description: A long angular vine. The stems are<br />
square and twine to the right around support sticks.<br />
The stem does not have spines. It is often coloured<br />
green or purple. The leaves are heart shaped and borne<br />
in pairs along the vine. The leaves vary is shape, size<br />
and colour with different varieties. Leaves can be 10-<br />
30 cm long by 5-20 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 6-12 cm<br />
long. The flowers occur in the axils of the upper<br />
leaves. The male flowers are in small heads along<br />
branched stalks. These can be 25 cm long and green.<br />
The female flowers are in shorter spikes. Many<br />
cultivated varieties do not produce fertile seed. The<br />
fruit are 3-winged and 2.5 cm long by 3.5 cm wide.<br />
The seeds when they occur have wings right around<br />
them. One large but often irregular shaped tuber occurs<br />
under the ground. A very large number of different<br />
varieties occur. The tubers can vary in shape, size,<br />
colour, texture and other ways. Some varieties produce<br />
bulbils along the vine.<br />
Distribution: It grows from sea level up to about 1800 m in the tropics. Yams are most<br />
important in seasonally dry areas. They need a well-drained soil and it has to have reasonable<br />
fertility. The temperature maximum is >30°C while the minimum is 20°C. The optimum<br />
temperature range is 25-30°C. Rainfall is often seasonal in yam areas and the maximum needs<br />
to be 14-20 weeks rain with an optimum of 1,150 mm during the growing season. Yams can<br />
tolerate drought but give maximum yields with high rainfall. The critical rain period is during<br />
the first 5 months. They cannot tolerate water logging. Light influences tuber growth. A<br />
continuous exposure of tubers to light significantly reduces tuber yields. Yams are influenced by<br />
daylength. Short days (less than 10-11 hours of sunlight) favour tuber development. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Ceremonial yams have very specialised production techniques. For general food<br />
production, use top pieces of the tuber after they have sprouted, use a branched stick for support<br />
of the vine, space plants about 1 m apart and choose a smooth round cultivar. In most places the<br />
yam growth and maturity fits in with seasonal rainfall patterns. They are mostly planted just<br />
before the first rains where a 8-10 month rainy season exists and give better yields in 6-8 month<br />
rainy season areas when planted 3 months before the rains. Earlier planting requires larger sett<br />
size to withstand drying out. Because yam tubers have a period of dormancy, tubers do not<br />
normally commence regrowth for up to 5-6 months. A planting depth of 15 cm is suitable.<br />
Production: The time to maturity ranges from 5 months on the coast to 9 or 10 months at higher<br />
altitudes. Yams will store well for over 6 months if given a dry, dark, well ventilated shed.<br />
Use: The tubers are boiled, baked or mumued.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tuber 76.6 323 2.0 0.8 18 10 0.39
Insects:<br />
Abgrallaspis cyanophylli (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scales<br />
Alcidodes australis Boisduval Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Aphis gossypii Glover Aphididae (HEM) Cotton aphid<br />
Aspidiella hartii (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scales<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Signoret Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scales<br />
Chrysodeixis chalcites Esp. Plusiinae (LEP)<br />
Coccus hesperidium Linnaeus Coccidae (HEM) Soft scales<br />
Eupholus nickerli Hll. Curculionidae (COL) Weevils<br />
Gymnopholus weiskei Hllr. Curculionidae (COL) Weevils<br />
Harpedona plana Poppius Miridae (HEM)<br />
Hypolixus mastersi Pascoe Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Hyposidra talaca Geometridae (LEP)<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM) Soft scales<br />
Leptoglossus australis (Fab.) Coreidae (HEM) Passion vine bug<br />
Liliocerus sp nr. bakewelli Baly Crioceridae (COL)<br />
Liliocerus papuana (Jac.) Crioceridae (COL.) A small beetle<br />
Papuana spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Planococcus dioscoreae Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM) Yam mealy bug<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealybug<br />
Platypeltocoris similis Popp Miridae (HEM.) Yam mirid sap sucker<br />
Senoclidia purpurata (F.Sm.) Tenthredinide (HYM) Yam sawfly<br />
Tagiades obscurus tindali Rbb Hesperiidae (LEP.)<br />
Tagiades tregellius Hopf. Hesperiidae (LEP.)<br />
Tagiades tregellius canonicus Hesperiidae (LEP.)<br />
Theretra nessus Dry. Sphingidae(LEP.) Yam hawkmoth<br />
24<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spots Fungi Gloeosporium pestis Massee<br />
and Phyllosticta dioscoreae Cooke<br />
Leaf blotch Bacterium Xanthomonas sp.<br />
Rust Fungi Goplana dioscoreae Cummins<br />
and Goplana australis<br />
and Uredo dioscoreae-sativae Sydow<br />
and Uredo hiulca Cummins<br />
Anthracnose Fungus Glomerella cingulata (Stonem) Spauld & Schr.<br />
Mosaic Probably Virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
In Papua New Guinea it is a very important ceremonial crop in some areas and a staple food in<br />
many seasonally dry areas.
25<br />
Names<br />
English: Nummularia yam Scientific name: Dioscorea nummularia Lamarck<br />
Tok pisin: Yam tru Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dioscoreaceae<br />
Description: A vine plant with long spiny stems. The<br />
stems are nearly round in cross section. The leaves are<br />
oval to heart shaped. They end abruptly in a pointed<br />
tip. Often they are alternate lower on the vine then<br />
opposite each other higher up the plant. The vines<br />
twine to the right. The stems are spiny near the base.<br />
The flowers are slender. The flower spikes occur on<br />
leafless branches produced in the axils of leaves and<br />
these are longer than the leaf near where they are<br />
produced. The flower spikes remain of equal size along<br />
the length of this flowering branch. Tubers are often<br />
deep in the soil and with several lobes<br />
Distribution: Mostly they occur in coastal areas.<br />
Outside Papua New Guinea it occurs in Fiji, Indonesia,<br />
Malaysia and the Solomon Islands.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from pieces of the tuber. It can also be grown from aerial tubers.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> are often planted near trees so that the vine can climb the tree and the tuber is left growing<br />
in the same spot for several years with tubers being harvested annually.<br />
Production: The leaves die off and regrow each year. The tuber does not store well.<br />
Use: The tuber is cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tuber 71.9 443 2.04 0.38 17 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Probably similar to yam tru.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Probably similar to yam tru.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: There is still some confusion about this yam. It is like yam tru but with round<br />
stems.<br />
A significant edible yam.
26<br />
Names<br />
English: Lesser yam Scientific name: Dioscorea esculenta (Loureiro) Burkill<br />
Tok pisin: Mami Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dioscoreaceae<br />
Description: A yam that has a spiny vine. It is a<br />
prickly climber. It can climb 1.2-2.4 m high and spread<br />
1.8 m across. The vine twines to the left. The leaves<br />
are round with a gap where the leaf stalk joins. They<br />
are almost heart shaped. The leaf is about 12 cm long.<br />
This yam produces a cluster (5-20) of tubers under the<br />
ground. In many varieties there are sharp thorns just<br />
under the ground. In China forms occur without these<br />
spines. Often the tubers are sticky when cut. Many<br />
kinds occur. The flowers are green, 4 mm across and<br />
borne on long slender spikes. These are singly in the<br />
axils of leaves.<br />
Distribution: It grows from sea level up to about 1500<br />
m but is mostly below 800 m. It cannot tolerate waterlogging.<br />
It needs a reasonably long rainy season. It<br />
needs a loose fertile soil. It does poorly on sandy soils<br />
and becomes misshapen in heavy clay soils. High<br />
levels of organic matter promote growth. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: Normally small tubers are planted (50 - 75 g) but cut portions of a tuber can be<br />
used. Using either the top section or the bottom section of a tuber gives better establishment and<br />
yield than middle portions. Using larger tubers gives larger individual tubers and higher yields<br />
for individual plants. Using a plant spacing of 30 cm between plants and 100 cm between rows<br />
about 2,000 kg of planting material are used if 70 g tubers are used. Tubers are planted 8-12 cm<br />
below the ground.<br />
Planting in mounds makes harvesting easier. It also assists drainage and improves aeration. A<br />
spacing of 80 - 100 cm between plants is suitable.<br />
Planting is normally adjusted to fit in with the beginning of the rainy season. The growing<br />
season of 9-10 months is long and an extended wet season is therefore desirable. Stakes are<br />
required. Stakes 2 m long are sufficient. Lesser yams compete poorly with living plants used as<br />
shade.<br />
Weed control is probably most crucial during the first 3 months. As early growth of the plant is<br />
sustained from the tuber, fertilisers can be applied slightly after planting. Added nitrogen<br />
fertiliser is more effectively used when plants are staked. Nitrogen is of more benefit for leaf<br />
growth in the early stages of plant development. Potassium is beneficial but often phosphorus<br />
applications do not give significant responses as lesser yams are efficient at extracting it from the<br />
soil. High yields can be obtained.<br />
Production: High yields can be obtained. <strong>Plants</strong> take about 9 months to reach maturity. In<br />
some varieties and under some conditions leaves do not die off and tubers must be harvested to<br />
avoid tubers deteriorating as new growth commences. Tubers need to be harvested and handled<br />
carefully. They must often be cut from the vine and can be washed and dried. Tubers will store<br />
for about 3 months. They need to be stored under ventilated conditions. Fungal growth and rots<br />
easily occur on cut or damaged surfaces under damp conditions. Storage probably needs to be at<br />
temperatures above 15 °C. Tubers need to be peeled either before or after cooking.<br />
Use: The tubers are cooked and eaten.
27<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tuber 74.2 470 2.06 0.75 84 20 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Aspidiella hartii (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.) Noctuidae(LEP) Green looper<br />
and others See list under Greater yam.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cylindrosporium dioscoreae Miy & Ito<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Guignardia dioscoreae<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta dioscoreae Cooke<br />
Dark brown leaf blotch Bacterium Xanthomonas sp.<br />
Mosaic leaf pattern Probably due to a virus.<br />
Pests: Rats are a problem with yams in storage.<br />
Importance:<br />
The most important of the yams in Papua New Guinea for efficient food production. Papua New<br />
Guinea has the best varieties in the world.<br />
Cluster of tubers<br />
Tuber shapes
28<br />
Names<br />
English: Potato yam Scientific name: Dioscorea bulbifera L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dioscoreaceae<br />
Description: A yam with a long smooth stemmed vine,<br />
round in cross section. It winds to the left. It does not<br />
have spines. The vine can climb up into trees and grow<br />
to long lengths. The leaves are large and round. They<br />
are pointed at the tip and round at the base. About 7<br />
veins arise from the tip of the leaf stalk. Leaves can be<br />
14-30 cm across and slightly longer than wide. This<br />
yam produces bulbils (potatoes) in the angles of the<br />
leaves along the vine. These are often flattened and can<br />
be grey brown or purple. Under the ground it has a<br />
smaller tuber normally covered with roots. The flowers<br />
are large. The male flowers are in spikes up to 20 cm<br />
long. The female spikes are usually in pairs. The fruit<br />
are winged and about 2.5 cm long by 1.5 cm across.<br />
The seeds have wings. The bulbils normally have few<br />
fibres through the tissue compared to some yams<br />
tubers. The flesh of many varieties is yellow.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It will grow from the coast up to about 1700 m altitude in<br />
equatorial zones. It is common near the edge of grassland and forest at mid altitudes. Both wild<br />
and cultivated forms occur. It is common in the Philippines, Solomons and Papua New Guinea<br />
near secondary forest at low and medium altitudes. It is cultivated in Africa and the West Indies.<br />
In Nepal it grows to 2100 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: Either the bulbils off the vine, or the underground tubers are planted. Because the<br />
vines are long, training them up trees is convenient. The bulbils have to be stored for a period of<br />
time before they will sprout. The plant is annual and leaves die off for 1-4 months each year<br />
before re-sprouting from the tuber. Bulbils only grow shoots from one end unless the bulbil is<br />
cut into pieces. If the larger bulbils are cut, the cut surfaces should be dried and healed in a<br />
shady place for 2-3 days before planting. Bulbils are planted 8-12 cm below the surface and<br />
spacing can be 100 cm by 100 cm or variations of this. Normally nitrogen and potassium<br />
fertilisers give greater responses than phosphorus. Friable well-drained soils are most suitable.<br />
Often very little cultivation or mounding is done. A high level of organic matter improves yield.<br />
Staking is normally required but often trees or living stakes are used. Branched stakes 2 m high<br />
are suitable. They need to be strongly put in place as vine and tuber growth can be extensive and<br />
heavy.<br />
Production: Bulbils or aerial yams are produced as soon as leaves begin to unfold and continue<br />
until the plant reaches maturity. These aerial tubers often fall from the plant. Harvesting can<br />
start 3 months after planting but immature tubers have less starch. Underground tubers are<br />
normally not harvested until the leaves die back. Wounds and damage to the tuber surface<br />
normally heals naturally given dry aerated conditions. Some varieties have aerial tubers that are<br />
seasonally dormant and only grow after an extended period of storage. Others germinate<br />
relatively quickly.<br />
Use: The tubers are cooked and eaten. More commonly the aerial bulbils are eaten after<br />
cooking.<br />
Some kinds are bitter and inedible or at least require special processing and cooking.<br />
Some varieties are poisonous.
29<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tubers<br />
Bulbils<br />
70.8 357 2.7 3.1 78 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Weevils chewing the leaves. Curculionidae (COL.) Eupholus spp.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Brown mould underneath leaf Fungus Cercospora ubi Racib<br />
Rust on leaves Fungus Uredo dioscoreae-sativae Sydow<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
This yam is widely distributed in lowland areas of Papua New Guinea and is a supplementary<br />
starchy staple food.
30<br />
Names<br />
English: Five leaflet yam Scientific name: Dioscorea pentaphylla L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dioscoreaceae<br />
Description: A yam with a climbing vine 2-5 m long.<br />
The stems have scattered small spines. There are small<br />
tubers found in the axils of the leaves as well as larger<br />
underground tubers. The leaves have 5 to 7 leaflets<br />
pointed at the tip and 8 to 15 cm long. Often the lower<br />
leaves have 5-7 leaflets and upper leaves have 3<br />
leaflets. The leaflets are spread out like fingers on a<br />
hand. The leaves are finely hairy. The flowers are<br />
small, yellowish white with a slight smell and borne in<br />
large numbers of flower clusters in the axils of leaves.<br />
The male flower spikes are 10-18 cm long and mostly<br />
occur as two together in the axil of a leaf. The female<br />
spikes occur as 1-3 together and are as long as the male<br />
ones. The fruit are winged capsules 8-12 mm long by<br />
6-9 mm wide. The tubers vary in colour and shape.<br />
Often they are round and covered with long hairs.<br />
Distribution: They grow from sea level up to 1800 m. It needs a well-drained, well aerated soil.<br />
They are best adapted to an abundant rainfall during the growing season and an annual dry<br />
season. Soils need to be fertile. Five leaflet yam occurs mainly in China, Malaysia, India,<br />
Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and into the Pacific Islands.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from tubers or pieces of tubers. They can be grown from aerial<br />
tubers. The dormancy of the tuber can be short. They need stakes for support. Stakes of about 2<br />
m are adequate although live stakes are often used. They often grow wild.<br />
Production: Tubers are harvested after the vines die back.<br />
Use: The tubers are eaten boiled or roasted.<br />
Caution: Poisonous types of this yam also occur. These need to be cut into pieces then<br />
repeatedly boiled and put into running water or washed and baked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tubers 80.0 266 2.3 0.44 2.8 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Rust Fungus Uredo dioscoreae-sativae<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
This yam is not widely used in Papua New Guinea, but it can be found occasionally in<br />
many areas.
31<br />
Names<br />
English: Bitter yam Scientific name: Dioscorea hispida Dennstaedt<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dioscoreaceae<br />
Description: A climbing vine that can be quite long. It<br />
can be 10 m long. There are thorns on the stem. It has<br />
compound leaves bearing 3 very large leaflets. The<br />
leaves can be 30 cm across. The leaflets are unequal on<br />
each side. The leaves are produced one after another<br />
along the stem. The young leaf stalks, stems and<br />
leaflets are hairy. The leaf stalk is as long as the<br />
leaflets (10-15 cm). There are small prickles on the<br />
under surface of the main vein. The flowers are small,<br />
pale yellow and borne on compound flower clusters.<br />
The fruit are 5 cm across and divided into 3 lobes. The<br />
tuber is covered with root hairs. It has lobes. Tubers<br />
are often 15-25 cm across.<br />
Distribution: Outside Papua New Guinea it occurs in<br />
the Philippines, SE Asia and Indonesia. <strong>Plants</strong> grow<br />
from sea level to 1500 m altitude in Southern China.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from a tuber. The tuber can continue to increase in size over<br />
several years.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The tubers are eaten after processing by slicing, soaking in running water for 48 hours and<br />
then cooking.<br />
Caution: This yam can be very poisonous. Normally selected varieties and special processes<br />
are needed before it is used.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Tubers<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Importance:<br />
A yam only occasionally used as an emergency food.<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
32<br />
Names<br />
English: White yam, White Guinea Yam Scientific name: Dioscorea rotundata Poir.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Dioscorea cayenensis Lam.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dioscoreaceae<br />
Description: A climbing yam plant. The stems are<br />
round and can be 10-12 m long. They twine to the right<br />
around sticks. The stems are usually spiny, but can be<br />
smooth. There is a white bloom on the stems. The<br />
leaves are opposite and simple. They are 10-12 cm<br />
long by 6-8 cm wide. They are heart shaped and taper<br />
to a point. They are normally dark green and glossy.<br />
Some forms have leafy outgrowths (stipules) at the base<br />
of the leaf stalks. The flowers are often in groups of 4<br />
and are formed near the leaves. It is mostly male<br />
flowers which occur and seeds are rarely produced.<br />
The tubers vary in shape, size and texture. Mostly they<br />
are like cylinders with rounded or pointed ends. The<br />
skin is smooth and brown with white flesh. The tubers<br />
can also be distorted in shape. Mostly only one tuber<br />
forms and the top end of the tuber is woody. A large<br />
number of different cultivars occur.<br />
Distribution: It grows in places with a distinct dry season. Tubers have a time of dormancy. It<br />
can tolerate drought more than Greater yam (Dioscorea alata). It suits relatively heavy soils with<br />
a reasonable clay content. Rainfall of 1000-1500 mm distributed over 8-10 months is suitable.<br />
Cultivation: Mostly setts of tubers are used. Occasionally seeds are used. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be<br />
grown from cuttings. About 1 sq metre per plant is suitable.<br />
Production: Crops last 8-10 months. Tubers can be stored for several months. Tubers normally<br />
weigh 2-5 kg but can be up to 10 kg weight. Yields of 16-20 t/ha are normal. Tubers should not<br />
be stored below 15°C as chilling injury can result.<br />
Use: The tubers are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tuber 80.0 298 1.5 5.2 0.8 10 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
The most important yam in West Africa. It has only recently been introduced to Papua New<br />
Guinea.
33<br />
Names<br />
English: Cassava, Manioc, Tapioca Scientific name: Manihot esculenta Crantz<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Manihot utilissima Pohl<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Euphorbiaceae<br />
Description: A plant that can regrow year after year<br />
from the thickened roots. It has several stems. The<br />
stems are woody and have some branches. <strong>Plants</strong> grow<br />
up to 2 or 3 metres high. Stalks have distinct scars<br />
where leaves have fallen. The leaves tend to be near<br />
the ends of branches. The leaves are divided like the<br />
fingers on a hand. The leaves have long leaf stalks.<br />
The leaves have 3-7 long lobes that can be 20 cm long.<br />
These are widest about 1/3 of the distance from the tip<br />
and taper towards the base. The colour varies. It<br />
produces several long tubers. These can be 50 cm long<br />
by 10 cm across. The flowers are on short stalks<br />
around a central stalk. They are produced near the ends<br />
of branches. The female flowers are near the base of<br />
the flower stalk and the male flowers higher up.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> grow from sea level up to about<br />
1650 m. They can grow in poor soil. They can survive<br />
drought. It is native to tropical America. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 10-12. Cassava seeds need a soil<br />
temperature of 30°C for their germination. Flower and<br />
fruit production is more common under lower<br />
temperatures such as in highland or less equatorial<br />
conditions. Cassava does not suit waterlogged soils and<br />
preferably they should not be too shallow or stony. .<br />
The crop once established can survive for several<br />
months without rain.<br />
Cultivation: Cassava is planted from sections of the stalk. Sections about 15-20 cm long of the<br />
more mature woody stem are cut and stuck into the ground. They can be completely buried or<br />
put at almost any angle and it affects the growth little. Soon roots form and leaves start to sprout<br />
from the stalk.<br />
Production: Cassava takes about 10 to 12 months to produce mature tubers in the lowlands<br />
tropics although some varieties produce a smaller yield earlier. Yields in the range of 20-45 t/ha<br />
have been recorded for 12-14 month crops. The plants can be left growing and the tubers stored<br />
in the soil for considerable time. Crops of 24 months duration occur. Once the tubers have been<br />
dug they do not keep for more than a few days. Preharvest pruning of plants increases the<br />
storage time of tubers after harvest<br />
Use: The tubers are eaten after thorough cooking. They are boiled, roasted or made into flour.<br />
Young leaves are edible after cooking.<br />
Seeds are also eaten.<br />
Caution: Bitter kinds of cassava contain poison but this is destroyed on heating. This kind of<br />
cassava should be cooked, sun dried, soaked and cooked again.
34<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tuber 62.8 625 1.4 0.23 30 15 0.48<br />
Leaves 82.0 382 7.1 7.6 11775 275<br />
Insects:<br />
Abgrallaspis cyanophylli (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Acalolepta holotephra Boisd Cerambycidae (COL.)<br />
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) Noctuidae (LEP) Black cutworm<br />
Amblypelta spp. Coreidae (HEM) Amblypelta bugs<br />
Apirocalus spp Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Aulacophora spp. Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles<br />
Bemisia tabaci (Guen.) Aleyrodidae (HEM) Tobacco whitefly<br />
Brysica exigua Dist. Pentatomidae (HEM.)<br />
Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan) Diaspidiae (HEM)<br />
Dasychira mendosa Hubn. Lymantriidae (LEP.) Leaf eating caterpillar<br />
Ectropis sabulosa Warr. Geometridae (LEP) Cacao looper<br />
Eupholus spp. Curculionidae (COL) Eupholus weevils<br />
Ferrisia consobrina Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Ferrisia virgata Cockerell Pseudococcidae (HEM) Striped mealy bug<br />
Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Hypotactus ruralis Fst. Curculionidae (COL.)<br />
Leptoglossus australis (Fab.) Coreidae (HEM) Black leaf footed bug<br />
Monolepta spp. Chrysomelidae (COL) Monolepta beetles<br />
Oribius spp. Curculioniodae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) Coccidae (HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Protaetia papuana Moser Scarabaeidae (COL.)<br />
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Taeg) Diaspididae (HEM) Cassava scale<br />
Pseudococcus elisae Borchsenius Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Saissettia nigra (Nietner) Coccidae (HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Spodoptera litura (Fab) Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Tetranychus marianae McGregor Tetranychidae ACARINA Red spider mite<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora vicosae?<br />
Brown leaf spot Fungus Cercosporidium henningsii (Allesch) Deighton<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Blight leaf spot or tip dieback Fungus Colletotrichum capsici (Syd) But. & Bis.<br />
And Glomerella cingulata<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor (Berk. & Broome) Julich<br />
Associated with root rot Fungus Dictyosporium toriloides<br />
Collar rot Fungus Fusarium sp.<br />
Root rot ? Helicobasidium purpureum<br />
and Proboscispora manihotis<br />
and Rigidoporus lignosus<br />
Storage rots<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, cassava is becoming a more widespread and important<br />
staple food especially in areas with poor soils and distinct drought.
35<br />
Names<br />
English: Potato Scientific name: Solanum tuberosum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: A branched annual plant that grows up to<br />
50 cm high. The stems are soft and 4 angled with<br />
compound leaves. The leaves are irregular shape and<br />
have 6-8 pairs of leaflets as well as small irregular<br />
leafets between the others. It has swollen stem tubers<br />
under the ground. The tubers can vary in colour from<br />
white to red and purple. The tuber shape can also vary<br />
greatly. The flowers are white pink or purple. The<br />
fruit is a berry. It is smooth, round and green but often<br />
striped.<br />
Distribution: In the tropics they mostly grow at high<br />
altitude above 1500 m, but plants are grown between<br />
900 and 2800 m. Tubers form best when soil<br />
temperatures are 15.5°C. They are damaged by frost<br />
but slightly more frost tolerant than sweet potato. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 7-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from tubers. Due to virus diseases it is necessary to get fresh seed<br />
tubers each few years. Large tubers can be cut to include a bud or "eye". It is best to inter-crop.<br />
Production: The time to maturity is between 17 and 24 weeks. Yields of 5 to 12 tons/ha can be<br />
expected.<br />
Use: The tubers are cooked and eaten. They are also fried, canned and made into starch.<br />
The tender leaves are also occasionally eaten.<br />
Caution: The green tubers and leaves are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tubers 77.0 344 1.7 1.1 25 21 0.27<br />
Insects:<br />
Acyrthosiphon solani Kaltenbach Aphididae (HEM.)<br />
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) Noctuidae (LEP) Black cutworm<br />
Apachynus beccarii Dubrony Apachyidae (DERM.)<br />
Aphis gossypii Glover Aphididae (HEM.) Melon aphid<br />
Araecerus sp. (See Oxyderes) Anthribidae (COL.)<br />
Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach Aphididae (HEM.) Foxglove aphid<br />
Brachylybas dimorphus Small brown bug<br />
Cassida diomma Boisduval Chrysomelidae (COL.) Small tortoise beetle<br />
Cassida papuana Spaeth Chrysomelidae (COL.) Small tortoise beetles<br />
Cassida sexguttata Boisduval Chrysomelidae (COL.) Small tortoise beetles<br />
Cicadella sp. Cicadellidae (HEM.)<br />
Conoderus mucronatus Candeze Elateridae (COL.)<br />
Criontiades sp. Miridae (HEM.)<br />
Dasychira mendosa Hubn. Lymantriidae (LEP) Leaf eating caterpillar<br />
Elaunon bipatitus Kirby Forficulidae (DERM.)
36<br />
Henosepilachna haemorrhoea (Biel) Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Homeoxipha fuscipennis Gryllidae (ORTH.)<br />
Idopsis coerulea Faust. Curculionidae (COL.)<br />
Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomson) Aphididae (HEM.) Potato aphid<br />
Monolepta semiviolacea Fauvel Chrysomelidae (COL.)<br />
Myzus ornatus Laing Aphididae (HEM.)<br />
Myzus persicae Sulzer Aphididae (HEM.) Green peach aphid<br />
Nysius villicus Van Duzee Lygaeidae (HEM.)<br />
Papuana aninodalis Prell Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Phaenacantha spp. Colobathristidae (HEM) Sugarcane bug<br />
Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) Scarabaeidae (COL) Potato tuber moth<br />
Simplicia caeneusalis Walker Noctuidae (LEP.)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Early blight Fungus Alternaria solani Sorauer<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu & Kimbrough<br />
Dry rot & wilt Fungus Fusarium oxysporium Schelcht ex Fr.<br />
Storage rot Fungus Fusarium solani<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Leptosphaerulina trifolii<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Pink rot Fungus Phytophthora erythroseptica<br />
Late blight Fungus Phytophthora infestans (Mont) de Bary<br />
Powdery scab Fungus Spongospora subterranean<br />
Common scab Fungus Streptomyces scabies (Thaxt.) Waksm & Henr.<br />
Black scurf Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Verticillium wilt potato Fungus Verticillium albo-atrum<br />
Black leg Bacteria Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica<br />
Soft rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora<br />
Bacterial wilt Bacteria Erwinia chrysanthemi<br />
Bacterial wilt Bacteria Pseudomonas solanacearum E F Smith<br />
Leaf roll Virus Leaf roll virus<br />
Interveinal mottling Virus Potato virus x<br />
Mosaic & dying leaves Virus Potato virus y<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is gaining acceptance as a subsistence food crop above<br />
about 1900 m altitude.
37<br />
Names<br />
English: Kudzu, Scientific name: Pueraria lobata var. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Pueraria novo-guineensis Warb.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A slow growing climbing legume with a<br />
thickened edible tuber. It has a thick stem that is hairy<br />
at the base. The stem can be 2.5 cm across. It can<br />
climb to 20 m high. The leaves are hairy and divided<br />
into 3 leafets. They are oval or diamond shaped and<br />
they have lobes. The middle leaflet is the largest. The<br />
side leaflets are not equal on both sides of the main<br />
vein. The leaflets are 10-18 cm long by 8-15 cm wide.<br />
The leaves taper towards the tip. The leaf stalk is 20<br />
cm long. The flowers are pea like and purple. They are<br />
2 cm long and produced in upright stalks. The clusters<br />
along the stalks are 25-40 cm long. The fruit are<br />
oblong pods 9 cm long and 1 cm wide. They are<br />
covered with dense rusty hairs. The tuber is shaped<br />
like a cassava root. It can be 60-90 cm long.<br />
Distribution: Wild forms grow between 30 and 1860 m in the tropics. Cultivated forms are<br />
more common in high altitude areas up to 2700 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. It grows in<br />
grassland and on the edge of forests. It suits hardiness zones 5-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is normally grown by stem cuttings. It grows slowly. <strong>Plants</strong> also grow self-sown<br />
from seed.<br />
Production: The time to maturity is 2-3 years. A tuberous root can be 35 kg weight.<br />
Use: The tuber is cooked and eaten. A kind of flour can also be made from the roots. This is<br />
processed into a thickener for sauces.<br />
The leaves, shoots and flowers can be used as a vegetable.<br />
In India the seeds are boiled and kept in a closed container for about seven days and then<br />
allowed to decompose. A drink is made from it.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
Roots 68.6 2.1 15 0.6<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
False rust Fungus Synchytrium minutum (Pat) Gaum<br />
Yellow mould Fungus Mycovellosiella puerariae D.Shaw & Deighton<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A minor root crop in Papua New Guinea. It is used as a reserve food and for<br />
ceremonies.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
38<br />
Names<br />
English: Yam bean Scientific name: Pachyrrhizus erosus (L.) Urban<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing bean that has hairy stems. It<br />
can grow up to 6 m tall. The stems are woody at the<br />
base. It has a white-fleshed tuber. It has a rough sandy<br />
coloured skin. The leaves are alternate and made up of<br />
3 leaflets. These leaflets have large teeth. The flowers<br />
are violet or white. The pod is 8-15 cm long, curved<br />
and hairy. The seeds are almost black. There are 8-11<br />
seeds and they are flattened.<br />
Distribution: It grows in warm places. It grows in<br />
coastal areas in Papua New Guinea and up to about 70<br />
m altitude in the tropics. A well-drained soil is needed.<br />
A light rich sandy soils is suitable. It cannot tolerate<br />
frost. <strong>Plants</strong> need 11-13 hours of daylight for tubers to<br />
form. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seeds and also grows wild. Seed should be presoaked for 12 hours<br />
in warm water to encourage rapid germination. Seed germinate within 2 weeks. <strong>Plants</strong> can be<br />
grown by dividing the root clump and then growing plants from the thickened roots. Cuttings<br />
will grow. A spacing of 50 cm between plants is suitable. Topping the plant by picking out the<br />
growing point and removing the flowers is supposed to help tubers form.<br />
Production: Tubers are ready about 6 months after sowing. Individual tubers can be up to 20 kg<br />
weight.<br />
Use: The young tuber is eaten either raw or cooked. It can also be pickled.<br />
The young pods can be eaten. (They must be well cooked.)<br />
Caution: Old pods and mature seeds can be poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tuber 89.0 160 1.0 0.6 2.0 20 0.2<br />
Seed 8.1 38.5<br />
Pods 86.0 189 2.6 1.3 345<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only occasionally seen in Papua New Guinea and mainly used by Asians.
39<br />
Names<br />
English: Queensland arrowroot Scientific name: Canna edulis Ker-Gawl.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cannaceae<br />
Description: A broad-leafed plant with purple leaf<br />
sheaths. It is about 1.5 to 2.5 m high. It grows as a<br />
perennial. The stems are in clusters. Flowers are red<br />
and produced at the top of the plant. The petals are<br />
small and red and 4-10 mm wide. The fruit is a 3celled<br />
capsule with black seeds. Underground it has a<br />
much-branched root or rhizome with fattened sections<br />
covered with leaf scars. These are often light red on the<br />
outside and yellowish white inside. A clump of 15-20<br />
suckers often develops. These starchy tubers are from<br />
6 cm across to 15 cm long. The shape varies.<br />
Distribution: It is grown and used in some of the<br />
coastal areas of the tropics and subtropics. It will grow<br />
from sea level up to 1600 m.<br />
In the Andes it grows between 1,000 and 2,500 m altitude. It needs a heavy fertile soil. It<br />
cannot stand strong winds. It does best with an evenly distributed rainfall. It cannot stand<br />
waterlogging. It can stand some shade. It needs to be in a frost free location. It does best where<br />
both days and nights are warm.<br />
Cultivation: The end section of the rhizome is planted. Well developed tubers with one or two<br />
undamaged buds should be used. A spacing of 1 m x 1 m is suitable. Tubers are planted about<br />
15 cm deep and need to be kept weed free during early growth. About 2.5 tons of tubers are<br />
required to plant a hectare. The tubers are dug from between 6 and 19 months. The tubers can<br />
be stored if cool and dry. For starch manufacture they need to be processed immediately.<br />
Production: Harvesting occurs after about 8 months. Parts of the underground root are<br />
harvested as needed. High yields of tops and rhizomes are possible. Up to 38 tons of rhizomes<br />
and 50 tons of tops have been achieved.<br />
Use: The rhizomes are eaten after cooking. They are boiled or baked. The leaves and rhizomes<br />
are used for animals. Starch can be extracted from the roots. This is achieved by rasping the<br />
tubers, then washing the starch out and straining out the fibres. The large starch grains are very<br />
digestible.<br />
The starch is used to make transparent noodles.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part % KJ g<br />
Rhizome 72.6 1.0<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Insects:<br />
Shot hole weevils Curculionidae (COL.) Oribius spp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is a starchy root crop of some importance in some coastal areas mainly on the<br />
Papuan side of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
40<br />
Names<br />
English: Jerusalem artichoke Scientific name: Helianthus tuberosus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Asteraceae<br />
Description: An upright perennial plant up to 1-2 m<br />
high and with a spread of 1 m. The stem is erect and<br />
unbranched. The leaves are dull green and sword<br />
shaped. The flowers are yellow and daisy like. It<br />
produces fleshy underground stem tubers of irregular<br />
shape. The skin of these tubers is very thin and often<br />
coloured yellow or red. The flesh is white. Tubers can<br />
be 10 cm long and 6 cm wide.<br />
Distribution: A temperate plant. <strong>Plants</strong> grow best<br />
when the temperature is 18° - 26°C and frost-free.<br />
They do best between 300 and 750 m altitude in the<br />
tropics. It needs light to medium well-drained soils.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> should be grown in an open sunny position. It is<br />
drought and frost resistant. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from vegetative setts. These can be dormant for 7 months before<br />
they will grow. The flowers on the plants are removed to increase the yield. <strong>Plants</strong> can be<br />
grown from seed. Tubers are often sweetest after a frost.<br />
Production: Harvesting can start after 3 months.<br />
Use: The tubers are eaten boiled or baked.<br />
They can be eaten raw in salads.<br />
(They are suitable for people with diabetes)<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Tubers 79.0 281 2.0 0.4 4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu & Kimbrough<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not commonly seen in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
41<br />
Names<br />
English: Oca, New Zealand yam Scientific name: Oxalis tuberosa Molina<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Oxalis crenata Jacq.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Oxalidaceae<br />
Description: A small annual herb up to 30 cm high<br />
with leaves of 3 leaflets. The stems are round and<br />
succulent. The leaves are spirally arranged. The<br />
flowers are orange-yellow. Three different kinds of<br />
flowers occur associated with three different kinds of<br />
tubers. The tubers have scales that cover long deep<br />
eyes. Tubers vary considerably in shape. The tubers<br />
are wrinkled and vary in colour between red, orange,<br />
yellow, or white. Some varieties have bitter tubers.<br />
They are about 5-8 cm long and 2-4 cm across. The<br />
plant rarely sets seed in the field but seed can be<br />
produced by self-pollinating. When seed form, they<br />
occur in 5-celled locules with 1-3 tiny seeds in each.<br />
Distribution: It mostly grows in the Andes from<br />
Colombia to Chile at between 3,500 and 3,800 m<br />
altitude. The plant is frost hardy. They grow in the<br />
high altitude tropics. (2,800 - 4,560 m in the Andes). In<br />
the hot lowlands, tubers perish quickly. In the hot<br />
tropical lowlands, tubers perish quickly. A daylength<br />
of 9 hours is best for tuber formation. Vegetative top<br />
growth occurs under long day lengths. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 7-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from tubers or cut pieces of tubers that contain 1-3 eyes. Planting<br />
is normally done at the beginning of the rainy season and plants are weeded and soil mounded<br />
around them. A spacing of 20-40 cm x 20-36 cm is recommended.<br />
Production: Tubers mature in about 8 months. Average yields in the Andes are about 3.7 t / ha.<br />
After digging tubers are cured in the sun for several days.<br />
Use: The tubers are acid when fresh but are dried slightly then cooked and eaten. The bitter<br />
kinds are freeze-dried and stored for later use. The young leaves and shoots can be eaten.<br />
Caution: Fresh tubers contain calcium oxalate.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part % KJ g<br />
Tubers<br />
Leaves<br />
84 1.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In the Andes people say, “Stew without chunu is like life without love!” It has<br />
only recently been introduced to Papua New Guinea to try it out.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
42<br />
Names<br />
English: Anu, Peruvian nasturtium, Scientific name: Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pav<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Tropaeolaceae<br />
Description: A climbing herb that climbs by twining<br />
around objects. It is grown each year from tubers. It<br />
can be 2-4 m high and spread 3 m wide. It does not<br />
have hairs. Stems are greenish red. Leaves have 5<br />
lobes. Leaves vary between 5-20 cm long. Tubers are<br />
yellowish green with purple marks. They are often<br />
deeply furrowed. Flowers are red and yellow. They<br />
are 3-4 cm across and cup shaped with a long spur.<br />
The plant sets seed easily. Tuber colour and shape<br />
varies between varieties<br />
Distribution: It grows in high altitude, cool, moist,<br />
tropical regions. The plants are tolerant of frost. It<br />
requires 12-hour days for successful cultivation. It can<br />
grow on poor soils. In South America plants grow<br />
from 3,000 to 4,000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones<br />
8-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from tubers. A spacing of 70 cm x 70 cm is suitable. It needs to<br />
be kept weed free and to have the earth hilled up around plants. <strong>Plants</strong> mature in about 7<br />
months. Because of its climbing pattern it can compete with weeds. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown<br />
from seed.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> mature in about 7 months. Tubers store satisfactorily. Tubers are often<br />
frozen or partially dried after harvest to improve the flavour. The average yield in Peru is about<br />
4 to 12 tonnes per hectare. Yields of up to 70 tonnes per hectare are possible. The plant growing<br />
time is 220 to 240 days in Peru.<br />
Use: Tubers are eaten boiled. They are often sweetened.<br />
They are cured in the sun then freeze dried then boiled like potatoes.<br />
They can be cooked then frozen.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part % KJ g<br />
Tubers 54.6 3.8<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It has only recently been introduced into Papua New Guinea to try it out. It is an<br />
important crop in the high Andes.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
43<br />
Names<br />
English: Ulluco Scientific name: Ullucus tuberosus Lozano<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Basellaceae/ Chenopodiaceae<br />
Description: A small herb with creeping pink stems. It<br />
is erect and compact. It puts up branches that can be<br />
30-50 cm high. The stems form roots where they touch<br />
the ground. At the end of its growth plants are lying<br />
along the ground. The leaves are broad and heart<br />
shaped. In some kinds the leaves have red spots or a<br />
reddish blue edge. Small tubers form on the ends of the<br />
roots. Often they are yellow but shape and colour vary<br />
with variety. Flowers are in the axils of leaves. They<br />
are small and star shaped. Seeds are occasionally<br />
produced in a triangular capsule. These seeds will<br />
grow after their dormancy period has passed (2-3<br />
months). Aerial tubers sometimes also occur. There<br />
are about 50-70 cultivars.<br />
Distribution: Tropical. It grows well in cool moist<br />
climates in the tropics. It will probably suit high<br />
altitude places. In the Andes it grows at altitudes of<br />
3,000-4,000 m. It can stand light frosts. It shows<br />
drought resistance and has low fertility demands. It<br />
gives low tuber yields under long day conditions.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from tubers. They can be grown from cuttings. Soil needs to be<br />
earthed up around the growing plant. A spacing of 60 to 80 cm between plants is suitable. Some<br />
plants have 3 sets of chromosomes and these must always be grown from tubers or cuttings.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> are often severely affected by viral diseases.<br />
Production: Tubers mature in about 4-6 months but can be 7-8 months.<br />
Use: The tubers are eaten. They are also dried and ground into flour.<br />
The leaves are edible cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Tubers<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: One variety has been introduced and is being tried out in Papua New Guinea. It is<br />
an important food plant in the Andes, especially Peru.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
44<br />
Names<br />
English: Banana, Plantain Scientific name: Musa sp (A &/or B genome) cv.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Often as Musa x paradisiaca<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Musaceae<br />
Description: These are the main group of cultivated<br />
bananas. They can be classed into diploid, triploid and<br />
tetraploid kinds with various amounts of the A or B<br />
parents. They are large non-woody herbs with broad<br />
long leaves. Most kinds have several suckers. Bananas<br />
grow a soft firm false stem from an underground corm.<br />
The fruiting stalk eventually emerges from the top of<br />
this false stem and normally curves over pointing<br />
towards the ground. Fruit occur in clumps or hands<br />
along this stem. The male flowers are in a red bud at<br />
the end of the flower stalk. The colour of the stem,<br />
bracts, bud and fruit varies considerably depending on<br />
the variety. The fruit can be 6-35 cm long depending<br />
on variety. They can also be 2.5-6 cm across.<br />
Distribution: They grow from sea level up to about 2000 m altitude in the tropics. They are<br />
rarely an important food above about 1600 m. In Nepal they grow to about 1800 m altitude.<br />
They do best in warm and humid tropical climates. Temperatures need to be above 15°C. The<br />
best temperature is 27°C. The maximum temperature is 38°C. Bananas grow best in full sun.<br />
For best growth, a rainfall of 200-220 mm per month is needed. A deep friable soil is best. They<br />
can tolerate a pH between 4.5-7.5. It suits hardines zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are planted from sword suckers. Diploids need re-planting annually but many<br />
triploids can be re-suckered from the base on the same site. Spacing depends on variety. A<br />
spacing of 1000-3000 plants per hectare is used depending on variety. Suckers are usually put<br />
30 cm deep.<br />
Production: Time to maturity varies from 6 to 18 months depending on variety and altitude.<br />
Triploids have larger bunches than diploids. Tetraploids are very large plants.<br />
Use: Fruit are eaten raw or cooked depending on variety.<br />
Male buds and flowers are eaten on some varieties. They are cooked as a vegetable.<br />
The central pith of the false stem and the underground rhizome are also sometimes eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Buds<br />
65.3 510 1.3 0.6 113 18.4 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Apiraculus cornutus (Pascoe) Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Bactrocera bryoniae (Try) Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Bactrocera musae (Try) Tephritidae (DIPT) Banana fruit fly<br />
Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) Curculionidae (COL) Banana weevil<br />
Dermolepida nigrum (Nonf) Scarabaeidae (COL) Chafer beetle<br />
Diacrisia papuana Roths Arctiidae (LEP)<br />
Eumossula gracilis Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut treehopper<br />
Heliothis armiger Hubner Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm
45<br />
Lema papuana Jac. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus) Acrididae (ORTH) Migratory locust<br />
Myospila argentata Walker Muscidae (DIPT)<br />
Nacoleia octasema (Meyrick) Pyralidae (LEP) Banana scab moth<br />
Opagona sp. Hieroxestidae (LEP)<br />
Oribius cruciatus Fst. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Oryctes rhinoceros (L) Scarabaeidae (COL) Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Othreis fullonica (Cl) Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Papuana huebneri Fairm. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetle<br />
Papuana laevipennis Arrow Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetle<br />
Papuana japenensis Arrow Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetle<br />
Papuana semistriata Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetle<br />
Papuana woodlarkiana (Montr.) Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetle<br />
Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq Aphididae (HOM) Banana aphid<br />
Scapanes australis-australis Boisd. Scarabaeidae (COL) Australian Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Scapanes australis-grossepunctatus Scarabaeidae (COL) New Guinea rhinoceros beetle<br />
Scopelodes nitens B.Bak Limocodidae (LEP)<br />
Segestidea defoliata Uvarov Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
Segestidea novaeguineae F.Willemse Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
Taenaris dimona Hew Amathusiidae (LEP)<br />
Taenaris myops kirschi Stgr. Amathusiidae (LEP) Banana butterfly<br />
Diseases:<br />
Armillaria corm rot Fungus Armillaria mellea (Vahl. ex Fr.) Krumer<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cladosporium musae<br />
Anthracnose of fruit Fungus Colletotrichum musae<br />
Cordana or diamond leaf spot Fungus Cordana musae (Zimm.) Hohnel<br />
Black spot Fungus Deightoniella torulosa Syd.) M.B.Ellis<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Haplobasidium musae<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Black leaf streak Fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis<br />
Sigatoka leaf spot Fungus Mycosphaerella musicola R Leach<br />
Black cross leaf spot Fungus Phyllachora musicola C Booth & D Shaw<br />
Freckle Fungus Guignardia musae<br />
Speckle Fungus Ramichloridium musae<br />
Banana rust Fungus Uredo musae Cummins<br />
Root rot Fungi Pythium splendens<br />
And Pythium vexans etc<br />
Stem end rot fruit Fungus Botryodiplodia theobromae<br />
Algal leaf spot Alga Cephaleuros virescens<br />
Infectious chlorosis Virus Cucumber mosaic virus<br />
Root knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita<br />
Burrowing nematode Nematode Radopholus similis<br />
Nematode Nematode Helicotylenchus multicinctus<br />
Pratylenchus sp.<br />
Rotylenchus sp.<br />
Bacterial corm rot Bacteria Erwinia chrysanthemi<br />
Stalk rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora carotovora<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The major food in many areas of the moist lowland tropics and an important<br />
supplement in most areas.
46<br />
Names<br />
English: Sago Scientific name: Metroxylon sagu Rottb.<br />
Tok pisin: Saksak Synonyms: Metroxylon rumphii (Willd.) C. Martius<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A clumping palm. It can grow up to 10 to<br />
70 m high with a fat trunk (50-75 cm across). A palm<br />
can have 18-24 leaves that are 5-7 m long. The leaflets<br />
can be up to 100 per leaf and 50-160 cm long by 3-6<br />
cm wide. After about 15 years the palm produces a<br />
large flower on top, then the palm dies. The flowering<br />
stalk can be 5-7 m long. The palm has suckers near the<br />
base. Some kinds have fertile seeds about 2-3 cm<br />
across on the flower. There is a complete range from<br />
very long thorns to short or no thorns on the leaf bases.<br />
Distribution: A high watertable is tolerated or required<br />
by the plant. Temporary flooding does not appear to<br />
affect the crop but permanently flooded sites do not<br />
appear to be suitable. Because of the site requirements<br />
sago is almost always on locally level ground. The<br />
level ground can be a broad flat basin or flood plain or<br />
a local depression or stream edge in more dissected<br />
terrain. Sago seedlings are hardly harmed, by one<br />
rather saline flooding, per fortnight.<br />
Sago seedlings can probably withstand a salinity of EC = 10mmho / cm. The maximum altitude<br />
is about 1200 m but the optimum is between sea level and 800 m. Sago palms grow well in wet<br />
conditions. It can tolerate saline or brackish water. It grows better in well drained than in poorly<br />
drained conditions. They are widely distributed in the central and southern Philippines. They<br />
also occur in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Suckers or seedlings are planted in fresh water swamps or along creeks. Once<br />
stands are established in swamps, they continue to re-grow from suckers. Plant clusters are<br />
thinned by removing some suckers. Some “seeds” will not grow but those that are fertile need to<br />
be planted as soon as they form because they loose their viability. Seeds germinate within 3<br />
weeks. To plant sago, the planting site near a creek or in a damp place, is first cleared of trees<br />
and rubbish. A sucker of a suitable variety is chosen from an old sago clump. A suitable sucker<br />
probably has fronds 3-4 m long and is about 1.5 years old. This is chopped through with an axe.<br />
The sucker is then simply taken to a new site and planted in a shallow hole 30 cm x 30 cm x 30<br />
cm. If several palms are being planted, they should be about 7 m apart. The optimum spacing is<br />
considered to be 275 clumps per hectare. To thin out a large group of suckers a small hole (10<br />
cm x 10 cm) is cut with an axe into the top of the trunk of a sucker that is not wanted. This hole<br />
lets the sago beetle in and the sago grubs that develop quickly kill out the sucker. They don't get<br />
into the main palm or other suckers unless a hole is made. After a few months when the sucker<br />
is seen to be dead it can be split open to provide a feed of sago grubs.<br />
Production: It takes 12 to 15 years for a sago palm to grow big enough to cut down. Palms in<br />
poor soil grow more slowly. Palms are ready to harvest after about 15 years. In swamps, about<br />
10 to 60 trunks are ready per hectare each year. An average processing rate is 2.2 kg/hr of<br />
starch.<br />
First the sago palm is cut down. Mostly this is men's work. Then the bark is split off the trunk<br />
for about one metre along its length. Normally this bark is carefully laid out at the sides propped<br />
up by logs so that it both makes a seat for the person to sit on and a mat for the shredded pith of<br />
the trunk to fall onto. Sago in the trunk of the palm is all mixed up with the fibres of the plant.
47<br />
So this pith has to be shredded up into small pieces and the starch is then washed out. Special<br />
tools are made for pounding up the trunk. They need to be light, strong and with a hard stone (or<br />
metal) head. In areas where sago is the main food, sago is women's work. The woman sing<br />
special songs while they work. In areas where sago is not the main food, both men and women<br />
pound sago. The shredded pith of the palm is put into the bowl made by the fronds and the starch<br />
is washed out by banging the pith with a stick and pouring water over it. The filtered starch is<br />
allowed to settle out in a bowl. It is then dried and taken home. It takes about one hour to pound<br />
enough sago, then wash out the starch, seive it and allow the starch to settle to give between 2<br />
and 3 kilograms of starch.<br />
Use: The bud can be eaten cooked.<br />
Sago starch can be processed from the pith. This is cooked and eaten.<br />
The sap can be collected for a drink that is called “tuba” in the Philippines.<br />
Sago grubs are often cultivated and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Starch<br />
Cabbage<br />
Grubs<br />
27 1197 0.2 0.7 0<br />
Insects:<br />
Agapophyta bipunctata Boisd. Pentatomidae (HEM.) A bug<br />
Oryctes centaurus Sternberg Scarabaeidae (COL) Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) Scarabaeidae (COL) Asiatic rhinoceros beetle<br />
Papuana spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Promecotheca papuana Csiki Hispidae (COL) Coconut leaf miner<br />
Rhabdoscelus obscurus Boisduval Curculionidae (COL) Cane weevil borer<br />
Rhynchophorus bilineatus (Montr.) Curculionidae (COL) Black palm weevils<br />
Rhynchophorus ferrugineous (Oliv.) Curculionidae (COL) Red palm weevils<br />
Rhynchophorus papuanus Kirsch Curculionidae (COL) Palm weevils<br />
Scapanes australis (Boisd.) Dynastidae (COL)<br />
Trochorhopalus strangulates Gyllenhal Curculionidae (COL.) A weevil<br />
Leptococcus metroxyli Reyne Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Borinquenia sp.<br />
Black mould on leaves Fungi Melanographium sp<br />
And Tripospermum sp.<br />
and Zygosporium gibbum (Sacc.Rousseau & E Bommer) S. Hughes<br />
Parallel sided leaf spot Fungus Sphaerulina sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus<br />
(Also several fungi isolated from processed sago)<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A very important staple food in several swampy coastal areas of Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
48<br />
Names<br />
English: Solomon’s sago Scientific name: Metroxylon salomonense (Warburg) Becc.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Metroxylon bougainvillense Becc.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A sago palm. It is a solitary palm with no<br />
suckers at the base. It can grow 17 m high. The trunk<br />
can be 1.3 m across. The crown is graceful with<br />
arching fronds. There can be spines on older palms.<br />
The leaves are long with wide leaflets along the stalk.<br />
They are dark green. The flower is produce at the top<br />
of the palm. The flower is very large and takes 15-20<br />
months for the flower to fully develop and produce<br />
seeds. The flower arrangement has branches that are<br />
spreading and drooping. The seeds are large (10 cm<br />
across). They are scaly and straw coloured. After<br />
another 2 years the palm gradually dies.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It grows in North<br />
Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea and the<br />
Solomon Islands. It grows in less swampy sites than<br />
sago. It needs fertile soils. It can grow up to 880 m<br />
altitude. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production: Time to maturity is 12-15 years. The palm is felled, the outer hull stripped off then<br />
the pith pounded and the starch extracted by washing in water and letting the starch settle out.<br />
Four men can cut, process and collect the starch from one palm in 4-5 hours. When a team do<br />
this work it is allocated amongst cutters, shredders, washers and packers.<br />
Use: The starch is extracted from the trunk and eaten cooked.<br />
The palm cabbage is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Starch<br />
Cabbage<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Insects:<br />
Probably similar to sago<br />
Diseases:<br />
Probably similar to sago<br />
Pests:<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, mostly in North Solomons province, the sago starch is used<br />
as a reserve food and for special functions.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
Beans and food legumes<br />
50<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Peanut Pinat Arachis hypogea 51<br />
Winged bean Asbin Psophocarpus tetragonolobus 53<br />
Lablab bean Lablab purpureus 56<br />
Yard long bean Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis 57<br />
Cowpea Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata 59<br />
Pigeon pea Cajanus cajan 61<br />
Soybean Glycine max 63<br />
Lima bean Phaseolus lunatus 65<br />
Common bean Bin Phaseolus vulgaris 66<br />
Pea Pi Pisum sativum 68<br />
Jack bean Canavalia ensiformis 70<br />
Sword bean Canavalia gladiata 71<br />
Mung bean Vigna mungo 72<br />
Green gram bean Vigna radiata 74<br />
Rice bean Vigna umbellata 75<br />
Scarlet runner bean Phaseolus coccineus subsp. coccineus 76<br />
Velvet bean Mucuna pruriens 77<br />
Velvet bean Mucuna pruriens var utilis 78<br />
D’Albertis creeper Mucuna albertissi 79<br />
Broad bean Vicia faba 80<br />
Guar bean Cyamopsis tetragonolobus 81<br />
Chickpea Cicer arietinum 82
51<br />
Names<br />
English: Peanut Scientific name: Arachis hypogea L.<br />
Tok pisin: Pinat Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A spreading bushy plant that grows up to<br />
about 40 cm high. Leaves are made up of 2 pairs of<br />
leaflets arranged opposite each other. Flowers are<br />
produced in the axils of leaves. Two main kinds occur.<br />
They are often called runner and bunch types. The<br />
runner kind has a vegetative or leafy branch between<br />
each fruiting branch and therefore produces a more<br />
spreading type of plant. This is called "Virginia"<br />
peanut. The pods have 2 dark brown seeds. The other<br />
kind produces fruiting branches in a sequence one after<br />
the other along the branches. These are called<br />
"Spanish-Valencia" types. They grow as a more<br />
upright plant and grow more quickly. They have<br />
lighter coloured leaves and the pods have 2 to 6 seeds<br />
that are often white. Virginia types have the flowers in<br />
alternate pairs.<br />
Spanish and Valencia types have several flower branches one after another along the stem. Pods<br />
are produced on long stalks that extend under the ground. The stalk or peg from the flower<br />
grows down into the soil and then produces the pod and seed under the ground. The flower<br />
needs to be no more than 18 cm from the soil for the seedpod to develop under ground.<br />
Distribution: Peanuts grow well from sea level up to about 1650 metres altitude in the<br />
equatorial tropics. They need a temperature of about 28°C and between 24°C and 33°C. The<br />
plants get killed by frost. They need a well drained soil and cannot stand waterlogging.<br />
Therefore they are often grown on raised garden beds. They do better in drier areas but need 300<br />
to 500 mm of rain during the growing season. Near harvest dry weather is needed. Short season<br />
cultivars are used in semi arid regions. It suits hardiness zones 8-12. Peanuts require soil with<br />
good levels of calcium or they produce empty pods. Adding gypsum will improve this. If the<br />
nutrient boron is short then flowers won't flower and fruit properly. Because peanuts are<br />
legumes, they have root nodule bacteria that can fix their own nitrogen and this means they can<br />
still give good yields in grassland soils where nitrogen is at a lower level<br />
Cultivation: The seeds or nuts are normally removed from the shell before planting and are<br />
sown 2 to 3 cm deep. The alternately branched or Virginia-type of peanuts have a dormancy<br />
period so that they must be stored before replanting. A suitable spacing is 10 cm between plants<br />
and 60 to 80 cm between rows. Often plants are grown in mixed cultures with other plants but<br />
where a pure stand is used up to 250,000 plants per hectare are used. The soil needs to be<br />
weeded and loose by the time the flowers are produced to allow the peg for the seedpods to<br />
penetrate the soil. Normally when the whole plant dies off the plant are ready to pull. They are<br />
left to dry in the sun for 3 or 4 days.<br />
Production: Flowering may commence in 30 days. It takes from 3.5 to 5 months till maturity.<br />
They are harvested when the top of the plants die. The whole plant is pulled out. Virginia<br />
peanuts have a longer growing season and the seeds need to be stored for a while before they<br />
will start to regrow. (30 days.)<br />
Use: The seeds can be eaten raw, or cooked. The young leaves are edible, cooked.<br />
Oil is extracted from the seeds and is edible. The remaining meal is also eaten.
52<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds fresh 45.0 1394 15.0 1.5 Tr 10<br />
Seeds dry<br />
Leaves<br />
4.5 2364 24.3 2.0 0 Tr 3.0<br />
Insects:<br />
Achaea janata (Linnaeus) Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao false looper<br />
Adoxophyes melichron Tortricidae (LEP) Leaf roller<br />
Alticus minutus Reut Miridae (HEM) Grass bug<br />
Alticus tibialis Reut Miridae (HEM) Grass bug<br />
Aphis craccivora Koch Aphididae (HEM) Cowpea aphid<br />
Apirocalus spp. Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Aulacophora spp. Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles<br />
Coccus longulus (Douglas) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealy bug<br />
Ectropis sabulosa Warr. Geometridae (LEP) Cacao looper<br />
Euborellia annulipes Lucas Labiduridae (DERM)<br />
Gryllotalpa africana Pal. Gryllotalpidae (ORTH) Mole crickets<br />
Homona coffearia Nietn. Tortricidae (LEP) Coffee leaf roller<br />
Lamprosema indica F. Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Lamprosema diemenalis (Guenee) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall Thripidae (THYS)<br />
Nysius epiensis China Lygaeidae (HEM)<br />
Orosius argentatus Evans Cicadellidae (HEM)<br />
Oxidus gacilis<br />
Papuana spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Philia femorata Walk. Pentatomidae (HEM.)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Spodoptera litura (Fab) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Diseases:<br />
Seedling death Fungus Aspergillus niger van Tieghem.<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
And Botryodiplodia theobromae<br />
Large leaf spot Fungus Leptosphaerulina trifolii<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungi Mycosphaerella arachidis Deighton<br />
And Mycosphaerella berkeleyi Jenkins<br />
Collar rot Fungus Phomopsis sp.<br />
Rust Fungus Puccinia arachidis Speg<br />
Root rot Fungus Pythium sp.<br />
And Rhizoctonia<br />
Blackening stems Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Bacterial wilt peanut Bacterium Pseudomonas solanacearum<br />
Mosaic Virus<br />
Leaf mottle Virus Marginal leaf chlorosis virus<br />
Mild mottle Virus Cowpea mild mottle virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A very popular snack food in all areas where it can be grown. Seeds are also sold.
53<br />
Names<br />
English: Winged bean Scientific name: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC<br />
Tok pisin: Asbin Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing perennial bean up to 3 or 4 m<br />
tall. It can regrow each year from the fattened roots.<br />
The stems twine around supports or trail over the<br />
ground. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalks are<br />
long. The leaflets are 8-15 cm long. The flowers are<br />
blue or white. They occur on the ends of branches from<br />
within the axils of leaves. Pods have wavy wings or are<br />
roughly square in cross section. They are 6-36 cm long<br />
with 5-30 seeds. Seeds can be white, yellow, brown or<br />
black. They are bedded in the solid tissues of the pod.<br />
The seeds are round smooth and brown with a small<br />
hilum. Nodules on the roots are many and large.<br />
Distribution: The bean grows from sea level up to<br />
about 1850 m altitude in the tropics. It normally only<br />
produces tubers between 1200 and 1850 m. Because of<br />
the effect of daylength is will not produce flowers or<br />
pods at places far removed from the equator. Winged<br />
bean is a short day plant. Winged bean is a plant<br />
ideally suited to the tropics including the hot humid<br />
lowlands.<br />
Papua New Guinea is a centre of diversity for winged beans and they are grown in many areas of<br />
the country. They can be seen from sea level up to about 2300 m altitude although they are less<br />
common above 1850 metres and normally only produce tubers between 1200 and 1850 m<br />
altitude. For maximum seed production winged beans need temperatures between 23°C and<br />
27°C and for tubers the temperatures should be between 18°C and 22°C. This means the main<br />
areas of production occur between 20°N and 10°S latitudes. Winged beans can grow on a wide<br />
variety of soils. Winged beans have been grown on soils with pH from 3.6 to 8.0. Soils that are<br />
very acid have soluble aluminium to which winged beans are sensitive. Soils should not be<br />
waterlogged. Winged beans are mostly self-pollinated but limited outcrossing has been reported.<br />
Hard seed coats have been reported from dried stored seed. The amount of vegetative growth<br />
increased with increasing pH from 4.7 to 5.5. Nitrogen percentage in tissues increased with pH<br />
from 4.7 to 6.2. Winged beans have been grown in soils with pH between 3.6 and 8.0. Winged<br />
bean is sensitive to aluminium in soil solution. <strong>Plants</strong> are intolerant of waterlogging. Flowering<br />
is reduced by low levels of sunlight. Shading improves pod length and seed number. Root knot<br />
nematode can cause severe damage in some places.<br />
Cultivation: Seeds are sown at the beginning of the rainy season. Seeds are planted 2-3 cm deep<br />
and about 25-35 cm apart. If seeds have been dried and stored then they can suffer from hard<br />
seed coats and this delays the germination of seeds. But normally seeds start to grow in about 15<br />
or 16 days. <strong>Plants</strong> grow slowly to start with, so weeding is important but then plants grow<br />
rapidly. After 46 to 92 days they are producing flowers. If fattened roots are important some of<br />
the leaves and flowers and tips are pruned off at this stage. These can be eaten. Pods develop 10<br />
to 13 weeks after planting and tubers occur 4-5 months after planting.<br />
For tubers, vines are pruned off at about 1 m high (or left unstaked) and some flowers are<br />
removed. Winged beans are grown for their edible roots, edible leaves, edible flowers, edible<br />
pods and edible seeds. The cultivation procedures vary slightly depending on which product is<br />
the preferred goal. The two main types of winged bean are short-podded ones that are used for
54<br />
tubers, and long podded ones that have poor tubers. Tuber production is poor in tropical lowland<br />
conditions.<br />
Production: The first green pods are ready about 10 weeks after sowing. Tubers are ready after<br />
4-8 months. Seed yields of 1.2 tons/ha and tuber yields of 4 tons/ha are possible. A single plant<br />
can produce up to 75 pods. Dry bean yields of 45 to 330 g per plant can be produced depending<br />
on variety. Tuber yields of 5500 to 12000 kg per hectare have been produced. Seeds can<br />
contain a trypsin inhibitor that reduces protein digestibility. This inhibitor is destroyed by<br />
soaking seeds then boiling them well. Tubers can also contain this chemical and need to be well<br />
cooked.<br />
Use: The young pods are edible.<br />
The ripe seeds are edible.<br />
The young leaves are edible.<br />
The flowers are edible.<br />
The root tubers are edible.<br />
The seeds can be used to extract an edible oil.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds 8.5 1764 41.9 15.0 Tr<br />
Pods 92.0 105 2.1<br />
Leaves 95.0 197 5.0 6.2 809 30 1.3<br />
Roots<br />
Flowers<br />
57.4 619 11.6 2.0 0 0 1.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Amblypelta spp. Coreidae (HEM) Amblypelta bugs<br />
Aphis craccivora Koch Aphididae (HEM) Cowpea aphid<br />
Aphis gossypii Glover Aphididae (HEM) Melon aphid<br />
Araecerus fasciculatus Degeer Anthribidae (COL)<br />
Araeocorynus cumingi Jekel Anthribidae (COL)<br />
Erythroneura sp. Cicadellidae (HEM)<br />
Euproctis sp. Lymantriidae (LEP)<br />
Hedylepta spp. Pyralidae (LEP)<br />
Homeoxipha fuscipennis Gryllidae (ORTH)<br />
Henosepilachna haemorrhoea (Biel) Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Lampides boeticus L. Lycaenidae (LEP) Pea Blue butterfly<br />
Lamprosema diemenalis (Guenee) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Lamprosema indica F. Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Leucoptera psophocarpella Brad. & Cart. Lyonetiidae (LEP) Winged bean blotch miner<br />
Maruca testulalis (Geyer) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean pod borer<br />
Mythimna loreyi (Dup.) Noctuidae (LEP) Rice armyworms<br />
Mythimna separata (Walk.) Noctuidae (LEP) Rice armyworms<br />
Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) Pentatomidae (HEM) Green Vegetable bug<br />
Nyctemera baulus Boisduval Arctiidae (LEP)<br />
Ophiomyia phaseoli (Try.) Agromyzidae (DIPT) Bean fly<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Phaneroptera brevis Aud.-Serv Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Grasshopper<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Prosoplus oblique plagiatus Breuning Cerambycidae (COL)<br />
Riptortus annulicornis Boisd. Coreidae (HEM)<br />
Ropica honesta Pascoe Cerambycidae (COL)
55<br />
Spodoptera litura Fab. Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Zizina otis (F.) Lycaenidae (LEP) Common grass blue butterfly<br />
Zygina sp. Cicadellidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Flower blight Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum<br />
Anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Didymella sp.<br />
Collar rot Fungi Macrophomina phaseolina<br />
And Fusarium spp.<br />
And Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Meliola erythrinae var. psophocarpi<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Erysiphe cichoracearum<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Pseudocercospora psophocarpi<br />
False rust Fungus Synchytrium psophocarpi Racib<br />
Leaf curl Possible virus<br />
Little leaf Possible mycoplasma like organism<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Winged bean is very important for tubers in the Eastern and Western Highlands of<br />
Papua New Guinea and moderately common for beans in other places.<br />
Winged bean – plant,<br />
pods, seeds, roots.
56<br />
Names<br />
English: Lablab bean Scientific name: Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Dolichos lablab L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing bean that can have vines 1-5 m<br />
long. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems can<br />
be smooth or hairy. Leaves are made up of 3 almost<br />
triangular leaflets. The leaflets are 5-15 cm long and 3-14<br />
cm wide. The side leaflets are somewhat asymmetrical.<br />
Often the plants are flushed purple. The flowering clusters<br />
are 5-20 cm long. Flowers are often white but can vary<br />
from red to blue. The pods are flattened, pointed and up to<br />
12 cm long and 2 cm wide. Inside there are 3-5 white or<br />
dark seeds. Seedpods have a wavy margin. The seeds are<br />
0.5-1.5 cm long. (This bean is similar to Lima bean but<br />
the keel of the flower in not spirally twisted, the pod ends<br />
more bluntly with a long thin style at the end and the<br />
hilum on the seed is longer.)<br />
Distribution: It mostly grows between 750 and 2175 m altitude in the tropics. It is drought<br />
resistant and can grow in quite low rainfall areas. In Nepal it grows to about 2500 m altitude. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: Seeds are sown at 30 x 60 cm spacing near stakes or trees. About 20 kg of seed per<br />
hectare are required. Fertilising with nitrogen and potash until flowering is recommended.<br />
Young pods are ready 4-6 months after planting and seeds 6-8 months. Pods are often harvested<br />
over 2 or 3 years. Pollination and seed setting are reduced in cold weather.<br />
Production: Young pods are ready 4-6 months after planting and seeds 6-8 months. Pods are<br />
often harvested over 2 or 3 years. Pollination and seed setting are reduced in cold weather.<br />
Use: The young pods, ripe seeds and young leaves are edible, cooked.<br />
The seeds can also be sprouted then crushed and cooked.<br />
Caution: Many types can be poisonous unless boiled and the cooking water thrown away.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seed young 86.9 209 3.0 0.8 14 5.1 0.4<br />
Seeds dry 10.0 1428 22.8 9.0 Tr<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
82.0 4.5 10.0 1.0<br />
Insects: and probably other bean insects<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Ascochyta dolichi Fragaso<br />
Angular leaf spot Fungus Cercospora canescens Ellis and Martin<br />
Tip wilt Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Small twisted leaves Probably virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A traditional bean common and quite widely used in some Highland areas of<br />
Papua New Guinea.
57<br />
Names<br />
English: Yard long bean, Snake bean Scientific name: Vigna unguiculata subsp.<br />
sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Vigna sesquipedalis (L.) Fruw.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing bean with long pods. The<br />
vines can be 3 m long. They normally twine around<br />
sticks. Dwarf kinds also occur. Leaves have 3 leaflets.<br />
The leaflets are oval and side leaflets are at an angle.<br />
Leaflets can be 2-16 cm long by 1-12 cm wide. The<br />
centre leaflet can have lobes near the base and the side<br />
leaflets can have lobes on the outer edge. The leaf<br />
stalks can be 2-13 cm long. The flowering stalks are in<br />
the axils of leaves. There can be few or several<br />
flowers. The flowers can be white, yellow or blue.<br />
Flowers are 1-3 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. Pods are<br />
long (up to 90 cm) and flexible. The seeds can vary<br />
between white to dark brown. They are oblong or<br />
kidney shaped. Seeds are 4-12 mm long by 2-6 mm<br />
wide.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> grow in coastal areas in the tropics<br />
from sea level up to about 300 m in equatorial regions.<br />
Seeds germinate in moist soil over 22°C. For growth,<br />
day temperatures between 25-35°C and night<br />
temperatures not below 15°C are required. It suits wet<br />
areas and cannot tolerate drought. <strong>Plants</strong> are day length<br />
neutral. They perform best under full sunlight but can<br />
tolerate some shade. It has a high water requirement<br />
for the full-grown crop (6-8 mm per day). It can<br />
tolerate a wide range of soils with pH of 5.5-7.5. Seeds<br />
show no dormancy.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seeds germinate quickly (2-3 days) and plants grow<br />
rapidly. Flowering occurs after 5 weeks and harvesting of young pods can start 2 weeks later.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> die after about 3-4 months. A spacing of 60 cm is suitable. <strong>Plants</strong> need sticks to climb<br />
up. Sticks about 2-2.5 m long are suitable. Often 5 or 6 seeds are sown around the one stick.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> are often topped when growing too vigorously. It only grows as an annual bean so seeds<br />
need to be replanted each year.<br />
Production: The pods need to be harvested every 2 or 3 days. Diseases get worse if the bean<br />
does not have sticks to climb. The damage by bean pod borer is less if snake beans are grown<br />
intercropped with maize.<br />
Use: Both the young pods and leaves are eaten.<br />
The ripe seeds can also be eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Pods<br />
Seeds<br />
Leaves<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
58<br />
Insects:<br />
Anticarsia irrorata F. Noctuidae (LEP.)<br />
Aphis craccivora Koch Aphididae (HEM) Cowpea aphid<br />
Cassena intermedia Jac. Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL.) Leaf beetles<br />
Cassena papuana (Jac.) Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL.) Leaf beetles<br />
Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.) Noctuidae (LEP) Green looper<br />
Coccus longulus (Douglas) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Miridae (HEM) Cacao mired<br />
Homona coffearia Nietn. Tortricidae (LEP) Coffee leaf roller<br />
Lampides boeticus L. Lycaenidae (LEP) Pea Blue butterfly or pod borer<br />
Lamprosema indica F. Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Lamprosema diemenalis Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
(Guenee)<br />
Maruca testulalis (Geyer) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean pod borer<br />
Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) Pentatomidae (HEM) Green Vegetable bug<br />
Ophiomyia phaseoli (Tryon.) Agromyzidae (DIPT) Bean fly<br />
Oribius spp. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Plautia brunneipennis Pentatomidae (HEM) Stink bug<br />
Riptortus spp. Coreidae (HEM) Pod sucking bug<br />
Saissetia coffeae (Walker) Coccidae (HEM) Coffee scale<br />
Zizina otis (F.) Lycaenidae (LEP) Common grass blue butterfly<br />
but often the damage is less than on other beans<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora canescens Ell. & Martin<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Sphaerotheca fuliginea<br />
Rust Fungus Uromyces appendiculatus<br />
Mosaic Virus Cowpea mosaic virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The most common and important bean in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.
59<br />
Names<br />
English: Cowpea Scientific name: Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (L.) Walp.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Vigna sinensis (Linn.) Savi ex Hassk.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A creeping bean type plant with straight<br />
firm pods. Both cover crop types (leafy) and grain<br />
types occur. There is a deep taproot and many<br />
branches occur from it in the surface of the soil. The<br />
root nodules are large and round. They can be 5 mm<br />
across. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The end leaflet can<br />
be 12-16 cm long. This leaflet is larger than the side<br />
leaflets. The side leaflets are assymetrical. The<br />
stipules at the base of the leaf are large and with spurs<br />
at their base. Flowers occur often in pairs on the end of<br />
long flowering shoots. This stalk can be 2 cm to 30 cm<br />
long. Only 2-4 flowers in each stalk produce pods.<br />
Flowers are white, yellow or blue. They are large and<br />
showy. The standard petal is 2-3 cm across. The pods<br />
are about 15 cm long. The seeds are white except for a<br />
dark scar.<br />
Distribution: It grows from sea level to 1800 metres altitude in the tropics. <strong>Plants</strong> can stand<br />
high temperatures. Some kinds can tolerate drought. They are sensitive to cold and killed by<br />
frost. They can grow on a range of soils providing they are well drained. They are a short day<br />
plant. They do well in the semiarid tropics.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seeds. Seed collection is easy. Seeds remain viable for several<br />
years if carefully stored. A seeding rate of about 20 kg per ha is suitable and seed are sometimes<br />
broadcast then thinned. Cowpeas mostly inbreed giving pure lines.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves, young pods and ripe seeds are all eaten.<br />
The seeds are also used for bean sprouts.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Pods 89.5 142 2.6 0.7 45 17.0 0.2<br />
Leaves 91.3 92 4.7 1.1 576 IU 18 0.2<br />
Seeds dry 11.2 1189 23.5 4.7 712 IU 35 0.3<br />
Seeds young 75.5 406 3.2 1.1 79 2.2 1.0<br />
Insects:<br />
Acrocercops caerulea Meyrick Gracillariidae (LEP.)<br />
Aphis craccivora Koch Aphididae (HEM) Cowpea aphid<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Signoret Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Dysdercus cingulatus (F.) Pyrrhocoridae (HEM) Red cotton bug<br />
Dysdercus sidae Montr. Pyrrhocoridae (HEM) Red cotton bug<br />
Epilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL.) Leaf eating beetle<br />
Euproctis sp nr fulvistriata Lymantriidae (LEP.)<br />
Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Heliothis armiger Hubn. Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
60<br />
Lampides boeticus L. Lycaenidae(LEP) Pea Blue butterfly<br />
Lamprosema indica F. Pyralidae(LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Lamprosema diemenalis (Guenee) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Maruca testulalis (Geyer) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean pod borer<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Saissetia neglecta De Lotto Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Spodoptera litura Fab. Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
and possibly some other bean insects<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Ascochyta phaseolarum<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora canescens<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Corynespora cassiicola<br />
Root rot Fungi Fusarium sp.<br />
and Athelia rolfsii<br />
Associated with leaf spot Fungus Periconia byssoides Pers. ex Schw.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phoma exigua<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Sphaerotheca fuliginea<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Rust Fungus Uromyces appendiculatus<br />
Mosaic Virus Cowpea mosaic virus<br />
Storage rot Fungus Botrydiplodia theobromae<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
It has become well accepted in some areas of Papua New Guinea. eg Baiyer River.
61<br />
Names<br />
English: Pigeon pea, Dhal Scientific name: Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: An upright perennial shrubby legume. It<br />
lives for 3-4 years. They can be up to about 4 m tall<br />
and spreads to 1.5 m wide. The stem is erect and<br />
branching. It has a bushy appearance. It has a strong<br />
deep taproot. The root nodules are round and<br />
sometimes lobed. Young stems are angled and hairy.<br />
A leaf consists of 3 leaflets. Leaflets are narrow and<br />
green with a silvery green underneath. Leaflet size can<br />
be 10 cm x 3 cm. The end leaflet is larger with a longer<br />
leaf stalk. Flowers are red and yellow. The large petal<br />
has red lines. They are pea shaped and on branched<br />
flower stalks which stick upwards in the axils of leaves.<br />
Pods are long, straight and narrow, often with 4-8<br />
seeds. The pods are slightly hairy. Pods are often 4-8<br />
cm long and have a beak at the end. Pods are<br />
constricted between the seeds. Many varieties of<br />
pigeon pea occur. Some are dwarf and daylength<br />
neutral. Seeds vary in shape, size and colour.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> require a tropical or subtropical climate. <strong>Plants</strong> grow from sea level up to<br />
about 1800 m in the tropics. They can tolerate drought and are suited to a drier climate. They<br />
can grow in places with less than 600 mm rainfall per year. They do less well in the wet tropics.<br />
It suffers in waterlogged soils and is damaged by frost. It can also tolerate heat. It will grow on<br />
poor soils. It cannot grow on salty soils. It grows to about 2000 m in Nepal. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seeds. It is best to sow seeds where the plants are to grow.<br />
Seeds normally germinate easily and well. Before sowing seed it helps to soak them in cold<br />
water for one day. Seeds store well if kept cool and dry. A spacing of 1.5 m x 1.5 m is suitable.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> can be cut back and allowed to regrow. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are fast growing. Pods are ready after 5 months. Mature seeds take about 8<br />
months. <strong>Plants</strong> will often live for 3-4 years. <strong>Plants</strong> are cross-pollinated by insects, or selfpollinated.<br />
Use: Young leaves, shoots and pods are eaten.<br />
Ripe seeds are also edible.<br />
Bean sprouts can be produced and eaten.<br />
Preparation of the seeds for dahl is somewhat complicated.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds dry 10.0 1449 19.5 15.0 55 Tr<br />
Seeds young<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
71.8 464 6.0 1.6 13 28.1 0.8
62<br />
Insects:<br />
Agapophyta viridula Blote Pentatomidae (HEM)<br />
Ceroplastes rubens Maskell Coccidae (HEM) Pink wax scale<br />
Clavigralloides acantharis Fabricius Coreidae (HEM)<br />
Coptosoma pygmaeum Mont. Pentatomidae (HEM)<br />
Depsages granulosa Guerin-Meneville Cerambycidae (COL)<br />
Dysmiccocus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealybug<br />
Heliothis armigera (Huebner) Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Icerya purchasi Maskell Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Lampides boeticus L. Lycaenidae (LEP) Pea Blue butterfly<br />
Lamprosema indica F. Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Lamprosema diemenalis (Guenee) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Maruca testulalis (Geyer) Pyralidae (LEP) Legume pod borer<br />
Mictis profana F. Coreidae (HEM) Crusader bug<br />
Phaneroptera brevis Aud.-Serv Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Platystomus wallacei Pascoe Anthribidae (COL)<br />
Polyomonatus boeticus (L) Lycaenidae (LEP)<br />
Pterolophia grisescens Pascoe Cerambycidae (COL.)<br />
Saissetia miranda (Cockerell & Parrott) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Steatococcus samaraius Morrison Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Zizina otis (F.) Lycaenidae (LEP) Common grass blue butterfly<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Mycovellosiella cajani (P.Henn) Rangel ex Trot.<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor<br />
On seeds Fungus Aspergillus niger<br />
and Chaetomium sp.<br />
and Curvularia lunata<br />
and Fusarium solani<br />
and Penicillium sp.<br />
and Nigrospora oryzae<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A crop being tried out in many villages in Papua New Guinea. It is very popular in<br />
many tropical countries especially India and Pakistan. In these countries they are eaten at almost<br />
every meal.
63<br />
Names<br />
English: Soybean Scientific name: Glycine max (L.) Merr<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A small erect bean up to 60 cm tall. It<br />
grows each year from seed. Straggling kinds can occur.<br />
Stems, leaves and pods are softly hairy. The leaves<br />
have 3 leaflets. The leaflets have stalks. Flowers are<br />
small and white or blue. They occur in groups in the<br />
axils of leaves. Pods have 2-4 seeds. The seeds can be<br />
yellow to black.<br />
Distribution: It suits lowland areas. It can be grown<br />
from sea level to 2000 m altitude. Many varieties will<br />
not flower in the tropics (short days). It needs fertile<br />
soil. The best soil acidity is pH 5.5 to 7.0. It is<br />
damaged by frost. In Nepal it grows to 1800 m<br />
altitude. It suits hardiness zones 7-8.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seed. Seeds need to be inoculated with bacteria before planting.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> need to be about 20 cm apart.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> flower about 8 weeks after sowing and pods mature about 16 weeks after<br />
sowing. Often plants are pulled up and hung up before threshing out the seed.<br />
Use: The young pods and ripe seeds are eaten. They are used for flour.<br />
Sometimes the young leaves are eaten.<br />
The seeds are also used for sprouts and for making cooking oil and soya sauce etc.<br />
Because soybean contains a trypsin inhibitor they should be cooked and even the sprouts should<br />
be lightly cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Pods<br />
Seeds dry 9.0 1701 33.7 6.1 55<br />
Seeds young 68.0 584 13.0 3.8 16 27 0.9<br />
Seed sprouts 79.5 339 8.5 1.3 1 8.3 1.0<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Acrocercops sp. Gracillariidae (LEP) Aibika leaf miner<br />
Adoxophyes sp. Tortricidae (LEP.) Leaf roller<br />
Alticus tibialis Reut Miridae (HEM) Grass bug<br />
Arsipoda tenimberensis Jacoby Chrysomelidae (COL) Black flea beetle<br />
Aulacophora spp. Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles<br />
Cassena intermedia Jac. Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL)<br />
Cassena papuana (Jac.) Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL)<br />
Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.) Noctuidae (LEP) Green looper<br />
Coelophora inaequalis F. Coccinellidae (HEM)<br />
Demonax collaris Pascoe Cerambycidae (COL)<br />
Dysmiccocus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealybug<br />
Halticus minutus Reuter Miridae (HEM) Flea hopper<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
64<br />
Hedylepta inaequalis F. Pyralidae (LEP)<br />
Henosepilachna haemorrhoea (Biel) Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Homona coffearia Nietn. Tortricidae (LEP) Coffee leaf roller<br />
Lamprosema diemenalis (Guenee) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Lamprosema indica F. Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Maruca testulalis (Geyer) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean pod borer<br />
Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall Thripidae (THYS)<br />
Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) Pentatomidae (HEM) Green Vegetable bug<br />
Ophiomyia phaseoli (Tryon) Agromyzidae (DIPT) Bean fly<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni) Diaspididae (HEM) White scale<br />
Rhinoscapha funebris Chev. Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Rhyparidella wauensis Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Riptortus spp. Coreidae (HEM) Pod sucking bug<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungi Ascochyta sp.<br />
And Cercospora canescens<br />
Rust Fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow<br />
Bacterial leaf spot Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris<br />
Leaf distortion Possibly virus<br />
Mosaic Possibly virus<br />
Yellow mosaic Virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: These beans can be found in small amounts in many places throughout the country<br />
of Papua New Guinea. Soybean is a major food plant in warm temperate and subtropical zones.
65<br />
Names<br />
English: Lima bean Scientific name: Phaseolus lunatus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A perennial climbing bean. It is often a tall<br />
vigorously climbing plant that can keep growing for some<br />
years. The leaves are slightly rounded at the base and<br />
pointed at the tip. The flower is white or yellow. The keel<br />
of the flower is twisted which helps tell the difference<br />
between this bean and Lablab bean. The pods are long (10<br />
cm), flattened and curved and have 3-4 seeds that are very<br />
variable in colour. The seeds are large. The seeds have a<br />
short round hilum where the seed is attached to the pod.<br />
The seeds also have lines going out from this point across<br />
the bean seed.<br />
Distribution: In the tropics it is common between 500 and<br />
2100 m altitude but grows to the limit of cultivation (2700<br />
m). For germination it must have a soil temperature above<br />
15.5°C and cannot withstand frost. In very hot weather<br />
seeds often do not set. It is sensitive to a pH less than 6.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seed. Coloured seeds are often hard to get to grow but white<br />
seeded kinds start growing easily. Sow 3-4 seeds in a hill and put a stick 2-3 m tall in the<br />
middle. Hills should be about 1 m apart. Seeds should be 2-4 cm deep.<br />
Production: Harvesting can begin after about 100 days. Dried beans can be stored for several<br />
months. Yields of 0.12 kg of seeds per square metre have been obtained.<br />
Use: The leaves, young pods and seeds are all eaten. The seeds are eaten fresh or after drying.<br />
They are also fried in oil. Dried beans are boiled or baked.<br />
The seeds are sometimes grown as bean sprouts then cooked and eaten.<br />
Caution: Some kinds have poison (hydrocyanic acid). The poison is destroyed by thorough<br />
cooking. As well the beans contain a protein inhibitor but this is destroyed by cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds dry 12.0 1407 19.8 5.6 Tr 0<br />
Seeds young<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
67.2 515 6.8 2.5 37 10.1 0.8<br />
Insects: Probably also other bean insects.<br />
Bean pod borer Maruca testulalis (Geyer)<br />
Diseases: Probably some other bean diseases as well.<br />
Rust Fungus Phakopsora vignae (Bres.) Arth.<br />
Concentric spots Fungus Phoma exigua<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A quite important and common bean in many highland areas of Papua New<br />
Guinea.
66<br />
Names<br />
English: Common bean Scientific name: Phaseolus vulgaris L.<br />
Tok pisin: Bin Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: This bean has very many varieties and<br />
varies a lot in details. Both short and climbing cultivars<br />
of this bean occur. It has a long taproot. Climbing<br />
forms can be 2-3 m tall. Bush types are 20-60 cm tall.<br />
The leaves are carried one after another along the stem<br />
and the leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalk has a<br />
groove on the top. The side leaflets are asymmetrical<br />
in shape. The leaflets can be 8-15 cm by 5-10 cm. The<br />
flowers are in the axils of leaves and have few flowers<br />
in a loose form. Flowers are white to purple and pods<br />
smooth. Pods are slender and 8-20 cm long by 1-1.5<br />
cm wide. The pods are straight or slightly curved and<br />
with a beak at the end. Pods often have 10-12 seeds<br />
that are kidney shaped and coloured.<br />
Distribution: A temperate plant. It mostly grows from<br />
700 m to 2000 m altitude in the tropics. In the<br />
lowlands it suffers from pest and disease but it can be<br />
grown to sea level. It is not suited to the wet tropics.<br />
In Nepal it grows up to 1200 m altitude. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed should preferably be planted on raised beds.<br />
Climbing types need stakes. <strong>Plants</strong> are self-fertilised. Seeds remain viable fro 2 years.<br />
Germination is normally good if seed have been well stored. In many places these beans are<br />
intercropped with other plants. If they are grown on their own, bush types can be spaced at 25<br />
cm by 25 cm. Or they can be put closer together in rows wider apart to make weeding and<br />
harvesting easier. For dried beans, once the pods are mature and turning yellow, the whole<br />
plants are pulled, then dried and threshed.<br />
Production: Dwarf kinds take 6-8 weeks to mature and climbing types take 10-12 weeks.<br />
Picking starts 2 weeks after flowering. Yields of dried beans of 1,200 kg per hectare are<br />
possible.<br />
Use: The young pods, leaves and mature seeds are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds dry 10.0 1386 25.0 8.0 10 1 2.8<br />
Seeds young 92.0 142 3.0 0.8 20 0.2<br />
Pods 88.0 151 2.5 1.4 750 27 0.2<br />
Seed sprouts<br />
Leaves<br />
90.7 121 4.2 0.8 0 38.7 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Arsipoda tenimberensis Jacoby Chrysomelidae (COL) Black flea beetle<br />
Atherigona orientalis Schiner Muscidae (DIPT) Shootfly<br />
Aulacophora spp. Olivier Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles
67<br />
Cassena intermedia Jac. Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL) Leaf beetles<br />
Cassena papuana (Jac.) Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL) Leaf beetles<br />
Colposcelis vignaphila Bryant Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Epilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating beetle<br />
Euricania villica Ricaniidae (HEM) Plant hopper<br />
Halticus minutus Reuter Miridae (HEM) Flea hopper<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Henosepilachna haemorrhoea (Biel) Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Hyposidra talaca (Wlk.) Geometridae (LEP)<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Maruca testulalis Pyralidae (LEP)<br />
Nezara viridula (L) Pentatomidae (HEM) Green vegetable bug<br />
Ophiomyia phaseoli (Tryon.) Agromyzidae (DIPT) Bean fly<br />
Riptortus spp. Coreidae (HEM) Pod sucking bug<br />
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
and other insects<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria tenuis<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Ascochyta phaseolarum<br />
Collar rots Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Grey mould Fungus Botryotinia fuckeliana<br />
Anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Mag.)<br />
Angular leaf spot Fungus Phaeoisariopsis griseola<br />
Leaf blight & collar rot Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk.<br />
Leaf spots Fungi Cercospora canescens<br />
(on old leaves) and Cladosporium oxysporum<br />
and Corynespora casiicola<br />
and Periconia byssoides<br />
Floury white mould Fungus Mycovellosiella phaseoli (Drummond) Deighton<br />
Rust Fungus Uromyces appendiculatus (Pers.) Unger<br />
Mosaic Virus Bean common mosaic virus ?<br />
Bacterial blight Bacteria Xanthomonas phaseolin<br />
On seeds Fungus Aspergillus sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Of considerable importance at high altitude locations in the tropics.
68<br />
Names<br />
English: Pea Scientific name: Pisum sativum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A short-lived plant. It is a creeping plant<br />
with white or pink flowers. <strong>Plants</strong> can be 30 cm to 150<br />
cm tall. It has a well-developed taproot and many<br />
slender side roots. The stem is weak and round.<br />
Leaves are made up of 1-3 pairs of leaflets and a<br />
branched tendril at the end. There are large leaf-like<br />
stipules at the base of the leaf. The lower half of these<br />
stipules has teeth. The flowers occur in the axils of<br />
leaves and are either on their own or in 2-3 flowered<br />
clusters with equal length stalks. The pods are swollen<br />
and green and can have up to 10 seeds inside. Seed<br />
shape can vary. Large numbers of varieties have been<br />
recorded.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> grow best at altitudes over 1000 m<br />
in the tropics. They suit a humid climate. Hot dry<br />
weather interferes with seed setting. They are frost<br />
tolerant except at flowering. It is a temperate plant and<br />
needs temperatures of 13°C to 18°C. They need a pH<br />
of 5.5-6.5 and reasonably good fertility. They cannot<br />
tolerate waterlogging or very acid soils. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 7-9.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed can be collected for re-sowing. A spacing about<br />
5 cm apart in rows 25 cm apart is suitable. Seed can be 3-5 cm deep. If rotting is a problem,<br />
plants can be supported off the ground. <strong>Plants</strong> need inoculation with bacteria for good<br />
production. For dried peas plants are cut when mature then dried and threshed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: Mostly the young seeds are eaten. They can be eaten raw or cooked.<br />
Sometimes the young pods and leaves are eaten.<br />
The young leaves and buds are cooked as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
78.5 223 5.0 1.2 300 15 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Adoxophyes melichron Tortricidae (LEP) Leaf roller<br />
Cassena intermedia Jac. Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL) Leaf beetles<br />
Cassena papuana (Jac.) Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL.) Leaf beetles<br />
Heliothis armigera (Huebner) Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Homona coffearia Nietn. Tortricidae (LEP) Coffee leaf roller<br />
Lampides boeticus L. Lycaenidae (LEP) Pea blue butterfly<br />
Lamprosema diemenalis (Guenee) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers
69<br />
Lamprosema indica F. Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf rollers<br />
Lyriomyza brassicae (Riley) Agromyzidae (DIPT) Cabbage leaf miner<br />
Phaneroptera brevis Aud.-Serv Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
Riptortus spp. Coreidae (HEM) Pod sucking bug<br />
Spodoptera exempta (Walker) Noctuidae(LEP) African armyworm<br />
Spodoptera litura (Fab) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Tetranychus marianae McGregor Tetranychidae ACARINA Red spider mite<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Mycosphaerella pinodes (Berk & Blex) Vest.<br />
Brown mould Fungus Fulvia fulvum<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Mosaic Probably virus<br />
Dry rot seeds Fungus Penicillium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Gaining importance in some highlands areas in the tropics.
70<br />
Names<br />
English: Jack bean Scientific name: Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A perennial climber, although short kinds do<br />
occur. Often it is a more bushy plant than the sword bean.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> grow up to 1.5 m long. Stems can be hairy. Leaves<br />
have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are oval and 5.7-20 cm long by<br />
3.2-11.5 cm wide. The leaf tends to be wedge shaped at the<br />
base. The leaf stalks are 2.5-11 cm long. Flowers are<br />
red/purple. They occur on flower clusters 5-12 cm long and<br />
with flower cluster stalks that are 10-34 cm long. The<br />
individual flower stalks are 2-5 mm long. Pods are long and<br />
sword shaped. Pods can be 15-35 cm long. Seeds are white<br />
with a light brown hilum half as long as the seed. Seeds are 2<br />
cm long, by 1 cm across.<br />
Distribution: It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It<br />
requires a fairly high temperature (15°-30°C). It will<br />
possibly grow up to 900 m altitude. It is fairly drought<br />
resistant and also has some resistance to water-logging and<br />
salt in the soil. It can tolerate shade. It can tolerate pH from<br />
4.5 - 8.0 but does best at about 6.1. The optimum mean<br />
annual temperature is 14.4°-27.8°C.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seeds. Seeds need to be 2 cm deep. A spacing of about 60 cm is<br />
suitable. <strong>Plants</strong> preferably need a support to climb over. It benefits from a fertile soil but adding<br />
nitrogen depresses yield.<br />
Production: Green pods are produced in 3-4 months, but ripe seeds need 6-9 months. Yield of<br />
seeds can range from 700 to 5,400 kg / ha.<br />
Use: The leaves and top shoots are eaten.<br />
The young pods are eaten.<br />
The flowers can be eaten.<br />
The young and ripe seeds are eaten.<br />
Caution: The ripe seeds can contain poison and need to be well cooked and the water changed<br />
before eating. They are also often left under running water or fermented.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Pods 88.0 155 2.4<br />
Seeds 10.0 1423 20.4 4.9 160 0<br />
Flowers<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaves small & distorted Probably virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is being accepted and grown in some coastal and mid altitude areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
71<br />
Names<br />
English: Sword bean Scientific name: Canavalia gladiata (Jacq) DC<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing or sometimes a bushy and<br />
upright bean plant. Mostly it is a climber. It can be 4 m<br />
long. The leaves have 3 large leaflets. The leaflets are<br />
oval and 7.5-20 cm long by 5-12 cm wide. The top of the<br />
leaf can narrow abruptly to a tip while the base can be<br />
rounded or broadly wedge shaped. The leaves are slightly<br />
hairy on both surfaces. The leaf stalk is 5-12 cm long.<br />
The flowers are in groups and are white. The flower<br />
cluster is 7-12 cm long and the flower cluster stalk 4-20<br />
cm long. The individual flower stalks are 2 mm long. The<br />
pods are long (20-40 cm) and curved. Seeds are coloured<br />
red or pink. The hilum is dark brown and almost as long<br />
as the seed.<br />
Distribution: It requires a tropical climate. Temperatures<br />
of 20-30°C suit it well and it grows from sea level to about<br />
1000 m altitude in equatorial zones. They are drought and<br />
salt resistant. They can grow on lowland tropical nutrient<br />
depleted soils. They can grow on soils with pH from 4.5-<br />
7.0. They can tolerate some shade.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seeds. Seeds germinate readily and the plant is relatively fast<br />
growing. Seeds can be sown 5 cm deep. <strong>Plants</strong> should be 60-70 cm apart. Climbing types need<br />
support. Often natural supports such as trees, walls and fences are used in backyard production.<br />
For large scale production 25-40 kg/ha of seed are needed.<br />
Production: Green seeds/pods are produced in 3-4 months and mature seeds in 5-10 months.<br />
Seed yields of 700-900 kg/ha are possible. Green pods are hand picked when 10-15 cm long<br />
before they swell and become fibrous.<br />
Use: Young pods are cooked and eaten.<br />
Seeds can be cooked and eaten, but the water should be changed.<br />
Caution: The seeds can be poisonous due to hydrocyanic acid and saponin.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Pods 89.0 142 2.8<br />
Seeds 15.0 1335 27.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only occasionally grown.<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
72<br />
Names<br />
English: Mung bean Scientific name: Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Phaseolus mungo L. non Roxb.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A small annual bean with hairy pods. It is<br />
an erect herb 20-80 cm tall. Sometimes the stems are<br />
twining. The stems have dense yellow or rusty hairs.<br />
Leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are oval and 3-10<br />
cm long by 1-5.5 cm wide. The leaf stalks are long but<br />
the leaflets stalks are short. Flowers are yellow. They<br />
are 1-2 cm long in dense flower clusters. The fruit is a<br />
pod 4-7 cm long. They are 5-6 mm wide. Seeds are<br />
small and black. There are 4 to 10 seeds per pod.<br />
Seeds are 4-4.5 mm long by 4 mm wide. They have<br />
square ends.<br />
Distribution: Mainly coastal but probably will grow up<br />
to 1800 m altitude in the tropics. It suits dry areas. It is<br />
drought resistant. It is grown in areas with rainfall of<br />
900 mm per year. It cannot stand frost or long periods<br />
of cloud. It is not suited to the wet tropics. In Nepal<br />
they grow to 2000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones<br />
10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seed. Seed collection is easy. Seed can be broadcast or sown as<br />
individual plants 25 cm apart.<br />
Production: Flowering commences after 6 weeks. <strong>Plants</strong> are self-pollinated. Pods are ready to<br />
harvest 2 to 4 months after planting. Pods shatter easily. It is easiest to pull the whole plant, dry<br />
them for a week then thresh out the seeds. Seed yields of 450-560 kg per hectare after 80 - 120<br />
days are common. 100 seeds weigh about 4 g.<br />
Use: The ripe seeds are eaten. They are mostly eaten as dahl in India. They are fried and roasted<br />
and eaten as a snack.<br />
The young pods and young leaves are also edible.<br />
The beans are also used for bean sprouts.<br />
The seeds are used in lentil soup, parched and ground into flour for porridge, or baked into<br />
bread.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds dry 12.0 981 22.0 8.0 24 Tr<br />
Seeds young<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
93.4 88 2.0 0.7 1 11.4 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Alticus tibialis Reut Miridae (HEM) Grass bug<br />
Amblypelta spp. Coreidae (HEM) Tip wilt bug<br />
Anticarsia irrorata F. Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Aphis craccivora Koch Aphididae (HEM) Cowpea aphid<br />
Apirokcalus spp. Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil
73<br />
Aulacophora similis Olivier Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles<br />
Cassena intermedia Jac. Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL) Leaf beetles<br />
Cassena papuana (Jac.) Chrysomelidae/Galerucidae (COL) Leaf beetles<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybirds<br />
Henosepilachna haemorrhoea (Biel) Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybirds<br />
Homona coffearia Nietn. Tortricidae (LEP) Coffee leaf roller<br />
Lampides boeticus L. Lycaenidae (LEP) Pea blue butterfly<br />
Lamprosema diemenalis (Guenee) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf roller<br />
Lamprosema indica F. Pyralidae (LEP) Bean leaf roller<br />
Maruca testulalis (Geyer) Pyralidae (LEP) Bean pod borer<br />
Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall Thripidae (THYS)<br />
Melacanthus argineguttatus Alydidae (HEM)<br />
Monolepta semiviolacea Fauvel Chrysomelidae (COL) Beetles<br />
Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) Pentatomidae (HEM) Green vegetable bug<br />
Ophiomyia phaseoli (Tryon.) Agromyzidae (DIPT) Bean fly<br />
Oribius spp. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Piezodorus rubrofasciatus Fab. Pentatomidae (HEM)<br />
Rhyparida coriacea Jac. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Rhyparidella wauensis Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Riptortus spp. Coreidae (HEM) Pod sucking bug<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phoma exigua<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Myrothecium roridum Tode ex Fr.<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Mosaic Virus<br />
Root knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is being encouraged and grown in a number of coastal areas in Papua New<br />
Guinea. It is a very important crop in India for dahl and porridge.
74<br />
Names<br />
English: Green gram bean Scientific name: Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Phaseolus aureus Roxb.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: An upright hairy bean plant that can grow<br />
to 1 m tall. It has many branches. The leaves have 3<br />
leaflets and are dark green. The leaves are on long leaf<br />
stalks. There are oval stipules at the base of the leaf.<br />
Flowers are pale yellow and small. They occur in<br />
bunches of 10-20 on the ends of long hairy flower<br />
stalks. Pods are black and straight. They do not have a<br />
beak. Pods contain 10-20 seeds that are usually green<br />
or golden yellow. They are smaller than black gram.<br />
The beans can be black. They have a flat white hilum.<br />
There are 2,000 varieties.<br />
Distribution: The plant will grow from sea level up to<br />
probably 2000 m in the tropics. It is drought resistant<br />
but can't stand water-logging. <strong>Plants</strong> are damaged by<br />
frost. They cannot stand salinity.<br />
Rainfall at flowering is detrimental. It requires a deep soil. Both short day and long day kinds<br />
occur. It can grow where annual temperatures are from 8°C to 28°C. It can tolerate a pH from<br />
4.3-8.1. In Nepal it grows up to 1000 m altitude. It suits a drier climate. It suits hardiness zones<br />
10-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. In some areas these are broadcast while for small plots<br />
often 2-3 seeds are sown in holes 50-60 cm apart. Seeding rates of 6 to 22 kg per ha are used in<br />
different locations. It normally requires phosphorus fertiliser for adequate growth. Seeds<br />
germinate in 3-5 days.<br />
Production: Green pods are ready after about 2 months and ripe pods may take another 1-2<br />
months. For ripe beans the whole plant is harvested and dried before threshing. Yields of 450-<br />
560 kg/ha of seeds are common.<br />
Use: Seeds are eaten ripe. They are eaten raw or roasted. The seeds can be germinated for<br />
sprouts. Young pods can be eaten. Young leaves can be eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Seeds 11.0 1432 22.9 7.1 55 4<br />
Seed sprouts 90.4 126 3.0 0.9 2 13.2 0.4<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects: Probably similar to other beans<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora canescens<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium sp.<br />
Yellow mosaic Possibly virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not widely grown in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
75<br />
Names<br />
English: Rice bean Scientific name: Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi & Ohashi<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Phaseolus calcaratus Roxb.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing bean plant with a slender hairy<br />
vine. It is twining and an annual plant. It grows from<br />
seed each year. It grows to 1.5-3 m long. Stems are hairy.<br />
Leaves have 3 leaflets that can vary in shape. They are<br />
mostly oval and 3-13 cm long by 1.5-7 cm wide. They<br />
taper towards the tip and are rounded at the base. Usually<br />
they are hairy. The leaf stalks are 3-16 cm long. Flowers<br />
are about 1.5 cm long in dense cone shaped clusters.<br />
These flowering stalks can be 3-10 cm long. The flowers<br />
are yellow. The fruit are straight pods about 10 cm long<br />
and 5 mm wide. Seeds are small (5-8 mm long) and<br />
yellow to brown. The pods split open easily. The seeds<br />
can be yellow, green, brown, red, black or mottled.<br />
Distribution: It grows from 0-1800 m altitude in the tropics. It suits wet climates. It<br />
occasionally becomes self sown in coastal grasslands. It needs a sunny potected position. They<br />
are drought and frost tender.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown by seeds. Seed collection is easy. Seeds often have a hard skin that<br />
must be broken (eg by scraping) before seeds will germinate easily.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young pods and ripe seeds are eaten. The young leaves can be eaten.<br />
The seeds are used in bean sprouts. (Seeds should be cooked or crushed if fed to pigs.)<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron<br />
part<br />
Pods<br />
% KJ g mg mg<br />
Seeds<br />
Leaves<br />
13.0 1373 20.9 10.9<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Bean pod borer Maruca testulalis Geyer (LEP)<br />
Ladybird Epilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (HEM)<br />
Green vegetable bug Nezara viridula L. Pentatomidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Blossom blight Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. & Rav.) Thaxter<br />
False rust Fungus Synchytrium phaseoli Weston<br />
Rust Fungus Uromyces sp.<br />
Mosaic Probably due to a virus<br />
On seeds Fungus Aspergillus niger<br />
and Penicillium sp<br />
and Periconia byssoides<br />
and Rhizopus nigricans<br />
and Verticillium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Seen occasionally in several areas in Papua New Guinea but only of minor<br />
importance as a food.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
76<br />
Names<br />
English: Scarlet runner bean Scientific name: Phaseolus coccineus subsp. coccineus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Phaseolus multiflorus Lam.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing bean. The stems are often<br />
hairy. It grows 1.8-2.4 m high. It can spread 1.8-2.4 m<br />
wide. It twines around a trellis. The leaves are<br />
compound and have three leaflets. The flowers are<br />
bright red. They are in clusters 2.5 cm long. The pods<br />
are long (30 cm) and with a wavy edge. The seeds are<br />
large and can be several different colours. It sometimes<br />
has a root tuber.<br />
Distribution: It is grown in the highlands in the tropics.<br />
On the coast seedlings die and pods are not formed. It<br />
is damaged by frost. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seeds. Seed are planted 2.5 cm deep. <strong>Plants</strong> are spaced 20 cm<br />
apart. It needs sticks to climb up. It can be allowed to re-grow from the tubers or the tubers replanted.<br />
Production: It grows quickly.<br />
Use: The very young pods can be eaten.<br />
The seeds are edible.<br />
The tubers can be eaten after they are cooked and the cooking water thrown away.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seeds<br />
Pods<br />
Tubers<br />
12.0 1419 20.3 9.0 Tr 7<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only occasionally grown in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
77<br />
Names<br />
English: Velvet bean Scientific name: Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Stizolobium pruriens (L.) Medic<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen vine. It climbs to 6 m high.<br />
It can regrow each year or live for a few years. The<br />
stems are slender with long, slender branches. They are<br />
very hairy when young. The leaves are alternate with<br />
sword shaped leaves. The leaf stalks are hairy. There<br />
are 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 5-19 cm long and 4-16<br />
cm wide. The leaflets are rounded at the base and the<br />
side leaflets are unequal in shape. The flowers are<br />
large and white with bluish butterfly shaped petals.<br />
They occur in clusters of 2 or 3. The flowers are 2-4<br />
cm long. The fruit are thick, leathery pods covered<br />
with hairs. They are 10 cm long and contain 4-6 seeds.<br />
The pods are dark brown.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It does best in a<br />
rich, moist, well-drained soil. It needs a protected,<br />
sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost.<br />
They need a temperature above 8°C.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. The seed need treatment to assist them to germinate.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The pods are burnt over a fire to remove the prickles then the beans are soaked until they<br />
sprout and then washed and boiled or pounded.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seeds 7.29 29.3 4.8<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is a common plantation cover crop and is probably rarely used as food.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
78<br />
Names<br />
English: Velvet bean Scientific name: Mucuna pruriens var utilis<br />
(L.)DC, (Wall.ex Wight) Baker ex Burck<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Mucuna utilis Wall. ex Wight<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing bean with vines 2-3 m long.<br />
The stems are slender and twining. The leaves have 3<br />
leaflets. Leaves are hairy when young but without hairs<br />
when older. Leaflets are about 10-18 cm long x 8-15<br />
cm wide. Leaves are dark green above and paler<br />
underneath. Flowers are purplish. Pods are 9-14 cm<br />
long, hard, curved and covered with soft hairs. There<br />
are 4-6 white seeds inside.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. A bean of low altitudes.<br />
The wild species is used as a cover crop in coconut<br />
plantations. It needs a sunny pocation.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves, young pods and ripe seeds are edible cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown and used occasionally in some coastal areas of Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
79<br />
Names<br />
English: D'Albertis creeper Scientific name: Mucuna albertissi F.v.M.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A climbing legume. It grows 5-20 m<br />
long. It has a brown rusty appearance and short hairs<br />
on the stem and leaves. The leaf stalk is 3.5-10 cm<br />
long. The leaves are compound. The leaflets are 6-16<br />
cm long by 6-13 cm wide. They taper at the tip.<br />
Normally there are a clump of white or yellow flowers<br />
together. They are on a stalk 7-25 cm long. This stalk<br />
zigzags. The flower stalks are 2 cm long. The pod has<br />
wings along the edge and sides. The pod is 6-11 cm<br />
long. The seeds can be black or grey. They are 1.7 cm<br />
long by 1.4 cm wide. The hilum is black.<br />
Distribution: It grows in rainforest and bush from near<br />
sea level to over 2000 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seeds are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, a minor wild edible plant. It is eaten at least in the Mendi<br />
area.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
80<br />
Names<br />
English: Broad bean Scientific name: Vicia faba<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: An upright plant up to 1 m tall. <strong>Plants</strong> vary<br />
in height from 30 cm to 180 cm. It has a well developed<br />
taproot. It has square stems which are hollow. They have<br />
wings at the angles. There can be 1-7 branches from near<br />
the base of the plant. The leaves have leaflets along the<br />
leaf stalk and ending in a short point. There are 2-6<br />
leaflets. These are 5-10 cm long. Flowers occur in the<br />
axils of leaves and there are 1-6 flowers on a stalk. The<br />
flowers are white with black spots. Pods are large and fat<br />
and contain several large beans inside. The pods are 5-10<br />
cm long in field varieties and can be 30 cm long in garden<br />
varieties. They are fleshy with a white velvety lining.<br />
They become tough and hard at maturity. The seeds can<br />
vary a lot in shape and size. They can be flat or rounded<br />
and white, green, brown, purple or black. They are 1-2.6<br />
cm long. The hilum along the seeds is prominent.<br />
Distribution: A temperate plant only suitable for the highlands over about 1200 m. in the<br />
tropics. It mainly occurs between 1900 - 2700 m altitude in equatorial zones. It is frost tolerant.<br />
In the lowland hot tropics it often flowers but does not set seed. It requires fertile soils. It does<br />
best with adequate lime. In Nepal they grow to 1800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.<br />
Cultivation: The crop is grown from seed. Seeds are sown at 15 to 40 cm spacing. If the seed<br />
pod formation is poor, it can be improved by pinching out the tops of the plants when in flower.<br />
Hand pollination also helps. <strong>Plants</strong> are self pollinated but also cross pollinated by insects.<br />
Production: Time to maturity is 12-16 weeks. Yields in the cool tropics vary between 1 and 2<br />
tons per hectare.<br />
Use: It is mostly the young beans that are eaten. The ripe beans and leaves are also edible.<br />
The tender pods are eaten as a vegetable. The beans should be well cooked.<br />
Caution: Some people, mainly of Mediterranean origin can get a disease called Favism from<br />
these beans. Also they can react with some people using some antidepressant drugs.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seed<br />
Leaves<br />
Pods<br />
83.7 259 4.8 1.5 27 20 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Leaf spot Fungi Ascochyta sp. & Cladosporium sp.<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Epicoccum sp.<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Fusarium sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phoma sp.<br />
Rust Fungus Uromyces viciae-fabae<br />
Importance: Moderately common in some highland areas of Papua New Guinea but does not<br />
produce well. It is a major crop in China.
81<br />
Names<br />
English: Guar bean Scientific name: Cyamopsis tetragonolobus (L.) Taub<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: An upright bushy plant often only 1 m<br />
high. Some kinds grow 3 m high. The branches are<br />
stiff and usually with white hairs. The branches stick<br />
upwards and are angled and with grooves. The leaves<br />
are produced alternately and have 3 leaflets. The<br />
leaflets are oval and with slight saw teeth around the<br />
edge. The leaf stalks have grooves. The flowers are<br />
small in clusters in the axils of leaves. The flowers are<br />
white with pink wings. It produces clusters of thick<br />
fleshy pods. They are stiff and straight. There is a<br />
double ridge along the top of the pod and a single one<br />
below. There are also 2 ridges along the flat sides.<br />
The pods have a beak at the end. There are 8-10 small<br />
oval seeds inside.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It is a hardy drought<br />
resistant plant. It suits dry areas. It grows well on<br />
alluvial and sandy soils.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seed. Often they are grown in mixed cropping situations.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> mature in 3 to 3.5 months.<br />
Use: The green immature pods are eaten cooked.<br />
The seeds contain a gum used as a thickening agent.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Pods 82.0 3.7 5.8 198 49<br />
Seeds 11.8 29.8<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: This bean has only been tried in small trial plots in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
82<br />
Names<br />
English: Chickpea, Scientific name: Cicer arietinum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: An annual legume. <strong>Plants</strong> are 40-60 cm high<br />
and all parts are hairy. It is erect with many branches.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> are often bluish green in colour. <strong>Plants</strong> have a<br />
strong taproot. The root carries many nodules. The leaves<br />
are 5 cm long. It has leaves made up of 9-15 pairs of<br />
leaflets along a stalk and a single leaflet at the end. The<br />
leaflets are 1-2 cm long by 0.3-1.4 cm wide and strongly<br />
pointed and with a saw toothed edge. The flowers can be<br />
white, pink or purple. The flowers are carried singly on<br />
long stalks in the axils of leaves. The flowers normally<br />
never open and are self pollinated. The pods are inflated.<br />
Pods are 2-3 cm long and have 1 or 2 seeds. The seeds are<br />
angular and up to 1 cm across. They have a pointed beak.<br />
The seed colour can vary from brown, white, red or black.<br />
Distribution: A subtropical crop. It suits high altitudes in the tropics because it needs cold<br />
nights with dew. It is well suited to semi arid regions. It can tolerate salt and drought. It does<br />
not do well in warm, humid places. It needs well drained soil. It is damaged by frost. For best<br />
growth, night temperatures between 18-26°C and day temperatures of 21-29°C, are required.<br />
The temperature range of 8°C between day and night is required. Rainfall of 600-750 mm and a<br />
relative humidity of 20-40% is suitable. The best pH is 5.5-7.5 but they will grow on alkaline<br />
soils. In Nepal they are grown up to 1300 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seed. Often other crops are grown mixed with chickpea but these<br />
are planted 3-4 weeks after sowing the chickpea. Seed should be at 2-12 cm depth. Seed will<br />
germinate at temperatures above 5°C but are best above 15°C. Spacing plants 10 cm apart in<br />
rows 25-30 cm apart is suitable if plants are put in rows. <strong>Plants</strong> are cut and harvested when<br />
leaves turn brown.<br />
Production: Yields of 400-1600 kg per hectare of seed, are average. <strong>Plants</strong> can reach maturity<br />
in 4.5-5 months but 7 months or longer, are taken for some types.<br />
Use: Mainly the ripe seeds are eaten. Often they are boiled and mashed.<br />
The young leaves, shoots and pods are sometimes eaten.<br />
The seeds can be roasted, boiled or fried.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seeds<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
9.9 1362 20.2 6.4 190 3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Very rarely grown in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
Green leafy vegetables or Kumus<br />
84<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Chinese amaranth Aupa Amaranthus tricolor 85<br />
Purple amaranth Amaranthus cruentus 87<br />
Grain amaranth Amaranthus caudatus 88<br />
Green amaranth Amaranthus viridus 89<br />
Spleen amaranth Amaranthus dubius 90<br />
Slender amaranth Amaranthus lividus 91<br />
Native amaranth Amaranthus interruptus 92<br />
Prickly amaranth Amaranthus spinosus 93<br />
Sunset Hibiscus Aibika Abelmoschus manihot 94<br />
Spinach joint fir Tu-lip Gnetum gnemon 96<br />
Water dropwort Oenanthe javanica 98<br />
Rungia Rungia klossii 99<br />
Blackberried nightshade Karakap Solanum nigrum 100<br />
Plentiful fig Kumu musong Ficus copiosa 101<br />
Ficus wassa 102<br />
Lovo Ficus pungens 103<br />
Highlands breadfruit Hailans kapiak Ficus dammaropsis 104<br />
White sandpaper fig Ficus hispida 105<br />
Dye fig Ficus tinctoria 106<br />
Swamp morning glory Kangkong Ipomoea aquatica 107<br />
Valanguar Polyscias verticillata 108<br />
Panax Polyscias fruticosa 109<br />
Polyscias scutellaria 110<br />
Polyscias macgillivrayi 111<br />
Kalava Ormocarpum orientale 112<br />
Nasturtium schlechteri 113<br />
Watercress Wara kebis Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum 114<br />
Common comfrey Symphytum officinale 115<br />
Waterleaf Talinum triangulare 116<br />
Silver beet Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla 117<br />
Sweet leaf Sauropus androgynus 118<br />
Drumstick tree Moringa oleifera 119<br />
Leucaena Leucaena leucocephala 120<br />
Indian spinach Basella alba 121<br />
Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 122<br />
Wandering Jew Commelina cyanea 123<br />
Wandering Jew Commelina diffusa 124<br />
Dicliptera papuana 125<br />
Indian coral tree Palpal Erythrina variegata 126<br />
Coral tree Erythrina variegata var. orientalis 127<br />
Deeringia amaranthoides 128<br />
Spider flower Cleome gynandra 129<br />
Purslane Portulaca oleracea 130<br />
Spinach Spinacia oleracea L. 131<br />
Striped cucumber Kongakonga Diplocyclos palmatus 132
85<br />
Names<br />
English: Joseph’s coat, Chinese amaranth Scientific name: Amaranthus tricolor L.<br />
Tok pisin: Aupa Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: A herb that grows about 1 m high and<br />
spreads 45 cm wide. It is a small annual leafy green.<br />
An upright, much branched annual with a thin<br />
membrane covering the stems. Sometimes the plant<br />
lies over. The stems are angular. The plant branches in<br />
the upper part of the plant. It is smooth and grows from<br />
seed each year. Leaves have long leaf stalks that can be<br />
5-10 cm long. Leaves vary in shape, size and colour.<br />
The leaf blade can be 5-25 cm long by 2-6 cm wide.<br />
Leaves are dull purplish and the top leaves can be<br />
yellow or red. Some types have coloured leaves or<br />
patterns on the leaves. It has a clumpy seed head at the<br />
top. The flower spike at the top can be 30 cm long.<br />
The seed are 1-1.2 mm across and black.<br />
Distribution: It grows in many tropical and warm<br />
temperate places. <strong>Plants</strong> grow wild in waste places.<br />
Amaranths grow from sea level to 2400 m altitude in<br />
the equatorial tropics. For amaranth seeds to germinate<br />
they need a temperature above 15°-17°C. In the higher areas of the equatorial highlands above<br />
1800 m., temperatures on the average are probably below this during the cooler months. It may<br />
be more difficult to get amaranths started during these months. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: The very small seeds of these plants are scattered over the ashes or fine soil in<br />
fertile ground. The seed are normally sown by rubbing the dry seed heads between the hands<br />
and letting the seed drop. Some types are self-sown. These plants grow in most tropical<br />
countries. The soil must be fertile. If they are put in an old garden they will only grow very<br />
poorly. So they are either put in a new garden site when it is cleared from bush, or in build up<br />
the old ground by adding compost. The small gardens close to a house can often be built up to a<br />
good fertility by using the scraps and ashes and things that are left over near houses. Amaranths<br />
need high amounts of two nutrients, nitrogen and potash. The ashes from fires are high in potash<br />
so farmers scatter seeds of amaranth over areas where they have burnt. Amaranths are tropical<br />
plants grown in most tropical countries. Normally the hotter it is the better they grow. They also<br />
like plenty of sunlight and do not suit shaded places. The more sunlight the better they grow.<br />
They need to have water most of the time they are growing. In areas with a high rainfall this is<br />
mostly not a big problem.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> can be harvested when small due to thinning out closely spaced plants.<br />
These can be either transplanted or eaten cooked. <strong>Plants</strong> can be harvested whole or have top<br />
leaves harvested several times. Harvesting begins after 4-7 weeks and can continue over 2<br />
months.<br />
Use: The young leaves and stems are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 91.7 96 2.5 2.3 292 43.3 0.9
86<br />
Insects:<br />
Cletus sp. Colobathristidae (COL) Sucking seeds<br />
Dysmiccocus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealybug<br />
Hymenia recurvalis (Fab.) Pyralidae (LEP) Beet webworm<br />
Leptocorisa solomonensis Ahmad Alydidae (HEM) Paddy bugs<br />
Nisotra basselae Bry Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Oribius spp. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) Coccidae (HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Spodoptera litura (Fab.) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Damping off of seedlings Fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn<br />
Wet rot of leaves Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk & Rav.) Thaxt.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria sp.<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
Wilt Fungus Fusarium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Different species of amaranths occur in most parts of Papua New Guinea and they<br />
are one of the commonest cultivated greens.
87<br />
Names<br />
English: Purple amaranth, Red amaranth Scientific name: Amaranthus cruentus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Amaranthus hybridus<br />
subsp. cruentus (L.) Thell.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: An annual erect plant. It grows to 2 m<br />
high. The stems are angular. It often branches in the<br />
upper section. It is smooth but may be hairy on<br />
younger plant parts. The young parts can be tinged<br />
purple. The leaves are oval to sword shaped and can be<br />
10-15 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They have a leaf stalk<br />
1-7.5 cm long. The leaves often narrow towards the<br />
tip. They can also become thinner towards the base.<br />
There may be hairs on the midrib. The leaf may be<br />
tinged purple underneath. The flowers clusters are<br />
often branched and on side branches. The stiff<br />
branched flower arrangement at the top can be 15-25<br />
cm long. The fruit is oval and the seed can be 1-1.3<br />
mm across. The seed is dark brown but pale brown<br />
forms are used as grain in Central America.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the tropics and more<br />
temperate regions. In the tropics it is mainly in the<br />
highlands. In Papua New Guinea it occurs between<br />
1,200 and 2,200 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-<br />
11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed if the soil is warm. Seeds are small and grow<br />
easily. Cuttings of growing plants root easily.<br />
Production: Yields of 800-1500 kg per hectare are achieved.<br />
Use: The leaves and young plant are eaten cooked.<br />
The seeds are ground into flour and used to make bread.<br />
Caution: This plant can accumulate nitrates if grown with high nitrogen inorganic fertilisers and<br />
these are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
88<br />
Names<br />
English: Grain Amaranth, Quinoa Scientific name: Amaranthus caudatus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: An annual plant which can be 2 m high and<br />
45 cm across. The stems are angular and it can have a<br />
single stem or be branched. It is often limp in the upper<br />
parts. <strong>Plants</strong> are hairy at first but become smooth. Often<br />
they are tinged purple. Leaves are 2-4 cm long by 0.7-1.6<br />
cm wide on a leaf stalk 0.5-1.5 cm long. Leaves can taper<br />
to a tip at the end. They can also thin towards the base.<br />
The veins are pale underneath. The flower clusters are in<br />
spikes on the side or top branches. The flowers are<br />
sometimes branched and can droop over. They can be 45<br />
cm long. The fruit is oval. Seed are 1-1.3 mm across.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It cannot tolerate frost. <strong>Plants</strong> do best under high light, warm<br />
conditions and dry conditions. They need a well drained soil. Some varieties can tolerate pH up<br />
to 8.5 and there is some salt tolerance. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed if the soil is warm. Seeds are small and grow easily.<br />
To get the plants well spaced the seeds are mixed with some sand and then this mixture is spread<br />
along a row. Seedlings can be transplanted when about 5-7 cm tall. Cuttings of growing plants<br />
root easily. A spacing of about 8 cm x 8 cm is used if the plants are to be harvested by pulling up<br />
the whole plant. If the harvesting is to be done by picking off the top leaves, a wider spacing is<br />
normally used. When the tops are picked out 3 or 4 times over the life of the one plant, a<br />
spacing about 30 cm x 30 cm is used. As far as producing a large amount of food is concerned,<br />
the spacing is not very important. Having between 200 and 1,000 plants per square metre gives<br />
about the same total amount of food. The main thing that varies is the size of the leaves. Mostly<br />
people like larger leaves so a wider spacing of 8 cm to 10 cm for plants to be pulled out is<br />
suitable. For plants to be harvested by picking out the tops, they can be picked down to about 15<br />
cm high.<br />
Production: Amaranths grow quickly. Seedlings come up above the ground in 3 to 5 days.<br />
They are 5 to 7 cm high and big enough for transplanting after about 20 days. The plants can be<br />
pulled out and used after 6 weeks. If they are harvested by picking out the tops, this can be<br />
started at 5 to 7 weeks and continued 3 or 4 times over the next 2 months. Flowering occurs<br />
after about 3 months and seed can be recollected about a month later. Yields from 1-3 or 5<br />
tonnes per hectare of seed are common. Yields of up to one kilogram of edible leaves have been<br />
harvested by pulling out plants from an area of one square metre.<br />
Use: The leaves and young plant are eaten cooked.<br />
The seeds are ground into flour and used to make bread<br />
Caution: This plant can accumulate nitrates if grown with high nitrogen inorganic fertilisers and<br />
these are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Seed 13<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: This species is cultivated and important for its edible seed and leaves in the Andes.<br />
Seed varieties have been introduced to Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
89<br />
Names<br />
English: Green amaranth Scientific name: Amaranthus viridus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: An erect smooth branched herb without<br />
thorns. It is 30 to 60 cm high and grows from seeds<br />
each year. The leaves are broad near their base and<br />
narrow near the top. Usually the leaves have notches.<br />
Leaves are 1-3 cm long with exceptionally long<br />
petioles. The flowers occur in the angles of the leaves<br />
and the seeds are small and brown or black. The spikes<br />
are not bristly.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It is common in<br />
open waste places. In Nepal it grows to about 1400 m<br />
altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from seed or cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves and seeds are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
87.3 4.5 6.0 169<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
90<br />
Names<br />
English: Spleen amaranth Scientific name: Amaranthus dubius C. Mart. ex Thell<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: An annual plant. It is erect and grows up<br />
to 1.2 m tall. The stems are angular and the plant is<br />
often branched from the base upwards. <strong>Plants</strong> can be<br />
green or tinged purple. The leaves are 3-8 cm long by<br />
2-5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 1-5 cm long. Leaves can<br />
taper to a point at the tip and taper quickly towards the<br />
base. The flower clusters are in spikes on side branches<br />
and these can be branched. The flower stalks at the tip<br />
can be lax. The flower clusters can be 10-20 cm long<br />
and either stick upwards or bend over. Most of the<br />
flowers are female. Seed are 1-1.2 mm across and<br />
rather flat.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. In Papua New Guinea it<br />
grows between sea level and 1,300 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed if the soil<br />
is warm. Seeds are small and grow easily. Cuttings of<br />
growing plants root easily.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves and seeds are eaten cooked.<br />
Caution: This plant can accumulate nitrates if grown with high nitrogen inorganic fertilisers and<br />
these nitrates are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
91<br />
Names<br />
English: Slender Amaranth Scientific name: Amaranthus lividus Desf.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: A herb which can be erect or<br />
hang over. It is 80 cm tall. The stems are<br />
angular and curve in a zigzag manner. They<br />
often branch from the base upwards. The<br />
leaves are oval and 1-3 cm long by 0.3-1.5 cm<br />
wide. The leaves are wedge shaped at the base<br />
and have a sharp point at the tip. The leaf<br />
stalk is 0.3-2.5 cm long. The side veins can be<br />
clearly seen under the leaf. The leaves are<br />
without hairs but are sometimes tinged with<br />
purple. The flower spikes can be 1-10 cm long<br />
and have side clusters. The fruit are smooth<br />
and pale. Seeds are 1-1.2 mm across.<br />
Distribution: It occurs world wide in the<br />
tropics. In Papua New Guinea it grows<br />
between 1,200 and 2,000 m altitude. In Nepal<br />
it grows between 1500-2300 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: Mostly plants are self sown. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: Leaves are eaten as a green vegetable, after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves 84.6 84 3.4 63<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea an occasionally used wild edible leaf.<br />
Drawing Division Forests<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
92<br />
Names<br />
English: Native Amaranth Scientific name: Amaranthus interruptus R. Br.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: A herb which can be erect or lying down.<br />
It can be 60-120 cm tall. The stems are angular. The<br />
plant often branches from the base upwards. The<br />
leaves are 1.5-4 cm long by 0.7-2 cm wide. The leaf<br />
stalk is 0.5-2.5 cm long. The side veins are prominent<br />
underneath. The flower cluster can be slightly<br />
branched at the base and at the top of the plant. Seed<br />
are 1 mm across and rather thick.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in the northern parts of<br />
Australia and in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon<br />
Islands.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are used cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
93<br />
Names<br />
English: Prickly amaranth Scientific name: Amaranthus spinosus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: An annual plant 60 -100 cm<br />
high. It can be erect or lie over. The stems<br />
can be nearly round or they can be angular.<br />
The plant branches from the base upwards.<br />
Leaves are fairly smooth or hairless but can be<br />
tinged purple. The leaf stalk can be 0.5-10 cm<br />
long. The leaf blade is oval or sword shaped<br />
and 2-7 cm long by 0.6-3 cm wide. There can<br />
be a short tip at the top end and gradually<br />
tapering to the base. Flower clusters occur at<br />
the sides and these can be single or arranged in<br />
compound spikes. The flower clusters at the<br />
top can be 3-10 cm long. The top flowers<br />
often droop over. Parts of the flowers in the<br />
clusters of the leaves form spines. These are<br />
very sharp. They can be 0.5-2 cm long. The<br />
upper flowers are male and the lower flowers<br />
are female. The seed are 1-1.2 mm across and<br />
flattened.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It occurs world wide<br />
from the tropics to the warm temperate zone. In Nepal<br />
it grows to 1500 m altitude. It grows well in moist,<br />
damp soil.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are often self sown. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are edible cooked.<br />
The seeds are ground into flour and cooked.<br />
Caution: This plant can accumulate nitrates if grown with high nitrogen inorganic fertilisers and<br />
these are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
91.7 84 3.6 46<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea an occasionally used wild edible leaf.<br />
Drawing Division Forests<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
94<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic.<br />
Tok pisin: Aibika Synonyms: Hibiscus manihot L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Malvaceae<br />
Description: A branched shrub up to 2 m or<br />
more high. It has rounded twigs which are<br />
green and smooth. The leaves are simple,<br />
smooth and with 3 to 5 lobes. The leaves<br />
are large and can vary in shape. Normally<br />
the leaves are very dark green, but<br />
occasionally pale green types occur. The<br />
leaf stalks are 6 to 13 cm long. The stalks<br />
can be green or have red colours on them.<br />
The flowers are borne singly and are yellow<br />
with dark purple centres. They are<br />
produced on mature bushes and the flowers<br />
are hibiscus like. The fruit pods are rather<br />
stiff or with bristly hairs. They are a dry<br />
capsule with many small seeds. <strong>Plants</strong> can<br />
last for a year or for several years. Old<br />
plants produce a hibiscus type flower.<br />
Distribution: It is well suited to the tropical lowlands but grows only poorly at 1800 metres. It<br />
needs fertile soil. The plant occurs in countries from India, China, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia<br />
to the Pacific Islands. <strong>Plants</strong> will withstand occasional short-lived temperatures down to about -<br />
5°C so long as they are in a very well-drained soil. It suits areas with high humidity. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from cuttings. Cuttings with 2-3 nodes are sufficient. It can be grown<br />
from seeds. The narrow leafed types tend to compete less well with weeds. A fertile soil is<br />
needed. Picking out the tips off branches of Aibika plants encourages the plant to produce more<br />
branches and therefore more leaves.<br />
Production: Leaves are ready to harvest after about 80 days. Yields of 6.7-7.3 tons/ha/crop<br />
have been recorded.<br />
Use: Young leaves are cooked and eaten.<br />
They are slimy unless steamed or fried.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Leaves 197 5.7<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Acrocercops sp. Gracillariidae (LEP) Aibika leaf miner<br />
Amblypelta cocophaga China Coreidae (HEM) Green coconut bug<br />
Amblypelta lutescens papuensis Br. Coreidae (HEM) Papua tip wilt bug<br />
Amblypelta theobromae Brown Coreidae (HEM)<br />
Anomis flava F. Noctuidae (LEP) Cotton looper or Cotton semi looper<br />
Aphis gossypii Glover Aphididae (HEM) Melon aphid<br />
Cassena intermedia Jac. Galerucidae (COL)<br />
Cassena papuana (Jac.) Galerucidae (COL)<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
95<br />
Colgar tricolor Dist. Flatidae (HOM)<br />
Dysdercus cingulatus (F.) Pyrrhocoridae (HEM) Red cotton bug<br />
Earias vittella (F.) Noctuidae (LEP) Aibika shoot boring grub<br />
Euricania discigutta (Walk.) Riconiidae<br />
Nisotra sp. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Oribius spp. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Parasaissettia nigra Coccidae (HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Phaneroptera brevis Serv Tettigoniidae(ORTH)<br />
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Taeg) Coccidae(HEM) White scale<br />
Saissetia nigra (Nietner) Coccidae(HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Spodoptera litura (F) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Sylepta derogata F. Pyralidae(LEP) Cotton leaf roller<br />
Valanga irregularis (Walker) Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Valanga sp. Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Myrothecium roridum Tode ex Fr.<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium sp.<br />
Collar rot/root rot Fungus Phytophthora nicotianae var. nicotianae<br />
And Fusarium sp.<br />
And Sclerotium rolfsii<br />
Basal stem rot Fungus Sarcopodium vanillae<br />
Green mottle Virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The most important edible leafy green in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea, the<br />
Pacific and SE Asia.
96<br />
Names<br />
English: Spinach Joint fir Scientific name: Gnetum gnemon L.<br />
Tok pisin: Tu lip Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Gnetaceae<br />
Description: A shrub or small tree about 10 m high. It<br />
can grow to 20 m high. It normally has a cone shaped<br />
crown. The bark is greyish brown. The small branches<br />
are slender and like a vine. The leaves are produced in<br />
pairs opposite each other. They are dark green and<br />
shiny, oval and pointed at both ends. The leaves are<br />
7.5-12.5 cm long by 2.5-7.5 cm wide. Trees are either<br />
male or female. Male spikes are 3-6 cm long. They<br />
consist of 50-80 very small flowers in rings along the<br />
stalk. Flowers are produced as cones made up of rings<br />
of scales along stalks 3-6 or 12 cm long. There are 5-8<br />
flowers at each node. Fruits are oval and green when<br />
young but red when ripe. Fruit are 2-3 cm long and<br />
contain one seed.<br />
Distribution: Trees occur in tropical rainforest from<br />
sea level to about 1200 metres altitude. These trees<br />
grow in Malaysia, Indonesia and islands out to Fiji.<br />
They can grow on a range of soils but do best on deep<br />
well drained soils. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seed. For using as seed for growing, a fully ripe red fruit is<br />
needed. Seeds exhibit a natural dormancy due to a hard impermeable seed coat. Breaking this<br />
seed coat can normally hasten germination. This is done by boring a hole into the seed.<br />
Propagation can be naturally by seeds distributed by birds, by planting seeds or by cuttings. A<br />
spacing of 6 m is suitable although in rows they are often put more closely. Trees appear to<br />
establish in the forest understory indicating some shade tolerance. Trees recover readily from<br />
pruning. Coppicing can produce a rapid flush of new leaves. Flushes of new leaves tends to<br />
occur seasonally. Trees can be topped to keep them shorter. If plants are grown by air layering<br />
they are shorter and more compact.<br />
Production: Trees grow by flushes of young reddish leaves. Flowers are produced throughout<br />
the year. Trees grown from seed take 5-8 years to bear fruit. Air layered trees produce fruit in<br />
2-3 years. Leaves are harvested when fully expanded but still soft and succulent. The fruit are<br />
harvested when the skin turns red. Trees can produce 20,000 fruit per year or 6-7 kg.<br />
Use: Young leaf tips are eaten cooked.<br />
Young flowers are eaten, cooked.<br />
Young fruit are eaten, cooked.<br />
Ripe fruit are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
(Fruit should be crushed before cooking or they can explode.)<br />
Young flowers and fruit need cooking to get rid of irritating substances.<br />
The seeds are dried and flattened and then deep fried in hot oil and salt added.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
66.0 378 5.9 2.7 3700 200<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Eucalymnatus tessellatus (Signoret) Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
97<br />
Importance: A particularly well liked edible green leaf occurring in almost all lowland areas of<br />
Papua New Guinea either cultivated or wild.
Names<br />
English: Water drop wort Scientific name: Oenanthe javanica D.C.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae<br />
Description: This plant is a hollow stemmed<br />
creeping green leafy vegetable. The stem is<br />
often up to 100 cm long and normally lies<br />
along the ground and turns up near the tip.<br />
The leaves are finely divided like carrot tops<br />
but the size, shape and colour of the leaves can<br />
vary quite a bit, even on the one plant. The<br />
leaves often have leaf sheaths which wrap<br />
around the stem. The flowers occur at the<br />
ends of the branches and are a group of small<br />
white flowers. Several kinds occur with<br />
different colours and leaf sizes. It mostly<br />
grows near water and will float on water.<br />
98<br />
Distribution: It mostly occurs between 700 and 2800 m altitude in the tropics. But it also grows<br />
down to the coast where it is becoming more popular. It also grows in China, Indonesia and<br />
other Asian countries. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: This plant often grows wild. These self sown plants are not as tasty as the<br />
cultivated types but they are eaten. The plant is also grown in gardens. It is planted by using<br />
cuttings. Often 5 or 6 cuttings are planted in a hole made with a digging stick. In moist soil the<br />
plants establish quickly and easily. It is also possible to grow the plants by seeds, but these are<br />
rarely used in Papua New Guinea. The leaves and young tips of the plant are often eaten raw or<br />
cooked.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The plant is often eaten raw or cooked.<br />
Caution: Although not known to contain the very poisonous oenanthotoxin it contains a<br />
hallucinatory drug myristicin.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves 6<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A common green in most highland areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
99<br />
Names<br />
English: Rungia Scientific name: Rungia klossii S.Moore<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Acanthaceae<br />
Description: Rungia is a small clumpy much branched<br />
leafy vegetable. Dark green and yellow and green<br />
marked leaf colours occur. It grows to about 40 cm<br />
high. It produces a pale blue flower. At least 20<br />
different varieties occur being distinquished by size,<br />
shape and colour of leaves.<br />
Distribution: It mostly grows from 1000 to 2000<br />
metres altitude but will grow down to sea level. It is<br />
only known from Papua New Guinea and Irian<br />
Jaya/West Papua.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from rooted stems or<br />
cuttings. It only occurs as a cultivated plant. Some<br />
feral and relatively short lived plants can be found in<br />
old garden sites. It needs reasonably fertile soil,<br />
preferably moist but will grow in most soils. The<br />
young leaf tips are eaten raw or cooked. It requires a<br />
fairly fertile soil and a damp area.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> are put about 50cm apart. It is mostly grown in mixed cropping situations with sweet<br />
potato or Setaria pitpit. The plant is grown from cuttings which are about 25 cm long and a<br />
clump are sown together. These stems often already have roots developing from the nodes or<br />
quickly develop roots. Rungia is planted at any time of the year. Regular picking keeps<br />
branches short and productive of leaves. It grows reasonably slowly. Once established the<br />
young tips (2 or 3 leaves) are picked regularly. The shoot tips and upper leaves are harvested<br />
starting about 2-4 months after planting and continuing at 1-2 monthly intervals for 2 years or<br />
more. Regular picking keeps branches short and productive of leaves.<br />
Production: It grows reasonably slowly. Yields can be 2 kg/plant/year. The harvested tips<br />
weigh about 0.8 g each. If the plants were spaced at 50cm spacing this would give a yield of 4<br />
kg per square metre of garden. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. After harvesting they will<br />
not keep very long. (2-3 days).<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: One of the main and most popular greens in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
100<br />
Names<br />
English: Blackberried nightshade Scientific name: Solanum nigrum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Karakap Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: An erect branched smooth herb. It<br />
grows about 60-100 cm high. The stems are green<br />
and 3 angled. Leaves are pointed at both ends. The<br />
leaves are 1.3-9 cm long by 0.5-6 cm wide. They<br />
are oblong and taper to the tip. They can have wavy<br />
lobes. The inner ring of petals are white and about 8<br />
mm across. The fruit are black, smooth and round.<br />
They hang downwards.<br />
Distribution: They occur in waste places at low and<br />
medium altitudes throughout the country. It grows<br />
from sea level up to high altitudes such as 2700 m in<br />
the tropics. It often comes up self sown after fires.<br />
It is grown in most tropical countries as a green leafy vegetable. It occurs between 600-3000 m.<br />
in southern China. In Nepal it grows to about 2900 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seed. In the highlands areas it is almost always self sown or<br />
encouraged by burning grassland but then weeded and harvested as a normal component of the<br />
garden. In coastal areas seeds are sown by broadcasting. Good yields can be obtained under<br />
moderate fertility levels. A spacing of 40 cm x 40 cm is suitable. Topping encourages<br />
branching. It can be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production: Seeds germinate about a week after planting. Leaves can be harvested after about<br />
8-10 weeks by cutting off the last 5 cm of each branch. High yields can be obtained. 5-8<br />
harvests over 6-8 weeks are possible. Solanum nigrum grows rapidly, has high seed production<br />
and high viability of seed. This gives it a competitiveness as a weedy species but also means it is<br />
one of the first harvested edible greens from a new garden.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit are cooked and eaten. They are also used for soup.<br />
The leaves and young shoots are eaten cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Fruit<br />
87.0 160 4.3 1.0 3660 20<br />
Insects: And probably others.<br />
Aphids<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae<br />
Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) Gelechiidae (LEP) Potato tuber moth<br />
Pulvinaria ubicola (Cockerell) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Saissetia coffeae (Walker) Coccidae (HEM) Coffee scale<br />
Diseases:<br />
Bacterial wilt Bacteria Pseudomonas solanacearum<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is a significant food plant throughout the tropics. A commonly used green<br />
vegetable in most areas of Papua New Guinea. It mostly grows wild in the highlands and is<br />
cultivated on the coast.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
101<br />
Names<br />
English: Plentiful fig Scientific name: Ficus copiosa Steud.<br />
Tok pisin: Kumu musong Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A small tree. It grows up to 10 m high.<br />
The trunk is slender and straight. The bark is grey and<br />
smooth. Young stems and veins have a purplish colour<br />
and the tips have a rough feel due to raised bristles on<br />
the leaves and stems. The leaf shape varies. Leaves<br />
are 10-25 cm long by 5-12 cm across. They are oval.<br />
The leaves are often heart shaped at the base and<br />
bluntly pointed at the tip. The edges of the leaves are<br />
irregular. The leaf stalks are about 2 cm long. Fruit are<br />
1-2 cm across and often on old twigs in small clusters.<br />
Distribution: A tropical tree. Trees grow from sea<br />
level up to about 1800 m above sea level. They are<br />
normally in mixed forest.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are often planted by seeds or self sown seedlings are transplanted. Trees can<br />
also be grown by cuttings and aerial layering. In some areas trees are grown as a hedge and<br />
pruned to increase branching. <strong>Plants</strong> occur both wild and cultivated.<br />
Production: Young tips of 3-5 g are picked.<br />
Use: The young leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
The fruit are eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Fruit<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Cacao mirid sucks sap Coreidae (HEM) Helopeltis clavifer (Walker)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould on leaves Fungus Capnodium thuemenii Sacc.<br />
Rust Fungus Cerotelium fici (Cast.) Arth.<br />
Tar spot Fungus Phyllachora kaernbachii P.Henn.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Probably the most widely used fig leaf in Papua New Guinea. It is fairly common<br />
throughout the country and important in some areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
102<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Ficus wassa Roxb.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Ficus portus-finschii<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A shrubby tree up to 4 m tall. The bark is<br />
grey, flaky and scaly. The young leaf parts have grey<br />
hairs underneath them. The leafy twigs are reddish<br />
brown. The leaves are produced opposite one another.<br />
The leaf is rough to the touch. The edges of the leaves<br />
are wavy and slightly toothed. The tip of the leaf is<br />
pointed and the base is wedge shaped. There is a gland<br />
at the base of the leaf veins. Fruit are produced in<br />
clusters on the leafless stems. They are red to purple<br />
when ripe.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in areas of regrowth. In Papua<br />
New Guinea it grows in lowland areas and up to 300 m<br />
altitude or higher.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
The fruit are also cooked with the young leaves.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A commonly used edible leaf in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
103<br />
Names<br />
English: Lovo Scientific name: Ficus pungens Reinw. ex Bl.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Ficus myriocarpa Miq.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A tall tree with large leaves 30<br />
cm long and 25 cm wide. Young leaves are<br />
light green. They have teeth along the edge<br />
and are rough on both surfaces. They have 10<br />
pairs of side veins. Stalks have very sharp<br />
thorns. These can fall off. The fruit are small<br />
(0.5 cm) and in clusters along long stalks<br />
hanging from the trunk. The stalks can be 50-<br />
80 cm long. The fruit are greenish-yellow but<br />
turn red as they ripen.<br />
Distribution:<br />
Cultivation: Normally near streams and drains. Trees grow from sea level up to about 1600 m.<br />
Trees are mostly self sown.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are cooked and eaten with meat.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The leaves are moderately commonly eaten with meat in areas where the tree<br />
occurs.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
104<br />
Names<br />
English: Highlands kapiak Scientific name: Ficus dammaropsis Diels<br />
Tok pisin: Hailans kapiak Synonyms: Dammaropsis kingiana Warb<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A fig tree. It grows to 9-13 m<br />
high. The large young leaves are eaten. The<br />
branches are strong and flexible and contain a<br />
milky juice. The tree has a single trunk<br />
without buttresses or aerial roots. It is often<br />
straggling. Seedling trees vary considerably in<br />
size of leaves and colour of young leaves and<br />
veins. The leaves are large. They can be 60-<br />
100 cm long. They are deeply corrugated with<br />
veins. The veins can be red or yellow. The<br />
fruit is large (15 cm across) and made up of<br />
large overlapping scale leaves. It ripens to a<br />
deep purple.<br />
Distribution: Trees occur from 900 m to 2700 m but it is most common between 1600 and 1750<br />
m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: Trees grow from seeds and are transplanted. Cuttings of branches do not normally<br />
establish.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are eaten with meat.<br />
The outside layer of the fruit is edible.<br />
The young fruit are boiled and eaten as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Fruit flies are common in the ripe fruit Bactrocera spp.<br />
A weevil damages plants Curculionidae (COL) Rhinoscapha cobaltinata Hell.<br />
Longhorn beetles collect sap of damaged<br />
trees<br />
Cerambycidae (COL) Rosenbergia weiskei Hell.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Chaetothyrium boedignii Hansf.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, leaves are fairly widely used at pig kills and for mumus in<br />
the highlands. Fruit are less widely eaten.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
105<br />
Names<br />
English: White Sandpaper Fig Scientific name: Ficus hispida L.f.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A small bushy tree. It grows 6-8 m high<br />
and spreads to 2-5 m across. The branches are hollow.<br />
It has strangling roots but not aerial roots. The trunk is<br />
short and fairly straight and slender. The bark is grey.<br />
The young shoots are red and hairy. The leaves are 10-<br />
35 cm long by 6-12 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 2-9<br />
cm long. The leaves are dark green, thin and rough on<br />
both surfaces. The fig is 3-5 cm across. They are<br />
reddish-green and borne in clumps on the trunk and<br />
larger branches. The figs split open and are red inside.<br />
There are some varieties described based on the colour<br />
and size of the figs.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It<br />
occurs naturally in monsoonal rainforests. In Nepal<br />
plants are grown between 500-1100 m altitude. In S<br />
China it grows between 1000-1500 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed or root suckers.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The green fig fruit are eaten, cooked. They are used in curries. (They may cause<br />
giddiness)<br />
The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also made into jam.<br />
The young leaves are used as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
106<br />
Names<br />
English: Dye fig Scientific name: Ficus tinctoria Forster f.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A small tree or shrub 2-4 m high. It can<br />
climb and scramble over other plants and be up to 10 m<br />
high. The small branches are rough. The small<br />
branchlets are yellow or pale brown. The bark is grey<br />
or brown and cracked or flaky. The leafy structure at<br />
the base of the leaves is sword shaped and 5-10 mm<br />
long and thick. The leaves of the tree are yellowish<br />
with purple veins and short leaf stalks. The leaves are<br />
4-13 cm long and 2-6 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 0.6-1<br />
cm long. Male and female flowers occur on separate<br />
plants. The figs are in the leaf axils and up to 2 cm<br />
across and orange coloured. There are some varieties<br />
described based on the size of the plant and the size of<br />
the figs.<br />
Distribution: Trees are common on limestone or coral<br />
rocks near the sea shore. It tends to be on coral soils.<br />
Cultivation: It normally grows wild.<br />
Production: In Australia, fruit are produced in May to July.<br />
Use: The young tips are picked and eaten.<br />
The fruit are eaten cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Mostly reported as a wild occasional food on the Gazelle Peninsula and New<br />
Ireland in Papua New Guinea. It is an important food in Tuvalu and Micronesia.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
107<br />
Names<br />
English: Swamp Morning Glory Scientific name: Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.<br />
Tok pisin: Kangkong Synonyms: Ipomoea repens Roth<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Convolvulaceae<br />
Description: Kangkong is a creeping sweet<br />
potato like plant. It has hollow stems and can<br />
float on water. The leaves are green and are<br />
normally not divided like some sweet potato<br />
leaves, but the shape and size varies a little<br />
between different kinds. The trumpet shaped<br />
flower looks like a sweet potato flower and is<br />
normally white. The runners develop roots at the<br />
nodes and also branch. This branching increases<br />
when tips are picked off. Some variation in leaf<br />
shape can be observed. Leaf shape is less<br />
variable than in the related sweet potato, but<br />
narrow and broad leafed kinds occur. White and<br />
green stemmed kinds occur. Green stemmed<br />
kinds have more cold tolerance than white<br />
stemmed.<br />
Distribution: It grows best in short day stable<br />
high temperature, moist conditions.<br />
Temperatures need to be above 25°C for<br />
satisfactory growth.<br />
In equatorial region plants probably grow up to 1000m altitude. Below 23°C the growth rate is<br />
too slow for economic production. So production is mainly in the lowland tropics. Optimum pH<br />
is between 5.3-6.0. It suits damp places and grows well in swamps. It can grow as a partly<br />
floating plant in swamps and lagoons behind the beach along the coast. Kangkong is grown in a<br />
number of other tropical countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Fiji and especially<br />
Hong Kong and Taiwan. In some of these countries they grow the dry land form in gardens. In<br />
Nepal it grows up to 500 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: Dryland kangkong is normally grown from seed. Sometimes seed are presoaked<br />
for 12-24 hours prior to sowing. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown from cuttings and establishment is<br />
rapid. Top cuttings 25-40 cm long can be planted beside a pond.<br />
Production: Young tips can be taken 30 days after planting, and subsequent harvests every 7 to<br />
10 days. Production of new shoots probably declines at flowering. Yields up to 60,000 kg/ha<br />
have been recorded in other countries.<br />
Use: The young tips are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Leaves 92.9 84 2.1 1.3 520 16.0 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Common in most swampy coastal areas in the tropics.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
108<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Polyscias verticillata Stone<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Nothopanax spp.<br />
Tok ples: Valanguar Plant family: Araliaceae<br />
Description: A shrub grown as a hedge and of<br />
which the young leaves are eaten. The leaf sheaths<br />
form a flat section clasping the leaf stalk. Leaf<br />
shapes, colours and size vary between species and<br />
varieties.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in coastal areas and probably<br />
up to 1000 m altitude. It is mostly planted around<br />
houses.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by cuttings. They are<br />
often used as an ornamental hedge. This plant is<br />
often used to form a hedge around their houses and<br />
gardens. Constantly picking the leaves helps<br />
maintain it as a small pruned shrub. As a shrub they<br />
grow from 2 to 5 m tall. Seeds are produced and<br />
spread by birds. These self sown seedlings are<br />
sometimes replanted.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are cooked and eaten.<br />
The young leaves have a nice smell and are used as a vegetable as well as to flavour stews.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Cacao mired Helopeltis clavifer (Walker)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is moderately common as an ornamental in coastal areas,<br />
but not always eaten. It is popular in the Gazelle Peninsula.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
109<br />
Names<br />
English: Panax Scientific name: Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Nothopanax fruticosum (L.)Miq.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araliaceae<br />
Description: A tall shrub. It grows 3-5 m high and<br />
spreads 2-3 m wide. The branches are spreading. The<br />
leaves are clustered near the tips. The leaves are<br />
divided 3 times. They are 75 cm long. They sheath the<br />
stem at the base. The leaflet stalks are 25 cm long and<br />
the leaflets are 1-12 cm long by 0.5-4 cm wide. They<br />
vary in shape. They can be lobed or have teeth. The<br />
flowers are 0.5 cm across and in a spreading group 60<br />
cm long. The fruit are 0.5 cm across. They are fleshy.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It suits tropical and<br />
subtropical regions. They need well drained acid soils.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from fresh seed. They can also be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are eaten as a flavouring.<br />
They are also boiled and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
110<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Polyscias scutellaria (Burm.f.)Fosb.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Nothopanax scutellaria (Burm.f.)Merr.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araliaceae<br />
Description: A shrub which forms many branches from<br />
the base. It is 1-6 m high and spreads 1.5-3 m wide.<br />
The stems are bronze-green and there are distinct scars<br />
where the leaves fall off. The leaves have long leaf<br />
stalks and they can be simple or have 1-5 leaflets. The<br />
leaves are often cup shaped. The leaf is elongated<br />
along the leaf stalk for about a quarter of its length.<br />
The leaves have teethed and are smooth on both sides.<br />
They are dark green on top and lighter green beneath.<br />
The leaf blade is 8-25 across and almost round or<br />
kidney shaped. The leaf stalk is 6-28 cm long. The<br />
flowers are 0.5 cm across. They are white or yellow.<br />
The fruit is 0.7 cm across and purplish-black. It is<br />
round and fleshy.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in the lower altitude regions. It<br />
needs well drained soils.<br />
Cultivation: The shrub is often planted and pruned to form a hedge. It is grown from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves and tips are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves 82.0 227 3.7 4.0 85<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
111<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Polyscias macgillivrayi (Seem.) Harms<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Tieghemopanax macgillivrayi (Seem.)R.Vig.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araliaceae<br />
Description: A tall shrub. It grows 4-7 m high and<br />
spreads 2-4 m wide. Young growth is smooth. There<br />
is usually a single trunk. The bark is grey. There are<br />
only a few branches and they are spreading. The leaves<br />
are divided along the stalk. The leaves are 1 m long.<br />
The leaflets are 20-25 cm long by 8-10 cm wide. They<br />
are oblong and often broadest near the base. They are<br />
green and often rolled downwards. The flowers are 0.5<br />
cm across. They form loose open groups. The fruit is<br />
about 0.8 cm across and flattened.<br />
Distribution: It grows in rainforest. It is a tropical<br />
plant. It needs well drained soil.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from fresh seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
112<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Ormocarpum orientale (Spreng.) Merr.<br />
Tok pisin: Kalava Synonyms: Ormocarpum sennoides D.C.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A small leguminous shrub or tree up to<br />
7.5 m tall with light brown bark which strips off<br />
showing a greener bark underneath. The leafy shoots<br />
are hairy. When the plant flowers it has a flower like a<br />
bean and a pale yellowish green in colour with reddish<br />
veins. It produces a pod which is up to 9 cm long and<br />
jointed in a chain of 2 to 8 seeds. The seeds are small 5<br />
mm and bean shaped. Flowers and pods are rare. It is<br />
a legume.<br />
Distribution: It grows along the beach and in mud<br />
flats. It also comes up in old gardens. It mostly occurs<br />
naturally below about 30 m altitude. It is planted in<br />
gardens up to 500 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
In gardening situations it is normally grown from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaf tips are used cooked as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, it is mostly grown and used in the Gulf Province and along<br />
the South Coast or by people from there. It is grown in the Gazelle Peninsula.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
113<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Nasturtium schlechteri O.E.Schultz<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: May be renamed Rorippa sp.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A cabbage family plant with yellow<br />
flowers and short seed pods. The leaves are divided<br />
and it has a tap root<br />
Distribution: It is common in highland areas from<br />
1000 to 2,200 m altitude but it also grows down to the<br />
coast.<br />
Cultivation: The seeds are normally broadcast over the<br />
garden. Rorippa schlechteri is grown as a vegetable in<br />
gardens in the highlands. Because it has a well<br />
developed taproot, the plant does not transplant easily.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are harvested after 4-6 weeks.<br />
Use: The leaves and whole plant are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) Noctuidae (LEP) Black cutworm<br />
Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller Pyralidae (LEP) Cabbage cluster caterpillar<br />
Plutella xylostella (L.) Plutellidae (LEP) Diamond back moth<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A common and widely cultivated green in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
114<br />
Names<br />
English: Watercress Scientific name: Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (L.) Hayek<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Nasturtium officinale R.Br.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A small leafy plant that grows in water<br />
and lasts for several years. It has hollow stems and<br />
roots freely from the nodes. It branches freely. The<br />
leaves consist of 3 to 7 pairs of small leaflets then a<br />
larger leaflet at the end. The flowers are small and<br />
white and grow grow in a cluster. Flowers are not<br />
always produced and need days with more than 12<br />
hours of sunlight to form. A small narrow curved seed<br />
pod about 2 cm long can develop. It grows attached to<br />
the banks of streams.<br />
Distribution: This is a temperate climate crop. It is<br />
common in tropical highland creeks especially those<br />
flowing off limestone hills. (pH 6.5-7.5) It needs to be<br />
in running water. In the tropics it occurs from about<br />
1000 m up to at least 2900 m altitude. It grows in<br />
streams, ditches, lakes, swamps, marshes from near sea<br />
level to 3700 m altitude in China.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from cuttings planted along the edges of clear running water. Cuttings<br />
of 10-15 cm long are suitable. The plant has roots along the stem at the node and cuttings<br />
quickly form roots in water. A spacing of 30 cm is suitable. This small plant keeps living for<br />
many years once established. It can also be grown from seeds. <strong>Plants</strong> can float on the water. It<br />
will not tolerate drying out. Watercress has a high phosphate requirement.<br />
Production: Harvesting can occur 4 to 6 weeks after planting. Regular picking encourages<br />
branching and increases production. Tips 5-10 cm long are harvested. This can be repeated<br />
every 4-6 weeks.<br />
Use: The leaves and stems are eaten raw or cooked and have a spicy flavour.<br />
Cooking should be used if the water in the stream is not pure and clean.<br />
The seed can be germinated to produce sprouts.<br />
The seeds can be ground to make a mustard flavouring.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Seed<br />
Sprouts<br />
95.0 63 2.4 3.4 960 35 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is becoming accepted as an important and popular green in the highlands of<br />
Papua New Guinea.
115<br />
Names<br />
English: Common Comfrey Scientific name: Symphytum officinale L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Boraginaceae<br />
Description: A low clumpy plant with large<br />
long rough leaves. A dense crown of leaves<br />
and shoots develops. <strong>Plants</strong> are 30-90 cm tall.<br />
Leaves are 30-60 cm long and 10-20 cm wide.<br />
Lower leaves have leaf stalks and are<br />
branched. The inner leaves do not have leaf<br />
stalks. The flower stalk has many flowers.<br />
The flowers are purple, red or yellowish white.<br />
The nutlets are black, oval, 3-4 mm across and<br />
smooth an shiny<br />
Distribution: It grows satisfactorily from sea<br />
level up to at least 2200 m altitude in the<br />
tropics. It will grow in very poor soil. In<br />
Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 3-9.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown by breaking up the clump and re-planting a portion of it.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are cooked and eaten.<br />
Caution: In some countries caution has been stressed about this plant because of toxic alkaloids<br />
in similar plants. The older leaves are bitter and should be avoided.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf blotch<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It occurs quite widely throughout Papua New Guinea in small amounts and is<br />
probably increasing in importance because it grows so easily.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
116<br />
Names<br />
English: Waterleaf Scientific name: Talinum triangulare (Jacq)Willd<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Portulacaceae<br />
Description: A small leafy branching herb. It grows<br />
up to 35-60 cm high. It can be erect or lie over. The<br />
roots are swollen and fleshy. The stems are<br />
succulent. The leaves are alternate and have very<br />
short stalks and are fairly soft and light green in<br />
colour. The leaves can be 7.5 cm long. In the shade<br />
they grow larger. The flowers are on a 3 sided stalk<br />
at the top of the plant. There is a clump of pale pink<br />
flowers with 5 petals. Seeds are very small and<br />
black<br />
Distribution: It occurs in coastal tropical areas and<br />
up to about 1000 m altitude.<br />
Due to the C4 pathway optimum growth is achieved with high temperatures, high soil fertility,<br />
plenty of sunlight and sufficient moisture. The plant will also grow adequately in poorer<br />
conditions including some drought and a little shade.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from seeds or stem cuttings. There are about 4000 seeds per gram.<br />
Seed collection is not easy because the seed capsules split open very easily and the seeds drop<br />
out. Also plants don't always produce seeds readily. Growing from seed is easiest by sowing<br />
seeds in a small nursery then transplanting the small plants when they are about 5-8 cm high.<br />
With very small seeds like these, it is best to mix the seeds with dry sand before sowing. Then a<br />
small amount of the seed/sand mixture can be sown and the seeds will not be too close together.<br />
Seeds will grow in about 6 days. Often plants once established become self sown from natural<br />
seed falling. Alternatively cuttings about 15 cm long of the more mature but not woody stems<br />
can be used. The excess leaves should be removed from the cuttings. A spacing of 20 cm is<br />
suitable. <strong>Plants</strong> grow better in fertile soil, but will grow in fairly low fertility soils. They need<br />
plenty of moisture.<br />
Production: The leaves and tender stems can keep being produced for up to a year. Older plants<br />
can be cut back and allowed to sprout again. <strong>Plants</strong> start producing 4-6 weeks after planting.<br />
Leaf tips may be picked every two weeks for up to a year. Normally the top shoots are picked<br />
out first, to let the side shoots grow. A yield of up to 5 kg of edible tips per square metre area of<br />
plants over one year can be achieved.<br />
Use: The leaves and tender stems are eaten raw or cooked. They are slightly sour. Steaming the<br />
leaves produces less brown discolouration and they are less slimy. Due to oxalates in the leaves,<br />
large amounts should not be eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Leaves 91.0 105 2.4 5.0 31<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: At present not widely distributed in Papua New Guinea but being accepted and<br />
liked in areas where it occurs.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
117<br />
Names<br />
English: Silver beet Scientific name: Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla (L.)Koch<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Probably now Beta vulgaris Cicla group<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Chenopodiaceae<br />
Description: A broad leafed annual plant. Stalks<br />
are smooth and often white with a dark green<br />
leaf. A clump of stalks and leaves are produced<br />
from the base. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be blue. The<br />
leaves can be 12-25 cm long.<br />
Distribution: It needs to be over at least 500 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It is mostly grown<br />
between 1000 and 2600 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seeds. Under tropical conditions it is not normally possible to<br />
save your own seed. In cold climates plants need to be sown when conditions are warmer so<br />
that plants do not go straight to flower. A spacing of 30 cm between plants is suitable. Seed are<br />
sown 2.5 cm deep.<br />
Production: The first leaves are ready after 8-10 weeks and can produce for 2 years. Only the<br />
outer leaves are picked off.<br />
Use: The leaves and stalks are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 92.7 84 1.9 2.3 314 18 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Spoladia recurvalis (Fabricius) Pyralidae (LEP_ Beet webworm<br />
Oribius destructor Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora beticola Sacc.<br />
Blossom blight Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. & Rav.) Thaxt.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is moderately common in some highland areas in the tropics including Papua<br />
New Guinea.
118<br />
Names<br />
English: Sweet leaf Scientific name: Sauropus androgynus (L.)Merr<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Euphorbiaceae<br />
Description: A low growing shrub with<br />
small red flowers. It continues to grow<br />
from year to year. It grows 0.8-2 m tall.<br />
It can grow 6 m tall. It tends to grow<br />
upright then falls over due to its weight.<br />
It branches little. Compound leaves on<br />
the sides of the stems bear flowers along<br />
their underside. The fruit are purple.<br />
The fruit are about 1 cm across and open<br />
and drop their seed at maturity.<br />
Distribution: It occurs commonly in S E Asia. It can grow in partial shade or full sun. It suits<br />
the hot humid lowlands. It will grow in heavy clay soils and will grow in acid soils.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from cuttings. Cuttings grow easily. Pruning encourages more upright<br />
shoots. It can also be grown from seed. Seed only remain viable for a few months. It is often<br />
grown as a hedge. Cuttings for this are placed 10 cm apart. Adding shade (shade cloth) and<br />
fertiliser can be used to force the leaf tips to grow rapidly.<br />
Production: Young leaves can be harvested 4 months after planting. The top 15 cm of young<br />
leaf tips are picked. It gives a high yield of leaves. Production continues year round. Shrubs<br />
last a long time.<br />
Use: The young tips, young leaves, flowers and small fruit are eaten raw. Older leaves are<br />
cooked.<br />
Leaves are often singed before being added to soups.<br />
The fruit can be used to make jam.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
Fruit<br />
81.0 244 4.8 2.7 85<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only recently introduced into Papua New Guinea and it will probably become a<br />
popular vegetable. It is well liked in the Solomon Islands and SE Asia.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
119<br />
Names<br />
English: Horseradish tree, Drumstick Tree Scientific name: Moringa oleifera Lamarck<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moringaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 9-12 m high. The trunk<br />
is 60 cm across. The wood is soft. It has fern-like<br />
divided leaves. The tree loses its leaves during the<br />
year. The bark is grey and thick. It is corky and peels<br />
off in patches. The leaves are pale green and the leaf is<br />
divided 3 times. The whole leaf is 30-60 cm long and<br />
the leaflets are usually oval and 1-2 cm long. The<br />
leaflets are jointed with a gland near the joint. The<br />
flowers are pale yellow and contain both sexes. They<br />
occur in long sprays 30 cm long. Each flower has 5<br />
petals and of these one is erect and 4 are bent<br />
backwards. The flowers are sweet scented. The fruit is<br />
a long capsule 30-45 cm long by 2 cm wide. The seed<br />
capsules are up to 45 cm long. They are roughly<br />
triangular in shape. They split open when dry. There<br />
are 9 dark brown seeds inside. The seeds have 3 wings.<br />
Some kinds are better for edible fruit than others, while<br />
some are selected for leaves.<br />
Distribution: They suit the dry lowland areas and grow up to 500 m altitude in the tropics. In<br />
Nepal it grows up to 1100 m altitude. They are not hardy to frost. They cannot tolerate<br />
waterlogging. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: It is best to grow plants from 1 metre long cuttings but they can be grown from<br />
seed. They can be used as a hedge and pruned regularly to produce more leaves. Properly dried<br />
seed can be stored for a long time in sealed containers in a cool place.<br />
Production: Trees are fast growing. They can be pruned or topped. The tree flowers<br />
continuously.<br />
Use: The young tops and leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
The very young long pods are eaten cooked, especially in curries. They are also pickled.<br />
The young seeds are eaten roasted.<br />
Sometimes the roots are used as a horseradish substitute.<br />
The roots, leaves, flowers and fruits are eaten cooked in water and mixed with salt and chili<br />
peppers. The oil expressed from the seeds is used in salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 81.7 251 5.3 2.3 701 RE 31.0 0.5<br />
Pods 88.2 155 2.1 0.4 7 141 0.5<br />
Seeds<br />
Roots<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
6.5 46.6<br />
Importance: It is sold in markets. An introduced tree probably not widely used for food in<br />
Papua New Guinea. Its planting and use should be encouraged.
120<br />
Names<br />
English: Leucaena Scientific name: Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)de Wit.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Leucaena glauca AUCT. non (L.) Benth.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae/Mimosoideae<br />
Description: A small erect tree. It grows to 6-10 m<br />
high. It has fine divided leaves. The leaves have 2<br />
rows of leaflets. The leaves are 15 to 25 cm long and<br />
the leaflets 8 to 16 cm long. They are a dark dull green<br />
on top and dull greyish green underneath. The flowers<br />
are white and in round heads. They are in the axils of<br />
leaves or on the ends of branches. The pods are flat<br />
and 10-15 cm long and 1.8 cm wide with 15-25 seeds<br />
inside. It has shiny brown seeds.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It is introduced and<br />
common at low and medium altitudes throughout the<br />
tropics. It is widespread from sea level up to about<br />
1700 m altitude in the tropics. It is often used as shade<br />
for coffee. It is drought resistant. It can grow on dry<br />
and poor soils. It can tolerate salt. It needs well<br />
drained soil and full sun. In Nepal it grows to 1400 m<br />
altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It grows easily from seeds. It also regrows from cut stumps and it can be grown<br />
from cuttings. <strong>Plants</strong> are hard to eliminate and can become a weed problem in dry areas.<br />
Production: It grows very quickly.<br />
Use: The mature seeds are toasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute.<br />
The young leaves are sometimes used as a vegetable.<br />
The tender pods and shoots are cooked as a vegetable.<br />
Caution: The leaves contain a chemical which causes hair to fall out.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Pods<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Armacia basigera (Walker) Ricaniidae (HEM)<br />
Ectropis sabulosa Warr. Geometridae (LEP) Cacao looper<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Coreidae (HEM) Cacao mirid<br />
Orgyia postica (Walker) Lymantriidae (LEP)<br />
Parasaissetia nigra (Nietn.) Coccidae (HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Planococcus citri (Risso) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Citrus mealy bug<br />
Pteroma sp. Psychidae (LEP)<br />
Tiracola plagiata (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pink disease Fungus Corticium salmonicolor Berk.& Br.<br />
Thread blight Fungus Corticium solani<br />
Root rot Fungus Fomes noxius Corner<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is probably rarely used as an edible plant in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
121<br />
Names<br />
English: Indian spinach Scientific name: Basella alba L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Basella rubra L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Basellaceae<br />
Description: An annual or perennial climbing herb<br />
with thick fleshy leaves. The vine is smooth and juicy<br />
and can be 10 m long. It branches freely. The vine and<br />
leaves can be red or green. The leaves are fleshy and<br />
pointed at the tip. They can be 8-18 cm long and 8-10<br />
cm across. They are carried alternately along the vine.<br />
Leaves can be heart shaped or oval. It has white, pink<br />
or red flowers in short spikes which are in the axils of<br />
the leaves. Flowers have both sexes. The fruit are<br />
round and soft. They can be red, white or black and are<br />
6-8 mm across. The seeds are round and black. They<br />
are 3 mm across. (Often the ones with heart shaped<br />
leaves are called Basella cordifolia, the ones with red<br />
stem Basella rubra and the short day flowering dark<br />
green kind called Basella alba.)<br />
Distribution: It occurs mostly in the tropical lowlands and is best below 500 m but will grow up<br />
to about 1600 m. in the equatorial tropics. It will grow quite well in the temperature range 15-<br />
35°C. It does not like waterlogging but can survive 4-12 weeks drought once well established.<br />
It requires adequate water during the growing season. It grows well in a variety of soils. The<br />
best pH is 5.5-7.0. It cannot tolerate salty conditions. Flowering does not occur when day<br />
lengths are over 13 hours. It is found throughout the Philippines in waste places.<br />
Cultivation: It can be sown from seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate in a few days. Normally<br />
sticks are provided for support or it is allowed to grow over fences and stumps. If seeds are<br />
used, 3 kg of seed will sow one hectare and they are best sown in a nursery and transplanted. A<br />
spacing of 1 m is suitable. <strong>Plants</strong> grown from seed are more productive than from cuttings.<br />
When cuttings are used, 20-25 cm long cuttings are suitable. Where the plant grows over light<br />
soil it can root at the nodes and continue growing continually. Partial shade, rich fertile soil and<br />
adequate moisture favour abundant leaf production. It is responsive to nitrogen fertiliser. Light<br />
shade gives bigger leaves.<br />
Production: It is 4-6 weeks until the first harvest. It grows reasonably well on poor soils and is<br />
fairly resistant to pest and disease. Leaves will only store for one day at 20-30°C. Yields of 40<br />
kg of leaves from a 10 metre square bed is possible over 75 days.<br />
Use: The young shoots and leaves are eaten cooked. They are somewhat slimy.<br />
In soups and stews the mucilage can be used as thickening.<br />
Fresh leaves can be added to salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 85.0 202 5.0 4.0 1800 100<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Large leaf spot Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Curvularia sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Importance: It has been encouraged and accepted in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.
122<br />
Names<br />
English: Hibiscus Scientific name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Malvaceae<br />
Description: A shrubby hibiscus used for hedges. It is<br />
a evergreen woody shrub. It grows to 2-5 m tall. The<br />
bark is grey and flaky. It has fine stripes. The leaves<br />
are bright green. They are oval and the edges of the<br />
leaves are entire on the lower leaves. The upper leaves<br />
are coarsely toothed. The leaves have long tips. The<br />
flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. Flowers can<br />
be single or double. They are bell shaped and 10-15 cm<br />
across. There are a range of colours. The fruit are<br />
rounded capsules with many seeds inside. The capsules<br />
are beaked.<br />
Distribution: A common ornamental throughout the<br />
tropics. It originally came from China. It thrives on<br />
any type of soil. Different types are adapted to sunny<br />
or shady places. They grow where average<br />
temperatures are between 15-30°C. They are very<br />
sensitive to frost. They grow from sea level to 1000 m<br />
altitude. They probably require a minimum rainfall of<br />
700 mm per year. It grows in Nepal to 1400 m altitude.<br />
It grows in open, moist places. It suits hardiness zones<br />
9-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is mostly grown from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten cooked. In some places they are pounded before cooking.<br />
The flowers are eaten raw or pickled. They are also added to drinks.<br />
The fresh flower ovary is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Ascochyta abelmoschi Hartner<br />
Blossom blight Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. & BR.) Thaxt.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
White thread blight<br />
Probably virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is mostly grown as an ornamental but is eaten in some<br />
areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
123<br />
Names<br />
English: Wandering Jew Scientific name: Commelina cyanea R.Br.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Commelinaceae<br />
Description: A weak straggling herb. It is an<br />
evergreen plant. It grows to 30 cm high and spreads to<br />
2 m across. The stems are weak and fleshy, and lie<br />
along the ground, and form roots at the nodes. The<br />
leaves are green or blue, and sword shaped. They are<br />
3-7 cm long, by 2 cm across. They form a sheath at the<br />
base. The flowers are bright blue, with 3 petals. They<br />
are 1.5 cm across. The flowers are carried on a<br />
branched flower stalk. The flowers open in the<br />
morning and collapse by afternoon.<br />
Distribution: It is tropical and subtropical. It grows in<br />
moist soil. It suits a sheltered, partly shaded position.<br />
It is drought and frost tender.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by dividing the clump or using stem cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaf<br />
bud<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
86.7 1.6<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: It is grown and used as a vegetable in a few highland regions.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
124<br />
Names<br />
English: Wandering Jew Scientific name: Commelina diffusa Burm.f.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Commelinaceae<br />
Description: A small leafed, straggling plant,<br />
with blue flowers. It continues to grow from<br />
year to year. It can grow to 1 m long. The<br />
stems are weak. The stem is fleshy, and it<br />
roots at the nodes. The leaves are alternate<br />
and sword shaped. They are 4-10 cm long.<br />
They have short stalks and a stem clasping<br />
sheath. The flowers are blue and 2.5-3 cm<br />
across. One of the 3 petals is smaller than the<br />
others. The seeds have fine patterns on one<br />
side. They are angular and about 2 mm long.<br />
Distribution: It grows in moist places. It<br />
occurs from sea level up to about 1600 m<br />
altitude in the tropics.<br />
Cultivation: It grows easily from stem pieces. It prefers poorly drained soil, in open sunny<br />
positions, but can grow quite well in shady places. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaf tips are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rust Fungi Phakopsora tecta Jackson & Holloway<br />
And Uromyces commelinae Cooke<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is declining in importance as a cultivated crop but still<br />
harvested from the wild in a number of places.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
125<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Dicliptera papuana Warb.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: May be renamed Hemigraphis<br />
Tok ples: Kabanga Plant family: Acanthaceae<br />
Description: A herb up to 1 m high. It is somewhat<br />
similar to Rungia klossii but taller and with longer<br />
leaves. The stems have grooves along them. The<br />
leaves are produced opposite each other. They are<br />
oblong and taper at both ends. Leaves can be smooth<br />
or finely hairy. The flower clusters occur in the axils of<br />
leaves. The flower clusters have 2 wing like bracts<br />
below them. Flowers are blue. They occur in pairs.<br />
The fruit capsule is small with 2 cells and with 2 seeds<br />
in each cell. The seed are round and with pits on the<br />
surface.<br />
Distribution: It grows wild in the highlands especially<br />
along creeks. It is also cultivated. It grows between at<br />
least 700 m and 2600 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from cuttings. Normally a group of stalks are planted together to<br />
produce a clumpy bush.<br />
Production: The young leaf tips are picked at regular intervals.<br />
Use: Leaf tips are eaten cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A less popular green cultivated in some areas, harvested from the wild in others<br />
and not used in other areas. It is less popular than Rungia.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
126<br />
Names<br />
English: Indian coral tree Scientific name: Erythrina variegata L.<br />
Tok pisin: Palpal Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A deciduous tree. It grows up to 15-20 m<br />
tall and loses its leaves for part of the year. The trunk<br />
has blunt spines. The branches are spreading, crooked<br />
and armed with sharp black prickles. The leaves have 3<br />
leaflets. The leaflets are broadly oval and 8 to 18 cm<br />
long. They are shiny green on top and dull flat green<br />
underneath. The flowers appear before the leaves. The<br />
flowers are at the ends of branches and are hairy and<br />
dense. The flowers are large numerous and hang down.<br />
They are red. The pod is about 10 to 25 cm long and<br />
1.5 to 2 cm across. The pod is constricted between the<br />
beans. Seeds are dark red.<br />
Distribution: It is native from India to the Philippines<br />
and the Pacific. It mostly grows naturally along the<br />
dunes very close to the coast but is transplanted as an<br />
ornamental. It will grow up to 900 m altitude. It is<br />
tolerant to salt. It can tolerate drought. It needs full<br />
sun. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from seed. Cuttings also grow easily.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
The seeds are eaten after boiling or roasting.<br />
Caution: Some similar coral trees contain alkaloids and are used as medicine. The seeds are<br />
poisonous raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The tree occurs in many lowland areas of Papua New Guinea, but the leaves are<br />
only eaten by Sepik people at present.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
127<br />
Names<br />
English: Coral tree Scientific name: Erythrina variegata var. orientalis L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Erythrina indica Lam.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 15 m tall which loses its<br />
leaves for part of the year. The trunk has blunt spines.<br />
The branches are spreading, crooked and armed with<br />
sharp black prickles. The leaflets are broadly oval and<br />
8 to 18 cm long. They are shiny green on top and dull<br />
flat green underneath. The flowers are at the ends of<br />
branches and are hairy and dense. The flowers are<br />
large numerous and hang down. They are red. The pod<br />
is about 10 to 25 cm long and 1.5 to 2 cm across. The<br />
pod is constricted between the beans. Seeds are dark<br />
red.<br />
Distribution: They are found throughout the<br />
Philippines at low altitudes especially near the sea<br />
coast. It mostly grows naturally along the dunes very<br />
close to the coast but is transplanted as an ornamental.<br />
It will grow up to 900 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from seed. Cuttings also grow easily.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seeds are edible cooked.<br />
The leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
Caution: Some similar coral trees contain alkaloids and are used as medicine. The seeds are<br />
poisonous raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Importance: It is only a minor food.<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
128<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Deeringia amaranthoides (Lmk.) Merr.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Amaranthaceae<br />
Description: A small shrub or climber up to 5 m tall.<br />
The stem is woody and it branches. Young shoots are<br />
slender and smooth. The leaves are alternate and oval<br />
or sword shaped. They are 10 cm long and 2-4 cm<br />
wide. They are drawn out to a long point and are bright<br />
green with a thin texture. The flowers occur in slender<br />
spikes up to 25 cm long. These are in the axils of the<br />
upper leaves. Flowers are 0.4 cm across and greenish<br />
white. Flowers contain both sexes. Seeds are about 1.2<br />
mm across, smooth and black. They are inside a bright<br />
red berry which is carried in clusters on long slender<br />
spikes. The fruit are 0.5 cm long with 3 furrows long<br />
it.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in the Sepik, Madang, Morobe<br />
and Central Provinces. It is often near forest edges near<br />
creeks in the rainforest. It occurs up to 1200 m altitude.<br />
This plant is also used as food in Fiji, Indonesia and<br />
Taiwan. It needs a well drained humus rich soil. It<br />
needs a sheltered position and partial shade. It is<br />
drought and frost tender. It is a tropical plant.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild. <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. The seed need to be sown fresh. <strong>Plants</strong><br />
can also be easily grown from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are eaten.<br />
Caution: This plant is suspected of poisoning cattle.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is only recorded as being eaten in a few areas.<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
129<br />
Names<br />
English: Spider flower Scientific name: Cleome gynandra L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Gynandropsis gynandra (L.)Merr.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Capparaceae<br />
Description: An annual herb. It grows to 0.6-<br />
0.9 m. It has a long tap root. It is erect and<br />
somewhat hairy. It usually has purple stems.<br />
The leaves occur one after another along the<br />
stalk. The leaf stalk is long. There are 5-7<br />
leaflets which are unequal and spread out at<br />
the end. They are oblong and about 2.5-6 cm<br />
long by 1.4-3.2 cm wide. The leaflets are<br />
pointed at the base and a rounder near the tip<br />
with a rounder point at the tip. There are fine<br />
teeth along the edges of the leaves.<br />
The flowers are white or purple They occur in long flower clusters at the end of branches.<br />
These are 30 cm long. The flower clusters are showy with white or purplish flowers and a<br />
spidery like appearance. The fruit are a slender capsule with 2 valves and with many small<br />
seeds. They are 5-10 cm long and very narrow. The seeds are kidney shaped and rough. They<br />
are brown and have fine lines along them. They are 1-1.5 mm across.<br />
Distribution: It commonly occurs as a self sown weed on cultivated land. It grows in warm of<br />
tropical regions. It grows at a range of elevations but especially above 600 m altitude. It will<br />
grow in semi arid, to wet humid climates. It will grow on many soil types, but needs fertile soil<br />
for good leaf production. A temperature of 18-25°C seems best. <strong>Plants</strong> need plenty of sunlight.<br />
They are not drought resistant but can produce a crop with short periods of rain. <strong>Plants</strong> cannot<br />
withstand flooding. A common weed of waste places throughout the Philippines as well as other<br />
tropical countries.<br />
Cultivation: The plant is grown from seed. The seed are broadcast. Fertile soil is needed to get<br />
plants with good leaf coverage. The seed germinate erratically, because the seed have a rest<br />
period after harvest. Seed germinate best 6 months after harvest. Once they are ready to grow,<br />
they germinate in 4-5 days. Leaves or whole plants can be harvested when 15 cm high. Picking<br />
out the tops encourages side growth and longer leaf production. Removing flowers extends the<br />
harvest period.<br />
Production: Leaves can be harvested 4-5 weeks after planting. Seeds reach maturity about 5<br />
months after sowing.<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten. If they are cooked the bitter taste is reduced. They are also used in<br />
flavouring sauces.<br />
Young pods are also eaten.<br />
The oil from the seeds is edible without needing to be refined.<br />
The leaves can be candied in vinegar or in salt water, then eaten with fish.<br />
The seeds are used as a spice in curries.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 89.6 105 3.1 26<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: This plant is being recognised by scientists as a useful vegetable. It is not known if<br />
it is eaten in Papua New Guinea.
130<br />
Names<br />
English: Purslane, Pigweed Scientific name: Portulaca oleracea L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Portulacaceae<br />
Description: A spreading branched herb. It lies<br />
flat on the ground. It grows each year from seed.<br />
The plants spread 10 to 50 cm wide. The stems<br />
are purplish. The leaves are fleshy, flat and<br />
shaped like a wedge at the base. They are 1.5 to<br />
2.5 cm long and 0.3-1 cm wide. The flowers are<br />
yellow and occur in a few rounded heads. They<br />
are 0.8-1.5 cm across. They bloom about the<br />
middle of the day. The capsules are 0.5 cm long<br />
and oval. The seeds are black and shiny.<br />
Distribution: It grows in tropical and temperate<br />
regions. They are common in waste places<br />
throughout the Philippines.<br />
It is a common self sown plant in lowland areas and up to 1700 m altitude. It prefers sandy well<br />
drained places. It can grow on salty soils. It suits hardiness zones 7-12.<br />
Cultivation: It roots easily from broken pieces. It can be grown from seed.<br />
Production: The stems and leaves are cooked and eaten. Usually the skin is scraped off then the<br />
plant is boiled and mashed. It thickens stews and other dishes in which it is cooked. It is used as<br />
a pot herb.<br />
Use: The fleshy stems are pickled.<br />
In areas where a lot of nitrogen fertiliser is used plants can cause nitrate poisoning. <strong>Plants</strong> can<br />
also have oxalates.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 82.2 108 3.1 0.8 185 20 1.5<br />
Seed 9.1 1405 19.5<br />
Root 79.0 210 3.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diacrisia niceta (Stal.) Arctiidae (LEP)<br />
Spoladea (Hymenia) recurvalis Fab. Pyralidae (LEP) Beet webworm<br />
Tiracola plagiata (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
White leaf spot cause unknown<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is now only very rarely used by some older people in<br />
some coastal areas. In many countries it is eaten as a vegetable. They are sold in markets in<br />
India.
131<br />
Names<br />
English: Spinach Scientific name: Spinacia oleracea L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Chenopodiaceae<br />
Description: An annual leafy vegetable. It grows 60-<br />
90 cm high and spreads 30-45 cm wide. The broad<br />
leaves are produced in a clump on short stalks. The<br />
leaves at the base are large and leaves on the stalk are<br />
smaller. <strong>Plants</strong> are separately male and female. (So<br />
both types are needed if seed is to be produced.)<br />
Flowers are greenish in spikes.<br />
Distribution: It is a temperate plant. It does not suit<br />
the tropical lowlands and grows best where the<br />
temperature varies between 10°C and 20°C or above<br />
2000 m altitude. The kind with very prickly seeds is<br />
frost resistant. <strong>Plants</strong> need a deep well drained soil. It<br />
is a cool season, short day plant. In Nepal it grows to<br />
about 1400 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.<br />
Cultivation: It is normally sown directly by seeds. <strong>Plants</strong> need to be 25 cm apart.<br />
Production: The older leaves are picked off. They can be harvested starting at 8 weeks.<br />
Use: Leaves are cooked in a small amount of water. They are also used in soups and salads.<br />
Young leaves are eaten raw and older leaves are cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 92.9 57 2.4 2.9 819 29 0.8<br />
Insects:<br />
Aulacophora spp. Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybirds<br />
Lygaeus hospes Fab. Lygaeidae (HEM) A leaf sucking bug<br />
Psylliodes sp. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Spoladia recurvalis (Fab.) Pyralidae (LEP) Beet webworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora beticola Sacc.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not often seen in Papua New Guinea.
132<br />
Names<br />
English: Striped cucumber Scientific name: Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) C Jeffrey<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Bryonopsis affinis (Endl.) Cogn.<br />
Tok ples: Kongakonga Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A slender climbing plant with angular<br />
stems. The stems are weak but the lower part can be<br />
somewhat woody. It can climb to 2-4 m high. The<br />
stems are angular and grooved. The rootstock is fleshy.<br />
The leaves have 3 or 5 lobes divided like fingers on a<br />
hand and are 10-15 cm wide by 6-17 cm long. There<br />
are fine teeth on the top edges of the leaves and the<br />
leaves are angular. The leaves are rough on top but<br />
smooth underneath. The leaf stalks are 3-9 cm long.<br />
The stem has tendrils which have 1 or 2 branches.<br />
Flowers are small and yellow or green. Male and<br />
female flowers are separate but often together near a<br />
leaf. Often one or two female flowers are surrounded<br />
by several male flowers. The fruit is 4 cm long and<br />
green with pale streaks along it. The leaves and stems<br />
give off a bad smell when damaged.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It occurs on the coast in PNG and grows up to about 1000 m<br />
above sea level. It needs a well drained soil and can grow in a sunny or partial shady position.<br />
The plant also grows in Africa, India, Malaysia, China and Australia. There are a couple of<br />
subspecies.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seeds or cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten, cooked.<br />
Caution: The fruit are claimed to be poisonous.<br />
It is considered to be poisonous in Australia, but is eaten in India.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A reasonably common wild creeper in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and<br />
many tropical countries. Leaves are used in the Gazelle Peninsula.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
133<br />
Edible ferns
Edible ferns<br />
134<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Vegetable fern Diplazium esculentum 135<br />
Diplazium cordifolium 136<br />
Diplazium asperum 137<br />
Tree fern Cyathea angiensis 138<br />
Cyathea contaminans 139<br />
Cyathea hornei 140<br />
Cyathea lunulata 141<br />
Cyathea rubiginosa 142<br />
Cyclosorus interruptus 143<br />
Climbing swamp fern Stenochlaena palustris 144<br />
Stenochlaena milnei 145<br />
Giant Creek fern Pneumatopteris sogerensis 146<br />
Golden mangrove fern Acrostichum aureum 147<br />
Ladder fern Nephrolepis biserrata 148<br />
Mangrove fern Acrostichum speciosum 149<br />
Hairy sword fern Nephrolepis hirsutula 150<br />
Microsorum linguaeforme 151<br />
King fern Angiopteris evecta 152<br />
Asplenium affine 153<br />
Bird’s nest fern Asplenium nidus 154<br />
Microsorum scolopendria 155<br />
Adder’s tongue Ophioglossum reticulatum 156<br />
Bungwall Blechnum orientale 157<br />
Parsley fern Botrychium australe 158<br />
Kumugras Callipteris prolifera 159<br />
Water fern Ceratopteris thalictroides 160<br />
Rock fern Drynaria quercifolia 161<br />
Dryopteris sparsa 162<br />
Flowering fern Helminthostachys zeylanica 163<br />
Climbing maidenhair<br />
fern<br />
Lygodium microphyllum 164<br />
Marattia sp. 165
135<br />
Names<br />
English: Vegetable-fern Scientific name: Diplazium esculentum Swartz<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Athyrium esculentum (Retz.)Copel<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Aspleniaceae/Athyriaceae<br />
Description: A large fern with an upright stem. It<br />
forms tufts. It can be 1 m high and 1 m wide. It<br />
usually grows as a large clump. It spreads by<br />
underground runners. They have feather like fronds<br />
which are 50 to 80 cm long and divided 2 or 3 times.<br />
The leaf stalks are black near the bottom. The<br />
secondary leaflets are pointed at the tip. The end<br />
sections of the leaf are many, about 8 cm long and 1 cm<br />
wide. The leaflets are notched like a saw and about 2<br />
to 5 cm long.<br />
Distribution: It grows in moist tropical places. It<br />
mostly occurs in coastal areas. It is common in wet<br />
areas. It also occurs in Malaysia, Indonesia,<br />
Philippines and Fiji and is used as a food there. They<br />
are widely distributed in the Philippines on areas of<br />
gravel and the banks of streams. <strong>Plants</strong> are frost tender.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from spores. They need to be in a well drained potting<br />
medium and kept with a high humidity. The spores need a temperature of 21°C and sown as<br />
soon as ripe. <strong>Plants</strong> should be transplanted into a moist well drained soil with partial shade.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown by separating out the underground runners.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fronds are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves 91.8 88 3.6 4.4 25<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: One of the commonly used and popular ferns of the Asian tropical lowland areas.<br />
Young freshly uncurled fronds are common in markets.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
136<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Diplazium cordifolium Blume<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Athyrium cordifolium (Bl.) Copel<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Aspleniaceae<br />
Description: A fern with a tufted rhizome covered with<br />
brown or black scales. It has a tufted rootstock. The<br />
fronds are up to 50 cm long and 12 cm wide and stick<br />
straight up. The fronds are entire and not divided. They<br />
are long and thin and rounded at the base. The tip<br />
comes to a point. The spore bodies are long and narrow<br />
and can be straight or curved.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It<br />
grows in small areas of the tropical rainforest. It is<br />
temperature sensitive needing a minimum temperature<br />
over 10°C. It likes a moist protected situation. It suits<br />
a shady position.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fronds have been recorded as eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A minor food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
137<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Diplazium asperum Blume<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Athyrium asperum (Bl.) Copel<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Aspleniaceae<br />
Description: A fern which grows on land, with fronds<br />
3 metres high. The stem is mostly underground and<br />
densely covered with roots. The leaves are crowded<br />
and have long stalks. Leaves can be 3 m long. The leaf<br />
stalk is rough.<br />
Distribution: These ferns mostly occur between 250<br />
and 1500 metres above sea level. They grow best in<br />
humid, moist and lightly shaded places near creeks and<br />
on forest edges.<br />
Cultivation: They grow wild.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young, not quite unfolded leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A wild edible leaf eaten occasionally in mid altitude areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
138<br />
Names<br />
English: Tree fern Scientific name: Cyathea angiensis (Gepp.) Domin<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Alsophila angiensis Gepp in Gibbs<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cyatheaceae<br />
Description: A tree fern. It has about 12 fronds. They<br />
are divided 2 or 3 times. The fronds can be 1-2 m long.<br />
There are 3 rings of fronds with 4-5 fronds in each.<br />
The old fronds drop off.<br />
Distribution: They require abundant moisture and do<br />
best in part shade. They grow in open forest often near<br />
streams. They are most common in Papua New<br />
Guinea between 600-2200 m. They are frost tender.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fronds are eaten with meat.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
139<br />
Names<br />
English: Tree fern Scientific name: Cyathea contaminans (Wallich ex Hooker) Copeland<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Alsophila contaminans Wall. ex Hook.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cyatheaceae<br />
Description: A tree fern. It has erect trunks 5-8 m tall.<br />
The trunks can be 20 m tall. The trunks are 12-15 cm<br />
thick. It has many roots. These make the base thick.<br />
The fronds are 2-3.5 m long and have scales on all<br />
surfaces. The fronds are divided 2 or 3 times. The<br />
fronds have many side leaflets. These are 50-75 cm<br />
long. The secondary leaflets are 8-12 mm long. The<br />
spore bodies are on the under surface of the fronds.<br />
They are near the rib. The covering over these falls off<br />
early. The old fronds fall off.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. They require abundant<br />
moisture and do best in part shade. They grow in open<br />
forest often near streams. It mostly grows between<br />
200-1600 m. They are frost tender.<br />
Cultivation: These ferns mostly grow naturally. They are preserved when bush is being cleared<br />
for gardens. They can easily be raised from spores on the back of fronds. They can be<br />
transplanted if some roots are included and the fronds are trimmed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young fronds are cooked and eaten with meat.<br />
Caution: Leaves of Cyathea ferns are known to contain chemicals called flavenoid glycosides.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, a very common and important green leafy vegetable,<br />
especially at pig feasts.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
140<br />
Names<br />
English: Tree fern Scientific name: Cyathea hornei (Baker) Copel<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Alsophila hornei Baker<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cyatheaceae<br />
Description: A tree fern. It is rather slender in the<br />
trunk and 3-4 m high. The stem of the frond is 25 cm<br />
long and very dark. The part near the base has pale<br />
edged scales. The lower leaflets on the stalk are<br />
reduced and narrow. The largest leaflets are 40-50 cm<br />
long. There fertile and sterile leaflets have different<br />
shapes. The fertile ones are 50-60 mm long by 11-17<br />
mm wide. (It is smaller in size than other tree ferns and<br />
rhizomes or suckers which produce new plants. The<br />
ferns therefore occur in a clump.)<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet<br />
forest and stunted mossy forest. It grows between<br />
about 700 and 2,000 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: The young fronds are occasionally cooked and eaten.<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
141<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Cyathea lunulata (J.Forster) Copeland<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Alsophila lunulata R.Br.;<br />
Tok ples: Balabala Plant family: Cyatheaceae<br />
Description: A large tree fern. The trunk is erect and<br />
can be 8-10 m high. The fronds are divided 3 times.<br />
They can be 6 m long.<br />
Distribution: It grows in tropical and subtropical<br />
locations. They grow from sea level to 100 m altitude.<br />
They grow in the rainforest.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young fronds are eaten in times of scarcity.<br />
The white pith of the stem is cooked in an earth oven and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Pith<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Importance: A famine food.<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
142<br />
Names<br />
English: Tree fern Scientific name: Cyathea rubiginosa (Brause) Domin<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Alsophila rubiginosa Brause<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cyatheaceae<br />
Description: A tree fern. The trunk is erect. It grows 5<br />
m tall. The fronds are divided 2 or 3 times. The fronds<br />
are 2-3 m long. The stalk is purple and has many small<br />
spines. There are a few large scattered scales. The<br />
spore groups are near the mid vein of fertile smallest<br />
leaflets. They have a very thin fragile covering.<br />
Distribution: They require abundant moisture and do<br />
best in part shade. They grow in open forest often near<br />
streams. It mostly grows between 110-2840 m altitude.<br />
They are frost tender<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
143<br />
Names<br />
English: fern Scientific name: Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H. Ito<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Pteris interruptus Willd.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Thelypteridaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized fern. It forms<br />
extensive spreading patches. The rootstock is<br />
creeping and has many branches. The fronds<br />
are erect, leathery and dark green. They can<br />
be 1 m long. The segments of the fronds are<br />
lobed and sword shaped. They are largest at<br />
the base of the frond. The largest leaflets are<br />
8-15 cm long by 1-1.8 cm wide. They are<br />
leathery. There are hairs on the veins<br />
underneath the leaf. The stalk has papery<br />
scales on it. The fruit spot of spores are under<br />
the leaf in a zigzag line along the edge of the<br />
leaf.<br />
Distribution: It grows in swamps. It can grow in wet clay soil and sunny locations. It can stand<br />
frost. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 1,500 m altitude but mostly it is at low<br />
altitudes below 50 m.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from division of the rhizome or from spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young growing point and young fronds have been recorded as eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
144<br />
Names<br />
English: Climbing swamp fern Scientific name: Stenochlaena palustris (Burm.f.) Bedd<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Polypodium palustre Burm.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Blechnaceae<br />
Description: A climbing or scrambling<br />
fern with a thin smooth rhizome which<br />
climbs up sago palms and tree trunks.<br />
The stems are brown smooth and less<br />
than 1 cm across. They are only<br />
sparingly branched. The fronds are up to<br />
80 cm long and have leaflets. The<br />
fronds droop. The fronds have several<br />
leaflets and are often red in colour when<br />
young. Fertile fronds when they occur,<br />
are at the top and are thin.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It is widely distributed in areas of shrub especially in<br />
swampy coastal areas. It likes warm, waterlogged partly cleared forest sites. It is frost sensitive.<br />
Cultivation: It is easily grown.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young shoots are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A common fern in lowland areas and eaten in several different places in Papua<br />
New Guinea. Also eaten in other countries.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
145<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Stenochlaena milnei Underw.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Blechnaceae<br />
Description: A scrambling creeping fern. It has its<br />
base rooted to the ground but climbs up trees. The<br />
fronds are widely spaced and come out horizontally but<br />
then hang down. The rhizome is 10-15 mm across and<br />
pale green. Sometimes it is covered with a bluish<br />
bloom. The rhizome is smooth but with dark small<br />
circular scales. The fronds are 100 - 150 cm long and<br />
3-5 cm wide. The fertile segments of the divided<br />
fronds are 4-7 mm wide and 15-30 cm long. They<br />
occur higher on the plant.<br />
Distribution: They occur in well drained lowland<br />
rainforest. They can occur in sago swamps and near<br />
rivers. They occur between sea level and 300 m<br />
altitude. They occur in the Philippines, Papua New<br />
Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Often they occur<br />
with Stenochlaena palustris but tends to be more robust<br />
and in less swampy conditions.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are probably occasionally eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
146<br />
Names<br />
English: Giant Creek Fern Scientific name: Pneumatopteris sogerensis (A. Gepp.) Holttum<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Thelypteridaceae<br />
Description: A fern which grows on dry land. It forms<br />
large clumps. The rootstock forms a short slender<br />
trunk. The fronds are 50-200 cm long by 40-60 cm<br />
across. They are dark green and soft or fleshy. The<br />
side leaflets (pinnae) spread at right angles and are 20-<br />
30 cm long by 2.5-3 cm wide. The lowest 5 or 6 pairs<br />
occur as small lobes.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in Indonesia, Papua New<br />
Guinea and the Solomons as well as Australia. It grows<br />
near streams and on gentle slopes. It is in rainforests<br />
often at medium to high altitudes above sea level. It<br />
can grow in temperate regions. It does best in a<br />
sheltered position where there is adequate moisture and<br />
a well drained soil. It grows better if kept well watered<br />
and improves when fertilisers are applied.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
147<br />
Names<br />
English: Golden Mangrove fern Scientific name: Acrostichum aureum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pteridaceae/Adiantaceae<br />
Description: A fern with a short to medium creeping<br />
rhizome. The rhizome is up to 3 cm thick. It has large<br />
fleshy roots. The fronds are erect and up to 4 m long.<br />
The leaflets are large, thick and leathery. They are only<br />
divided once. They have blunt tips. They often have a<br />
yellowish colour. It grows in clumps or spreads out<br />
over the ground. Under the uppermost leaves there is<br />
often a mass of spores in a brown sugary mass.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. Usually found in open<br />
swampy or mangrove situations. It cannot tolerate<br />
saltwater. It grows in Australia in the Northern<br />
Territory and Queensland. It is eaten in the Solomon<br />
Islands. It occurs throughout the tropics. It is very<br />
frost tender. It occurs in brackish pools and swamps<br />
and creeks near the beach.<br />
Cultivation: It is slow to re-establish if transplanted. Often transplanted plants die. The best<br />
option is to transplant young plants growing from spores. It can be grown from spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves (fronds) are eaten in salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is used as food in Australia, but it is not known if it is used for food in Papua<br />
New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
148<br />
Names<br />
English: Ladder fern Scientific name: Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Davalliaceae/ Nephrolepidaceae/<br />
Oleandraceae<br />
Description: A tufted fern with slender runners. The<br />
rhizomes have scales. The fronds can be up to 2.5 m<br />
long, erect and bright green. They are divided once. It<br />
is a coarse woody fern that grows in tangled colonies.<br />
These small plants grow from the branched wiry<br />
runners. The spore bearing bodies are round and lie in<br />
a row between the midrib and leaf edge.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It prefers open or<br />
lightly shaded areas often along rocks. It can grow as<br />
an epiphyte on the trunks of palms. It is very frost<br />
tender. It probably grows up to about 1000 m altitude.<br />
It can tolerate some salt. Often it is in wet areas in soil<br />
with a high humus content.<br />
Cultivation: The ferns are easily grown in warm areas,<br />
but they are not easily transplanted. They can be grown<br />
from spores or more commonly by separating off the<br />
small plants.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young shoots and rhizomes are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Shoots<br />
Rhizome<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
149<br />
Names<br />
English: Mangrove fern Scientific name: Acrostichum speciosum Willd.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Adiantaceae<br />
Description: A coarse clumpy fern. It<br />
grows 1.5 m tall and has a creeping<br />
underground stem (rhizome) forming<br />
clumps. The stem is 5 cm across and 10<br />
cm high. It is covered with brown<br />
scales. The leaves are erect fronds. The<br />
leaflets are on either side of the leaf<br />
stalk. The stalk of the frond is 50 cm<br />
long and 0.3-0.8 cm thick. The fronds<br />
are 1.5 m long. The leaflets are 20 cm<br />
long by 3.5 cm wide. They are<br />
somewhat thick and leathery. They are<br />
dull dark green. They taper to a narrow<br />
tip.<br />
The stalks for these leaflets are 1 cm long. The spores are produced on the upper fertile fronds.<br />
These are smaller than the sterile fronds. The spores cover the entire under surface as a dark<br />
brown mass. In Australia fertile fronds are produced in June.<br />
Distribution: It grows in coastal flats and tidal areas. It is associated with mangroves. It can<br />
stand being flooded frequently by saltwater. This is the only fern found growing with<br />
mangroves. It occurs in Australia and Asia. It is very frost tender.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are very difficult to transplant. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from young spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The root is used for food. The starch is extracted and eaten.<br />
Also the young curled shoots can be cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Starch<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is used as food in Australia, but it is not known if it is used for food in Papua<br />
New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
150<br />
Names<br />
English: Hairy Sword Fern Scientific name: Nephrolepis hirsutula (Forst.)Presl.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Davalliaceae<br />
Description: A coarse fern with<br />
creeping rootstocks. It keeps growing<br />
from year to year and forms dense<br />
colonies. The stem is erect producing a<br />
tuft of fronds. The stalks are 10-40 cm<br />
long and pale brown. The fronds are<br />
narrow with leaflets. The fronds are 0.3<br />
to 1.2 m long and 8 to 15 cm wide. They<br />
are erect or arch over. The leaflets are 5-<br />
10 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The base<br />
has a narrow, triangle shaped lobe.<br />
There are rounded teeth along the edge.<br />
The plant grows both on the ground and<br />
on other plants.<br />
It is smaller than Nephrolepis biserrata. The fertile leaflets are more narrow than the sterile<br />
ones. The spore bodies or sori are near the edge of the leaf.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. Widely distributed in low and medium altitudes in the<br />
Philippines. Common in Asia and the Pacific. It is normally in lowland areas near rainforest. It<br />
is very frost tender.<br />
Cultivation: It is easily grown but not easily transplanted. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from spores or<br />
from small plants produced on runners.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young shoots are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
151<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Microsorum linguaeforme<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Polypodium musifolium Bl.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Polypodiaceae<br />
Description: A fern with a thin rhizome. It is<br />
long and creeping. They creep on high trees.<br />
The fronds are 15-40 cm long. The fronds do<br />
not have stalks. They have expanded bases<br />
which surround the stem. They are broadly<br />
oval but constricted near the base. The leaflets<br />
are sword shaped in the upper part and taper to<br />
the tip. The roots form soft masses covered<br />
with broad hairs. The spore producing bodies<br />
are few and are scattered.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> grow on trees in primary<br />
and secondary rainforest.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
152<br />
Names<br />
English: King fern, Giant fern Scientific name: Angiopteris evecta (G. Forst.) Hoffm.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Angiopteridaceae/ Marattiaceae<br />
Description: A tree fern. It grows to 6 m<br />
high. The crown can be 12 m across. The<br />
erect rhizome or trunk can be 1 m high and 80<br />
cm across in older plants. This trunk is fleshy<br />
with thick fleshy roots. It can just have a tuft<br />
of leaves coming from near ground level.<br />
Because there is no hard tissue, the water<br />
pressure inside the stalk keeps the leaves erect.<br />
This frond will therefore collapse in dry<br />
weather. Where the stem of the frond joins the<br />
trunk is a large ear-shaped leafy structure<br />
(stipule). The leaves are 2-7 m long and 1-2.5<br />
m wide.<br />
The leaves can be divided 2 to 4 times. The small leaflets are 13 cm long and finely toothed<br />
around the edge. There are 3-7 pairs of spore bearing organs in double rows along the veins.<br />
The fronds are very fleshy and contain a lot of starch.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It is a lowland forest plant. They grow naturally on fertile, moist<br />
soil in the rainforest. Often they are near streams and waterfalls. They commonly grow in<br />
partial shade. They grow from sea level to 700 m altitude. They can survive some frost once<br />
plants are 3-4 years old. They cannot tolerate dry conditions. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are normally grown from the stipules or leafy structure at the base of the<br />
leaflet. It may take 12-18 months for the shoots to form. It is difficult to grow this fern from<br />
spores. Small plantlets already developing from the base of the fronds can be removed and<br />
planted.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> grow quickly. They grow slowly in cool areas.<br />
Use: The young fiddle heads or unopened young fronds are eaten.<br />
Flour can be made from the stalks and rhizomes.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fronds<br />
Flour<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Occasionally used in Papua New Guinea to extract starch. It has been used in the<br />
Society Islands.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
153<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Asplenium affine Sw.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Aspleniaceae<br />
Description: A fern which grows to 50 cm high. The<br />
leafy fronds are 25 cm long. They are twice divided.<br />
The segments of the leaflets are not the same shape on<br />
both side of the midrib. The spore cluster under the<br />
leaf is about 5 mm long.<br />
Distribution:<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
154<br />
Names<br />
English: Bird’s Nest Fern Scientific name: Asplenium nidus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Neottopteris nidis J.Smith<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Aspleniaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen fern. It<br />
grows to 1.5 m high and spreads 3 m<br />
across. It can grow by feeding on other<br />
plants. It forms nest like bowls on the<br />
upper side of branches. The<br />
underground thickened horizontal stem<br />
is dark brown and short. It is covered<br />
with blackish scales. The roots are<br />
hairy. The fronds grow out from a<br />
central point so that the fern forms<br />
rounded tussocks. The fronds are simple<br />
and entire and sword shape. The fronds<br />
can be 2 m long and up to 20 cm wide.<br />
They are dark or yellowish green. They<br />
have a raised, bluntly rounded mid vein.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It grows in well drained moist soils. It prefers a well<br />
protected partly shaded position but not heavy shade. It is drought and frost tender. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: In the Caroline Islands and Marshall Islands young leaves are eaten. Also in India.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
155<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Microsorum scolopendria (Burm.f.) Copel<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Polypodiaceae<br />
Description: This fern has a rhizome which is long and<br />
creeping. The fern grows to 65 cm high. The rhizome<br />
is fleshy, green and up to 8 mm across. It is sparsely<br />
covered with light brown scales. The fronds are light<br />
green and up to 10-60 cm long and 25-30 cm wide.<br />
The base of the frond is swollen. They have a variable<br />
number of lobes which are 4-15 cm long. The sori are<br />
2-3 mm across and situated near the mid vein. They<br />
form 2 or 3 rows on each side of the rib.<br />
Distribution: It is a hardy tropical species often found<br />
on trees or rocks in protected places near the edges of<br />
rainforest. They are frost tender. It grows best in light<br />
shade.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from spores or division of the rhizome. They are easily grown<br />
or transplanted.<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
156<br />
Names<br />
English: Adder’s Tongue Scientific name: Ophioglossum reticulatum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Ophioglossaceae<br />
Description: A fern. It is a herb. It grows 5-35 cm<br />
high. The rhizome is like a cylinder with many thin<br />
roots. The stalk of the frond is 3-8 cm long. The<br />
fronds are distinct. The sterile fronds are 3.5 cm long<br />
by 2 cm wide. They are oval and the base is heart<br />
shaped. The fertile frond is 2-2.5 cm long and on a<br />
slender stalks coming from the base of the sterile frond.<br />
Distribution: It grows amongst grass in open forest. In<br />
Nepal it grows up to 1400 m altitude. It grows in<br />
moist, shady places.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from spores. They can also be grown from parts of the roots.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fronds are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
157<br />
Names<br />
English: Bungwall Scientific name: Blechnum orientale L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Blechnaceae<br />
Description: A medium to tall fern. It grows 0.3-1.2 m<br />
tall. It forms round clumps. The stem is short and has<br />
brown scales with very small teeth. The fronds can be<br />
1 m high. The fronds are spreading or erect, forming a<br />
rosette. They often droop at the tips. The side leaflets<br />
are thin and long, with a long pointed tip. They do not<br />
have teeth along the edge. They are about 20-25 cm<br />
long and 0.8-1.8 cm wide. They are attached directly to<br />
the stalk. The youngest leaflets are pink. The leaf<br />
segments are rounded and smallest at the base. The<br />
fronds are dark green and shiny. The spore bodies are<br />
produced under the fertile fronds which have an<br />
appearance similar to the other fronds. These spores<br />
occur in a long continuous line along both sides of the<br />
midrib.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It occurs in rainforest<br />
and swampy areas. It grows best with regular water but<br />
can tolerate some sun and dryness. It grows in forest<br />
clearings and along roadsides. It is frost tender. It can<br />
grow on rocky edges of waterfalls.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The rhizome is eaten after cooking and pounding.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Rhizome<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
158<br />
Names<br />
English: Parsley fern, Austral moonwort Scientific name: Botrychium australe R.Br.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Ophioglossaceae<br />
Description: A tufted fern which grows to 40 cm high.<br />
It continues to grow from year to year and grows on dry<br />
land. The rhizome or underground stem is thick and<br />
fleshy. It does not have scales or hairs. Both fertile<br />
and sterile leaves occur from a common stem which is<br />
2-5 cm long. The sterile leaves are 5-45 cm long and 5-<br />
20 cm wide. They are triangular shaped. They are<br />
divided up to 5 times. They are bright green and<br />
resemble parsley leaves. The fertile stalk is 10-20 cm<br />
long and branched 2 or 3 times. The spore bodies occur<br />
in rows and crowded on either side. The new frond is<br />
not curled when a bud.<br />
Distribution: It grows in open forests and near the<br />
edges of rainforests. It needs light shade. It requires an<br />
acid soil. The soil should be well drained but moist.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from offshoots. It needs a good supply of organic material.<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
159<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Callipteris prolifera (Lam.)Bory<br />
Tok pisin: Kumugras Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Aspleniaceae, Athyriaceae<br />
Description: A fern with a tufted,<br />
woody, black rhizome covered with<br />
black scales. The trunk is short. The<br />
plant forms rounded clumps. The stem<br />
of the fronds is triangular in cross<br />
section. It is spiny. The fronds are erect<br />
and up to 2 m long. They arch over.<br />
They are fleshy and pale green. The<br />
leaflets are in one row with the base<br />
ending abruptly. These leaflets are<br />
curved and with a scalloped edge. The<br />
top end has a tail.<br />
The spore or fruit spots are brown in double rows between the ribs. The spore groups are<br />
arranged in long V shaped pairs under the fronds. Small plantlets often grow along the fronds on<br />
the upper half.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in the tropical lowlands. It likes hot humid places. It occurs in East and<br />
West New Britain and Manus in Papua New Guinea. It often grows along creeks. It grows in<br />
rainforest. The fronds are brittle and easily damaged by the wind. It can grow in shady places.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from the small plantlets on the fronds. It is best to grow it in soil,<br />
in gardens. It can be grown from spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fronds are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A commonly used fern in New Britain and Manus in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
160<br />
Names<br />
English: Swamp fern, Water sprite Scientific name: Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Bronin<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Acrostichum thalictroides L<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Parkeriaceae<br />
Description: A fern which grows in water. It is an<br />
annual plant. It grows 10-35 cm tall. It has soft upright<br />
stalks with light green soft fronds. The rhizome is short<br />
and sticks up. There are thin, clear, scales on the<br />
rhizome. The leaves vary from simple leaves, to leaves<br />
which are divided 3 times. The stem is anchored in<br />
mud. It grows as tufted clumps. Leaves are like carrot<br />
tops. The stem of the frond is spongy and air filled. It<br />
can grow under the water or be free floating. It<br />
produces small plants on the fronds. The fertile fronds<br />
which produce the spores, are longer and more finely<br />
divided, than the other fronds. They are more stiff and<br />
erect and turn brown when mature. The plant only lasts<br />
a few months.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows in still or slow<br />
flowing fresh water in the tropics. It occurs in swamps<br />
up to 1300 m altitude in Papua New Guinea, but it is<br />
mostly below 500 m. It can float. It is found in all<br />
tropical countries. It is very frost tender. They occur<br />
throughout the Philippines near sea level on mud and<br />
are able to thrive in shallow water.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown as an aquarium plant. Small pieces of plant will root in mud. Spores<br />
can also grow.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The plant is edible. It can be used raw or cooked.<br />
The young uncurled fronds can be eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
161<br />
Names<br />
English: Rock fern, Oak leaf fern Scientific name: Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Polypodium quercifolia L<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Polypodiaceae<br />
Description: A large fern which grows attached to<br />
other plants. It climbs on trees. It can be 1 m high. It<br />
forms large spreading clumps. The rootstock is thick<br />
and fleshy. There are two kinds of fronds. One forms<br />
the "nest" and these do not have a stem and the others<br />
which are more like leaves and have a stem. The<br />
second ones have stems which are 30 cm long. The<br />
frond is one m long by 40 cm wide. It has deep lobes.<br />
The first kind of fronds have lobes and teeth around the<br />
edge. These turn brown with age but do not fall off the<br />
fern. The young fronds of this fern are different shape<br />
from the mature fronds on established ferns.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland<br />
rainforest. It does best in warm humid conditions. It<br />
can tolerate cool temperatures. It can grow on rocks<br />
and trees in open forests in the tropics.<br />
Cultivation: Pieces of the thick rhizome can be planted in soil or attached to wood. They should<br />
be in light shade while getting established. In cool weather the roots should be allowed to dry<br />
out. <strong>Plants</strong> can loose all their fronds and then regrow in the wet season. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be<br />
grown from spores. These should be sown fresh.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The rhizome is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
162<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Dryopteris sparsa (D. Don) O. Kuntze<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Nephrodium sparsa D. Don<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Aspleniaceae<br />
Description: A fern up to 80 cm tall. It forms clumps.<br />
The rootstock is erect and becomes tufted. It has large<br />
papery scales. The stalks of the fronds are erect, brown<br />
and smooth and shiny. The fronds are 30-80 cm tall.<br />
They are broadly triangular and divided 2 or 3 times.<br />
They are dull green, thin and break easily. The spore<br />
bodies are round and have a cover over them.<br />
Distribution: It grows in cool shady positions in<br />
tropical rainforests. It is easily damaged by wind.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from spores which should be sown fresh.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fronds are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
163<br />
Names<br />
English: Flowering fern Scientific name: Helminthostachys zeylanica (L.)Hook.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Osmunda zeylanica L.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Ophioglossaceae<br />
Description: An erect fern with short creeping<br />
underground stout rhizomes. The plant is up to 60 cm<br />
high. They bear solitary or sometimes several fronds.<br />
The stalk of the leaf frond is up to 25-35 cm long and<br />
12-20 cm wide. At the tip it has 3 segments of the<br />
sterile frond. The fertile part is like a spike and comes<br />
from the stalk. The spores are yellow in brown spore<br />
bodies which are 0.8 mm across.<br />
Distribution: A tropical fern. They grow in shady sites<br />
in the forest. They are found throughout the<br />
Philippines in open bushy places near sea level and on<br />
damp ground.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by splitting the rhizomes.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young fronds of this fern are eaten raw as a salad or cooked as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
164<br />
Names<br />
English: Climbing maidenhair fern Scientific name: Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.)R.Br.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Ophioglossum scandens L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Schizaeaceae<br />
Description: A climbing fern which keeps growing<br />
from year to year. It grows 1-3 m long and spreads 30-<br />
90 cm wide. It has slender twining stems. The leaf is<br />
the climbing part. The stalk branches and produces 6-<br />
10 small fronds. The leaves are smooth fronds. They<br />
are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are<br />
light green with short stalks. The leaflets are 6 cm<br />
long. The edges have fine teeth. The spores are<br />
produced on fertile leaflets which are smaller than the<br />
others. These ones have lobes on the edge. The<br />
slender, horizontal, underground stems are fleshy and<br />
brittle.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It can grow in warm<br />
temperate regions. It grows naturally in monsoon<br />
forest near freshwater streams. It grows naturally in<br />
mountain forest. It can form thickets in swampy<br />
coastal country. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from layers or less commonly from spores.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fleshy underground stems have been recorded as eaten.<br />
The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Stems<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
165<br />
Names<br />
English: Fern Scientific name: Marattia sp.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Marattiaceae<br />
Description: A fern with a short creeping starchy<br />
rhizome. The rhizome is large like a tuber. The fronds<br />
are large and shiny. When cut the surface of the<br />
rhizome stains purple.<br />
Distribution:<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild. It can be cultivated.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The starchy rhizome has been processed for starch which is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Starch<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
166
Salak<br />
Salacca zalacca<br />
Bactris gasipaes<br />
Caryota rumphiana<br />
167<br />
Coconut<br />
Cocos nucifera<br />
Palms<br />
Nipa<br />
Nipa fruticans<br />
Buai<br />
Areca catechu<br />
Kambibi<br />
Areca macrocalyx<br />
There are about 32 palms<br />
in Papua New Guinea<br />
that can be used in some<br />
way as food
168<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Coconut Kokonat Cocos nucifera 169<br />
Betel nut Buai Areca catechu 172<br />
Highlands betel nut Kambibi Areca macrocalyx 174<br />
Areca guppyana 175<br />
Areca jobiensis 176<br />
Arenga palm Arenga microcarpa 177<br />
Peach palm Bactris gasipaes 178<br />
Palmyra palm Borassus flabellifer 180<br />
Palmyra like palm Borassus heineana 181<br />
Papua white rattan Calamus hollrungii 182<br />
Fishtail palm Caryota rumphiana var. papuana 183<br />
Corypha palm Corypha utan 184<br />
Oil palm Elaeis guineensis 185<br />
Gronophyllum chaunostachys 187<br />
Gulubia cylindrocarpa 188<br />
Minor walking stick<br />
Linospadix minor 189<br />
palm<br />
Fan palm Livistona benthamii 190<br />
Dwarf fan palm Livistona muelleri 191<br />
Black palm Normanbya normanbyi 192<br />
Date palm Phoenix dactylifera 193<br />
Solitaire palm Ptychosperma elegans 194<br />
Grey cane palm Ptychosperma macarthurii 195<br />
Traveller’s palm Ravenala madagascariensis 196<br />
Cuban royal palm Roystonea regia 197<br />
Claudie River Lawyer<br />
vine<br />
Calamus warburgii 198
169<br />
Names<br />
English: Coconut Scientific name: Cocos nucifera L.<br />
Tok pisin: Kokonat Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A palm with an unbranched trunk. The<br />
trunk has ring-like leaf scars along it. At the base it is<br />
swollen and surrounded by a mass of roots. They grow<br />
to about 25 m tall. The fronds are 2-6 m long. They<br />
are divided along the stalk into strap shaped leaflets.<br />
The leaflets are 60-90 cm long. They are narrow and<br />
tapering. Clusters of large fruit develop beneath the<br />
fronds. Male and female flowers are separate on the<br />
one stalk. Female flowers are near the base. Flowers<br />
are cream. The flowers are covered by boat shaped<br />
bracts. About 10-12 fruit/stalk is a good crop. Leaves<br />
are up to 5 m long. Fruit can be 25 cm across. The<br />
fruit are fibrous. The hard shell inside is filled with<br />
coconut milk and the white copra layer.<br />
Distribution: Mainly in coastal areas but occasionally<br />
up to 1000 m in the tropics. Temperatures of 27°-32°C<br />
are best. They need a minimum temperature of over<br />
18°C to bear fruit. They need over 1000 mm of<br />
rain/year preferably 1500 mm. Soils need to be well<br />
drained. It requires plenty of sunlight. It is salt<br />
tolerant. In Nepal plants grow to 500 m altitude.<br />
Coconuts are normally confined to within 26° of the<br />
equator. It suits hardiness zones 12.<br />
Cultivation: Selected nuts are sprouted in a nursery, then planted out. Seedlings are ready for<br />
transplanting when they have 3-4 leaves (about 1 year). The nut should be planted in a hole 0.6<br />
x 0.6 m. A spacing of about 7-8 m is suitable. Temperatures need to be above 15°C for nuts to<br />
germinate.<br />
Production: Early germinating nuts, give early production in the field. They can commence<br />
production after 6-8 years. The best yeilds are often produced between 12 and 60 years of age.<br />
Trees can live for 100 years. Palms can produce 15-30 nuts per year. Fruit take about 1 year to<br />
be mature. Tapping the flower stalk can give 1 kg sap/day for 6 months.<br />
Use: The liquid of fresh nuts is drunk.<br />
The flesh is eaten, and the "apple" in sprouting nuts is eaten.<br />
The flesh is grated and used in cooking as "coconut" milk.<br />
The young shoots at the top of the palm can be eaten.<br />
The sap from the flower stalk can be tapped for the sugary juice.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Flesh 80.9 119 1.1 0.2 0.2<br />
Milk<br />
Shoots<br />
Sap<br />
84.9 1004 3.7 1.3 8 0.4
170<br />
Insects:<br />
Agapophyta bipunctata Boisd. Pentatomidae (HEM.)<br />
Aleurodicus destructor (Mackie) Aleyrodidae (HEM) Coconut white fly<br />
Amblypelta cocophaga China Coreidae (HEM) Green coconut bug<br />
Amblypelta costalis szentivanyi Brown Coreidae (HEM)<br />
Amblypelta gallegonis Lever Coreidae (HEM)<br />
Amblypelta lutescens papuensis Br. Coreidae (HEM) Papuan tip wilt bug<br />
Amblypelta theobromae Brown Coreidae (HEM) Tip wilt bug<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Sign. Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Astacops dorycus Boisd. Lygaeidae (HEM)<br />
Axiagastus cambelli Dist. Pentatomidae (HEM) Coconut spathe bug<br />
Brontispa longissima Gestro Chrysomelidae (COL) Coconut hispid<br />
Brontispa palmivora Gres Chrysomelidae (COL) Coconut hispid<br />
Brontispa simmondsi Mlk. Chrysomelidae (COL) Coconut hispid<br />
Cephrenes mosleyi (Butl.) Hesperiidae Coconut skipper<br />
Ceroplastes rubens Mask. Coccidae (HEM) Pink wax scale<br />
Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.) Diaspididae (HEM) Florida red scale<br />
Coccus hesperidium L. Coccidae (HEM) Soft brown scale<br />
Darala rubeola Feld. Lasiocampidae (LEP)<br />
Diocalandra frumenti (F.) Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Diocalandra taitense (Guer.) Curculionidae (COL) Lesser coconut borer<br />
Dynastes gideon (L.) Scarabaeidae (COL) Elephant beetle<br />
Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealy bug<br />
Erionota thrax (L.) Hesperiidae (LEP) Banana skipper<br />
Eumossula gracilis Willemse Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut tree hopper<br />
Ischiosopha ignatipennis Boisd. Cetoniidae (COL)<br />
Lophotectes penicilliger (Heller) Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Meredolus cocotis Marshall Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Microtermes biroi Desneaux Rhinotermitidae (ISOP)<br />
Oryctes centaurus Sternb Scarabaeidae (COL)<br />
Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) Scarabaeidae (COL) Asiatic rhinoceros beetle<br />
Oxya japonica (Thnb.) Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Papuana spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Promecotheca papuana Csiki Hispidae (COL) Coconut leaf miner<br />
Psammoecus sp. Silvanidae (COL)<br />
Pseudoligota sp. Staphylinidae (COL)<br />
Rhabdoscelus obscurus Boisduval Curculionidae (COL) Cane weevil borer<br />
Rhynchophorus bilineatus (Montr.) Curculionidae (COL) Black palm weevil<br />
Rhynchophorus ferrugineous (Oliv.) Curculionidae (COL) Red palm weevil<br />
Scapanes australis grossepunctatus Sternb. Dynastidae (COL) N G rhinoceros beetle<br />
Scapanes australis australis (Boisd.) Dynastidae (COL)<br />
Segetes cornelii Willemse Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut treehoppers<br />
Segestidea defoliatria defoliatria Ulvavov Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut treehoppers<br />
Segestidea gracilis (Willemse) Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut treehoppers<br />
Segestidea hanoverana Willemse Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut treehoppers<br />
Segestidea insulana Willemse Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut treehoppers<br />
Segestidea montana Willemse Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut treehoppers<br />
Segestidea novaeguineae Brancsik Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut treehoppers<br />
Sparganobasis subcruciatus Marsh Curculionidae (COL) Coconut bole weevil<br />
Thosea sinensis (Walker) Limacodidae (LEP) Coconut cup moth<br />
Tirathaba ignevena Hmps. Pyralidae (LEP) Coconut spathe moth<br />
Tirathaba rufivena Walker Pyralidae (LEP) Coconut spathe moth<br />
Trichogomphus excavatus Mohinke Scarabaeidae (COL)<br />
Trichogomphus semmelinki Rits Scarabaeidae (COL) Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Xyleborus exiguus Walk. Scolytidae (COL) Island pinhole borer<br />
Xyleborus perforans (Wollastan) Scolytidae (COL) Coconut shot-hole borer
171<br />
Xyleborus potens Schedl. Scolytidae (COL)<br />
Zophiuma lobulata Ghauri Lophopidae (HEM) Lophopid treehopper<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungi Capnodium sp.<br />
Chaetothyrium sp.<br />
Meliola sp.<br />
Stem bleeding Fungus Ceratocystis paradoxa<br />
Black leaf mould Fungi Clasterosporium cocoicola M B Ellis & D Shaw<br />
And Sporidesmium macrurum<br />
White thread blight Fungus Corticium penicillatum Petch<br />
Leaf spots Fungi Bipolaris incurvata<br />
And Pestalotiopsis palmarum<br />
Pseudoepicoccum cocos (F.L.Stev.) M.B.Ellis<br />
Root rot Fungus Ganoderma lucidum<br />
And Rigidoporus microporus<br />
Brown root rot Fungus Phellinus noxius<br />
Bud rot Fungus Phytophthora palmivora<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A common and popular snack food and supplement in all coastal areas of Papua<br />
New Guinea. Coconuts are normally eaten everyday.
172<br />
Names<br />
English: Betel nut Scientific name: Areca catechu L.<br />
Tok pisin: Buai Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A straight slender palm up to 30 m tall.<br />
The leaves can spread 5 m across. The trunk is slender<br />
and erect. The trunk has rings around it and is about 10<br />
to 15 cm across. The fronds or leaves are divided into<br />
leaflets along a stalk. The leaves are a dark green and<br />
1.5 m long with leaf divisions about 25 cm long. The<br />
leaves arch over. The ends of the leaflets have<br />
irregularly placed teeth. A much branched flower<br />
cluster develops below the sheath. This can be 60 cm<br />
long with pale yellow flowers. The female flower<br />
occurs on its own at the base surrounded by small,<br />
white, sweet smelling male flowers. The fruit are egg<br />
shaped and up to 7 cm long. They change from green<br />
to red or yellow as they ripen.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. They occur from sea<br />
level up to 900 m altitude in the tropics. It does best in<br />
rich moist soils in a shady, sheltered position. It needs<br />
soils of reasonable depth for good production. <strong>Plants</strong><br />
are drought and frost tender. The seed needs to be<br />
sown when temperatures are 24-27°C. <strong>Plants</strong> can<br />
tolerate temperatures down to a minimum of 13-15°C.<br />
Found in settled areas throughout the Philippines. It<br />
grows in Nepal up to 400 m altitude. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seed. The seedlings are transplanted at 1-2 years of age. A<br />
spacing of 3 m between plants is the best spacing. Bananas can be used to provide temporary<br />
shade while betel nut palms get established. Holes 50 cm across and deep need to be dug. The<br />
seedlings should be planted 20 cm below ground level. As emerging prop roots develop the hole<br />
should be filled in.<br />
Production: The palm commences bearing fruit after about 7 years. The fruit take 6-8 months<br />
to ripen.<br />
Use: The nut is chewed (with lime and betel pepper) as a masticatory.<br />
The heart of the palm is edible and eaten raw or cooked.<br />
Caution: Chewing betel nut is associated with cancer of the mouth and throat. It contains<br />
alkaloids and tannins.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nut<br />
Cabbage<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Planococcus citri (Risso) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Citrus mealy bug<br />
Rhabdoscelus obscurus Boisd. Curculionidae (COL) Cane weevil borer<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
173<br />
Scapanes australis australis Boisd. Dynastidae (COL) Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Zophiuma lobulata Ghauri Lophopidae (HEM) no damage noted.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black leaf mould Fungus Acroconidiellina arecae (Berk & Broome) M.B.Ellis<br />
Leaf spots Fungi Guignardia kcalami<br />
And Glomerella cingulata<br />
And Graphium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: occurs as an important social nut and masticatory in all lowland areas of many<br />
Asian and Pacific countries. It is traded into the highland regions.
174<br />
Names<br />
English: Highland Betel nut palm Scientific name: Areca macrocalyx Zipp. ex Blume<br />
Tok pisin: Kambibi Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: This is a small palm up to 2-10 m high. It<br />
has a thick dark green crown. The trunk is straight. It<br />
is green in its younger parts. There are widely spaced<br />
white rings of leaf base scars along the trunk. The<br />
crownshaft is long and narrow. It is 1.2 m long. The<br />
leaves are 2 m long. They stick upwards and do not<br />
arch over. The leaflets are pleated. They vary in width<br />
and spacing. They are dark green above and pale<br />
underneath. It has dead male spikes between the rows<br />
of nuts. It has dense club-like clusters of fruit. The<br />
fruit can be round or elongated. They are deep orange<br />
when mature.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the highlands of Papua New<br />
Guinea mostly between 1000 m and 1900 m.. It grows<br />
in tropical and subtropical areas.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The nuts are used as a substitute for betel nut.<br />
The palm heart is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
Cabbage<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
175<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Areca guppyana<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Bua Lau Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A palm with a thin solitary trunk. It<br />
grows to 3 m tall. It has stilt roots at the base. The<br />
crownshaft is slender and smooth. The crown has short<br />
fronds. Each frond has about 5 pairs of widely spaced<br />
broad pinnae. The fruit are bright red.<br />
Distribution: It grows in tropical rainforests.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The nut is used as betel substitute.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Nut<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
176<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Areca jobiensis Becc.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: See Areca macrocalyx Becc.<br />
Tok ples: Kumul Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A slender palm. The flower stalk is 30-40<br />
cm long and 20-30 cm wide. It has many thickly<br />
crowded twigs. The female flowers are at the base of<br />
the flower cluster and many male flowers surround it.<br />
The many fruit are clustered around the stalk and the<br />
bunch is 15-25 cm long.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It occurs in New Britain<br />
in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Cultivation: Palms are grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The nuts or seeds are used as a substitute for betel nut.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
177<br />
Names<br />
English: Arenga palm Scientific name: Arenga microcarpa Beccari<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A small clumpy palm with several stems.<br />
The palm is 8 m tall and the stems are 10 cm across. It<br />
has leaves which are once branched (unipinnate) and<br />
with narrow, long, leaflets along the leaf stalk. The<br />
leaflets form a V shape along the midrib. The leaflet at<br />
the end is often triangular. The leaf fronds arch over.<br />
The flower stalk is like fishtail palm but smaller. This<br />
stalk is produced from among the leaves. The flower<br />
stalk is large and with simple branching. The highest<br />
flowers are female and the lower ones can be male or of<br />
both sexes. The fruit spikes hang over and are densely<br />
clustered with fruit. The fruit are red and juicy. They<br />
are 1.5 cm across. There are 2-3 seeds inside a fruit.<br />
Distribution: They are widespread and common in the<br />
lowlands of Papua New Guinea. It occurs on rocky<br />
shores and in lowland forest. It is a tropical plant.<br />
Cultivation: They normally grow wild. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seeds.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The shoots are eaten.<br />
It is probable that the male flower could be cut off and the sap collected and boiled to<br />
concentrate the sugar.<br />
Sago starch can probably also be processed from the trunk.<br />
Caution: The juice of the fleshy fruit irritates the skin.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Cabbage<br />
Sap<br />
Sago<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A common palm used for edible shoots in several areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
178<br />
Names<br />
English: Pejibaye, Peach palm Scientific name: Bactris gasipaes Kunth.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Guilielma gasipaes (Kunth) L. H. Bailey<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A tall slender palm with thorny trunk and<br />
suckers at the base. It often has between 1 and 13<br />
stems. The stems are straight and unbranched. They<br />
are 6-24 m tall, 12-26 cm in diameter, with nodes 2-9<br />
cm long and internodes 7-27 cm long at breast height.<br />
The canopy has 10-30 pinnate leaves which are<br />
spineless. The petiole-sheath is 49-179 cm long, the<br />
rachis is 179-396 cm long, and has 180-386 leaflets.<br />
The leaflets are twice forked and leaflets are 58-115 cm<br />
long, 3-6 cm wide. Flowers are separately male and<br />
female on the same stalk of the same palm. Female<br />
flowers are irregularly arranged among male flowers.<br />
Fruit are orange when ripe. and about 5-8 cm across.<br />
They have yellow oily flesh. Fruit without seeds often<br />
occur.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. These palms have good<br />
wind resistance. They have a moderate tolerance of<br />
drought. They grow from sea level to 1200 m altitude<br />
in regions near the equator. It suits the wet tropics.<br />
It is grown from approximately 17°N to 16°S of the equator. It is most productive on deep well<br />
drained soils in the tropics below 800 m altitude and with a well distributed rainfall of 2000-<br />
5000 mm per year and a temperature above 24°C. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seeds or suckers. Normally only 4 suckers per plant are<br />
kept and others removed. Before taking the suckers it is best to partly cut them off and allow<br />
roots to develop more strongly. A spacing of 5-6 m apart is suitable. Under subsistence<br />
conditions palms are often widely spaced but for intensive agriculture it is planted at 400-500<br />
plants/ha for fruit and 3000 to 20 000 plants for heart-of-palm. <strong>Plants</strong> are pollinated by insects<br />
but can be pollinated by wind. Small beetles are attracted to the flower and pollinate the plant in<br />
Central America.<br />
Production: Seeds normally germinate in 30-90 days under normal conditions. Palms grow<br />
rapidly under the best conditions. Palms commence bearing after 5-8 years and may produce for<br />
70-80 years. Fruit is produced in large clusters of 50-100 fruit. Four or five clusters are<br />
produced per year. Fruiting is seasonal. Fruit takes 6 months to mature and keeps well on the<br />
tree. The number of mature fruits per inflorescence (commonly referred to as raceme or bunch)<br />
varies from 0 to 764, with total fruit weight 0-20 kg.<br />
Use: The fruit are used cooked or in preserves. The fruit is also dried and ground into flour.<br />
The flesh of the fruit is eaten raw.<br />
The fruit is boiled in salt water for 3 hours, the seeds removed then eaten.<br />
The kernel of the seeds is also edible.<br />
The palm cabbage is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 50.5 820 0.5 1.5 280 35<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
Kernel<br />
Cabbage<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
179<br />
Importance: It has been introduced to Papua New Guinea. An important food in South<br />
America. In Papua New Guinea it occurs mostly only on research farms and knowledge of how<br />
to use the food is lacking.
180<br />
Names<br />
English: Wine palm, Palmyra Palm Scientific name: Borassus flabellifer L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen palm. It grows to 10-<br />
20 m tall. It can be 40 m high. It spreads to 5 m<br />
across. The stem is stout and it may be 1 m across. It<br />
is often swollen at the base. It has a crown of leaves<br />
shaped like the fingers on a hand or spreading out like a<br />
fan. There can be 30-40 of the fan like leaves at the<br />
crown. The leaves are large with short stout leaf stalks.<br />
There can be 80 slender leaflets which are pointed,<br />
folded and rich green. Younger trees are covered with<br />
dead leaves or leaf bases. Leaves can be 1-2 m across.<br />
The flowers occur in flower stalks up to 1.5 m long.<br />
The male and female flowers occur in different trees.<br />
The females spikes are larger and have a boat shaped<br />
spathe. The fruit are borne in bunches like coconuts.<br />
The fruit are 10-12.5 cm across and slightly flattened at<br />
the ends. They have dark purple skin. Green bracts<br />
occur at the base. Each fruit has 3 seeds. The flesh<br />
resembles the flesh of a coconut.<br />
Distribution: It prefers a well drained soil. It needs a protected sunny position. It is drought<br />
and frost tender. Seed need to have a temperature of 24-29°C to grow. Trees need a temperature<br />
above 15-18°C. It does better in the drier tropics than in the humid tropics. Trees are very<br />
sensitive to cold. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed take 2-6 months to germinate. Seedlings are<br />
difficult to transplant so seed should be sown where they are to grow. To extract the sap, male<br />
flower stalks give more sap than female. The unopened flower stalk is tied with a string then<br />
banged with a mallet for short times over 3 days before the end being sliced off and the sap<br />
collected. A small slither is cut off the end each day to keep the sap flowing.<br />
Production: One flower stalk can yield 2 litres per day of sap. Tapping normally begins when a<br />
palm is 20 years old but then may continue for 30 years.<br />
Use: The flesh and the water of the fruit are edible. They can be eaten fresh or made into icecream.<br />
Edible starch can be extracted from the stem. The palm heart is edible.<br />
The palm can be tapped for sugary sap. This can be drunk, boiled and concentrated or fermented.<br />
The seeds are germinated and the young shoots eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Cabbage<br />
Sap<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: In some countries the fruit are sold in markets. It is not known if it is used for food<br />
in Papua New Guinea. The young seeds are preserved in heavy sugar syrup and sold in jars or<br />
cans.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
181<br />
Names<br />
English: Palmyra like palm Scientific name: Borassus heineana Becc.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A large palm which has separate male and<br />
female trees. The fruit is in 3 sections.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in Papua New Guinea in groves<br />
in headlands projecting into the Sepik River and also<br />
occurs along the Sepik plain.<br />
Cultivation: It grows from seed.<br />
Production: Fruit get too dry when old, so are eaten when young.<br />
Use: The young fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
182<br />
Names<br />
English: Papuan white rattan Scientific name: Calamus hollrungii Becc.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A vigorous climbing palm 10-15 m tall.<br />
The stems are 2.5 cm wide. It can be 26 m long. It<br />
produces side roots at the nodes and can have stilt roots<br />
at the base. The stalk usually ends with a tendril like<br />
structure up to 1 m long. The fronds are 3-4 m long<br />
and usually without a leaf stalk. The sheath around the<br />
stem is armed with spines up to 4 cm long. The leaflets<br />
are 20-40 in number and are broad, long, smooth and<br />
dark green. They are 25 cm long. They have small<br />
spines along the main veins towards the base of the<br />
leaflet. The flower branch is a large hanging branched<br />
flower stalk. The fruit are 0.8-1.2 cm across and cream<br />
in colour.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It is very frost sensitive.<br />
It is mostly found growing in lowland rainforest. It<br />
needs a shady position and well-drained soil. It is often<br />
along stream banks.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. Seed germinate in 3-4 months. Seed should be<br />
sown fresh.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: Unknown what part is edible. Possibly flesh of fruit.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
183<br />
Names<br />
English: Fishtail palm Scientific name: Caryota rumphiana var. papuana Becc.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A spineless palm with delta shaped<br />
leaflets. It grows to a height of 18 m and spreads to 5<br />
m across. The stem is slender and erect. The leaflets<br />
are bipinnate (Two branches on the leaves) and the<br />
whole leaf is up to 5-6 m long and 3-4 m wide. The<br />
leaves have irregular teeth on the edges towards the top.<br />
The leaves arch over. The flowers are purple and<br />
yellow-green. They occur on long spikes. These can<br />
be 3 m long. These fruiting stalks are stout. Long<br />
chains of fruit hang from near the leaves along this<br />
stalk. The fruit are bluish. The fruit irritate the skin of<br />
people.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. The palm is common<br />
and widespread at low elevations in Papua New<br />
Guinea. It grows up to at least 1200 m altitude. It will<br />
grow on most soils. It needs a protected, warm, moist<br />
position. It is sensitive to frost. It suits hardiness zones<br />
10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild. It can be grown from seeds. Seed need to be sown while fresh.<br />
Seed can take 6-12 months to germinate.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The pith of the young trunk is eaten (Heart cabbage)<br />
The trunk is sometimes used to pound for sago starch.<br />
The trunk is also used to cultivate sago grubs.<br />
Caution: The juice of the fruit can irritate the skin.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein<br />
Cabbage<br />
Starch<br />
Sago grubs<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A common palm in lowland areas of Papua New Guinea but only of minor<br />
importance as a food. It has cultural significance in some areas e.g. Kaluli near Mt Bosavi.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
184<br />
Names<br />
English: Corypha palm Scientific name: Corypha utan Lam.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Corypha elata Roxb.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: The largest and most stately member of<br />
the palm family. It is tall and single stemmed. It grows<br />
to 20 m high. The trunk can be 1 m across. The bark is<br />
smooth, grey, and has rings around it. The leaves are<br />
very large and fan shaped. The leaves are rounded, and<br />
the blade can up to 3 m long by 3 m across. The leaf is<br />
deeply divided from about half way up, into many<br />
pointed lobes. The leaf stalk is 2-4 m long. The leaf<br />
stalks and leaf edges are armed with very hard, large,<br />
black spines. The flowers are small and cream-green.<br />
They are about 5-8 mm across. They occur in groups<br />
of 6-20, in flower clusters 2-5 m long near the top of<br />
the palm. The fruit are smooth and almost round. They<br />
are 2-3 cm across. They are green, and turn brown<br />
when ripe. The fruit contain a single, hard-shelled,<br />
seed. The palm flowers once, then dies.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It grows along the edges of tidal rivers. They are often on<br />
heavy soils on flood plains which flood. It grows best with access to ground water. They are<br />
very common and widely distributed at low and medium altitudes from northern Luzon to Sulu<br />
in the Philippines. It is frost tender when young. It needs a warm sunny position and a well<br />
drained soil. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed can take 18 months to germinate. Fresh seed<br />
germinate more quickly. Seedlings are difficult to transplant.<br />
Production: Seedlings are very slow growing. After 40-50 years it flowers, then the leaves and<br />
palm die.<br />
Use: The starch extracted from the stem is edible.<br />
The palm cabbage or bud can be eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The sap can be collected from the flower stalk and made into sugar or toddy.<br />
The kernels of the young fruit can be eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Starch<br />
Cabbage<br />
Kernels<br />
Sap<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
185<br />
Names<br />
English: Oil palm Scientific name: Elaeis guineensis Jacq.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: An unbranched palm with a stout erect<br />
stem. The stem is rough due to the leaf bases which<br />
remain attached. It grows to 20-30 m tall. The trunk is<br />
about 75 cm across. The crown consists of about 40<br />
open leaves. These hang downwards. The leaves<br />
develop from the bud as a tightly rolled shoot which<br />
later opens. The palm crown spreads 5-9 m across.<br />
Casual roots grow from the lower 1 m of the base of the<br />
trunk. Many roots also grow just under the soil and<br />
spread out for 20 m around the palm. The leaves are<br />
about 7.5 m long. The leaves have spines along the leaf<br />
stalk. These leaves are made up of many leaflets (100-<br />
160 pairs). These are slender, long and thin and rich<br />
green. These are held at different levels along the<br />
midrib (Almost two rows). The flowers are of one sex<br />
only. The male flowers occur with a spiny tip. The<br />
female flowers are on long stalks. They are 30-45 cm<br />
long. The fruit is a large round bunch of small fruits.<br />
These are 4 cm long by 2 cm across. There can be 200<br />
fruit in a bunch.<br />
Distribution: They are tropical plants. They need a temperature above 18°C. They suit the hot<br />
humid tropics. They grow between 16°N and 15°S in Africa. These palms do well in rich moist<br />
soil. A rainfall above 2,000 mm is needed for good production. They need a sunny position.<br />
They are drought and frost tender. Plantations are established in West New Britain in Papua<br />
New Guinea and palms occur in some other areas of the country. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are normally grown from seed in a nursery then transplanted. The seed are<br />
soaked for 7 days then sown into warm ground. Seeds are slow to germinate. Heat treatment is<br />
often used to ensure even germination. Seed germinate in 2-5 months under hot conditions.<br />
Seed are sown in plastic bags and sometimes a second nursery transplant is used before<br />
eventually planting in the field 1.5 to 2 years later.<br />
Production: The early growth of seedlings is slow. Palms commence bearing after about 4-6<br />
years. When mature they produce 2-6 bunches per year. The flower bud does not develop until<br />
about 9 months after the leaf containing it has opened. Bright sunny weather helps the<br />
development of female flowers. Male flowers are more common in wet cloudy weather. Fruit<br />
matures 5-9 months after flowering. A bunch can weigh 18-25 kg. Palms live for many years.<br />
Individual trees can live for 200 years.<br />
Use: The outer layer of the fruits yields an orange cooking oil.<br />
The kernel also produces oil.<br />
The palm cabbage is edible.<br />
The sap tapped from the male flower is used to make wine.<br />
The oily fruit are sometimes eaten but can cause nausea.
186<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seeds<br />
Cabbage<br />
Sap<br />
28.0 2247 1.6 4.0 18 9<br />
Insects:<br />
Oryctes spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Segetes gracilis Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Coconut tree hoppers<br />
And several others.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black leaf mould Fungus Brooksia tropicalis Hansf.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A major cash crop but also significant as a food by farmers in many areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
187<br />
Names<br />
English: Palm cabbage Scientific name: Gronophyllum chaunostachys (Burret) H.E.<br />
Moore<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A solitary palm. It is tall. It grows 20 m<br />
high. The trunk is slender, ringed and grey. The trunk<br />
can be 20-39 cm across. It has a long crownshaft. This<br />
can be 1-1.3 m long. The crownshaft is covered with<br />
woolly brown hairs. The crownshaft is slightly thicker<br />
than the trunk at its base and tapers upwards. The<br />
fronds arch over. The leaves are 2.6-3 m long with a<br />
12-25 cm long stalk. The leaves have leaflets along the<br />
stalk. The leaflets are 50 cm long and deep green.<br />
These can be erect and spreading forming a V shape.<br />
The leaflets are slender. The flowering stalk arises<br />
below the crownshaft. The fruit are small and bright<br />
red. They occur in dense clusters. These clusters are<br />
about 1 m long. Each fruit contains a single seed.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the highlands of Papua New<br />
Guinea. It suits tropical and subtropical regions. It<br />
grows between 1760-2170 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are mostly selfsown.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The growing tip or palm cabbage is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Cabbage<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
188<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Gulubia cylindrocarpa<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Niniu Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A tall palm. It grows 35 m high. The<br />
trunk is less than 25 cm across. The trunk is light grey<br />
to white. It has closely spaced rings of leaf scars. The<br />
trunk is expanded at the base. The crownshaft is 1 m<br />
long and light or silvery green. It is slightly bulged at<br />
the base. The leaf crown is rounded with 15-18 leaves.<br />
The leaves are 2.3 m long with 25 cm long stalks. The<br />
leaves arch over and curve back at the tips. The leaflets<br />
are 1 m long and narrowly sword shaped. They are<br />
olive green above and greyish-green underneath. They<br />
are stiff and divide at the tips. They grow at an angle<br />
forming a V shape. The fruit are 2 cm long by 0.7-0.8<br />
cm wide. They are orange or yellow.<br />
Distribution: It grows in mountainous rainforest. It<br />
grows between 100-1,060 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten.<br />
The palm heart is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Cabbage<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The fruit are eaten especially by children.<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
189<br />
Names<br />
English: Minor Walking-stick Palm Scientific name: Linospadix minor (F. Muell.) Burrett<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen palm. It forms clumps by<br />
suckering. It grows to 2 m high and spreads to 2 m<br />
across. The stems are erect, woody and slender. It has<br />
a sparse crown of short fronds. The leaves are 60-100<br />
cm long and consist of pairs of leaflets of unequal size.<br />
There are 12-14 leaflets. The end pair of leaflets are<br />
fish-tail like. The flowers are greenish and hang down<br />
on long spikes. The fruit are orange, pink or red<br />
berries. They occur on long spikes which can be 20-40<br />
cm long. The fruit are 12-18 mm long. The fruit are<br />
yellow, pink or red. They have one seed inside. The<br />
seed is 1-1.6 cm long. The flesh of the fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: A tropical palm. It grows naturally in the<br />
rainforest. It suits a shady position. They need a wellaerated<br />
loamy soil. It benefits from mulch and regular<br />
watering.<br />
Cultivation: The plants are grown from seed. Seed should be sown fresh. Seed germinate<br />
slowly. They can be grown by division of the clump. Seedlings transplant easily.<br />
Production: In Australia, flowering occurs August to October and the fruiting season is<br />
December to July.<br />
Use: The fruit have a thin layer of edible flesh.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
190<br />
Names<br />
English: Fan palm Scientific name: Livistona benthamii Bailey<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen palm. It grows to 15 m<br />
high and spreads to 3 m across. The stem is erect and<br />
heavily armed with spines. The trunk is 30-40 cm<br />
across. The trunk is grey to black. It has a single stem<br />
and fan leaves. It has a densely leafy crown which is<br />
rounded and drooping. The leaves are 1-1.5 m long and<br />
1-1.5 m across. They are shiny and dark green. Leaves<br />
are divided into narrow segments with strong thorny<br />
leaf stalks. The leaf stalks are 1.5 m long. The leaf<br />
bases are persistent on the trunk. The flowers are<br />
cream or yellow in elongated heads. The flowers are 1-<br />
1.2 cm across and the heads can be 2.5 m long. The<br />
fruit are berries. They are 1 cm across. They are<br />
purple black when ripe. They have a powdery<br />
covering. They contain a single hard shelled seed.<br />
Distribution: A tropical palm. It does best on light to<br />
medium soils. It needs moist soils and a protected<br />
partly shaded position. It is damaged by drought and<br />
frost. It grows naturally on monsoon forest often near<br />
streams. It can stand seasonal flooding.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. The seed need to be planted fresh. Seed germinate in<br />
3-4 months. Seedlings are difficult to transplant.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The central growing tip is eaten raw or lightly roasted.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Cabbage<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
191<br />
Names<br />
English: Dwarf Fan Palm Scientific name: Livistona muelleri Bailey<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A fan palm. It is a sturdy palm. It grows<br />
to 12-20 m high. It is often smaller. The trunk is 25<br />
cm across. The trunk has rings of old leaf base scars.<br />
The crown is dense. The leaves are stiff and dark<br />
green. The leaf stalks are 1 m long. The leaves are<br />
circular and flat. The flowers are dull yellow on a<br />
dense flower arrangement that is in the centre of the<br />
crown. The fruit are oval and 1.5 cm long. They are<br />
deep brown to black.<br />
Distribution: It grows naturally in open forest in NE<br />
Queensland in Australia. It suits tropical and<br />
subtropical locations. It requires an open position and<br />
well drained soil. It grows in monsoonal savanna. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed take 4-8 months to germinate.<br />
Production: It is very slow growing.<br />
Use: The growing tip or palm cabbage is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Cabbage<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
192<br />
Names<br />
English: Black Palm Scientific name: Normanbya normanbyi (W.Hill.) I.H.Bailey<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Ptychosperma normanbyi<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A tall solitary palm. It grows about 20 m<br />
high. The trunk is light grey and 10-15 cm across. It<br />
has distinct rings. The crownshaft is mealy white. The<br />
crown is round and made up of 9-12 arching fronds. It<br />
is a feather leafed palm with leaflets in a radiating<br />
arrangement. The leaves are 2-2.5 cm long. The<br />
leaflets are dark green above and white underneath.<br />
The leaflets are wedge shaped. The flowering stalk<br />
arises below the crownshaft. They are 50 cm long.<br />
Flowers are of one sex but both sexes occur on the one<br />
stalk. Single plants can produce fertile seed. The fruit<br />
are 4-5 cm long by 3 cm across. The fruit are deep pink<br />
to red. Each fruit contains one seed.<br />
Distribution: They grow in tropical and subtropical<br />
locations. It grows naturally in rainforests often near<br />
swamps in NE Queensland. It needs warm, humid<br />
conditions. <strong>Plants</strong> are damaged by frosts. They are<br />
sensitive to sunburn from the first 3-5 years.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seeds germinate sporadically. Seeds take 2-3 months<br />
to germinate with some taking 12 months. Seedlings transplant easily.<br />
Production: It grows quickly.<br />
Use: The growing point of palm cabbage is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Cabbage<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
193<br />
Names<br />
English: Date palm Scientific name: Phoenix dactylifera L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A tall unbranched evergreen palm. It<br />
grows to 30 m high. The trunk can be 30-40 cm across.<br />
The trunk is covered with fibres and has the bases of<br />
old leaves along it. It produces suckers on the trunk<br />
and at the base. The fronds are grey-green. The leaves<br />
are 6-7 m long. The leaflets are 20-40 cm long. They<br />
are spaced in two iregular rows along each side of the<br />
stalk. Male and female flowers are produced on<br />
separate trees. The flowers spadices ar yellow-brown.<br />
The fruit is small, brown and very sweet. It has one<br />
grooved seed. The fruit is 2.5-5 cm long. When ripe<br />
the fruit is dull yellow and the flesh soft. The skins of<br />
the fruit darken when dried. Strands of fruit have 25-35<br />
dates. The fruit are edible.<br />
Distribution: They suit dry subtropical climates. It<br />
needs hot, dry arid climates while fruit mature. It can<br />
tolerate salty or brackish water. In cold temperate<br />
regions the palm grows but rarely flowers. It suits plant<br />
hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed take 4-5 months to germinate. They begin<br />
bearing 5-6 years after planting and reach full production by 15 years. A palm lasts about 80<br />
years. Female plants need to be pollinated before they bear fruit. A single male is sufficient for<br />
50 females. Taking suckers from good producing plants is a more reliable means or growing<br />
new plants.<br />
Production: There can be 45-70 kg of fruit per tree.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten fresh or dried. They are also used for jams and preserves.<br />
The date stones can be fermented or roasted and used as a coffee substitute.<br />
Dates are also pressed for juice.<br />
The sap is used for jaggery and sugar.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 58.5 598 0.9 1.3 50 6<br />
Fruit<br />
dry<br />
22.5 1151 2.0 1.2 5 0 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A major food in Mediterranean countries. Probably only a casual introduction in<br />
Papua New Guinea.
194<br />
Names<br />
English: Solitaire palm, Alexander Palm Scientific name: Ptychosperma elegans (R.Br.)Bl.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A palm which grows to 10 m high. The<br />
trunk is slender and grey. The trunk has rings along it.<br />
The crownshaft is whitish-green. The leaves are bright<br />
green and arching. The leaves are compound. They are<br />
1-2.5 m long. There are 40-60 leaflets which are 50-60<br />
cm long. They are smooth. The fruit is 15-20 mm<br />
long. They occur in bunches below the crownshaft.<br />
The fruit are bright red. There is one seed which is<br />
about 15 mm long. The flesh of the fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the rainforest in NE<br />
Queensland, in Australia. It is a tropical plant. They<br />
will grow in the subtropics. It needs well drained soil.<br />
It can grow in part shade or full sun. It suits seasonally<br />
moist and dry climates. They are sensitive to frost. It<br />
suits plant hardiness zones 10-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed is produced in large quantities and grows<br />
readily. Seed germinate in 5-6 months. They need protection from direct sunlight for the first 2-<br />
4 years. Seedlings transplant easily.<br />
Production: They can be very fast growing. It flowers in warm, wet months.<br />
Use: The fruit and the palm heart of cabbage are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Cabbage<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
195<br />
Names<br />
English: Grey Cane palm Scientific name: Ptychosperma macarthurii<br />
(H.Wendl.ex Veitch)H.Wendl. ex Hook.f.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen palm. It grows to 3-10 m<br />
high and spreads to 2-4 m across. The stems are erect,<br />
slender and form clumps. They have rings of scars on<br />
the trunk. The leaves are dark green and divided along<br />
the stalk. They are 1-1.5 m long. They are feather like.<br />
The leaves arch in a loose crown. The leaflets are<br />
narrow, bright green and with ragged teeth near the<br />
tips. The flowers are in branching sprays 30-45 cm<br />
long. These come from below the crownshaft. The<br />
flowers are greenish-yellow and 8 mm across. The fruit<br />
are bright red berries. They are 1.5 cm across. They<br />
are waxy. The fruit contains a seed which has 5 ridges<br />
along its length.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It does best in<br />
moist, well-composted, well-drained soils. It needs a<br />
protected, partly shaded position. It is damaged by<br />
drought and frost. It needs a temperature above 16°C.<br />
In full sunlight the fronds can become bleached. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed germinate in 2-3 months. It planted fresh in<br />
moist peat and with warmth and humidity seed germinate easily and wuickly. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be<br />
grown by division of the clump.<br />
Production: In Australia, flowering is from August to October.<br />
Use: The growing point or palm cabbage is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Cabbage<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
196<br />
Names<br />
English: Traveller's palm Scientific name: Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Strelitziaceae<br />
Description: Although called a palm, it is not a palm.<br />
It is an evergreen shrub. It grows to 10-16 m high and<br />
spreads to 3-6 m across. The stem is erect, formed by<br />
the bases of the old leaves. It is palm like. The leaves<br />
are arranged in 2 opposite rows on long leaf stalks<br />
which form sheaths around the stem. They are 5 m<br />
long, are closely overlapping and open like fans. They<br />
are paddle shaped. The flowers are white and have 3<br />
petals. They occur in long spikes and have boat shaped<br />
bracts in the axils. The fruit capsules contain seeds<br />
with a bright blue seed covering (aril). The seeds are<br />
edible.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It does best in rich,<br />
moist soil. It needs a protected, sunny, warm position.<br />
It is damaged by drought and frost. It grows from sea<br />
level to 1,000 m altitude in Madagascar. It needs a<br />
temperature above 16-18°C. It suits hardiness zones<br />
10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or by division of suckers. Seeds grow slowly.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fat found in the seeds is used in cooking.<br />
Sugar is extracted from the sap.<br />
The seeds are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Sap<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It has been introduced as an ornamental and is probably not used for food in Papua<br />
New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
197<br />
Names<br />
English: Cuban royal palm Scientific name: Roystonea regia (Knuth) O.F.Cook<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: An single stemmed, evergreen palm. It<br />
grows to 30 m high and spreads 5-10 m wide. The<br />
stem is erect and smooth. It is white. It is stout and<br />
unbranched. The trunk is usually thickened near the<br />
base and in the middle before thinning towards the top.<br />
The trunk can be 0.5-0.6 m across. It has ring like<br />
markings. The leaves are divided along the stalk. The<br />
leaves are 6 m long and the leaflets are long and<br />
narrow. They are arranged in several ranks. The base<br />
sheaths the trunk below the crown. The flowers are<br />
small and white and cup-shaped. They are clustered in<br />
spikes which hang downwards. These stalks can be 1<br />
m long. These come from just below the crown shaft.<br />
The flowers occur in 3-4 clusters with 2 boat shaped<br />
spathes. The male cluster is longer than the female.<br />
The fruit are round berries which are deep purple in<br />
colour.<br />
Distribution: It suits tropical and subtropical<br />
conditions. It does best with warmth and humidity.<br />
It does best with rich, moist soil. The soil needs to be well drained. It needs a protected, sunny<br />
position. It is damaged by drought and frost. They need temperatures above 15°C. In Cuba it<br />
grows on fertile soils up to 1000 m altitude. It suits plant hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed should be sown at 27°C. <strong>Plants</strong> respond to<br />
heavy fertiliser application especially nitrogen.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The central bud or cabbage is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Cabbage<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A magnificent introduced palm. It would not be sensible to cut down the palm to<br />
eat the growing tip!<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
198<br />
Names<br />
English: Claudie River Lawyer Vine Scientific name: Calamus warburgii Schumann.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A climbing palm with many thorns. It<br />
forms large clumps. The stems are 35 m long and 2.5<br />
cm wide. The leaves are 2.6 m long. The leaves climb<br />
upwards but arch over. The leaves have 80-100 shinygreen<br />
leaflets. The leaflets are 25 cm long and 2 cm<br />
wide. The leaf sheath has spines about 5 cm long. The<br />
leaflets are limp and regularly spaced. They taper<br />
towards the tip. There are 4 m long stalks at the ends of<br />
many leaves which helps the plant climb.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It is very frost sensitive.<br />
They need a well-drained soil. Seedlings need to be in<br />
the shade.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. The seed germinate in 3-4 months. Seed need to be<br />
sown fresh. Seedlings are difficult to transplant.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The green juicy flesh layer under the skin but around the seed is eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
199
Vegetables<br />
200<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Long pitpit Pitpit Saccharum edule 201<br />
Short pitpit Pitpit Setaria palmifolia 203<br />
Corn Kon Zea mays 205<br />
Snake gourd Trichosanthes cucumerina 208<br />
Trichosanthes pulleana 209<br />
Trichosanthes tricuspidata 210<br />
Choko Sechium edule 211<br />
Pumpkin Pamkin Cucurbita moschata 213<br />
Pumpkin Pamkin Cucurbita maxima 214<br />
Cucumber Kukamba Cucumis sativus 216<br />
Marrow Cucurbita pepo 218<br />
Melon, Cantaloupe Cucumis melo 219<br />
Bottle gourd Botel Lagenaria siceraria 220<br />
Angled loofah Luffa acutangula 221<br />
Smooth loofah Luffa cylindrica 222<br />
Wax gourd Benincasa hispida 223<br />
Bitter gourd Momordica charantia 224<br />
Spiny bitter cucumber Momordica cochinchinensis 226<br />
Cabbage Kebis Brassica oleracea var. capitata 227<br />
Bok-choy Celery cabbage Brassica rapa var. chinensis 228<br />
Brussels sprouts Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera 229<br />
Kohl Rabi Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes 230<br />
Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis 231<br />
Broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica 232<br />
Turnip Brassica rapa 233<br />
Chinese kale Brassica oleracea var. albiflora 234<br />
Swede Brassica napus var. napobrassica 235<br />
Petsai Brassica rapa var. glabra 236<br />
Leaf mustard Brassica juncea 237<br />
Chinese radish Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus 238<br />
Radish Raphanus sativus 239<br />
Bulb onion Anian Allium cepa var. cepa 240<br />
Shallots Allium cepa var. aggregatum 241<br />
Chives Allium schoenoprasum 242<br />
Garlic Allium sativum 243<br />
Leek Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum 244<br />
Chinese chives Allium tuberosum 245<br />
Celery Apium graveolens var dulce 246<br />
Okra Abelmoschus esculentus 247<br />
Asparagus Asparagus officinalis 248<br />
Capsicum, Bell peppers Capsicum annuum var. annuum 249<br />
Eggplant Solanum melongena 251<br />
Pea eggplant Solanum torvum 252<br />
Tomato Lycopersicon esculentum 253<br />
Carrot Daucus carota 255<br />
Lettuce Lactuca sativa 256
201<br />
Names<br />
English: Long pitpit Scientific name: Saccharum edule Hasskarl<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A plant in the sugarcane family grown for<br />
the edible unopened flower. <strong>Plants</strong> grow 2-3 m tall and<br />
have thinner canes than sugarcane. It produces suckers<br />
near the base so that normally a clump of stalks is<br />
produced. At one season of the year it produces a seed<br />
head or flower which remains inside the top of the plant<br />
and is the part that is eaten. Several cultivars occur<br />
which differ in colour, height and season of flowering.<br />
Distribution: It is common in coastal areas and will<br />
grow up to about 1800 m altitude in the tropics. It is<br />
commonly grown in old gardens before they return to<br />
forest. It is common in coastal areas in Asian and<br />
Pacific countries including the Solomon Islands,<br />
Vanuatu, and Fiji and also in Indonesia.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from cuttings of the stalks. In<br />
fertile soil, cut plants will re-shoot from the base. The<br />
cuttings need adequate moisture at planting. Cuttings<br />
about 30 cm long are used. To avoid cuttings drying<br />
out they need to be planted soon after cutting. Coastal<br />
pitpit stalks can be planted at any time of the year. It<br />
takes 6-9 months from planting till a crop is ready to<br />
harvest. But the time of flowering is coastal pitpit is<br />
controlled by the sun. Early in the year about February<br />
to March most plants develop a thickened clump of<br />
leaves at the top. When these are broken off and<br />
opened by removing the outside leaves the very fine<br />
yellow unopened flower is seen. It is this flower which<br />
is eaten.<br />
Production: It takes 6-9 months to maturity. In most cultivars, flowering is seasonal.<br />
Use: The unopened flower is eaten raw or cooked. Often it is cooked in coconut milk.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Flower<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Insects:<br />
Acauloplacella immunis Tettigonidae (ORTH)<br />
Agromyza papuensis Agromyzidae (DIPT)<br />
Anomala anoguttata Burm. Rutelidae (COL)<br />
Ataenius spinator Harold Scarabaeidae (COL)<br />
Aulacaspis tegalensis (Zhnt.) Diaspididae (HEM) Sugarcane scale<br />
Bothrogonia sp. Cicadellidae (HEM)<br />
Cannococcus ikshu William Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Euconocephalus sp. Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
202<br />
Parastasia guttulata Fairmaire Scarabaeidae (COL)<br />
Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pink sugarcane mealybug<br />
Spodoptera exempta (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) African armyworm<br />
and probably other sugarcane insects<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Beniowskia spaeroides<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora longipes<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Colletotrichum falcatum<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cytoplea sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Diplodia sp.<br />
Veneer blotch Fungus Deightoniella papuana D.Shaw<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Drechslera sacchari<br />
Pokkah boeng Fungus Gibberella fujikuroi<br />
Red rot Fungus Glomerella tucumanensis (Speg)Ark & Mull.<br />
Yellow spot Fungus Mycovellosiella koepkei<br />
Tar spot Fungus Phyllachora sacchari P.Henn<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Peronosclerospora sp.<br />
Rust Fungus Puccinia kuehnii (Kruger)Butler<br />
Fiji disease Virus<br />
Mosaic Virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A very important vegetable in Papua New Guinea and grown in most lowland<br />
areas and up to 1600 m.
203<br />
Names<br />
English: Short pitpit Scientific name: Setaria palmifolia (Koenig)Stapf.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A grass with a broad leaf<br />
blade. A plant grows from 60 cm to one<br />
metre tall. It has a knotty rhizome or<br />
underground stem. The leaves are 2 to 8<br />
cm wide, 30-40 cm long and folded<br />
along their length. The leaf blade is<br />
folded like a fan and is hairy. The plant<br />
forms a clump of shoots and is about 1 m<br />
high. The shoots are thickened near the<br />
end in cultivated types. The flower is a<br />
loose open grass flower. A range of<br />
different varieties occur. These have<br />
different amounts of red, green and<br />
white colouring on the leaf and also<br />
where the leaves wrap around the stem.<br />
The seeds are about 3 mm long and<br />
borne in large numbers on shoots at the<br />
ends of the stalks. Normally a plant<br />
produces a clump of shoots due to both<br />
suckers near the base and buds growing<br />
from the side of the short stem.<br />
Distribution: They are common and widely distributed from Luzon to Palawan and Mindanao in<br />
the Philippines. It grows from near sea level up to about 2400 m. It can grow in shady places<br />
and suits wet climates. This grass occurs as a wild plant, insignificantly used for food in several<br />
countries. These include Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea,<br />
Solomons, and Hawaii. Sometimes either the shoots or seeds of this wild plant are used as a<br />
famine food reserve. In Papua New Guinea, and to a smaller extent in other places, this species<br />
reaches significance as a domesticated, cultivated food plant. A number of named cultivars<br />
occur.<br />
Cultivation: Wild plants grow from seed. Garden types grow from pieces of the shoots.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> are normally propagated by planting shoots. The young shoots are broken off the side of<br />
the plant. Shoots near the ground often have roots already growing on them so these shoots start<br />
growing more quickly. Portions of the stem can be planted because buds near the joints along<br />
the stem can produce new shoots. Wild plants are seed propagated. Cultivated types exist as<br />
fully domesticated plants independently of the weedy grass. It needs a reasonably fertile soil and<br />
is often planted on steep sides and edges of gardens. Its optimum altitudinal range is 1200m to<br />
2400m. It can tolerate light shade. Plant spacings of about 1 m apart are used. Harvesting<br />
commences about 5 months after planting and may continue for up to 2 years.<br />
Production: Harvesting commences about 5 months after planting and may continue for up to 2<br />
years. A yield of 4.8 kg per plant in a year, of the stripped edible shoots has been recorded.<br />
Use: The fattened shoots are eaten.<br />
The seeds are used as a substitute for rice in times of shortage.
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Shoots 113 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Borers in the shoots<br />
204<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Bipolaris panici-miliacei (Nisik.)Shoem<br />
Rust Fungi Uredo palmifoliae Cummins<br />
And Uromyces setariae-italicae Yosh<br />
Tar spot Fungus Phyllachora minutissima (Welv.& Currey)<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: An important vegetable in Highland areas of Papua New Guinea. It is used for<br />
food in China.<br />
A market bundle<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
205<br />
Names<br />
English: Corn, Maize Scientific name: Zea mays L.<br />
Tok pisin: Kon Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: An annual plant 2-3 m high. It has a<br />
single stem. The stem is solid. It can be 2-3 cm across.<br />
Usually there are 14 internodes but this can vary from<br />
8-21. It is a large grass family plant with prop roots<br />
near the base. Some forms produce tillers near the<br />
base. Seed roots feed the plant initially then casual side<br />
roots develop from the lowest node on the plant and<br />
continue supplying the plants nutrients. Roots can go<br />
sideways for 1 m or downwards for 2-3 m. It is a very<br />
variable plant and due to cross pollination variation<br />
continues and all forms hybridize. Leaves are produce<br />
one after another along opposite sides of the stem and<br />
there are between 8 and 21 leaves. The leaf sheath<br />
wrapsa round the stem but opens towards the top of the<br />
sheath. The leaf blade is 30-150 cm long and 5-15 cm<br />
wide. The leaf blade has a pronounced midrib and is<br />
often wavy along the edge. The female flower is called<br />
the ear. It is on a short stalk in the axils of one of the<br />
largest leaves about half way down the stem. In the<br />
axils of the leaves it produces a large cob wrapped in<br />
leaves. The kernels develop in an even number of rows<br />
carrying 4-30 grains along the length of the cob. Cobs<br />
commonly have 300-1,000 grains. Normally only one<br />
or two cobs develop per plant. The male flower or<br />
tassel is at the top.<br />
Distribution: Seeds need a soil temperature more than 10°C to germinate. It grows best at less<br />
than 1800 m altitude in the equatorial tropics. It is grown in most areas of Asia. <strong>Plants</strong> have<br />
been grown from sea level to 3,300 m in the Americas. It tends to be in areas too dry for rice but<br />
wetter than for millets. Maize must have over 120 days frost free. In Nepal it grows up to 3000<br />
m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seeds. It is normal to plant one seed per hole at 1-2 cm depth. A<br />
spacing of about 30 cm between plants is suitable. For saving seed, it should be from gardens of<br />
over 200 plants and the seed from several cobs mixed to avoid inbreeding depression.<br />
Production: In warm moist soil seeds geminate in 2-3 days after planting. Cobs are harvested<br />
when the grains are full and the tassel is just starting to turn brown. This is normally about 50<br />
days after fertilization. It is sweetest eaten soon after harvesting. Drought and unfavourable<br />
weather can result in the silks of the female flowers emerging after the pollen has been shed.<br />
This results in poorly pollinated cobs.<br />
Use: The cobs are eaten cooked.<br />
The dried grains can be crushed and used.<br />
Pancake like Tortillas from corn have been a staple food in Central America.<br />
Maize is cooked and prepared in many different ways.
206<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seeds mature 10.4 1528 10.0 4.9 100 4<br />
Insects:<br />
Creatonotus gangis (L.) Arctidae (LEP)<br />
Heliothis armiger (Hubner) Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus) Acrididae (ORTH) Migratory locust<br />
Orthaca cincticornis Walk. Lygaeidae (HEM)<br />
Ostrinia furnacalis (Guen.) Pyralidae (LEP) Corn borer<br />
Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) Aphididae (HEM) Corn leaf aphid<br />
Spodoptera mauritia (Boisduval) Noctuidae (LEP) Lawn armyworm<br />
Tiracola plagiata (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
and others<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Bipolaris zeae<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Curvularia lunata<br />
Tropical rust Fungus Puccinia polysora Underw.<br />
Rust Fungus Puccinia sorghi Sehw.<br />
Downy mildew Fungi Peronosclerospora sacchari<br />
and Peronosclerospora sorghi<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phoma sorghina<br />
Leaf blotch Fungus Setosphaerica turcica (Luttrell)Leon. & Sugg<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora sorghi Ell.& Ev.<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus<br />
Blister smut Fungus Ustilago zeae<br />
Head smut Fungus Sphacelotheca reiliana<br />
Irregular bleached areas Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Collar rot Fungus Pythium butleri<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Common in most areas of Papua New Guinea but never as a staple food. It is a<br />
major staple food of Central and East Africa.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
207
208<br />
Names<br />
English: Snake gourd Scientific name: Trichosanthes cucumerina L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Trichosanthes anguina L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A climber in the pumpkin family with tendrils.<br />
It grows 2.4-6 m high and spreads 1.5-3 m wide. The vine<br />
has furrows along it. The leaves have 3 to 7 lobes and a<br />
tooth like edge. The flowers are white. The male flowers<br />
are without a bract and the female flowers are produced<br />
singly. The flowers have long stalks. The long fruit tend to<br />
curve. They can be 1-2 m long. When ripe they turn<br />
orange or red, but are grey and green when young.<br />
Distribution: It is common in the humid tropical lowlands<br />
up to 500 m. It does not tolerate dry soil and requires a<br />
good moisture reserve in the soil, but is sensitive to<br />
waterlogging. The optimum temperature for growth is 30-<br />
35°C with a minimum of 20°C. It occurs throughout the<br />
Philippines at low and medium altitudes up to 1200 m. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Snake gourd is grown from seed. It requires 4-6 kg/ha. Seed can be sown in a<br />
nursery and transplanted at the 2 true leaf stage. More commonly plants are sown where they are<br />
to grow. A spacing of 60 - 100 cm is suitable. <strong>Plants</strong> need supports to climb. Often in home<br />
gardens this is a natural support such as a house. <strong>Plants</strong> respond to fertiliser but excessive<br />
nitrogen can produce too much vegetative growth. Pruning can improve the female to male<br />
flower ratio.<br />
Production: Flowering starts 5 weeks after planting. Male flowers appear first then female<br />
flowers 3 days later. Pollination is normally by insects. Harvesting of fruit starts 6-7 weeks<br />
after planting and continues for 1 or 2 months. Fruit are picked 12-20 days after fruit set when<br />
they are 30-60 cm long. Fruit do not store well but can be stored for 10-14 days at a temperature<br />
of 16-17°C and relative humidity of 85-90%. By the time the fruit turn orange they are too<br />
mature to eat.<br />
Use: The long immature fruit are eaten cooked. Sometimes a bitter taste occurs but this<br />
disappears with boiling. Fruit are inedible when ripe.<br />
The young leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seed 97.0 0.2 0.2 0.1<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
95.0 76 0.9 1.0 810 6<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Associated with leaf spots Fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare (Berk.& Mont.) v Arx<br />
Leaf spot Possibly bacteria<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is most commonly seen in the Sepik or in gardens of Sepik<br />
people.
209<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Trichosanthes pulleana Cogn ex Harms<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Trichosanthes papuana Pulle<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A creeping plant in the pumpkin family.<br />
It has tendrils. The vines can become long and woody.<br />
It bears green fruit which turn orange when ripe. Inside<br />
it is filled with seeds in a bright red pulp. Leaf shape<br />
varies considerably.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in many areas of the country but<br />
is probably more common in the highlands. It occurs<br />
up to at least 2200 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild in highland areas but better types are also sown from seed. It is<br />
normally allowed to climb up trees.<br />
Production: Fruiting is somewhat seasonal.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Fruit fly maggots<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is a minor but widely distributed vegetable.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
210<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A soft climber. It can grow 5-6 m long.<br />
The flowers are white, The fruit are round or oval.<br />
Distribution:<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are edible.<br />
Caution: The fruit are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
211<br />
Names<br />
English: Choko Scientific name: Sechium edule (Jacquin) Swartz<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A vigorously growing climber in the<br />
pumpkin family that can last for several years. The<br />
vine can be up to 15 m long. It has strong tendrils<br />
which can attach to fences and trees so that the plant<br />
can climb well. The choko leaves are about 15-20 cm<br />
across and have a rough feel. The fleshy fruits contain<br />
only one large seed. The stems have furrows along<br />
them. The choko fruit is produced in the angle where<br />
the leaf joins the vines. Fruit can be up to 20 cm long<br />
and they are rough or irregular shaped on the outside.<br />
There are white and green fruited varieties. Some fruit<br />
have sharp spikes on the skin. Inside the fruit there is<br />
one seed about 4 cm long. The flowers are separate.<br />
Male flowers are in clusters and female flowers are on<br />
their own. A choko plant produces a large thickened<br />
root tuber and the plant can regrow from this tuber and<br />
go on growing year after year. Fruit can be green or<br />
white and can have soft spines.<br />
Distribution: Choko requires relative humidity of 80-85%, annual rainfall of at least 1500-2000<br />
mm and average temperatures of 20-25°C with limits of 12-28°C. In equatorial tropical regions<br />
chokos will grow from sea level to about 2200 m altitude, but do best between 350 and 1000 m<br />
altitude. In Nepal they grow to about 2000 m altitude. In the lowlands it is best in shade.<br />
Chokos need a reasonably well drained soil. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: The entire fruit is planted as the seed cannot withstand drying out. It is planted flat<br />
and thinly covered with soil. Often chokos start to develop shoots and roots while they are still<br />
attached to the original plant. These eventually fall off and continue growing if they fall on soft<br />
moist dirt. A spacing 2 m apart along a fence is suitable. Trellis support is required. A well<br />
drained fertile soil is needed. Cuttings can be used for planting. <strong>Plants</strong> do not breed true and a<br />
large variability of fruit types can occur.<br />
Production: Fruit can be picked starting 3-5 months after planting and continued for many<br />
months. The fruit can be stored for several weeks. Tips can be picked regularly. Annual yields<br />
of 75-300 fruit per plant are possible. Fruit can weigh 400 to 500 grams. Tubers of 5 kg weight<br />
have been recorded. These are normally produced during the second year of growth and after a<br />
time of arrested development such as a dry season.<br />
Use: The fruit are edible cooked.<br />
The young leaf tips are eaten.<br />
The seeds can be eaten cooked.<br />
The fleshy root can be eaten cooked. Starch can be extracted from it.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 93.4 100 0.6 0.2 5 8 0.3<br />
Leaves 91.0 105 4.0 1.4 1515 24<br />
Root 34 0.2 0.1 4<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
212<br />
Insects:<br />
Amblypelta lutescens papuensis Brown Coreidae (HEM) Papuan tip wilt bug<br />
Apirocalus terrestris Thompson Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf blotch cause unknown<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Ascochyta sp.<br />
Soft rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Moderately common throughout the country of Papua New Guinea but most<br />
important in mid altitude areas.<br />
Choko tips<br />
Sprouting choko fruit
213<br />
Names<br />
English: Pumpkin, Winter squash Scientific name: Cucurbita moschata<br />
(Duchesne ex Lam) Duchesne ex Poir.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A creeping plant with long creeping stems<br />
and softly hairy but without prickly hairs. The stem are<br />
rounded or 5 angled and moderately hard. They can<br />
grow 15-20 m long. The leaves are large and shallowly<br />
lobed and divided like fingers on a hand. Occasionally<br />
the leaves have white blotches. They have rounded<br />
lobes. They are 20 cm by 30 cm. The leaf stalk is 12-<br />
30 cm long. The flowers have male and female flowers<br />
separately on the same plant. The fruit stalk is<br />
distinctly expanded there it joins the fruit. The fruit are<br />
not hard shelled and are dull in colour. The flesh is<br />
yellow. Often the flesh has fibres through it. The seeds<br />
are plump and white to brown. They separate easily<br />
from the pulp of the fruit. The edge of the seed is<br />
scalloped and irregular in outline.<br />
Distribution: It suits the wet tropics. It will thrive in humid as well as in very hot climates. In<br />
Bolivia it grows up to 2000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten cooked.<br />
The young leaves are edible.<br />
The seeds are eaten roasted.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 90.0 151 1.0 0.8 210 15 0.1<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
93.6 88.2 3.0 2.1 10<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: This is the more tropical of the pumpkins. In Papua New Guinea it is used more<br />
for leafy tips than fruit.
214<br />
Names<br />
English: Pumpkin, Winter squash Scientific name: Cucurbita maxima Duch ex Lam.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A creeping vine with tendrils. It is an<br />
annual plant. The stems are soft and round in cross<br />
section. The leaves are large and hang loose. They are<br />
dark green and kidney shaped. The edges of the leaves<br />
are entire. There are large nodes at the base of the leaf.<br />
The tendrils are fairly stout and are divided half way<br />
along their length into many branches. Male flowers<br />
are carried on long upright stalks. The 5 petals are<br />
united into a long yellow tube. The female flowers are<br />
larger than the male and are fewer in number and<br />
carried on shorter stalks. The fruit varies in size, colour<br />
and patterns on the skin. They can be round, oval or<br />
flattened, with yellow, orange or green skin. The<br />
surface can be smooth and rough and warty. The flesh<br />
is yellow and edible. The seeds are in the centre. The<br />
seeds are white or brown. They are flattened but plump<br />
and have a slanting scar at the top. The seeds are<br />
edible. (C. moschata does not have hairy stems but has<br />
fruit with a stalk thickened near where it joins the fruit.)<br />
Distribution: They are grown throughout the country<br />
from sea level to 2400 m altitude. They need a fertile<br />
soil. C. moschata is better suited to coastal areas. They<br />
are frost sensitive but better suited to cooler areas than<br />
C. moschata. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seed. Usually 2 or 3 seeds are planted together in a mound.<br />
The distance apart depends on the cultivar. Some kinds are better for leaf tips. It is good to save<br />
seed of adapted kinds.<br />
Production: Fruit are ready for harvest after about 3-4 months. Seed can be saved from fruit for<br />
re-sowing but as pumpkins cross pollinate different types become mixed.<br />
Use: The young leaf tips are eaten cooked.<br />
The fruit can be eaten cooked.<br />
The seeds are edible, roasted.<br />
The male flowers are eaten after removing the stamen and calyx.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 89.0 113 4.0 0.8 247 80 0.2<br />
Flowers 88.7 107 1.4 0.8 173 14 0.1<br />
Seeds dry<br />
Fruit<br />
6.9 2264 24.5 14.9 38 1.9 7.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Aphis gossypii Glover Aphididae (HEM) Cotton aphid<br />
Aulacophora spp. Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles
215<br />
Bactrocera strigifinis atritus May Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis (Boisd.) Coccinellidae (COL) Ladybird<br />
Leptoglossus australis (Fabricius) Coreidae (HEM) Passion vine bug<br />
Leptothea csikii Weise Coccinellidae (COL) Cotton aphid<br />
Diseases:<br />
Storage rot Fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Epicoccum sp.<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Erysiphe cichoracearum<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis<br />
With storage rot Fungus Rhizoctonia sp.<br />
Mosaic Virus Melon mosaic virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, a widely distributed and popular vegetable especially for<br />
leaf tips.
216<br />
Names<br />
English: Cucumber Scientific name: Cucumis sativus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Kukamba Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A hairy annual climber with tendrils and<br />
yellow flowers. It grows to 0.5 m high and spreads to 2<br />
m wide. The stem is trailing and has bristles. The<br />
leaves are heart shaped and the lobes taper. Leaf shape<br />
varies with different varieties. The tendrils are not<br />
branched. The flowers are yellow and funnel shaped.<br />
They occur in clusters in the axils of leaves. Male and<br />
female flowers are separate but on the same plant.<br />
Male flowers are normally in groups of 2-3 and develop<br />
first and female flowers are borne singly and open later.<br />
Fruit are long and often with a slightly lumpy skin. The<br />
flesh inside is greenish white. The fruit are edible. The<br />
fruit contain many seeds. Fruit 20-100 cm long are<br />
called cucumbers and fruit which are much smaller and<br />
darker green are called gherkins.<br />
Distribution: It occurs from sea level up to at least<br />
2200 m in the tropics. It is a traditional vegetable in the<br />
highlands of Papua New Guinea. Protection from wind<br />
is needed. It is killed by frost. In Nepal they grow to<br />
1600 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: Batches of 2-3 seeds are normally sown together during the dry season and in new<br />
gardens. A spacing of 1 m apart per plant is suitable.<br />
Production: Harvesting can commence 6-8 weeks after sowing. Up to 10 fruit per plant can be<br />
produced.<br />
Use: Usually unripe fruit are eaten raw.<br />
Young stem tops and leaves are edible.<br />
The kernels of the seeds are edible.<br />
Cucumbers are normally eaten fresh while gherkins are pickled in vinegar.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
96.4 43 0.6 0.3 Tr 8 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Aphis gossypii Glover Aphididae (HEM) Cotton aphid<br />
Aulacophora spp. Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles<br />
Bactrocera atrisetosus Perkins Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit flies<br />
Bactrocera cucurbitae Coq Tephritidae (DIPT) Melon fruit fly<br />
Homona coffearia Nietn. Tortricidae (LEP) Coffee leaf roller<br />
Leptoglossus australis (Fab.) Coreidae (HEM) Passion vine bug<br />
Monolepta semiviolacea Fab Chrysomelidae (COL)
217<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria alternata<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Corynespora cassiicola<br />
With fruit rot Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium sp.<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Damping off Fungi Pythium butleri<br />
And Pythium deliense<br />
Fruit rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora<br />
Storage rot Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
And Fusarium sp.<br />
And Phoma exigua<br />
And Pythium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A common and well liked vegetable throughout Papua New Guinea.
218<br />
Names<br />
English: Marrow, Pumpkin Scientific name: Cucurbita pepo L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A bristly hairy annual vine in the<br />
pumpkin family. It has branched tendrils. The stems<br />
are angular and prickly. The leaves are roughly<br />
triangular. The leaves have 5 lobes which are pointed<br />
at the end and are toothed around the edge. Male and<br />
female plants are separate on the same plant. Male<br />
flowers are carried on long grooved flower stalks.<br />
Female flowers are borne on shorter more angular<br />
stalks. The fruit stalks have furrows along them but are<br />
not fattened near the stalk. The fruit vary in shape, size<br />
and colour. Often they are oval and yellow and 20 cm<br />
long by 15 cm wide. The seeds are smaller than<br />
pumpkin and easy to separate from the tissue. The scar<br />
at their tip is rounded or horizontal, not oblique.<br />
Distribution: They are more suited to drier areas. They are frost sensitive. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seeds. The seeds germinate after one week. They can be<br />
grown from cuttings. They are best planted on mounds. A spacing of 2-3 m between plants is<br />
needed. Hand pollination assists fruit setting. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown from cuttings as plants<br />
root at the nodes.<br />
Production: The first usable immature fruit are ready 7-8 weeks after planting.<br />
Use: The young fruit are cooked and eaten.<br />
The young leaves and the ripe seeds can also be eaten.<br />
The seeds are dried, salted and toasted and eaten as a snack food.<br />
The seeds can also be pressed to produce oil.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 91.3 102 1.1 0.8 12 0.2<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
89.0 113 4.0 0.8 3600 80<br />
Insects:<br />
Probably similar to pumpkin<br />
Diseases:<br />
Probably similar to pumpkin<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not widely distributed in Papua New Guinea. Not as common as pumpkins.
219<br />
Names<br />
English: Melon, Canteloupe, Scientific name: Cucumis melo L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: An annual climber with tendrils. It grows<br />
to 0.5 m high and spreads to 1.5 m across. The stems<br />
are soft and hairy and often angled. The leaves have<br />
lobes and often a wavy or toothed edge. They are on<br />
long leaf stalks. The leaves are often hairy underneath.<br />
The tendrils are not branched. The flowers are yellow<br />
and funnel shaped with expanded lobes. The male<br />
flowers occur in clusters and are produced before the<br />
female flowers. The fruit is round, mostly with a rough<br />
or streaky skin. It is green or yellow inside. The fruit<br />
is edible. Different kinds of melons occur. Some have<br />
a hard warty scaly skin. Others have a network of fine<br />
ridges over the surface.<br />
Distribution: It is not suited to places with high rainfall. They suit hot dry places with a fertile<br />
well drained soil. It needs a sheltered sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. A<br />
temperature range of 24-28°C is best but much higher temperatures is tolerated. Mostly they are<br />
grown below 500 m altitude in the tropics. A pH of 6-6.7 is best. Acid soils are not suitable. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seed. The seeds are planted about 1-4 cm deep. <strong>Plants</strong> need<br />
to be 1-2 m apart. Seedlings can be transplanted when about 10-15 cm high.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are ready 3-4 months after planting. Yields of 20 kg per10 sq m is average.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit are eaten raw.<br />
The seeds are sometimes eaten.<br />
Sometimes the immature fruit are cooked as a vegetable.<br />
The seeds contain an edible light oil.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 93.0 109 0.5 0.4 300 30 0.2<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
85.0 172 4.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Leptoglossus australis (Fabricius) Coreidae (HEM) Black leaf footed bug<br />
Diseases:<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium sp.<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk. & Curt.)<br />
Rostow<br />
Black rot Fungus Mycosphaerella melonis<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only occasionally seen in Papua New Guinea. They are common in Africa both<br />
wild and cultivated.
220<br />
Names<br />
English: Bottle gourd Scientific name: Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A pumpkin family plant. It is an annual<br />
vine with large leaves. It can grow 3-9 m long and<br />
spread 3-6 m wide. The thick stems have furrows<br />
along them. It can climb over logs by attaching the<br />
tendrils which grow out of the stem near the leaf. The<br />
leaves are large and have soft hairs especially<br />
underneath. Flowers of both sexes are borne in the<br />
same plant. The plant produces male flowers first and<br />
these are on long stalks. Next it produces female<br />
flowers on short stalks. Flowers are large and white.<br />
They can be 10 cm across. They are mainly pollinated<br />
by insects. Fruit vary in shape. The fruit can be 8-90<br />
cm long. They have brown seeds in a whitish green<br />
pulp.<br />
Distribution: It grows from sea level up to 2700 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It grows best in a warm humid<br />
climate. It is sensitive to frost. It prefers full sunlight.<br />
In Nepal it grows to about 2200 m altitude. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: To achieve fast and uniform emergence, seed should be soaked overnight. Seeds<br />
are best sown in raised beds. Seedlings emerge in 5-7 days. Seedlings can be transplanted is<br />
required. Because plants cross pollinate, plant and fruit types vary. Removing the young fruit to<br />
use as a vegetable will prolong the life of the plant. Large fruit can be obtained by removing<br />
some of the small fruit. A spacing of 1- 2 m is suitable. It prefers a trellis to climb. Because it<br />
is shallow rooted weeding needs to be done carefully.<br />
Production: It is fast growing and flowers 2 months after seeding.<br />
Use: The young fruit are boiled as a vegetable. The skin and seeds are removed.<br />
Young tips and leaves are edible.<br />
(Old fruit are used as containers, and seeds are not normally edible.)<br />
The seeds are sometimes eaten. They yield an edible oil.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 93.0 88 0.5 2.4 25 10<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
83.0 180 4.4 7.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus<br />
Anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, it occurs occasionally in many areas for containers. As a<br />
vegetable it is only important in some areas eg Mendi.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
221<br />
Names<br />
English: Angled loofah Scientific name: Luffa acutangula (L.)Roxburgh<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Cucumis acutangula L.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: An annual climber with square stems.<br />
They have 4 to 7 branched tendrils which attach to<br />
objects helping the plant to have a climbing habit.<br />
Leaves are pale green, hairy and shallowly five lobed.<br />
The leaves have a bad smell when rubbed. Male and<br />
female flowers are separate. Male flowers are in<br />
clusters, female flowers singly. (Ratio 43:1) Flowers<br />
open late in the afternoon and stay open during the<br />
night. The flowers are yellow. Fruit can be up to 40<br />
cm long and with 10 long ridges. It is green-brown<br />
outside and white inside.<br />
Distribution: It grows from sea level to 500 m altitude<br />
in the hot humid tropics. It won't tolerate excessive<br />
rainfall so does best in drier areas or in the dry season<br />
in wetter areas. Day temperatures above 25 °C are<br />
suitable. Some varieties require short day length.<br />
Adding additional nitrogen fertiliser can stimulate<br />
female flower formation in short day varieties. In<br />
Nepal it grows between 1000-1600 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: Seeds are sown direct at 40 x 80 cm spacing and need stakes to climb. Because<br />
seeds can have a hard coating soaking seed in water for 24 hours before planting can assist. 5 kg<br />
of seed per hectare are required. The plant benefits from full sunlight. Good soil fertility is<br />
beneficial. The soil needs to be well drained and adequate organic matter helps. Pinching out<br />
the growing tips when plants are 1.5 to 2 metres long can promote fruit development. Hand<br />
pollination once female flowers develop helps fruit set. This is best done in the evening.<br />
Production: Immature fruit are ready 6 - 10 weeks after planting. On maturity the fruit become<br />
bitter and inedible. Fruit do not store well so are harvested when they are to be used.<br />
Use: The immature fruit are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The ridges are removed with a<br />
vegetable peeler.<br />
The leaves are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk.& Curt.)Rostov.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora citrullina Cooke<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is a vegetable of minor importance in some coastal areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
222<br />
Names<br />
English: Smooth loofah Scientific name: Luffa cylindrica (L.) M.Roemer<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Luffa aegyptiaca Miller<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: An annual climber up to 10 m long. The<br />
stem is five angled and slightly hairy. The tendrils<br />
have 2 or 3 branches. Leaves are 10-20 cm across with<br />
five to seven lobes. Male and female flowers are<br />
separate and yellow. The male flowers occur as 4 to 20<br />
flowers together while female flowers are solitary in the<br />
leaf axils. Flowers open in the early morning. The<br />
fruit is fairly smooth and cylindrical and can be 30 - 60<br />
cm long. The seeds are black, flat and smooth and 10-<br />
15 mm long.<br />
Distribution: It grows well in the tropical lowlands but<br />
will also grow in more temperate places. It is better<br />
suited to the drier season as too heavy a rainfall during<br />
flowering and fruiting is harmful. Soils should be well<br />
drained and moderately rich. It suits hardiness zones 9-<br />
12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed are collected from ripe fruit. Seed are sown 4-5<br />
cm deep and plants are put 1 metre apart. They can be sown in seed boxes and transplanted<br />
when 15 cm high. It is best to have a trellis for the plant to climb on or be left to climb over<br />
trees. They are often pollinated by insects but can be hand pollinated in the early morning.<br />
Production: Fruit are harvested for sponges when fully mature. Young fruit are ready 2-3<br />
months after planting while fruit mature 4-5 months after planting. For eating, young fruit are<br />
used.<br />
Use: The young fruit are eaten as a vegetable. They are skinned and have the centre removed.<br />
The seeds yield an edible oil after extraction.<br />
The young leaves and flowers are edible. They are blanched by covering to make them white.<br />
Caution: Older fruit are bitter and fibrous and contain poisonous substances.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk.& Curt.) Rostov.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora citrullina Cooke<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea a minor vegetable seen in several coastal areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
223<br />
Names<br />
English: Wax gourd Scientific name: Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A long vined (3 m), climbing, pumpkin family<br />
plant. The plant re-grows from seed each year. The vines are<br />
thick, furrowed and hairy. The leaves are heart shaped with 5<br />
to 7 lobes. They are rough to touch. Flowers are yellow. The<br />
immature fruit can have skin of various colours depending on<br />
variety. The fruit is up to 30 cm long and 20 cm across and<br />
green with a waxy covering when mature. This waxy layer<br />
enables the fruit to be stored for a long time. Fruit shape and<br />
size can vary with variety. The flesh is firm and white. The<br />
fruit are heavy - up to 8-45 kg<br />
Distribution: It is suited to warm, lowland, tropical<br />
conditions. It does better in dry areas or drier seasons. They<br />
are reasonably drought tolerant. The best temperature for<br />
growing is 23-28°C. They need a well-drained soil. They do<br />
best with a pH of 6.5. It grows in Nepal up to 1400 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seeds. There are about 1800 seeds in a kg. Seed are sown 3-5 cm<br />
deep with a spacing of 60-80 cm between plants. If plants are going to be allowed to trail over<br />
the ground a spacing of about 3 m is necessary. Seed can be sown in nurseries and transplanted<br />
when 15-20 cm tall. They are usually planted in mounds and allowed to grow over a strong<br />
trellis. They can be allowed to stay on the ground. Decayed manure or compost is used where<br />
available. <strong>Plants</strong> are responsive to sulphate of ammonia. Flowering normally starts 60-80 days<br />
after planting. Flowers are open in the early morning. Hand pollination may assist fruit<br />
development. This becomes more important in colder areas. Thinning of fruit gives larger fruit.<br />
The growing tips of plants can be pruned out to encourage branching or to restrict growth.<br />
Production: Fruit are ready 3-5 months after planting. The fruit keeps well when fully mature.<br />
They can be stored for 6 months at 13-15°C in a dry atmosphere. The pulp of wax gourds can be<br />
shredded and dried for later use.<br />
Use: The white flesh is added to stir fried dishes.<br />
The seeds are fried and eaten.<br />
Young leaves and flower buds can be eaten.<br />
The young fruit are used as a vegetable. The mature fruit are peeled, cut in pieces and candied.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Seeds<br />
Flowers<br />
Leaves<br />
96.6 54 0.4 0.4 0 10.5 0.6<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora citrullina Cooke<br />
Importance: These gourds are grown in most places where Chinese have moved and where the<br />
climate is warm enough. They are mainly grown near coastal towns in Papua New Guinea for<br />
sale to Chinese. They sell for a high price.
224<br />
Names<br />
English: Bitter cucumber Scientific name: Momordica charantia L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Momordica chinensis Spreng.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A slender annual climber with flowers of<br />
both sexes on the one plant. It has simple tendrils and<br />
vines can be 4 m long. It has bright green lobed leaves.<br />
The leaves are 5 to 12 cm long on thin leaf stalks 3-10<br />
cm long. The flowers have 5 petals, are small, yellow<br />
and with a sweet smell. Fruit are green when young<br />
and orange when ripe. The fruit have a lumpy<br />
appearance, with ridges along its length and when fully<br />
ripe burst open. It has bright red covering on the seeds<br />
inside. The seeds are 10-16 mm long and 7 to 10 mm<br />
wide and pale brown. Considerable variation in the<br />
fruit occurs between varieties.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows from sea level<br />
up to about 500 m and will probably grow to 1000 m<br />
altitude in tropical regions. They require a well drained<br />
soil preferably rich in organic matter. Seeds do not<br />
germinate below 15°C. <strong>Plants</strong> grow best with<br />
temperatures between 18°C and 35°C. In Nepal it<br />
grows to about 2100 m altitude. A soil pH of 6.5 is<br />
best. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: For large scale plantings, 6-7 kg of seed are required for planting one hectare.<br />
Seeds are planted at 50 cm spacing in the place where the plants are to grow and need a stick to<br />
climb up. The seeds are put at 2 cm depth. Often plants are grown on raised beds 2 m apart with<br />
0.5 m between plants. The seed has a hard seed coat and germinates slowly. Soaking seeds for<br />
24 hours before sowing gives a quicker more even germination. Regular watering is required.<br />
Production: Fruit are ready to harvest 45-55 days after planting. Fruit should be harvested when<br />
young and tender. Once fruit have begun to change colour to yellow they are past maturity for<br />
eating. Early removal of young fruit also ensures continuous fruit setting. This can allow 6-8<br />
successive pickings of fruit. Fruit on the plant are sometimes wrapped in paper to prevent fruit<br />
fly damage. Seed well stored can remain viable for 4-5 years. The young bitter fruit are cooked<br />
and eaten. The fruit is blanched or soaked in salt water to reduce the bitter taste.<br />
Use: The young bitter fruit are cooked and eaten.<br />
The seed mass of the ripe fruit is used as a food flavouring.<br />
The leaves are also cooked and eaten as a flavouring.<br />
The tender shoots and leaves are sometimes eaten.<br />
Caution: The leaves are considered to cause diarrhoea and vomiting.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 94.0 79 0.8 0.4 11 33 0.8<br />
Leaves 88.7 146 3.6 1.0 173 57 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Leptoglossus australis (Fabricius) Coreidae (HEM) Black leaf-footed bug
225<br />
Megymenum sp. Dinidoridae (HEM)<br />
Tiracola plagiata (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora citrullina Cooke<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk. & Curt.) Rostow<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea only of minor importance and used by Asians.
226<br />
Names<br />
English: Spiny bitter cucumber Scientific name: Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: A coarse vine up to 15 m long. It keeps<br />
growing from year to year. It climbs by means of<br />
tendrils. It is slightly hairy. The leaves are 8 to 18 cm<br />
long, and 8-20 cm across and deeply 3 lobed and the<br />
base is heart shaped. Leaves are bright green. The leaf<br />
stalks are 2-10 cm long. Male and female flowers are<br />
separate on the same plant. Male flowers are 3.5 cm<br />
across on stalks 5-30 cm long. The petals are pale<br />
yellow. The female flowers are smaller. The fruit are<br />
egg shaped, yellow and roughened with small bumps<br />
scattered over it. They are edible.<br />
Distribution: It suits tropical places. It occurs in the<br />
Philippines and other areas of SE Asia.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or cuttings of firm young growth.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leafy shoots and fruit are eaten cooked.<br />
The fruit are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Fruit are sold in markets in Asian countries. It is probably rarely used in Papua<br />
New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
227<br />
Names<br />
English: Cabbage Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Brassica capitata (L.) H. Léveillé<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A herb. It is a short leafy plant with a<br />
thick stalk. In cold areas it forms a thick tightly packed<br />
ball of leaves called a "head". If the plant is left<br />
growing in the ground it will later produce a flower<br />
stalk. The flowers are yellow.<br />
Distribution: It does best at higher altitudes in the<br />
tropics where there is a greater difference between day<br />
and night temperatures. It is mostly above 1000 m.<br />
They are frost resistant. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally first grown from seeds. But in many places in Papua New<br />
Guinea they are re-grown from cuttings or sprouts that develop on the cut stalk.<br />
Production: Cabbages take 5-7 months to be ready for harvest.<br />
Use: The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 93.6 92 1.0 0.2 132 IU 20 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Noctuidae (LEP) Black cutworm<br />
Chrysodeixis eriosoma Doubleday Noctuidae (LEP) Vegetable looper<br />
Colgar tricolor Dist. Flatidae (HOM)<br />
Crocidolomia binotalis Zell. Pyralidae (LEP) Cabbage cluster caterpillar<br />
Euricania discigutta (Walk.) Ricaniidae (HEM) Plant hopper<br />
Papuana spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Taro beetles<br />
Phaneroptera brevis Serv. Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
Plutella xylostella (L.) Plutellidae (LEP) Diamond backed moth<br />
Spodoptera litura (F.) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Valanga sp. Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black leaf spot Fungus Alternaria brassicicola<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
Ring spot Fungus Mycosphaerella brassicicola<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Peronospora parasitica<br />
Black rot Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris (Pamm)Dowson<br />
Soft rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora<br />
Collar rot Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Damping off Fungus Pythium sp.<br />
And Rhizoctonia sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Cabbages are very common and popular in high altitudes areas of Papua New<br />
Guinea.
228<br />
Names<br />
English: Bok-choy Celery cabbage Scientific name: Brassica rapa var. chinensis<br />
(L.) Kitamura<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Brassica chinensis Linnaeus<br />
Tok ples: Taatsai Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A leafy cabbage grown as an annual. It<br />
grows 40-60 cm high. The taproot is not fleshy. The<br />
stem is short. The leaves are arranged in spirals. They<br />
are simple and broadly oval. They can be 30 cm long<br />
by 10 cm wide. The leaves form a rosette. They do not<br />
form a head. The leaf stalk is thickened. It forms a<br />
half cylinder in cross section and does not have wings.<br />
The leaf blade is entire and can have a wavy edge.<br />
Flowers are small and yellow with 4 petals. The fruit is<br />
a pod 3.5 cm long. The seeds are black and 2 mm long.<br />
Several different kinds occur.<br />
Distribution: More common in lowland areas but will<br />
grow in the highlands. It suits cool seasons but will not<br />
tolerate frost.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed and often transplanted. A spacing of 40 cm x 40 cm is<br />
suitable. Seeds are sown direct. They are sown 1 cm deep. They germinate in about 7 days<br />
with soil temperature of 21°C. <strong>Plants</strong> are thinned to about 20 cm between plants.<br />
Production: The whole plant is harvested after 2-3 months.<br />
Use: The leaves are cooked and eaten.<br />
The stems are cooked and served with oyster sauce.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Stems<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: They are common and popular in lowland areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
229<br />
Names<br />
English: Brussels sprouts Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera<br />
L.; Zenker<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A cabbage family plant with small sprouts<br />
of compact leaves up the stem. It grows up to about 1<br />
m high. The leaves are stalked and the edges are wavy.<br />
They are slightly lobed. The flowers are yellowish.<br />
Distribution: It suits the highlands in the tropics.<br />
Normally it needs to be above 800 m and in places with<br />
cool nights. It grows in the highlands up to 2600 m. It<br />
is frost tolerant. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is normally grown from imported seed.<br />
Seedlings are transplanted after 5 or 6 weeks. The<br />
spacing needs to be about 60 cm x 60 cm.<br />
Production: The sprouts can be harvested about 4<br />
months after transplanting.<br />
Use: The sprouts are cooked and eaten.<br />
The leafy tops can also be eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Sprouts<br />
Leaves<br />
91.5 175 2.8 1.2 72 40 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Acleris sp. Tortricidae (LEP)<br />
Atractomorpha crenaticeps Blanch Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller Pyralidae (LEP) Cabbage cluster caterpillar<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Phaneroptera brevis Serv. Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Long horned grasshopper<br />
Phytometra orichalcaea (F.) Noctuidae (LEP) Semi looper<br />
Plutella xylostella L. Plutellidae (LEP) Diamond backed moth<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black leaf spot Fungus Alternaria brassicicola (Schw.) Wilt.<br />
Black rot Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris (Pamm.) Dows.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, mainly only grown by a few people for sale to Europeans.
230<br />
Names<br />
English: Kohl rabi Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A cabbage family plant with a swollen<br />
bulb above the ground. This can be green or purple. It<br />
is round with a tapering root. Leaves come off around<br />
the side of this bulb. They have stalks. The edges of<br />
the leaves are wavy. The flowers are yellow.<br />
Distribution: It does best in the highlands in the tropics<br />
but is reasonably tolerant of heat and drought. It can be<br />
grown from sea level to 2600 m altitude. It is frost<br />
tolerant. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from imported seed. The<br />
seed can be sown direct or in a nursery and<br />
transplanted.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The bulb is mostly cooked and eaten. It can be added to soups. It can be lightly simmered<br />
in coconut milk with spices.<br />
It can be eaten raw.<br />
The leaves are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Bulb 91.6 99 1.9 0.9 4 63 0.3<br />
Leaves 90.0 113 1.7 0.4 2000 62<br />
Insects:<br />
Chrysodeixus eriosoma Doubleday Noctuidae (LEP) Green looper<br />
Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller Pyralidae (LEP) Cabbage cluster caterpillar<br />
Spodoptera exempta (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) African armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is not commonly grown and is mainly by or for sale to<br />
Europeans.
231<br />
Names<br />
English: Cauliflower Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A herb. It is a cabbage family plant<br />
which develops a thick white edible flower in the<br />
centre. It has broad leaves around a thick stalk. The<br />
leaves clasp the stem. The leaves are oval and fleshy.<br />
The flowers are yellow.<br />
Distribution: It mostly grows in the highlands in the<br />
tropics but has been grown from sea level to 2600 m<br />
altitude. It is frost resistant. In Nepal it grows up to<br />
1800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: They are normally grown from seeds and<br />
transplanted. Because plants cross pollinate and seed<br />
production requires low temperatures seed collecting is<br />
neither easy nor very successful.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The thick white flower is cooked and eaten.<br />
The leaves are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Flower<br />
Leaves<br />
90.7 96 3.0 0.3 2 44.3 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Plutella xylostella L. Plutellidae (LEP) Diamond back moth<br />
and probably others similar to cabbage.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black leaf spot Fungus Alternaria brassicicola (Schw.)Wilt.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Mycosphaerella brassicicola<br />
Black rot Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris (Pamm.) Dows.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, mainly only grown by a few people for sale to Europeans.
232<br />
Names<br />
English: Broccoli Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A cabbage family plant. It has a<br />
thickened green or blue flower at the centre. The<br />
flower is often in several small heads. They are<br />
surrounded by broad leaves attached to a thick stalk.<br />
Calabrese is a variety with tightly packed green or<br />
purple heads.<br />
Distribution: It is mostly grown in the highlands in the<br />
tropics. It is frost resistant. It suits hardiness zones 8-<br />
11.<br />
Cultivation: It is normally grown from imported seed.<br />
The seeds are planted in a nursery then transplanted. A<br />
spacing of 60 cm x 60 cm is suitable.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are ready for harvest about 3 months after transplanting.<br />
Use: The central flower is cooked and eaten.<br />
The leaves are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Flower 89.9 78 3.1 1.0 2500 34 0.4<br />
Leaves 90.7 117 3.0 0.9 1600 93.2 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller Pyralidae (LEP) Cabbage cluster caterpillar<br />
Plutella xylostella (L.) Plutellidae (LEP) Diamond back moth<br />
Diseases:<br />
Grey leaf spot Fungus Alternaria brassicae<br />
Botrytis sp.<br />
Black rot Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, only grown is a few highland areas mostly for sale to<br />
Europeans.
233<br />
Names<br />
English: Turnip Scientific name: Brassica rapa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: An erect annual herb. It has a round<br />
white fleshed taproot. It is often tinged purple. The<br />
leaves are divided and have hairs. Where the leaves<br />
join the root it is not raised into a "neck". The wild<br />
form is a thin plant with leaves that clasp the stem. The<br />
pods are 4-6.5 cm long and have seedless beaks 2-3.2<br />
cm long.<br />
Distribution: It will grow in both the lowlands and<br />
highlands in the tropics but does best in the highlands<br />
between 1700 and 2600 m altitude. It is frost resistant.<br />
It grows in Nepal to 2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from imported seed. In the lowlands they are best grown in the shade.<br />
Production: The roots are ready after 8-10 weeks.<br />
Use: The swollen root is cooked and eaten.<br />
The leaves can be eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Root 90.0 113 0.9 0.3 Tr 21<br />
Leaves 90.0 117 3.0 1.9 4560 139<br />
Insects:<br />
Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller Pyralidae (LEP) Cabbage cluster caterpillar<br />
Lyriomyza brassicae (Riley) Agromyzidae (DIPT) Cabbage leaf miner<br />
Plutella xylostella L. Plutellidae (LEP) Diamond back moth<br />
Plutella sera Meyr. Plutellidae (LEP)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria brassicae (Berk.)Sacc.<br />
and Alternaria brassicicola<br />
Back rot Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris (Pamm.) Dows.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not very common or widely used.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
234<br />
Names<br />
English: Chinese kale Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. albiflora Kuntze<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Brassica alboglabra Bailey<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A cabbage family plant which continues<br />
to grow from year to year. The stem base is long and<br />
cylindrical but not fleshy. It has leaves which are thick,<br />
oval and bluish-green. They can be dull or shiny. They<br />
are widely spaced and not grouped in a head. The leaf<br />
buds in the axils of leaves do not form a head. The<br />
flower stalk is lax and not fleshy. The flowers are<br />
white or rarely cream.<br />
Distribution: It is cultivated in China.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
235<br />
Names<br />
English: Swede Scientific name: Brassica napus var. napobrassica (L.) Mill.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A cabbage family plant. The plant has a<br />
round tap root which mostly have yellow flesh. The<br />
outside is often of various colours. It has a "neck" near<br />
the ground level and this helps distinguish it from a<br />
turnip. The leaves have a waxy appearance.<br />
Distribution: They are not common in the tropics.<br />
They do best in the highlands and in the dry season. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The tubers are cooked and eaten.<br />
The leaves can be eaten cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Tubers<br />
Leaves<br />
91.6 76 0.9 0.3 Tr 17 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not a very popular vegetable in Papua New Guinea.
236<br />
Names<br />
English: Bai cai, Petsai Scientific name: Brassica rapa var. glabra Regel<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Brassica pekinensis (Loureiro) Ruprecht<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: An annual or biennial plant. The taproot<br />
is not fleshy. The basal leaves are usually more than<br />
20. They form a rosette and a head. This is normally<br />
oblong and compact. The leaf stalk is strongly<br />
flattened. It has incised or toothed edges. The leaf<br />
blade has teeth along the edge.<br />
Distribution:<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
237<br />
Names<br />
English: Leaf mustard Scientific name: Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Cass<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Sinapis juncea L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: It is an erect leafy annual cabbage plant.<br />
It grows to about 1 m high. The plant can vary a lot.<br />
The leaves are elliptical and deeply divided. They are<br />
dark green. The end segment of the leaves is oval. The<br />
leaves taper towards the stem and have a strong<br />
mustard flavour. The flowers are pale yellow. They<br />
have 4 petals. It produces a flower and seed pods at the<br />
top. The seed pod is long and narrow. It is 3-5 cm<br />
long. The seeds are reddish-brown.<br />
Distribution: It is grown in some highland areas in the<br />
tropics. It is often grown as a cool season crop. Most<br />
varieties are not frost tolerant. It needs a fertile, well<br />
drained soil. A pH of 5.5-6.8 is suitable. It can tolerate<br />
poor soils. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: The seed is broadcast. They can be put in a nursery and transplanted. A spacing of<br />
25 cm x 25 cm is suitable.<br />
Production: Leaves can be harvested one month after planting. Leaves can be harvested several<br />
times. Whole plants can be harvested in about 45 days from transplanting.<br />
Use: The leaves are cooked and eaten. They have a bitter taste, so the cooking water needs<br />
changing.<br />
They can be eaten crystallised in vinegar or salt.<br />
They can be used in salads.<br />
The seeds can be fried then used as a spice.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
92.0 108 2.4 2.7 1825 73<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only grown occasionally in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
238<br />
Names<br />
English: Chinese radish Scientific name: Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus Bailey<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A cabbage family plant like a large<br />
radish. It has a large fleshy root and deeply divided<br />
leaves. The taproot is long and white. It takes one or<br />
two years to complete its lifecycle. The stems can be<br />
20-100 cm high. The leaves near the base are long.<br />
They are divided and have coarse teeth. The leaves up<br />
the stem are simple and narrow. The flowers develop<br />
at the top. They are usually white with purple veins.<br />
The fruit are pods about 3-8 cm long and 1.25 cm<br />
across. They have a long tapering beak. There are 6-<br />
12 round seeds. These can be yellow or brown.<br />
Distribution: It is more common in lowland areas in<br />
the tropics. It needs a rich loose fertile soil. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 6-9.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seeds. A spacing of 15 cm apart in rows is suitable. Often<br />
plants are sown more thickly and seedlings are thinned out and eaten. It is possible to save seed<br />
from plants.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are ready for harvesting about 50 days after planting.<br />
Use: The roots are cooked and eaten.<br />
The young leaves can be eaten cooked.<br />
The roots can also be shredded and eaten raw in salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Roots<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria raphani Groves & Skolko<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Rarely grown or eaten by village people in Papua New Guinea. It is seen at<br />
schools and institutions and sometimes in coastal markets.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
239<br />
Names<br />
English: Radish Scientific name: Raphanus sativus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Brassicaceae<br />
Description: A small quick growing plant with a<br />
thickened edible root. The leaves are divided along the<br />
middle nerve and are hairy. The end lobe is largest.<br />
The flowers are white or lilac with purple veins. The<br />
fruit is a pod. It is round in cross section and does not<br />
open at maturity. It is constricted between the seeds.<br />
The fattened roots can be red, white, purple or black.<br />
They can be round, oblong or long and narrow.<br />
Distribution: It grows from the coast up to at least<br />
2400 m in the tropics. It is frost resistant. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 6-9.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed planted at 5<br />
cm spacing. In highland areas seeds can be saved from<br />
plants to re-sow.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> can be ready after 3 weeks.<br />
Use: The young tender roots are mostly eaten raw.<br />
The leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
Roots and seeds are pickled.<br />
The seeds can be sprouted and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Roots<br />
Leaves<br />
93.3 62 1.0 1.9 Tr 25 0.1<br />
Seeds 90.1 180 3.8 0.9 39 28.9 0.6<br />
Insects:<br />
Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller Pyralidae (LEP) Cabbage cluster caterpillar<br />
Gonocephalum ochthebioides Ful. Tenebrionidae (COL) False wireworm<br />
Onthophagus latenasutus Arrow Copridae (COL) A beetle<br />
Diseases:<br />
A leaf spot Fungus Alternaria raphani Groves & Skolko<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea tried out by many people and not liked.
240<br />
Names<br />
English: Bulb onion Scientific name: Allium cepa var. cepa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Alliaceae<br />
Description: A herb with a two year life cycle. Normally it<br />
develops fattened bulbs at the base. It has a shallow fibrous root<br />
system. The actual stem in very short and condensed. Leaves are<br />
produced in an alternate fashion one after the other from the top<br />
of this stem. Successive leaves grow up inside, then burst<br />
through the leaf sheath of the previous leaf. Leaves are thin and<br />
long. They are slightly to markedly flattened on the upper<br />
surface. Long day lengths and warm temperatures help the leaf<br />
bases become swollen and store food reserves. Flowers are<br />
greenish white in colour. Flowers develop on a rounded head<br />
with stalks all coming from the centre. Flowers in the rounded<br />
head open irregularly. There are no bulbils on the flowerhead.<br />
Distribution: It is more easy to get onions to grow and form<br />
bulbs in the highlands in the tropics but they can be grown from<br />
sea level to 2600 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. In Nepal they<br />
grow to 3000 m altitude. They do not suit the wet humid tropics.<br />
Because the day lengths are short near the equator, onions often<br />
do not produce a bulb. Some newer varieties will yield in the<br />
tropics. It suits hardiness zones 5-10.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from imported seed. For bulbs, a tropical cultivar is needed and<br />
bulbing is normally better at higher altitudes. Cultivars which form flowers early need to be<br />
avoided. Seedlings can be transplanted.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The bulbs and leaves are used as flavouring raw or cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Bulb 92.8 99 0.9 0.3 0 10 0.1<br />
Leaves 90.0 1.4 0.5 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Noctuidae (LEP) Black cutworm<br />
Neotoxoptera formosana Takahashi Aphididae (HEM) Onion aphid<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Thrips tabaci Lind. Thripidae (THYS) Onion thrips<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf tip withering Fungus Alternaria porri<br />
Smudge Fungus Colletotrichum circinans (Berk.)Voglino<br />
Soft rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora<br />
And Pseudomonas cepacia<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, it is not widely grown but is popular and imported for sale.
241<br />
Names<br />
English: Shallots Scientific name: Allium cepa var. aggregatum L., G.Don.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Allium ascalonicum L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Alliaceae<br />
Description: These onion like plants produce a cluster<br />
of bulbs. They are narrowly oval. It grows to 1.2 m<br />
high. The leaves are round and hollow. This is a<br />
genuinely perennial form of Allium cepa, the bulb<br />
grows deeper in the soil and divides to produce a<br />
number of underground bulbs each year in much the<br />
same way as shallots. Large bulbs divide to form 5-15<br />
bulbs whilst smaller bulbs grow into one large bulb.<br />
They do not produce bulbils in the flowerhead.<br />
Distribution: They can be grown throughout the<br />
country but do best in the cooler higher places. They<br />
need a fertile well drained soil. They are frost resistant.<br />
They tolerate a pH in the range 4.5 to 8.3. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 5-10.<br />
Cultivation: Normally plants are grown by planting one bulb. It is best to plant them on slightly<br />
raised beds. <strong>Plants</strong> should be about 20 cm apart.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The bulbs are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The leaves are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The flowers are used raw or to flavour salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Bulbs 81 281 1.9 0.8 Tr 2<br />
Leaves 91 126 1.8 3.7 945 19<br />
Insects:<br />
Thrips tabaci Lnd. Thripidae (THYS) Onion thrips<br />
Aphids<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf tip burn Fungus Alternaria porri<br />
Leaf tip wither Fungus Botryotinia fuckeliana (de Bary)Fuckel<br />
Smudge Fungus Colletotrichum circinans<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: This is becoming a well accepted and popular vegetable for flavouring foods in<br />
most parts of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
242<br />
Names<br />
English: Chives Scientific name: Allium schoenoprasum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Alliaceae<br />
Description: A herb which grows one year, then flowers the<br />
next. It is up to 30 cm tall. A narrow leafed onion which forms<br />
dense clumps. The leaves are hollow and narrow. They are 10-<br />
25 cm long by 0.1 cm in cross section. They are angular in<br />
cross section. Bulbs are not well developed. They can be 1-3<br />
cm long by 0.5-1.5 cm across. The flowers are pink or purple.<br />
They are produced in a head where small flowers are on equal<br />
length stalks forming a rounded head.<br />
Distribution: A temperate plant. It is tolerant of cold and suits<br />
the highlands in the tropics. It needs a well drained soil. They<br />
can tolerate drought and grow on a wide range of soils. Fertile<br />
loam soils are best. In China it grows in meadows and damp<br />
valleys along streams between 2000-3000 m altitude. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 5-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by division of the clump, or by<br />
seeds. Seeds are normally put in a nursery then transplanted. A<br />
spacing of 15-20 cm between plants is suitable. The leaves can<br />
be cut off several times.<br />
Production: Shoots can be harvested 70-100 days from planting. The outer leaves are cut 2 cm<br />
from the base leaving the central clump intact. Clumps should be replanted every 2-3 years.<br />
Use: The mild flavoured leaves are eaten raw or used to flavour food.<br />
They are used to flavour salads and meat.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 92.0 113 2.7 0.8 435 32 0.6<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is becoming more common in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
243<br />
Names<br />
English: Garlic Scientific name: Allium sativum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Alliaceae<br />
Description: It is an erect herb. It grows one year, then<br />
flowers the next. It grows about 40 cm high. This<br />
onion family plant has a number of tightly packed bulbs<br />
(cloves) wrapped in papery scale leaves. The true<br />
leaves of the plant are long, flat and solid. Leaves are<br />
2.5 cm wide. The roots are side roots. The number of<br />
cloves per bulb varies from 16-50 depending on<br />
variety. Flowers are borne on a long stalk in a head<br />
where the flowers are on equal length stalks from one<br />
point forming a rounded head.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the tropical highlands mostly<br />
between 1600 and 2200 m but will grow satisfactorily<br />
down to 500 m. In Nepal it grows to 3000 m altitude.<br />
There are kinds that will grow in hot coastal tropical<br />
places. Best bulb development occurs with<br />
temperatures up to 30°C. It is frost resistant. High<br />
humidity or high rainfall is not suitable. It is best<br />
grown in low rainfall areas with irrigation. Bulb<br />
development is favoured with long day lengths. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 8-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by planting individual cloves. The individual segments of the<br />
clove are separated out then planted. A spacing of 20 cm is suitable. They should be planted<br />
into a deeply dug but firm seedbed. They are planted almost covered with fine soil. Cloves or<br />
"rounds" are best planted at the end of the wet season. <strong>Plants</strong> rarely produce fertile flowers or<br />
seed. They can be grown from seed.<br />
Production: Bulbs should be ready about 90-120 days from planting. Bulbs can be stored at 25-<br />
30°C for 90 days with low humidity and good air circulation.<br />
Use: The cloves are used in small amounts to flavour food.<br />
The leaves can also be used. Leaves should be cut before they are mature.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Bulb 66.0 512 5.0 1.2 Tr 7<br />
Leaves 87.0 50 2.1 0.4 684 38 1.0<br />
Insects:<br />
Probably thrips<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: At present not widely grown or used in Papua New Guinea.
244<br />
Names<br />
English: Leek Scientific name: Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum<br />
L.; (L.) Gay<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Allium porrum L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Alliaceae<br />
Description: An onion like plant without a bulb and with flat<br />
leaves. It grows one year, then flowers the next. There is one<br />
bulb. There can be bulblets. The covering is white. The leaves<br />
are flattened and vary from 40-100 cm long by 1.2-2.5 cm wide.<br />
Many flowers are produced in a large flower head where small<br />
flowers are on equal length stalks forming a ball.<br />
Distribution: It does best with a day temperature below 24°C.<br />
So it is mostly over 800 m altitude in the tropics and grows up to<br />
2600 m. It needs a fertile soil. It is very frost resistant. The soil<br />
needs to be well drained but retain moisture.<br />
Cultivation: They can be grown from seed. Seedlings can be<br />
transplanted. They are transplanted when 15-20 cm high. The<br />
base of plants or suckers are more commonly used for planting.<br />
It is difficult to save seed in the wet tropics. If plants are planted<br />
in a hole 10-15 cm deep they develop long white edible stalks.<br />
The soil should be mounded up around the base of the plant. A<br />
spacing of 15-20 cm between plants and in rows 30-36 cm apart<br />
is suitable.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are ready for harvest after 16-20 weeks. A yield of 20 kg per 10 metres<br />
square is average.<br />
Use: The whole plant is boiled except for the tops of the leaves. They can also be eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Bulb 90.8 104 1.8 2.0 40 18 0.1<br />
Leaves 89.4 147 2.3 2.7 1827 30<br />
Insects:<br />
Spodoptera litura Fab. Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria porri (Ell) Cif<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Moderately common in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
245<br />
Names<br />
English: Garlic chives, Chinese chives Scientific name: Allium tuberosum Rottb. ex Spreng<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Alliaceae<br />
Description: It is a herb which keeps growing year<br />
after year. It can be 40 cm high. It grows in clumps.<br />
These onions have rhizomes but no real bulbs. The<br />
leaves are long and grass like, and flat and solid. They<br />
are 15-30 cm long and about 5 mm wide. The young<br />
leaves are erect but the mature leaves bend gracefully<br />
down. The blades of the leaves are not folded<br />
lengthwise, as are those of garlic and leek. Flowers are<br />
white. The flowers are produced at the top of a flower<br />
stalk which grows from the underground stem. The<br />
flower head is round due to the small flowers being on<br />
the same length stalks and arising from the same point.<br />
The flower stalk can be 45 cm long. A dense clump of<br />
plants is produced.<br />
Distribution: They are native to eastern Asia. Seeds<br />
are rarely formed in the lowland tropics. It is<br />
naturalised in S China. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown by dividing the clump of plants or by seed. Seed production is<br />
not easy. <strong>Plants</strong> are sown in rows 30 cm apart.<br />
Production: Chives may be cultivated for its flowers which are plucked together with the stalks<br />
before the buds emerging from the sheath. They can also be grown for its edible leaves which<br />
have a special flavour considered fragrant by some people.<br />
Use: The leaves and young flowers are used to flavour foods.<br />
The bulbs are used like garlic.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
Bulbs<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Importance: It is cultivated as a vegetable.<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
246<br />
Names<br />
English: Celery Scientific name: Apium graveolens var dulce L., (Mill.)D.C.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Apium dulce Mill.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae<br />
Description: A herb up to 1 m high. It has leaf stalks<br />
with ridges and they are like a half circle when cut<br />
across. The plant is strong smelling. The plant is<br />
smooth and hairless. The leaves are divided into a<br />
compound leaf. The wild plant has leaves in tufts from<br />
the base or spread along creeping stems. The flowers<br />
are white and in small compound arrangements where<br />
each flower is on a stalk from the same point.<br />
Distribution: It is a warm temperate plant. It is mainly<br />
grown in the highlands in the tropics. It grows up to<br />
about 2100 m altitude. It is damaged by frost. It often<br />
grows naturally in swampy conditions. In the tropical<br />
lowlands it grows as a small leafy plant but can be used<br />
for flavouring. It requires a rich sandy loam soil.<br />
Because celery has shallow roots it needs plenty of<br />
moisture and does best in humus rich soils.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are mostly grown from seed and transplanted. To produce white stalks, the<br />
plant is wrapped up or soil is mounded up around the plant. Newer varieties will naturally form<br />
whiter stalks. <strong>Plants</strong> should be grown close together to keep sunlight off the stalks. This applies<br />
especially for the naturally whitening (blanching) varieties. The stalks are cut before the plant<br />
flowers.<br />
Production: Leaf stalks take about 9 months from seed until harvest.<br />
Use: The leaf stalks are eaten raw or used to flavour foods.<br />
The leaves can also be used for flavouring.<br />
The dry ripe fruit can be used for flavouring. e.g. in salt.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaf stalks 94.6 67 0.8 0.4 13 7 0.1<br />
Leaves 95.7 88.2 0.6 0.4 13 5 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Oribius destructor Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Thysanoplusia orichalcea Fabricius Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Septoria leaf spot Fungus Septoria apiicola<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: <strong>Plants</strong> are fairly commonly seen in highland markets in Papua New Guinea.
247<br />
Names<br />
English: Okra Scientific name: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Hibiscus esculentus L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Malvaceae<br />
Description: A tropical annual plant. It grows erect, often<br />
with hairy stems. It mostly grows about 1 m tall but can<br />
be 3.5 m tall. It becomes woody at the base. The leaves<br />
have long stalks up to 30 cm long. Leaves vary in shape<br />
but are roughly heart shaped with lobes and teeth along the<br />
edge. Upper leaves are more deeply divided than lower<br />
ones. The flowers are yellow with red hearts. The fruits<br />
are green, long and ribbed. They have 5-7 ribs. They are<br />
7.5-15 cm long. The seeds are 4-5 mm across. They are<br />
round and dark green. Many varieties exist.<br />
Distribution: It suits the hot humid tropical lowlands but<br />
is unsuited to the highlands. It cannot tolerate drought. It<br />
is very sensitive to frost. They grow best where<br />
temperatures are between 20-36°C. It can grow well in<br />
dry climates with irrigation. It suits hot humid<br />
environments. It does best on well drained well manured<br />
soils but will grow on many soils. A pH or 5.5-7 is best.<br />
It suits plant hardiness zones 8-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seeds. Seeds are easy to collect. They need high<br />
temperatures for germination (over 20°C) and a sunny position. Often seeds are soaked for 24<br />
hours before sowing to give quick germination. Seeds are sown 1.5-2.5 cm deep with 2-3 seeds<br />
per hole. Later these are thinned out to one plant. Seeds can be sown in nurseries and plants<br />
transplanted. Pinching out the tops of plants when 30 cm high encourages branching. To select<br />
seed of a particular variety seed plants must be separated 400 m from other varieties. A spacing<br />
of about 90 x 45 cm is suitable. About 8-10 kg of seed are required for one hectare. Most kinds<br />
respond to fertiliser.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> maintain production if the fruits are harvested regularly. <strong>Plants</strong> are ready to<br />
harvest 8-10 weeks after sowing. Seed yields of 500-800 kg per hectare are recorded. Pod<br />
yields of 4-6 tons per hectare occur. For young pods it takes 2-4 months from sowing. Pods<br />
develop 5-10 days after flowering. Pod harvests can continue for 1-2 months. Leaving pods on<br />
the plants stops new pods developing.<br />
Use: Pods are eaten cooked. They are slimy, but less so if fried. Okra is frozen and canned.<br />
Dried powdered seeds can be used in soups. It thickens the soup.<br />
Young leaves can be eaten cooked. Flowers can also be eaten. They are slimy unless fried.<br />
The seeds are roasted and used as a coffee substitute.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Pods<br />
Seeds<br />
90.0 134 1.9 0.5 58 16.3 0.6<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
81.0 235 4.4 0.7 385 59<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: An introduced vegetable grown in a few lowland areas of Papua New Guinea but<br />
not yet common. It is an important vegetable in Asia.
248<br />
Names<br />
English: Asparagus Scientific name: Asparagus officinalis L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Liliaceae/Asparagaceae<br />
Description: A herb. A perennial plant with fern like leaves<br />
and underground root stock. It grows to 1.5 m high and<br />
spreads to 1 m across. The stems are erect but often hang<br />
over at the tips. The branches are soft. The leaves are<br />
feathery and a rich green colour. The flowers are small and<br />
greenish. They are of both sexes and occur either singly or in<br />
clusters of 2-4. The fruit are red berries. They are produced<br />
on female plants. They are 7-8 mm across. There are 2 or 3<br />
seeds.<br />
Distribution: It is a temperate plant. In Papua New Guinea it<br />
is grown mainly in the highlands at over 1000 m altitude in<br />
the tropics. It grows up to 2600 m. It can be grown on the<br />
tropical coast with special management. It prefers humus<br />
rich, moist, well drained soils. It does best in an open sunny<br />
position. It is frost resistant but drought tender. In China it<br />
grows naturally on the steppes in NW Xinjiang. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 4-8.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. It is best to soak the seeds for 24 hours then sow<br />
them in a nursery. They are transplanted after 8-12 months. A spacing or 1 m x 1 m is suitable.<br />
If white shoots are required, the shoots need to be kept covered with soil. Shoots turn green in<br />
sunlight. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown by division of the clump.<br />
Production: The first harvest is 18-24 months after planting. The shoots are cut before they<br />
open out into the ferny erect stems. They are cut below ground level when about 15-20 cm high.<br />
Use: The young shoots are eaten cooked. They should only be washed just before cooking.<br />
The tuberous roots of some wild asparagus plants are eaten in China. Young roots should be<br />
used.<br />
The seeds have been used as a substitute for coffee.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Shoots<br />
Roots<br />
95.4 52 1.7 0.6 50 16 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Oribius destructor Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not widely grown in Papua New Guinea and then mostly near the houses of<br />
Europeans.
249<br />
Names<br />
English: Capsicum, Bell peppers Scientific name: Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: An annual plant up to 1.5 m high. The<br />
leaves can be long and sword shaped or oval to<br />
rounded. The leaves can be 12 cm long. The flowers<br />
are produced singly, and are yellow or white. They are<br />
bell shaped. The flowers are 1.5 cm across and in the<br />
axils of leaves. Fruit are about 10 cm long and 6 cm<br />
wide and red when fully ripe. Kinds with different<br />
shaped fruit also occur.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> grow from sea level up to about<br />
2400 m altitude. They are killed by frost. Soils need to<br />
be well drained and fertile. The fruit and plants can rot<br />
in the middle of the wettest seasons. They need a<br />
temperature above 4°C.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Both self and cross pollination occur. It is possible to<br />
save your own seed. Seed will keep for 2 to 3 years. Seeds germinate in 6 - 10 days. <strong>Plants</strong> can<br />
be transplanted. <strong>Plants</strong> need to be about 50 cm apart. About 50% of flowers set fruit.<br />
Production: The first fruit can be harvested after 3-4 months.<br />
Use: The fruit are edible raw or cooked.<br />
The leaves are edible cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
93.5 65 0.9 0.4 59 100 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Atherigona orientalis Schiner Muscidae (DIPT) Shootfly<br />
Carpophilus maculatus Murray Nitidulidae (COL) Damaging fruit.<br />
Dacus bryoniae (Tryon.) Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Dacus musae (Try.) Tephritidae (DIPT) Banana fruit fly<br />
Dacus trivialis Drew Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly larvae destroying fruit<br />
Euproctis sp. Lymantriidae (LEP) Reported eating leaves<br />
Heliothis armigera (Huebner) Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Homeoxipha fuscipennis Gryllidae (ORTH) Reported chewing leaves<br />
Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) Aphididae (HEM) Potato aphid<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl Curculionidae (COL) Shothole weevil<br />
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealybug<br />
Plautia brunneipennis Pentatomidae (HEM) Stink bugs<br />
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni) Diaspididae (HEM) White scale<br />
Pulvinaria ubicola (Cockerell) Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Thrips tabaci Lind. Thripidae (THYS) Onion thrips<br />
Silba sp. Lonchaeidae (DIPT) Larvae boring into fruit
250<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria sp.<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Fruit rot (Anthracnose) Fungus Glomerella cingulata (Stonem) Spauld & Schrenck<br />
Fruit rot Fungus Curvularia sp.<br />
Leaf blotch Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Wilt Fungus Fusarium solani<br />
Root rot Fungus Pythium sp.<br />
And Fusarium sp.<br />
Bacterial wilt Bacteria Pseudomonas solanacearum<br />
Storage rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora<br />
Bacterial leaf spot Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria<br />
Leaf distortion Virus Possibly potato virus y<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is becoming a popular vegetable to eat raw.
251<br />
Names<br />
English: Eggplant Scientific name: Solanum melongena L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: A perennial shrubby herb up to 1 m tall. It is<br />
often grown as an annual. It has a deep taproot and branched<br />
side roots. The stem is thick and covered with many woolly<br />
hairs. The plant has many branches. Often the plant is<br />
spiny. The leaves are large, alternate and simple. They are<br />
angular and unequal near the stalk. Leaves can be 20 cm<br />
long and wavy along the edge. Leaves are covered with<br />
hairs. Flowers are bluish red and 5 cm across. They are<br />
either solitary or in small groups opposite the leaves. They<br />
have 5 large woolly lobes which continue to surround the<br />
base of the fruit. Fruit are white, blue, green or purple. The<br />
fruit colour and shape vary. Sometimes the fruit is spiny.<br />
Often the fruit are 10 to 20 cm long and 5-8 cm wide.<br />
Numerous kidney shaped seeds are in the flesh of the berry.<br />
Distribution: A plant of the warm tropics. <strong>Plants</strong> grow from<br />
sea level up to 2200 m altitude in the tropics. It suits wet<br />
climates but does well in dry climates with irrigation. They<br />
are frost tender. They need a rich, friable, well tilled soil. In<br />
the subtropics they can be grown as a summer crop. In Nepal<br />
plants grow to 1500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seeds. Seeds germinate slowly. Seedlings can be<br />
transplanted when about 8 cm tall. <strong>Plants</strong> need to be about 1 m apart.<br />
Production: Fruit are ready for harvest after 3 months. They continue to yield for 3-4 months.<br />
Use: Fruit are mostly fried then eaten. They can also be grilled, baked, stuffed and stewed.<br />
They are used in curries. The fruit are also dried and stored.<br />
The leaves although edible are hairy and not good flavour.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
91.8 117 0.83 0.4 6 1.3 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Licyllus albicollis F. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Psylliodes loriae Jacoby Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
Collar & stem rot Fungus Pythium butleri<br />
Bacterial wilt Bacteria Pseudomonas solanacearum<br />
Root rot Fungus Fusarium oxysporum<br />
Storage rot Fungus Alternaria sp.<br />
And Botrydiplodia theobromae<br />
And Curvularia lunata<br />
Importance: Occasionally seen in most areas of Papua New Guinea.
252<br />
Names<br />
English: Pea eggplant Scientific name: Solanum torvum Sw.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: A shrub 1.5-3 m high. The leaves are<br />
oblong and 10-25 cm long. They can be entire or<br />
lobed. They often have prickles beneath the midrib.<br />
The young stem and undeside of leaves are hairy. The<br />
flower is white and 2 cm across. The fruit are round<br />
berries, yellow when ripe. They are about 1 cm across.<br />
They grow in clusters. The seed are roughly circular<br />
and 2-3 mm across.<br />
Distribution: In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea<br />
level to 2000 m altitude. In Cambodia it grows<br />
between 0 and 1200 m. In Nepal it grows to 1000 m<br />
altitude. It grows in open, moist places. in Yunnan in<br />
China it grows between 200-1650 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The green unripe fruit are added to curries in Malaysia.<br />
They are eaten in soup in Cambodia and China.<br />
They are pickled in Nepal.<br />
They are used in soup in China. They are also dried and preserved.<br />
Caution: This plant has been shown to contain poisonous compounds.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
253<br />
Names<br />
English: Tomato Scientific name: Lycopersicon esculentum Miller<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Solanum lycopersicum L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: A short lived perennial plant. It is upright<br />
but with weak stems. It can grow to 2 m tall with<br />
support for the stems. The stems have long hairs. It is<br />
bad smelling. The leaves are deeply lobed with an odd<br />
number of leaflets. They have irregular teeth around<br />
the edge. There are up to 12 star shaped flowers on<br />
each raceme. Flowers are yellow. The fruit are round<br />
and red when ripe. Yellow coloured fruit also occur.<br />
There are many varieties.<br />
Distribution: It grows from sea level to 2400 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It needs to be grown in fertile<br />
soil. For best production it requires much water, plenty<br />
of sunshine and low night temperatures. It is frost<br />
susceptible. In Nepal it grows to 1400 m altitude. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are sown from seeds. These are normally sown in a nursery and<br />
transplanted. They can also be grown from cuttings. To give fewer and larger fruit the side<br />
branches of upright types are removed. Upright plant types need to be tied to stakes. <strong>Plants</strong> are<br />
often grafted into stronger rootstocks.<br />
Production: Harvesting commences after about 14 weeks. Yields can be 3-4 kg of fruit per<br />
plant.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
Caution: Although in a lot of places in Papua New Guinea the leaves are eaten this is probably<br />
not a good idea. Leaves and green fruit are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 93.0 88 1.0 0.6 45 26 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Noctuidae (LEP) Black cutworm<br />
Chrysodeixis eriosoma Doubleday Noctuidae (LEP) Green looper<br />
Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) Noctuidae (LEP) Tomato grub<br />
Leptoglossus australis (Fabricius) Coreidae (HEM) Black leaf-footed bug<br />
Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) Pentatomidae (HEM) Green vegetable bug<br />
Psylliodes sp. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Diseases:<br />
Target spot/ early blight Fungus Alternaria solani Sorauer<br />
Fruit rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
And Phytophthora nicotianae<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
And Pythium butleri
254<br />
And Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Brown mould Fungus Cladosporium fulvum Cooke<br />
Anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Curvularia sp.<br />
Fruit spot Fungus Didymella lycopersici<br />
Soft rot fruit Bacteria Erwinia carotovora<br />
Brown mould Fungus Fulvia fulvum<br />
Fusarium wilt Fungus Fusarium oxysporium f. lycospersici (Sacc.) Sny. & Hans.<br />
Wilt and collar rot Fungus Fusarium equiseti<br />
And Fusarium oxysporum<br />
Leaf spots Fungal Cercospora spp.<br />
And Corynespora cassiicola<br />
And Phoma destructive<br />
And Septoria lycopersici Speg.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Helminthosporium sp.<br />
Bacterial wilt Bacteria Pseudomonas solanacearum E F Smith<br />
Brown leaf mould Fungus Pseudocercospora fuligena<br />
Small leaf spot Fungus Stemphylium lycopersici<br />
Bacterial leaf spot Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria<br />
Mosaic Virus Tobacco mosaic virus<br />
Spotted wilt Virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Common in small amounts in most areas of Papua New Guinea but often for sale<br />
as it is not a popular food.
255<br />
Names<br />
English: Carrot Scientific name: Daucus carota L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae<br />
Description: A root crop grown from seed. It can be<br />
60 cm high and spread to 50 cm wide. The root is long<br />
in shape and orange in colour. The stem is erect, tough<br />
and furrowed. The leaves are feathery and divided 3<br />
times. The leaves have a sheath clasping the stalk at<br />
the base. The flowers are white and lacy. They form a<br />
dense compound cluster at the top of the plant.<br />
Sometimes flowers are only produced into the second<br />
year of growth, depending on temperature.<br />
Distribution: In the tropics it is mostly grown in the<br />
highlands, but will grow from sea level to 2600 m<br />
altitude. Sometimes on the coast only leaves are<br />
produced. Carrots are frost resistant. In Nepal carrots<br />
are grown up to 1700 m altitude. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 3-9.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seeds sown directly. A spacing 5 cm apart in rows 15-20 cm<br />
apart is suitable.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: Both the roots and the leaves are edible. The young leaves are used in soups.<br />
The roots can be eaten raw or cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Roots<br />
Leaves<br />
91.5 79 0.6 0.4 2455 4 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Noctuidae (LEP) Black cutworm<br />
Apirocalus cornutus Pasc. Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria dauci (Kuhn) Groves & Skolko<br />
Leaf blight Fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Within Papua New Guinea carrots are not common but are occasionally seen in<br />
gardens in many areas of the country. Often it is grown for sale.
256<br />
Names<br />
English: Lettuce Scientific name: Lactuca sativa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Asteraceae<br />
Description: A leafy vegetable which forms a heart or clump<br />
of tightly wrapped leaves under cool temperature conditions.<br />
The leaves are often pale green. <strong>Plants</strong> are about 20 cm high.<br />
In the tropics a leafy annual grown for its succulent crisp<br />
radical leaves. The lowland species has loose leaves,<br />
crumpled with frilly margins while the leaves of the highland<br />
variety fold over the growing point to form a head; with light<br />
green almost white leaves of a greasy texture and coarse<br />
veins and prominent midrib. There are many lettuce varieties<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown throughout the country of Papua New Guinea but particularly in<br />
the highlands and mainly for sale. Leafy forms are used in cooking in many parts of Asia. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 6-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seeds and often transplanted. Seeds need to be sown very<br />
shallowly. In hot places lettuce develops a bitter taste if transplanted or checked in their growth.<br />
Cutting the tap root can stop plants seeding quickly.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: Eaten raw or in soups.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 94.0 84 1.2 0.7 180 15 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Agrotis interjectionis Guenee Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Ananipa sp. Gryllidae (ORTH)<br />
Aphis gossypii Glover Aphididae (HEM) Cotton aphid<br />
Apirocalus terrestris Thompson Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Cassida sp. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Cicadella sp. Cicadellidae (HEM)<br />
Coelophora inaequalis Fab. Coccinellidae (HEM)<br />
Euscyrtus hemelytrus (de Haan) Gryllidae (ORTH)<br />
Helicoverpa armigera Hubner Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Kolla sp. Cicadellidae (HEM)<br />
Spodoptera litura (Fab.) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Diseases:<br />
Mosaic possibly Virus<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Septoria lactucae Pass.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria sp.<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora brassicicola & Cercospora longissima<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Soft rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora<br />
Mosaic Possibly virus<br />
Importance: It has social significance to affluent people. It is mostly grown for sale in highland<br />
areas of Papua New Guinea.
Minor vegetables<br />
257
Minor and less common vegetables<br />
258<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Globe artichoke Cynara scolymus 259<br />
Parsley Petroselinum crispum 260<br />
Parsnip Pastinaca sativa 261<br />
New Guinea edible Mambu Nastus elatus 262<br />
bamboo<br />
Giant bamboo Dendrocalamus asper 263<br />
Giant bamboo Dendrocalamus giganteus 264<br />
Alfalfa, Lucerne Medicago sativa 265<br />
Endive Cichorium endivia subsp. endivia 266<br />
Chicory, Witloof Cichorium intybus 267<br />
Common bamboo Mambu Bambusa vulgaris 268<br />
Native bamboo Bambusa forbesii 269<br />
Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum 270<br />
Beetroot Beta vulgaris 271<br />
Sunflower Helianthus annuus 272
259<br />
Names<br />
English: Globe artichoke Scientific name: Cynara scolymus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Asteraceae<br />
Description: A thistle like perennial plant. It grows 1-<br />
2 m high and spreads to 1 m across. It forms a clump.<br />
It has deeply lobed leaves. The leaves are 80 cm long.<br />
They are greyish green above. They have a woolly,<br />
white surface underneath. The flower is purple and<br />
surrounded by green bracts. It forms a large head. The<br />
flower head is about 8-15 cm across.<br />
Distribution: A Mediterranean plant. It can be grown<br />
in the highlands in the tropics. It suits drier areas. It<br />
prefers deep, rich, alkaline soils in an open sunny<br />
position. It is frost resistant but drought tender.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown by seed or suckers. It<br />
is best to grow the seeds in a nursery and then<br />
transplant them. It can also be grown by dividing up a<br />
mature clump.<br />
Production: The flower buds can be produced over a 2<br />
or 3 year period.<br />
Use: The fleshy bracts of the flower and the base of the flower head are boiled and eaten. They<br />
can be used in soups. (To stop the cut artichoke turning brown in air, they can be dipped in<br />
lemon juice.)<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Flower 84.0 209 3.5 1.3 177 10 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not commonly seen in Papua New Guinea although apparently gaining some<br />
acceptance in some areas.
260<br />
Names<br />
English: Parsley Scientific name: Petroselinum crispum (Miller)Nym<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae<br />
Description: A short lived perennial plant. Often it<br />
grows and flowers over two years. It forms clumps and<br />
is a hairless plant. It has stems up to 50 cm long which<br />
are upright and with grooves. They branch. Several<br />
stems come from the top of the fattened taproot. It<br />
spreads to 50 cm across. The leaflets are finely<br />
divided. They are fern like and dark green. They are<br />
triangular and divided 3 times. They are divided into<br />
toothed segments about 3 cm long. They have a stong<br />
smell. The flowers are greenish white and star shaped.<br />
They occur at the ends of branches. The flowers are<br />
flat topped and up to 4 cm across. There are about 30<br />
variations of curled parsley. Some are more tightly<br />
curled than others.<br />
Distribution: It can be grown from sea level up to 2400 m altitude in the tropics. It grows best<br />
in moderately cool, shady and humid conditions. It can grow well in full sunlight but also in<br />
slight shade. Young plants can be damaged by frost. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seed and transplanted. Seeds are slow to germinate. They can be<br />
sown directly where they are to grow. Seed are collected by cutting flowers before they ripen<br />
then shaking the seeds out onto a cloth.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The plant becomes bitter after flowering.<br />
The leaves are used for flavouring.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 78.7 88 5.2 8.0 7000 150 0.9<br />
Insects:<br />
Phytometra orichalcaea (F.) Noctuidae (LEP) Larvae of a moth<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:
261<br />
Names<br />
English: Parsnip Scientific name: Pastinaca sativa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae<br />
Description: A plant with long thickened tap root. The<br />
stems are angular and have grooves along them. The<br />
leaves are divided. The ones near the base have 5-11<br />
lobes. These are oval and have teeth along the edge.<br />
The thickened root is yellowish white.<br />
Wild parsnip grows in some temperate places. It has a<br />
very strong parsnip smell. It can be used as food.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the highlands in the tropics<br />
from 1700-2600 m altitude. It is frost resistant. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 4-8.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seeds.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are slow growing. The taste is best<br />
after the first frosts.<br />
Use: The root is cooked and eaten. It can be boiled, baked, fried or used in stews.<br />
The root of wild parsnip is normally washed, peeled, cooked in salt water then strained and<br />
added to soups.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Root 83.2 238 1.3 0.5 0 10 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Halticus tibialis Reuter Miridae (HEM) Grass bug<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, it is not widely grown and not liked by many people.
262<br />
Names<br />
English: New Guinea Edible Bamboo Scientific name: Nastus elatus Holtumm<br />
Tok pisin: Mambu Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A large bamboo with stalks 20 m long<br />
and 5 -6 cm across. The leaves are fine and narrow. It<br />
produces large clumps.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the highlands between about<br />
1200 m and 1900 m altitude. It only occurs in PNG.<br />
Clumps are planted near highland houses.<br />
Cultivation: It is planted by dividing an old clump and<br />
planting the shoots. It can also be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production: New shoots are produced throughout the year.<br />
Use: The pith in the centre of young shoots is eaten after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Shoots<br />
% KJ g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Apirocalus cornutus Pasc. Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Locusta migratoria (L.) Acrididae (ORTH) Migratory locust<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf blotch Fungus Trematosphaerella bambusae (Miyake & Hara) Hino & Katumoto<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, most highland families maintain at least one clump to use as<br />
containers and they eat surplus shoots.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
263<br />
Names<br />
English: Giant bamboo Scientific name: Dendrocalamus asper<br />
(Roemer & Schultes) Backer ex K. Heyne<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Bambusa aspera Schult. & Schult. f.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A very large densely tufted<br />
bamboo. It forms large groves. The<br />
culms or stems can be 20-30 m high.<br />
The clumps can spread 12-24 m wide.<br />
The stalks are 15-20 cm across. They<br />
are covered with fine velvety brown<br />
hairs when young. The internodes can<br />
be 10-20 cm long lower down and 30-50<br />
cm long higher up. The nodes are<br />
swollen. The lowest nodes have many<br />
aerial roots. The nodes in the middle<br />
and higher have branches. The culm<br />
sheath is 20-40 cm long by 20-25 cm<br />
wide. The leaf blade is 30 cm long by<br />
2.5 cm wide.<br />
Distribution: A tropical bamboo. In tropical Asia it grows from sea level to 1500 m altitude. It<br />
does best between 400-500 m altitude. It grows best on heavy soils with good drainage. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from rhizomes, culm or branch cuttings. The spacing is 5-10 m<br />
apart. Mulching is essential to produce young shoots.<br />
Production: The shoots emerge in the rainy season. They develop to their full height in one<br />
year. A good healthy clump can produce several shoots each year. A good clump with 10 culms<br />
can produce 60 shoots in one year. The edible portion of young shoots is 5.4 kg before peeling<br />
and 1.8 kg after peeling. A well established plantation can produce 10 tonnes/ha/yr of edible<br />
shoots.<br />
Use: The tender shoots are eaten as a vegetable or pickled in vinegar or salted.<br />
The shoots have good canning quality.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Shoots<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is not known if this bamboo is used for food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
264<br />
Names<br />
English: Giant bamboo Scientific name: Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Bambusa gigantea Wallich ex Munro<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A clump forming bamboo. It can be 25-<br />
30-50 m tall. It has rhizomes which spread. The<br />
clumps can be 10-15 m wide. The canes can be 35 cm<br />
across. They are erect and jointed. The nodes are<br />
hairy. The leaf blades are sword shaped and smooth<br />
with fine teeth along the edge. The leaves can be 55<br />
cm long. These clasp the canes at their base. The<br />
flower is a long panicle which droops.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It often grows in<br />
high mountains. It must have temperatures above 5°C.<br />
They are frost tender. It cannot tolerate drought. It<br />
prefers rich moist soil. In Nepal it grows between 200-<br />
1300 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: The plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown by dividing<br />
established clumps. Sections of the young stalk will shoot if cut and placed horizontally in a<br />
growing medium in a warm place. The cuttings should be 50 cm long and planted 20 cm deep.<br />
Production: Young shoots can grow at the rate of 30 cm a day.<br />
Use: Young shoots are eaten as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Shoots<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is widely used for building, water pipes and other uses. It is not known if it is<br />
used for food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
265<br />
Names<br />
English: Alfalfa, Lucerne Scientific name: Medicago sativa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: An erect or spreading legume. It grows to<br />
80 cm high and spreads to 30-80 cm wide. It forms<br />
deep roots. It keeps growing from year to year. The<br />
stems are slender and hairy. The leaves are bluish<br />
green. The leaves have 3 leaflets like clover. The<br />
leaflets are oval or narrow. They are 3 cm long. The<br />
flowers are mauve. They appear in long stalked<br />
bunches. The fruit are small sickle shaped pods. The<br />
pods are deep brown.<br />
Distribution: It will grow in warm and temperate<br />
climates. It suits hardiness zones 4-8.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed sown where they are to grow. <strong>Plants</strong> can be 10 cm<br />
apart. <strong>Plants</strong> can be cut back to encourage new growth for the young leaves.<br />
Production: The first picking of young leaves can be made 3-4 weeks after sowing.<br />
Use: Seeds are often sprouted and the young sprouts eaten raw.<br />
Young leaves are eaten cooked.<br />
The dried and powdered leaves and flowers can be used as tea.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Sprouts<br />
Leaves<br />
91.2 122 4.0 1.0 155 8.2 0.9<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The sprouts are probably only used by expatriates and educated indigenes.
266<br />
Names<br />
English: Endive Scientific name: Cichorium endivia subsp. endivia L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Cichorium endivia var. crispum Lam.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Asteraceae<br />
Description: An annual plant, or one which grows one<br />
year, then flowers the next. It grows 20-50 cm high<br />
and spreads 20-50 cm wide. The plant looks a lot like<br />
lettuce but the leaves are wrinkled near the edge.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> grow from sea level up to 2600 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It needs a fertile soil and the soil<br />
needs to be well drained. It is more tolerant to heat,<br />
than lettuce. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. They are often transplanted. A spacing of 30 cm x 30<br />
cm is suitable. Covering the plants for 2-3 weeks before harvesting, makes the leaves whiter,<br />
more tender and less bitter. It is possible to save seed. <strong>Plants</strong> which form a heart are covered<br />
with a cloth or pot to blanch them and reduce the bitterness.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are ready about three months after transplanting.<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. They have a slightly bitter taste.<br />
The broadleafed kinds are used in stews and the curled-leaf kinds are used in salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 93.7 47 1.8 2.8 2000 12 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria cichorii Nattrass.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not widely grown in Papua New Guinea.
267<br />
Names<br />
English: Chicory, Witloof Scientific name: Cichorium intybus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Asteraceae<br />
Description: A perennial herb up to 1 m high. It forms<br />
clumps. It has white, milky sap when parts are broken<br />
off. Kinds have been selected either for their fattened<br />
edible roots or for their edible leaves. The plant has a<br />
large taproot. The leaves are sword shaped and have<br />
teeth along the edge. The leaves form a cluster around<br />
the base of the plant. They can be 12 cm long. The<br />
leaves up the stem clasp the stem. The highest leaves<br />
are reduced to bracts. It has a bright blue, pink or white<br />
flowers on a branched stem. The flowers are<br />
dandelion-like. The flower heads can be 3.5 cm across.<br />
Several cultivated varieties have been produced.<br />
Distribution: A Mediterranean plant. It grows in the<br />
highlands in the tropics. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed are sown 15 mm apart, in rows 20 cm apart.<br />
Seedlings do not transplant easily. Young tender shoots are formed by stripping roots of their<br />
leaves then covering with soil. Roots the size of a parsnip are harvested. These are then planted<br />
upside down in trenches in sand and after a few weeks more soil is added to exclude all light.<br />
The chicons are ready to use in 9-12 weeks.<br />
Production: Roasted chicory is made by digging up the taproot washing them cutting and drying<br />
the root then roasting.<br />
Use: The leaves and plant are eaten raw or cooked. They are bitter. Young leaves are less bitter.<br />
They are used in soups.<br />
The roots of some kinds are dried, roasted and powdered then added to coffee.<br />
The flowers can be used in salads.<br />
The large blanched heads are steamed or served raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Stem 96.2 71 0.8 0.3 3 4 0.2<br />
Leaves 92.0 96 1.7 0.9 4 24 0.4<br />
Roots 80.0 305 1.4 0.8 1 5 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Alternaria cichorii Natrass<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Mainly in the gardens of expatriates within Papua New Guinea.
268<br />
Names<br />
English: Common bamboo Scientific name: Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl.<br />
Tok pisin: Mambu Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: An erect clump forming spineless<br />
bamboo. It is a large bamboo with strong stalks used<br />
for buildings. The stalks can be 20 m tall and 5-10 cm<br />
across at the base. They are often not straight. The<br />
stalks can be green and glossy or yellow or yellow with<br />
green stripes. It very rarely flowers. The distinctive<br />
culm sheath (top of the leaf that is wrapped around the<br />
stalk) helps identify the plant. The culm sheath is<br />
triangular and 15-45 cm long by 20 cm wide. The<br />
edges are hairy. The leaf blade is 6-30 cm long by 1-4<br />
cm wide.<br />
Distribution: It grows throughout the tropics and<br />
subtropics. It grows up to 1,200 m altitude. It does<br />
best at low altitudes. It can stand frost down to -3°C. It<br />
has been introduced to PNG and is common in the<br />
lowlands. (A different large bamboo is grown and eaten<br />
in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.) It suits<br />
hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: It is easily grown by planting cut portions of the green stalks. It can also be grown<br />
from shoots off the rhizome or underground stem and from branches.<br />
Production: Offsets can produce mature clumps in 7 years. They grow very quickly. Haulms<br />
can grow 4 m high in 2 weeks.<br />
Use: The very young shoots are cooked and eaten.<br />
They are cooked and pickled.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Shoots<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phaeoisariopsis bambusae<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Plectronidium minor<br />
Pests:<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The plant is widespread in Papua New Guinea and is important for building. As a<br />
food plant it is only of minor importance.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
269<br />
Names<br />
English: Native Bamboo Scientific name: Bambusa forbesii (Ride)Holttum<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A scrambling bamboo which grows up to<br />
about 5 m tall and has canes about 3 cm across. There<br />
are several woody light coloured stems. It forms thick<br />
clumps which are hard to penetrate. The leaves are 20-<br />
50 cm long by 6-10 cm wide and rounded at the base.<br />
The leaves are light green. There are distinct hairs on<br />
the leaf sheath where the blade joins the stalk. The leaf<br />
sheath completely surrounds the stem. It flowers<br />
almost continually and doesn't die after flowering.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows from sea level<br />
up to about 1250 m altitude in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Often the plant grows near watercourses that are<br />
flooded in wet seasons. It is very sensitive to cold.<br />
Cultivation: It is planted from cuttings of the cane. They take a little over a year to become<br />
established and produce edible shoots. They also grow wild. To stop clumps spreading the<br />
rhizome below the ground level needs to be chopped through. Young plants are not easily<br />
transplanted. Rooted shoots near the base can be separated off and replanted.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young shoots are harvested and cooked and treated like a pitpit.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Shoots<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It occurs fairly widely as a self sown plant and is a minor food in several areas. It<br />
is cultivated in gardens at Kutubu in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
270<br />
Names<br />
English: Buckwheat Scientific name: Fagopyrum esculentum Moench<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Polygonaceae<br />
Description: An upright annual plant up to 1 m high. It<br />
spreads to 1 m across. It has angular hollow stems.<br />
These are erect and branching. Leaves are heart shaped<br />
or triangular and small. It has groups of white or pink<br />
flowers. These have a smell. They occur in clusters at<br />
the ends of branches. Fruit are small and 3 angled. The<br />
plants are not grasses but the seeds are normally<br />
grouped with other grain crops.<br />
Distribution: It can be grown at high altitudes in the<br />
tropics. It will grow on poor soils. It prefers rich soils<br />
and a protected sunny position. It is resistant to frost<br />
but damaged by drought. In Nepal it grows between<br />
1000-2500 m altitude. In Uttar Pradesh it grows up to<br />
3000 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production: Seeds usually germinate in 5 days. It has a very short growing period from sowing<br />
to maturity. It can produce a crop of leaves in 8 weeks and seeds in 12 weeks. Seed ripen<br />
irregularly over several weeks making harvesting difficult. Under cool conditions plants flower<br />
in 7-9 months. Commercial grain yields in Australia have been up to 2.5 tonnes/ha. In India<br />
yields of 600-800 kg/ha are achieved.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten in porridge and biscuits etc.<br />
Seeds can be soaked overnight then sprouted and eaten.<br />
The tender leaves and shoots are cooked and eaten.<br />
Caution: The seeds are used mainly for flour and stock feed. Seeds are bitter. If they are eaten<br />
in large amounts they can produce an unpleasant skin disorder.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Sprouts<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
271<br />
Names<br />
English: Beetroot Scientific name: Beta vulgaris L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Chenopodiaceae<br />
Description: A dark green leafed plant. The plant is<br />
upright and about 20 cm tall. It can be grown as an<br />
annual plant. The leaves vary in shape and colour.<br />
They can be oval with an irregular wavy edge. They<br />
can be dark green or reddish. It has a round or<br />
elongated fattened root. The root is red in colour.<br />
(White varieties also occur). The flowers are small and<br />
green and have both sexes. They occur in flower<br />
arrangements with the end bud a flower bud. This<br />
forms a tall, branching, spike-like arrangement. The<br />
fruit are one seed. Often 2 or more seeds are joined<br />
together in a "seedball".<br />
Distribution: It is a temperate climate plant. It is<br />
mainly in the highlands between 1150 and 2600 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. <strong>Plants</strong> are frost resistant.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Normally the plants are planted in the final site<br />
because transplanting is difficult. When the small clump of seeds or seed ball are planted more<br />
than one seedling will result.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The red tubers are eaten after cooking. The root is also dried and powdered and the flour<br />
mixed with barley or wheat.<br />
They are often boiled, sliced and served with vinegar.<br />
Tops or leaves are edible. They are cooked in soups and stews.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Root 82.7 189 1.8 0.4 4 5 0.4<br />
Leaves 89.0 113 2.6 1.9 510 25 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Alcidodes sp. Curculionidae (COL) Weevil<br />
Apirocalus cornutus Pasc. Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis (Boisd.) Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Spoladea recurvalis Fabricius Pyralidae (LEP) Beet webworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora beticola Sacc.<br />
Blossom blight Fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk & Rav.)Thaxter<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not often seen in Papua New Guinea.
272<br />
Names<br />
English: Sunflower Scientific name: Helianthus annuus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Asteraceae<br />
Description: An upright annual plant. It varies in<br />
height from 1-4 m. It has a strong tap root. <strong>Plants</strong> are<br />
mostly unbranched but may have some branches. The<br />
stems are hairy. The leaves are large and oval to heart<br />
shaped. They have teeth around the edges. They are<br />
roughly hairy and mid to dark green. Leaves can be 10-<br />
40 cm long by 5-20 cm wide. The leaf stalk is long.<br />
The flowers are yellow and daisy like. Flowers are 9-<br />
20 cm across. Sometimes they are tinged red or purple.<br />
Distribution: It suits the highlands of the tropics and<br />
can stand a light frost. It needs a well drained soil. It<br />
prefers a rich soil. It is drought and frost resistant.<br />
Sunflowers grow from the equator to 55°N latitude.<br />
They do not suit the wet tropics. They cannot tolerate<br />
very acid soils. In Nepal it grows up to 600 m altitude.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 4-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Only well filled seed should be planted. It is easy to<br />
save your own seed. Dry seed stores well. It will grow on most soils. A plant spacing of 1 m by<br />
0.5 m is suitable. Seed are sown at a depth of 2-4 cm. At maturity heads are collected by hand<br />
and dried then threshed.<br />
Production: Time to maturity is usually 4-5 months. Seeds are ready to eat when the flower<br />
starts to wither.<br />
Use: An edible oil is extracted from the seeds and used for cooking.<br />
Sometimes seeds are eaten raw or roasted.<br />
The seeds can be ground into a meal for using in bread and cakes.<br />
They are also dried, roasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seed 5.4 2385 22.8 6.8 5 1.4 5.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Colgar tricolor Dist. Flatidae (HOM)<br />
Helicoverpa armigera Hubner Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Helicoverpa punctigera Wallengren Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Homona coffearia Nietn. Tortricidae (LEP) Coffee leaf roller<br />
Oribius cinereus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Phaneroptera brevis Serv. Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Longhorn grasshopper<br />
Phytometra orichalcaea (F) Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Plautia brunneipennis Pentatomidae (HEM) Stink bug<br />
Spodoptera exempta (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) African armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A major crop for oil seed. The seeds contain 40% oil. It is only a minor food in<br />
Papua New Guinea.
Grains and cereals<br />
273
Grains and cereals<br />
274<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Rice Rais Oryza sativa 275<br />
Wild rice Oryza rufipogon 278<br />
Sorghum Sorghum bicolor 279<br />
Wheat Triticum aestivum 280<br />
Bermuda grass Eleusine indica 281<br />
Job’s tears Coix lachryma-jobi 282
275<br />
Names<br />
English: Rice Scientific name: Oryza sativa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: An annual grass with hollow stems. The<br />
stems can be 30 cm to 150 cm tall. (Floating varieties<br />
can be 5 m long.) The nodes are solid and swollen.<br />
The stem is protected by a skin layer which can often<br />
be high in silicon. A clump of shoots are produced as<br />
tillers from buds in the lower leaf axils. The leaves are<br />
narrow and hairy. They taper towards the tip. Each<br />
stem produces 10-20 leaves and the seeds hang from<br />
the flower stalk at the top.<br />
Distribution: It grows in tropical and subtropical<br />
countries. <strong>Plants</strong> are grown in both flooded and<br />
dryland sites. It will grow over a range of conditions<br />
but is normally between sea level and 900 metres<br />
altitude in the tropics. Occasionally it is grown up to<br />
1600 m. In Nepal it grows to about 2800 m altitude. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed can be sown direct or in a nursery and<br />
transplanted. For dryland crops - 5 to 10 seeds in holes 20 to 25 cm apart. For transplanting 2 or<br />
3 plants as a 20 x 20 cm spacing is suitable. Weed control is a problem in the early stages.<br />
Flooding can be used for weed control.<br />
Production: The glumes are removed to produce husked rice. Polishing removes the integument<br />
giving polished rice. Rice development takes 90 to 200 days depending on variety.<br />
Use: The grains are boiled and eaten after the husks are removed by pounding and winnowing.<br />
Rice noodles and rice flour can be produced.<br />
Rice can be used to make alcoholic drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seed white 11.4 4.8 1.0 0<br />
Seed brown 8.0 2.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Amorbus rhombeus Westw. Pentatomidae (HEM)<br />
Arsipoda tenimberensis Jacoby Chrysomelidae (COL) Black flea beetle<br />
Atherigona oryzae Malloch Muscidae (DIPT) Paddy stemfly<br />
Blissus sp. Lygaeidae (HEM)<br />
Borbo cinnara Wallace Hesperiidae (LEP)<br />
Borbo impar tetragraphus Mab. Hesperiidae (LEP) Borbo butterfly<br />
Bothrichara palliata Macleay Cerambycidae (COL)<br />
Brevennia rehi (Lindinger) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealybug of rice<br />
Caenoblissus pilosus (Barber) Lugaeidae (HEM) Chinch bugs<br />
Chaetocnema basalis (Baly) Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Chilo auricilius (Dudg.) Pyralidae (LEP) Gold-fringed rice borer<br />
Chilo infuscatellus Snellin Pyralidae (LEP)<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
276<br />
Chilo suppressalis (Walker) Pyralidae (LEP) Purple lined rice stem borer<br />
Cicadella spectra (Dist.) Cicadellidae (HEM) White jassid<br />
Cicindela decem-guttata urvillei Dejean Cicindellidae (COL)<br />
Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Gn.) Pyralidae (LEP) Rice leaf roller<br />
Cnaphalocrocis poeyalis Boisduval Pyralidae (LEP) Rice leaf rollers<br />
Coronacella kirkaldyi Muir Delphacidae (HEM)<br />
Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter Miridae (HEM) Predator of Nilaparvata lugens<br />
Dimorphopterus cornutus Slater Lygaeidae (HEM)<br />
Dimorphopterus sp. Lygaeidae (HEM)<br />
Eysarcoris ventralis West. Pentatomidae (HEM)<br />
Gonocephalum ochthebioides Ful. Tenebrionidae (COL) False wireworm<br />
Gryllotalpa africana Pal. Gryllotalpidae (ORTH) Mole crickets<br />
Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) Noctuidae (LEP) Corn earworm<br />
Leptocorisa acuta (Thunberg) Alydidae (HEM) Paddy bugs<br />
Leptocorisa discoidalis Alydidae (HEM) Paddy bugs<br />
Leptocorisa oratorius (Fab.) Alydidae (HEM) Paddy bugs<br />
Leptocorisa palawanensis Alydidae (HEM) Paddy bugs<br />
Leptocorisa solomonensis Ahmad Alydidae (HEM) Paddy bugs<br />
Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus) Acrididae (ORTH) Migratory locust<br />
Lophops sp. Lophopidae (HEM)<br />
Maliarpha separatella Rag. Pyralidae (LEP) White stem borer<br />
Marasmia spp. Pyralidae (LEP) Rice leaf rollers<br />
Marasmia bilineatis Pyralidae (LEP) Rice leaf rollers<br />
Marasmia hexagona Pyralidae (LEP) Rice leaf rollers<br />
Meijerella inaequalis Becker Chloropidae (DIPT)<br />
Melanitis ledabankia F. Nymphalidae (LEP) Evening brown butterfly<br />
Meninda bisignata Walker Pentatomidae (HEM)<br />
Mythimna loreyi (Dup.) Noctuidae (COL) Rice armyworms<br />
Mythimna separata (Walk.) Noctuidae (COL) Rice armyworms<br />
Nephotettix apicalis (Motsch.) Jassidae (HEM) Green rice leafhopper<br />
Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) Pentatomidae (HEM) Green vegetable bug<br />
Nilaparvata lugens Haseg Delphacidae (HEM) Brown backed rice planthopper<br />
Ostrinia furnacalis (Guen.) Pyralidae (LEP) Maize stem borer<br />
Oxya japonica (Thnb.) Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Oxya vittigera (Blanch) Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Pachybrachius nervosus Horv. Lygaeidae (HEM)<br />
Pelopidas agna dingo Evans Hesperiidae (LEP)<br />
Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch.) Aphididae (HEM) Corn leaf aphid<br />
Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Sugarcane mealy bug<br />
Scirpophaga innotata (Walker) Pyralidae (LEP) White rice borer<br />
Sesamia inferens (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) Violet rice stem borer<br />
Sogatella furcifera Horvath Delphacidae (HEM) White backed rice planthopper<br />
Spodoptera exempta (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) African armyworm<br />
Spodoptera litura (Fab) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar<br />
Spodoptera mauritia (Boisduval) Noctuidae (LEP) Paddy armyworm<br />
Stenocatantops augustifrons (Walker) Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Tetraneura nigriabdominalis (Sas.) Aphididae (HEM) Rice root aphid<br />
Trypopsilopa chinensis Wiedimann Ephydridae (DIPT)<br />
Valanga irregularis (Walker) Acrididae (ORTH) Giant grasshopper<br />
Valanga nigricornis (Burm.) Acrididae (ORTH) Javanese grasshopper<br />
Valanga sp. Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rot at base of plant Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Narrow brown leaf spot Fungus Cercospora oryzae<br />
Leaf spot & on grains Fungi Cochliobolus cynodontis
277<br />
(As Brown spot) and Fungus Cochliobolus geniculatus<br />
and Cochliobolus hawaiiensis<br />
and Cochliobolus miyabeanus<br />
Leaf smut Fungus Entyloma oryzae<br />
Seedling blight Fungus Fusarium lateritium<br />
Foot rot Fungus Gibberella fujikuroi<br />
Brown sheath rot Fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis<br />
Stem rot rice Fungus Magnaporthe salvinii<br />
Leaf blotch Fungus Metasphaeria oryzae-sativae<br />
White leaf streak Fungus Mycovellosiella oryzae<br />
Glume blotch Fungus Phaeoseptoria oryzae<br />
Sheath blight Fungus Thanatephorus sasakii<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Trichoconiella padwickii<br />
False smut Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens<br />
Root knot Nematode Meloidogyne sp.<br />
(Also several fungi isolated off stored grain.)<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Although rice is a very popular food, rice is only grown on a small scale in several<br />
coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.
278<br />
Names<br />
English: Wild rice Scientific name: Oryza rufipogon Griff.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: It is wild rice. It has swollen roots.<br />
Distribution: It grows on the edges of ponds or<br />
floating on water.<br />
Cultivation: In Rajasthan in India, seed are produced in September to November.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten like rice.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seed<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
279<br />
Names<br />
English: Sorghum Scientific name: Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Sorghum vulgare Pers., nom. illeg.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A millet grass. A mature sorghum plant<br />
resembles maize. <strong>Plants</strong> vary in height from 45 cm to 4<br />
m. It is an annual grass with erect solid stems. The<br />
stems can be 3 cm across at the base. Under the ground<br />
there is a widely branching extensive root system. Prop<br />
roots occur near the base. There are a range of different<br />
types of sorghum. Some have one main stem while<br />
others have many tillers. There are more tillers when<br />
plants are widely spaced. The nodes on the stem are<br />
slightly thickened. The distance between nodes is<br />
shortest near the base of the plant. Short eagerly kinds<br />
have 7 leaves while tall late varieties may have 24<br />
leaves. The leaf blade can be 30-135 cm long. Leaves<br />
are bluish green and waxy. They have a prominent<br />
midrib. The large flower panicle can be 20-40 cm long.<br />
The flower occurs at the top of the plant. It can stick<br />
upright or bend over. The flower can be open or<br />
compact. There are several different varieties.<br />
Distribution: It suits the savannah zones in the tropics. It tolerates heat and drought. It can<br />
recover from drought even as a seedling. It can tolerate waterlogging. It can be grown on heavy<br />
or light soils. Sorghum needs short daylengths to flower. Many kinds are adapted to specific<br />
daylength and rainfall patterns. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: Sorghum seeds will germinate soon after harvest. The seeds also store well if kept<br />
dry and protected from insects.<br />
Production: Grain is ready for harvest 4-8 weeks after flowering.<br />
Use: Flour is prepared then used for porridge or other dishes. It cannot be used for bread as it<br />
contains no gluten.<br />
The stems of some kinds are sweet and are chewed.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Seed<br />
Stems<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: One of the most important cereals of the semi-arid tropics. It is the most important<br />
native African cereal. It is grown on 50 million hectares in Africa. It is mainly only used for<br />
poultry and stock food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
280<br />
Names<br />
English: Wheat Scientific name: Triticum aestivum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Triticum vulage Vill.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: An annual grass. It easily<br />
forms tillers to produce a clump of<br />
shoots. <strong>Plants</strong> grow between 30 and 80<br />
cm tall. The stems are erect and simple.<br />
They are usually without hairs. The<br />
stems have 5-7 nodes and are hollow<br />
between these. The leaf sheath is<br />
wrapped around the stem. It is entire at<br />
the lower section but split further up.<br />
The strap like part where the leaf blade<br />
forms is coourless and jagged. The<br />
blade is flat, narrow and pointed. It is<br />
about 20-37 cm long and 1.2 cm wide.<br />
The veins are parallel. The flower stalk or ear is at the end of the stem as a compound spike. It<br />
is 5-10 cm long. There are 2 rows of spikelets along each side. Usually 2 grains per spike<br />
develop and these are oval with a groove along the centre. There is a tuft of hairs at the end.<br />
Distribution: A temperate plant. It is grown st higher altitudes in the subtropics and tropics. In<br />
East Africa most wheat is grown between 1,600 and 3,000 m altitude. The best temperature for<br />
germination is about 29°C and the minimum temperature about 4°C. Under good conditions<br />
seeds germinate in about 4-5 days. In Nepal it grows to about 3,000 m altitude. Wheat can be<br />
grown to 57°N in Britain. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: Seed should be sown into a clean weed free seedbed. Seeds can be broadcast or<br />
drilled. Seed should be 2.5-5 cm deep and plants 20-25 cm apart.<br />
Production: Spring wheat has a growing period of 100 days or more. The rainfall of most wheat<br />
areas is 750 mm per year or less. In the tropics maturity varies between 95 and 150 days.<br />
Yields of 1,420 kg per ha are world average.<br />
Use: Wheat is mostly ground for flour. It is used for bread, chapaties and a range of doughs and<br />
cakes.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It has been tried in trials in the equatorial highlands but most wheat is imported. It<br />
is a major import into Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
281<br />
Names<br />
English: Bermuda grass Scientific name: Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A tufted annual grass. It grows up to 0.6<br />
m tall. It has many branches from the base and tough<br />
wiry stems. The stems are slender and flattened. The<br />
leaves are 17 cm long and 3-8 mm wide. The leaves<br />
are covered with a bluish-green bloom. They are<br />
folded. The flower spikes are divided like fingers on a<br />
hand except for one which is single and below. The<br />
flowers do not have stalks and the flower spikes are 4-<br />
15 cm long. The seed heads shatter at maturity<br />
dropping their seed.<br />
Distribution: It is mainly a tropical and subtropical<br />
plant. In the tropics it grows from sea level to 1800 m<br />
altitude. It tends to grow in places high in nitrogen. It<br />
grows on clayey soil.<br />
Cultivation: It is mostly self sown from seed. Seed are spread in animal manure.<br />
Production: It Australia plants flower and fruit in April.<br />
Use: The seeds are used as food in times of food shortage.<br />
The young shoots are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Shoots<br />
Seeds<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
282<br />
Names<br />
English: Job’s tears Scientific name: Coix lachryma-jobi Linnaeus<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A millet grass. It is a loosely tufted, tall,<br />
annual grass. It grows up to 1-2 m high with long<br />
slender leaves. The stems have a soft, white, centre<br />
inside. The leaves can be 60 cm long and 3-5 cm wide.<br />
The sheath of the leaf around the stem, is short. The<br />
flower stalk is long and arching. Male and female<br />
flowers are in separate spikes on the flowering stalk.<br />
The female flowers have a hard covering which<br />
changes from green to black to white, as it ripens.<br />
Male flowers are small and on top. The seed is like a<br />
bead and used for necklaces. They are 1.5 cm long.<br />
The seeds are green when young, and turn to pearly<br />
grey or purple when mature.<br />
Distribution: A tropical and subtropical plant. It<br />
grows wild and semi-cultivated in many areas of Papua<br />
New Guinea. It is well suited to grow in swampy<br />
places. It grows up to 2000 m altitude in the tropics. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by seed. It grows wild in many swampy places. Seed are sown 5<br />
cm deep. <strong>Plants</strong> are spaced at 40-60 cm.<br />
Production: Seeds are ready to harvest about 5 months after sowing. On poor soils in dry<br />
conditions, hollow fruits may be produced. The tough seed shell has to be broken.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten raw. They can be cooked like rice.<br />
The seeds can be crushed to produce a cereal flour.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seed 12.5 588 15.0 0 0<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora sp.<br />
Tar spot Fungi Phyllachora coicis P.Henn<br />
And Phyllachora graminis Fuch.<br />
Rust Fungus Puccinia operta Mundk. & Thirum.<br />
Leaf galls and mosaic Viruses<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Common in most areas of Papua New Guinea but rarely eaten. It is eaten often in<br />
some places e.g. Mendi Valley. Similarly in many tropical countries, the thin shelled form is<br />
used as food.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
Nymphaea violacea<br />
283<br />
Waterlilies<br />
Nymphaea pubescens<br />
Nelumbo nucifera
Waterlilies<br />
284<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Lotus root Nelumbo nucifera 285<br />
Giant waterlily Nymphaea gigantea 286<br />
Nymphaea lotus var. pubescens 287<br />
Nymphaea macrosperma 288<br />
Tiny waterlily Nymphaea nouchali 289<br />
Blue waterlily Nymphaea violacea 290
285<br />
Names<br />
English: Lotus root Scientific name: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Nelumbonaceae/Nymphaeaceae<br />
Description: A herb which grows in water and continues<br />
growing for several years. The rootstock is under water and<br />
creeping. The leaf stalk grows 1-2 m high. The leaves can be<br />
20-90 cm across. It has large round leaves which stand out of<br />
the water. The stalk joins to the centre of the leaf. It has large<br />
attractive pink, red or white flowers which stand out of the water<br />
on long stalks. Flowers are pink or white and 15 to 25 cm<br />
across. The flower stalk can be longer than the leaf stalk. The<br />
mature fruit is a spongy cone shaped structure with several seeds<br />
about 1 cm across under the holes in the top. These fruit can be<br />
7-15 cm long. The edible rhizome is submerge in mud.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant but will grow in cooler places.<br />
It needs 20-30°C. It needs full sunshine. It can grow in deep<br />
water. It does best in fresh water. The pH can range from 5.6-<br />
7.5. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. It will probably grow up to<br />
about 1000 m altitude.<br />
It occurs in the Fly and Sepik River areas in Papua New Guinea. It is cultivated in most of China<br />
except the very northern areas. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from sections of the root or from seed. Seed germinate between<br />
25-30°C. The hard seed coat needs to be cracked to enable seed to grow. Seed will remain<br />
viable for many years. <strong>Plants</strong> grown from seed vary as seed do not breed true. It needs to be in<br />
water at least 30-50 cm deep. Rhizomes with 2-3 segments are used. They are put in the mud at<br />
a 30° angle.<br />
Production: Rhizomes are harvested all year round and contain an abundance of starch. <strong>Plants</strong><br />
grown from seed take 2 years to produce. <strong>Plants</strong> grown from cuttings can produce the same<br />
year.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten raw or roasted. Ripe seeds are prepared by removing the seedcoat and<br />
the intensely bitter plumule and then boiled in syrup. Slightly unripe seeds are also eaten raw.<br />
The white roots are eaten raw with meat.<br />
The flower stalks are cooked as a vegetable. They are also eaten raw.<br />
The young tender leaves are eaten with a savoury sauce.<br />
The stamen are used for flavouring tea.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seed 38.8 545 8.8 8.0 2 3 0.2<br />
Root<br />
Flower stalks<br />
Leaves<br />
81.4 276 1.6 0.9 0 27.4 0.3<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: The rhizomes are sold in markets. The stalks are sold in markets. The plant occurs<br />
in several coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and the seeds are the part most commonly used for<br />
food. It is a sacred plant to Hindus.
286<br />
Names<br />
English: Giant waterlily, Blue waterlily Scientific name: Nymphaea gigantea Hook.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Nymphaeaceae<br />
Description: A plant which grows in water. It grows<br />
8-40 cm high and spreads 0.9-3.5 m wide. It is a herb<br />
with a round rhizome or underground stem. The leaves<br />
are 80 cm across. They are round but with a slit<br />
towards the centre. They float on the water. They are<br />
green. The edges have uneven teeth about 0.5 cm long.<br />
The flowers are about 25 cm across. They grow on<br />
stems which reach 50 cm above the water. There are 4<br />
sepals and 32 petals. The sepals are 11 cm long and<br />
green with purple stripes. The petals are white, pink or<br />
blue. The flowers open during the day and close at<br />
night. The fruit is a berry 5 cm across. It is round.<br />
Distribution: It is a warm temperate or subtropical<br />
plant. It usually grows in pools or permanent water. It<br />
can grow in water 1-3 m deep. It grows in soft mud. It<br />
needs water above 27°C to bloom and grow. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or by division of the rhizome.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The porous seed stalk is peeled and eaten raw or roasted.<br />
The tubers are roasted and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seed 57.4 3.4 1.8 9 0.2<br />
Tubers 55.3 563 2.1 22.2 2 2.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:
287<br />
Names<br />
English: Waterlily Scientific name: Nymphaea lotus var. pubescens L.,<br />
(Willd.)Hook.f.& Th<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Nymphaea pubescens Willd.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Nymphaeaceae<br />
Description: A herb which grows in water. The<br />
rhizome creeps in the mud. They produce slender<br />
stolons or runners. The leaves are oval or round. They<br />
are deeply divided into a heart shape. They have coarse<br />
teeth. Leaves are 15-26 cm across. They float on the<br />
water. They are papery. They are hairy underneath.<br />
The leaf stalk is cylindrical. The flowers are above the<br />
water. The flowers occur singly. There are 4 outer<br />
green segments. There are 12-14 petals. Flowers are<br />
large (5-8 cm across) and white, pink or violet. The<br />
fruit is round and compressed. It is fleshy and ripens<br />
under the water. There are many seeds, which are<br />
round. The seeds are 1-2 mm across and have lines<br />
along them.<br />
Distribution: It is cultivated in ditches and ponds. In China it grows in ponds in the hills.<br />
Cultivation: The stalks of the flowers are edible. They are eaten raw or added to soup.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seeds can be eaten raw when the fruit are green.<br />
The seeds from dry heads are removed and ground into flour and used for bread.<br />
The root can be baked or boiled and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Root<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
288<br />
Names<br />
English: Waterlily Scientific name: Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & Perry<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Nymphaea dictophlebia Merr. & Perry<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Nymphaeaceae<br />
Description: A plant which grows in water in swamps.<br />
This herb keeps growing from year to year. The<br />
rhizome or underground stem is round. The leaves are<br />
55 cm across. The leaves are almost round but with a<br />
split towards the centre. The edges of this overlap.<br />
The leaf lays near the water surface. There are evenly<br />
spaced teeth around the edge of the leaf. The flower is<br />
on a stalk above the water. The flower is 15 cm across<br />
and occurs singly. It is 30 cm above the water. The<br />
flowers have a sweet smell. The flowers open during<br />
the day and close at night. There are 4 sepals and 22<br />
petals. The sepals are 6.5 cm long and green with<br />
purple stripes. The petals are white, blue or pink. The<br />
fruit is a berry 4 cm across. It is round.<br />
Distribution: It grows in water up to 3 m deep. It grows in the tropics and subtropics.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or by dividing the rhizome.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seed are eaten after extracting from the fruit.<br />
Some parts of the young flower buds are eaten raw.<br />
The flower stem is eaten raw after peeling off the skin.<br />
The tuber is roasted then peeled and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calciu<br />
m<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Seeds 54.2 479 2.9 2.5 4 0.5<br />
Flower buds<br />
Stalks<br />
Tuber 33.6 575 9.6 3.4 4 0.8<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
289<br />
Names<br />
English: Tiny waterlily, Blue lotus Scientific name: Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Nymphaeaceae<br />
Description: A herb which grows in water and<br />
keeps growing for several years. It is about<br />
1.5 m high. The rhizomes or underground<br />
stems are erect and unbranched. The leaves<br />
arise from the base of the plant and are very<br />
large with few teeth around the edge. The<br />
leaves are shaped like an arrowhead. They are<br />
green on the upper surface and reddish on the<br />
lower surface. Leaves are 13 cm long and 7-<br />
10 cm wide. They can be 45 cm across. They<br />
are on long stalks. The flowers are slightly<br />
above the water. The flowers are very large<br />
with white petals tinged with pink or yellow.<br />
The flowers are 8-18 cm across. There are 10-30 petals. The fruit are fleshy. They are round<br />
and 1.5-4.5 cm across. There are many seeds inside. The seeds are oval or round and 0.5-1.3<br />
mm across. They have rows of hairs along them.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in ditches and rice fields. They are<br />
widely distributed in the Philippines being very abundant in some lakes.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production: Tubers are normally available throughout the year.<br />
Use: The seed are eaten raw.<br />
The stalks and roots are cooked and eaten.<br />
The stalks are also eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seed<br />
Stalks<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The stalks are sold in markets. In Papua New Guinea, the plant is more commonly<br />
used in very swampy lagoon areas such as Suki and Balimo in the Western Province. In India,<br />
stalks are sold in markets.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
290<br />
Names<br />
English: Blue Water lily Scientific name: Nymphaea violacea Lehm.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Nymphaeaceae<br />
Description: A herb which grows in<br />
water. It keeps growing from year to<br />
year. It floats on the water with the<br />
rhizome rooted in the mud. The leaves<br />
are large and smooth. The are round<br />
with a deep split or lobe at the base. The<br />
blade is 10-30 cm long by 10-25 cm<br />
wide. It floats on the water surface. The<br />
leaf is dark green and has easy to see<br />
veins underneath. The edges of the leaf<br />
are sometimes slightly wavy. There is a<br />
long thick fleshy stalk. The flowers are<br />
large and white or blue or pink. They<br />
are many yellow stamens in the centre.<br />
The flowers are 5-15 cm across. They occur on long stalks either at water level or up to 15 cm<br />
above the water. The fruit are spongy berries. These have many seeds. They are green and<br />
about 2-3 cm across. They are carried under the water and break up when ripe.<br />
Distribution: They grow naturally in fresh water swamps.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or by dividing the rhizome.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The rootstock, stalk and seed head are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The seeds can also be made into flour.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Root<br />
Stalk<br />
Seed head<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
291
292<br />
Nuts<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Java almond Galip Canarium indicum 293<br />
Canarium kaniense 295<br />
Canarium salomonense 296<br />
Canarium vitiense 297<br />
Canarium sp. 298<br />
Canarium schlechteri 299<br />
Canarium lamii 300<br />
Canarium decumanum 301<br />
Melville Island white beech Canarium australianum var.glabrum 302<br />
Canarium acutifolium 303<br />
Vutu kana Barringtonia edulis 304<br />
Pao nuts Pao Barringtonia procera 305<br />
Barringtonia niedenzuana 306<br />
Pao Barringtonia novae-hibernae 307<br />
Breadfruit Kapiak Artocarpus altilis 308<br />
Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus 311<br />
Artocarpus vrieseanus 313<br />
Karuka Karuka Pandanus jiulianettii 315<br />
Wild karuka Wail karuka Pandanus brosimos 317<br />
Pandanus antaresensis 318<br />
Coastal pandanus Pandanus tectorius 319<br />
Pandanus dubius 320<br />
Okari Terminalia kaernbachii 321<br />
Talis Terminalia impediens 322<br />
Talis Terminalia copelandii 323<br />
Tropical almond Terminalia catappa 324<br />
Terminalia calamansanai 325<br />
Terminalia megalocarpa 326<br />
Terminalia microcarpa 327<br />
Terminalia sepicana 328<br />
Terminalia solomonensis 329<br />
Finschia nuts Finschia chloroxantha 330<br />
Finschia ferruginiflora 331<br />
Finschia rufa 331<br />
Macadamia Macadamia ternifolia 332<br />
Rough shelled madacamia Macadamia tetraphylla 333<br />
Polynesian chestnut Aila Inocarpus fagifer 334<br />
Nypa Nypa fruticans 336<br />
Tambour Omphalea queenslandiae 337<br />
Cape chestnut Horsfieldia australiana 338<br />
Elaeocarpus polydactylus 339<br />
Elaeocarpus womersleyi 340<br />
Elaeocarpus pullenii 341<br />
Queensland almond Elaeocarpus bancrofti 342<br />
Blue quandong Elaeocarpus angustifolius 343<br />
Arnhem land quandong Elaeocarpus arnhemicus 344<br />
Qandong Elaeocarpus culminicola 345<br />
Castanopsis chestnut Castanopsis acuminatissima 346<br />
Candle nut Aleurites moluccana 347
293<br />
Names<br />
English: Galip nut, Java almond Scientific name: Canarium indicum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Canarium commune L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: It is a large tree often up to 40m<br />
high. The stems are often twisted or rough and<br />
1 m across the trunk and there are usually<br />
buttresses at the base of the tree. The<br />
buttresses are tall but thin. The small branches<br />
are more or less powdery. The vascular<br />
strands are unusual as can be seen in the pith<br />
or centre mass of cells, not spaced in a<br />
continuous circle as in many trees. The leaf of<br />
a galip tree is made up of 3 to 7 pairs of<br />
leaflets. The leaves do not have hairs on them.<br />
The leaflets are oblong and can be 7 to 28 cm<br />
long and 3 to 11 cm wide. In young trees the<br />
leaves are distinctly larger. The leaves are<br />
pointed at the tip and rounded at the base. The<br />
leaflets are stiff and glossy being dark green<br />
on top and light green underneath. At the base<br />
of a leaf where the stalk joins the branch there<br />
is a stipule and it is large and has saw like<br />
teeth around the edge. This is important for<br />
identifying species.<br />
The flowers are mostly produced at the end of the branches. A group of flowers are produced on<br />
the one stalk. The flowers are separately male and female often on separate trees. The male<br />
flowers have 6 anthers or pollen containers in a ring. In the female flower these 6 stamens are<br />
improperly developed (staminodes) around a 3 celled ovary. The fruit is slightly triangular in<br />
cross section and black when mature. The galip fruit has 3 cells (sometimes 4) but mostly only<br />
one cell is fertile so that 2 of the cells are empty, and one has a kernel. The fruit has a thin layer<br />
of pulp and a very hard inner shell. The kernel is inside the shell. Fruit can be 6 cm x 3 cm.<br />
This kernel is oily and edible. Considerable varietal variation occurs.<br />
Distribution: The galip (Canarium indicum) grows in coastal areas, and is most common in the<br />
islands such as North Solomons Province, New Britain and New Ireland. It also occurs naturally<br />
in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Guam. It occurs on the New Guinea mainland and Irian<br />
Jaya as well as in Maluku in Indonesia. It has been taken to some other countries to grow. It is a<br />
tropical plant. Galip nuts are common in the lowland rainforest. They mostly grow from sea<br />
level up to about 450 m altitude in the equatorial tropics.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are planted near houses. They are mostly grown from seed. Many of the<br />
galip nuts take several months for the seeds to start to grow. As well, the seeds normally should<br />
not be buried under the ground, but should be just near the surface of the ground. Care is needed<br />
to see that the seeds and seedlings do not dry out. As the seed grows or germinates, a well<br />
defined cap is split off the nut. Trees grow fairly quickly. They can be grown by budding or<br />
grafting.<br />
Production: The main season is often April to May but trees can bear nuts 2 or 3 times a year.<br />
An average kernel weighs 3 g.. Climbing the large trees is difficult and dangerous, so often nuts<br />
are harvested after they fall. Nuts are often stored inside houses after the fleshy outer layer is<br />
removed but the hard shell remains. Nuts which are removed from the shell and roasted can be
294<br />
stored in sealed containers for many months. The nuts are often coarsely ground and added to<br />
other foods.<br />
Use: The kernels are eaten raw or slightly roasted. Seeds can be dried and stored.<br />
The nuts can be pressed for oil. The fresh oil is mixed with food.<br />
Caution: The seed coat should not be eaten as it carries some substance producing diarrhoea.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Nut 13.5<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Coccus hesperidium Linnaeus Coccidae (HEM) Soft brown scale<br />
Ectatorhinus magicus Gerstaecker Curculionidae (COL) weevil boring into trunk of galip<br />
Pinnaspis buxi (Bouche) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Pseudococcus solomonensis Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Heart rot Fungus Phellinus noxius (Corner) G H Cunn.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Moderately common and popular in coastal and island areas in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
295<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Canarium kaniense Lauterbach<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Piu, Usasi Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 40 m high and<br />
sometimes with buttresses. The small branches are 0.5-<br />
1 cm thick. They do not have hairs. The branches have<br />
one or two round cylinders of vascular strands when cut<br />
cross ways. (Like in a root). The leafy stalk (stipule) at<br />
the base of the leaf is oval and 1-3 cm long by 0.5-2 cm<br />
wide. The edges of this are deeply toothed and can be<br />
almost like a fringe. The leaf can have 3-5 or 6 leaflets.<br />
They do not have hairs. The leaflets are oval and 8-12<br />
cm long by 3.5-7 cm wide. They can be papery or<br />
slightly leathery. The base of the leaflet is slightly<br />
slanting. The leaflets do not have teeth around the<br />
edge. The top of the leaf ends fairly abruptly. There are 9-15 pairs of side veins. These are<br />
slightly curved and at an angle. The flowers are near the ends of the branches. The flower<br />
clusters can be 30 cm long. They are densely covered with fine hairs. There are 5-6 fruit on a<br />
stalk. Individual fruit have very short stalks. Fruit are 5-6 cm long and 3-4 cm across. They are<br />
triangular in cross section. Normally there is only one seed inside with the other cells empty.<br />
Distribution: It occurs mostly on the mainland and only in PNG. <strong>Plants</strong> are mostly between<br />
1,000 and 2,000 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> normally are self sown from seed.<br />
Production: The fruit/nut production is seasonal. Flowering is in December and fruiting from<br />
January to March.<br />
Use: The oily seeds are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nut<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A minor wild edible nut in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
296<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Canarium salomonense B.L.Burtt<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Adoa, Gatoga Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 30 m high with<br />
buttresses at the base. The buttresses branch. The bark<br />
is smooth grey and peels off in thin flakes. The small<br />
branches are round in cross section and less than 1 cm<br />
across. The wood and bark have a mild pineapple-like<br />
smell. The leaves can be 18 to 30 cm long made up of<br />
several leaflets but often without a leaflet at the end.<br />
The leaf like part (stipule) near the base of the leaf is<br />
about 1 cm from where the leaf stalk joins. It is small,<br />
ear-shaped and without the toothed edge like in<br />
Canarium indicum. The flowers occur on the ends of<br />
branches. The male flower clusters have more<br />
branches, more flowers and are larger (20-30 cm long)<br />
while the female flower clusters are slender, with fewer<br />
flowers and are smaller (8-20 cm long). The flowers<br />
have short soft hairs but become hairless at maturity.<br />
The male flowers are smaller (0.4-0.5 cm long) than the<br />
female (0.9-1 cm long). The flowers are pale yellow or<br />
light green. The fruit is 3-4 cm long and 1-2 cm across,<br />
slightly flattened and purplish black. Normally only<br />
one cell of the seed is developed. There are a range of<br />
varieties which differ in size, flavour and ease of<br />
opening.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea and in the Solomon<br />
Islands from sea level up to 500 m or more. It grows in the rainforest and is cultivated near<br />
villages.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild and is cultivated.<br />
Production: The nuts have a hard shell and are opened by striking on the side.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten.<br />
(The resin is used for making torches.)<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Importance: A minor edible nut.<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
From Leenhouts<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
297<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Canarium vitiense A. Gray<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Canarium schlechteri Lauterb.<br />
Tok ples: Kaunithina Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A slender or spreading tree. It can be 7-<br />
30 m high. The trunk can be 1.5 m across. There are<br />
1-6 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are 3.5-15 cm long by<br />
2.5-6.5 cm wide. The flower buds are greenish white<br />
and the petals are white or cream. The young fruit are<br />
green or bluish. They become dark purple black at<br />
maturity.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in dense or dry forest. It grows<br />
from sea level to 1,000 m altitude. In Samoa it grows<br />
from sea level to 700 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: Trees flower and fruit throughout the year.<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
298<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Canarium sp.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Nakeo Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A fairly large tree 20-30 m high. The<br />
leaves are oval 15-18 cm by 7-8 cm. The leaves are<br />
dark green and shiny on the upper surface and dull and<br />
lighter green underneath. Fruit are grouped tightly<br />
together. They are small blue/black fruit oval and 2-3<br />
cm by 3-4 cm. The young fruit are green and turn blue<br />
when mature. There is a large seed inside.<br />
Distribution: Coastal.<br />
Cultivation: The trees are planted from seed.<br />
Production: Fruiting is seasonal. (Fruiting Aug. '82 in Papua New Guinea.)<br />
Use: The outside layer of the fruit is eaten after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, it is a minor cultivated fruit near Kawito in the Western<br />
Province.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
299<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Canarium schlechteri Laut.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Bitung, Aropir, Banaga Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 25 m high. It sometimes has<br />
small buttresses. The trunk can be 30-40 cm across.<br />
The small branches are slender. On the leaf stalk there<br />
is a leafy structure called a stipule which is 3 cm from<br />
the base of the stalk. It is thread like. The leaves have<br />
3-6 pairs of leaflets and can be softly hairy. The<br />
leaflets are oval and 12-20 cm long by 5-7 cm wide.<br />
There are 11-20 pairs of veins in the leaflets and<br />
continuing fairly straight towards the edges of the<br />
leaves. The flower clusters occur in the axils of leaves.<br />
They are 12-22 cm long. There can be up to 9 flowers.<br />
The fruiting clusters are up to 10 cm long with 1-3 fruit<br />
in a cluster. There is a saucer like structure (calyx)<br />
around the base of the fruit. The fruit are long and<br />
slightly triangular in cross section. They are 4 cm long<br />
by 2 cm across. The stone of the fruit has 6 ribs. There<br />
are 1-2 seeds inside. The seeds are edible.<br />
Distribution: A small understory tree in lowland and foothill rainforests. It is recorded from<br />
Morobe Province and New Britain as well as Malaysia. It grows up to 250 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: The tree grows wild.<br />
Production: The flowers are recorded in June, August and November. The fruit are recorded in<br />
March and May to September.<br />
Use: The seeds have been recorded as edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: This species has been recorded as having edible seeds. Its potential is not known,<br />
but it is only a minor food.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
300<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Canarium lamii Leenh.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Djaato kenari Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree which grows to 20<br />
m high. It is 50 cm through the trunk. The small<br />
branches are 6-7 mm thick. The leaves have 3 pairs of<br />
leaflets. The leafy structures (stipules) at the base of<br />
the leaf stalk occur 1-1.5 cm from the base and are oval<br />
and stiff and tend to run down the stem. The leaflets are<br />
sword shaped and 11-18 cm long by 6-7 cm wide. The<br />
base is unequal and rounded while the tip ends bluntly.<br />
There are 10-12 veins which are somewhat curved.<br />
The fruiting branch occurs near the end of branches and<br />
has one fruit. The fruit are oval and 6 cm long by 4 cm<br />
wide. The stone is rounded triangular in cross section.<br />
There are 1 or 2 seeds inside. (It is somewhat similar to<br />
Canarium harveyi).<br />
Distribution: They occur in forests at very low altitudes.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
301<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Canarium decumanum Gaertn.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A large tree with very large buttresses.<br />
These can be 8 m high and 5 m across. The tree grows<br />
to 30-60 m high. The trunk can be 1-2 m across. The<br />
small branches are 1-1.5 cm across and angular. These<br />
leave large leaf scars. At the base of the leaf stalk there<br />
are small stipules that look like small simple leaves<br />
without teeth around the edge. The leaves are arranged<br />
in spirals. They are made up of 4-6 pairs of leaflets.<br />
The leaves are 35-45 cm long and the leaflets are oval<br />
and between 5-30 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. The<br />
leaflets are stiff and papery. The base of the leaflets is<br />
rounded. The tip of the leaf tapers to a point. The<br />
flower clusters occur in the axils of leaves. The male<br />
flower clusters are 4-19 cm long with many flowers,<br />
while the female flower clusters are 5-7 cm long and<br />
with few flowers. The fruiting cluster has few fruits<br />
and there is not one flower at the end of the cluster.<br />
The fruit are somewhat triangular in cross section and<br />
7-8 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. There can be 1 to 3 seeds<br />
inside the fruit.<br />
Distribution: It grows in primary forests at low altitudes.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> flower from April to May and fruit June to November.<br />
Use: The seeds or kernels are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Importance: They are a minor food.<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
302<br />
Names<br />
English: Melville Island White Beech Scientific name: Canarium australianum var.<br />
glabrum F.Muell., Leenh.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A deciduous tree. It loses its leaves in the<br />
dry season. It grows to 12-25 m high and spreads to 3<br />
m wide. The stems are erect and branching. They<br />
branches have leaf scars on them. The bark is smooth<br />
and slightly scaly. It is cream-grey. The leaves are<br />
compound and alternate. The whole leaf is 30 cm long.<br />
There are 4-7 pairs of oval leaflets and a leaflet at the<br />
end. These are 7-16 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. Leaves<br />
are dark green and smooth on top and paler and<br />
sometimes slightly hairy underneath. The veins are<br />
distinct. The edges of the leaves are finely toothed on<br />
younger leaves. The leaf stalk is 5-15 cm long. Trees<br />
are separately male and female. The flowers are like<br />
tubes and occur in clusters in the axils of leaves near<br />
the ends of branches. The flowers are small and<br />
creamy white and 0.3-0.7 cm long. The flower cluster<br />
may be 25 cm long. Male clusters are larger and more<br />
open than female clusters. The fruit are oval fleshy<br />
fruit with a hard stone inside. They are 2.5 cm long by<br />
1.5 cm wide. They are blue-black when ripe. Inside<br />
there is a hard brown one seeded nut. The seed is 1.5<br />
cm long.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows on light to medium, well drained soils. It prefers an<br />
open sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It is most common in open forest and near<br />
the sea on sand dunes.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seeds do not all germinate at the same time. This can<br />
be improved by filing to break the hard seed coat. Trees can be propagated by aerial layering.<br />
Grafting may also be possible.<br />
Production: Young trees grow rapidly. In Australia trees flower September to December and<br />
fruit April to October. Flowering and fruiting time varies with location.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten.<br />
The ripe fruit is eaten after cooking (roasting).<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The seeds are eaten especially by children.<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
303<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Canarium acutifolium (DC.)Merr.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A tree which grows to 20 m high and<br />
occasionally to 40 m high. The trunk can be 20-90 cm<br />
across. It can have buttresses up to 3 m high. The<br />
small branches are 1.5 cm thick. The leafy structures<br />
(stipules) at the base of the leaf stalk are like threads<br />
and 1.5-3.5 cm long. The leaves have 3-5 leaflets.<br />
These are oval and 12-30 cm long by 4-11 cm wide.<br />
They are papery. The base of the leaflet is slightly<br />
oblique but rounded and the tip is long and slender.<br />
There are between 11 and 20 pairs of veins which curve<br />
near the edge of the leaf. The flower clusters are a<br />
shaped like a pyramid and in the axils of leaves. The<br />
male clusters are up to 50 cm long and the female<br />
clusters 40 cm long. There are many small flowers 4<br />
mm long. The fruit clusters are rigid and have many<br />
fruit. The fruit are oval and round in cross section.<br />
They are 12-15 mm long by 8-10 mm wide. There is<br />
one seed inside. Three different varieties occur based<br />
on the number of stamens and number of veins in the<br />
leaflets.<br />
Distribution: It grows in rainforest and more open forest near river banks. It suits wet clayey<br />
soil. It grows from sea level up to 200 m and occasionally up to 700 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production: Trees flower in July to September.<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
304<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Barringtonia edulis Seem.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Vutu kana Plant family: Barringtoniaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 15 m high. The trunk<br />
is 30 to 40 cm across. The bark is smooth and greyish<br />
brown. The leaves are glossy on both sides and are<br />
large. They are 17 to 45 cm long by 10 to 20 cm<br />
across. They are wedge shaped near the base, and<br />
wavy or with rounded edges, near the tip. The midrib<br />
and veins are raised on both leaf surfaces. The leaf<br />
stalk is about 1 cm long and there are 15 to 20 pairs of<br />
veins. This nut tree has flowers with stalks from a<br />
single unbranched stalk. These flower and nut stalks<br />
come from the end of the branch and hang down. The<br />
flower stalk can be up to 50 cm long and have about 40<br />
flowers and nuts. The fruit can be 4 or 5 cm long and 2<br />
cm across and when ripe the fruit skin colour is green.<br />
The seed kernel inside the hard shell can be 3 cm by 1<br />
cm in size. This species is very similar to Barringtonia<br />
procera but this one has leaves with leaf stalks, the<br />
flowers are on stalks, the fruit is green when fresh and<br />
the fruit is more smooth and egg shaped.<br />
Distribution: This species mainly occurs in Fiji. Other similar species occur in Solomons,<br />
Papua New Guinea and other Pacific countries. It occurs in forest, woodland and grassland up to<br />
400 m above sea level. The flowering and fruiting is mostly just before Christmas, from<br />
September to December.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The trees occurring in Papua New Guinea may not be Barringtonia edulis. Other<br />
Barringtonia species are important nuts in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
305<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Barringtonia procera R Knuth<br />
Tok pisin: Pao nuts Synonyms: Barringtonia magnifica Laut.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Barringtoniaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 15 m tall. The trunk is<br />
8 cm across and the twigs are about 1 to 1.5 cm across.<br />
The leaves are smooth and hairless and can be 30 to 50<br />
cm long by 8 to 20 cm wide. They are oblong and very<br />
shiny. They have a tapering tip which curves<br />
backwards and at the base are wedge shaped. The<br />
flower stalk is at the end of a branch, is 30 to 80 cm<br />
long and hangs down. There can be up to 120 flowers.<br />
The fruit are 8 sided and about 6-8 cm long by 3-5 cm<br />
across. The seed kernel inside the hard shell inside the<br />
fruit is about 3 cm by 1.5-2 cm cross. It is slightly<br />
flattened in one direction. This nut tree has short<br />
flower stalks (shorter than Barringtonia edulis) and the<br />
skin colour of the ripe fruit is purple. The leaves also<br />
are almost without stalks.<br />
Distribution: It grows in secondary rainforest at low<br />
altitude. It is also planted in villages.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production: Trees flower and fruit throughout the year.<br />
Use: The nuts are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A common and popular nut in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
306<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Barringtonia niedenzuana<br />
(K.Schum) R. Knuth<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Barringtoniaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 15 m tall. Trunks are 5<br />
to 25 cm across and twigs are 2 to 5 mm thick. The<br />
tree has a dense cone shaped group of leaves at the top.<br />
The bark is cracked and irregular. The leaves are egg<br />
shaped and 12 to 26 cm long by 4 to 9 cm wide. The<br />
leaves are like paper with a wavy or toothed edge.<br />
They are dark green on top and paler underneath. A<br />
cluster of five leaves occurs on the end of a branch.<br />
The leaves are pointed at the tip and wedge shaped at<br />
the base. The midrib and main veins are prominent on<br />
both sides while the fine veins are only prominent<br />
under the leaf. The flower stalks are 20 to 90 cm long,<br />
with about 30 flowers. The flower buds are pale green<br />
sometimes with a purple tinge. The flower petals can<br />
vary from purple to red, pink or yellow. The fruit is<br />
dark green. The fruit have 4 angles and are about 5 cm<br />
long by 1 cm across. The kernel or seed is about 3 cm<br />
long by 5 mm wide.<br />
Distribution: It grows in rainforest especially on limestone slopes. It can also grow under the<br />
rainforest and in low damp places near mangroves. It occurs up to 700 m above sea level.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production: Flowering occurs from January to November and fruiting is mainly between April<br />
and November.<br />
Use: The nuts are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
307<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Barringtonia novae-hibernae Laut.<br />
Tok pisin: Pao nuts Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Barringtoniaceae<br />
Description: The tree grows up to 6 or 8 metres tall.<br />
The trunk is often only 10-15 cm across and near the<br />
top the tree has a few short thick branches. The leaves<br />
are large and shiny. The leaves are crowded towards<br />
the end of branches. A leaf can be 50-60 cm long and<br />
20-24 cm across. Near the tip of the leaf the edge is<br />
wavy and often slightly toothed, with the tip bent<br />
backwards. The veins of the leaf show up clearly on<br />
both sides of the leaf. The leaf stalk is only short, about<br />
1 cm long. A long hanging yellow flower is produced<br />
from the branches. It can be 80 cm long and is densely<br />
covered with flowers. There can be up to 120 flowers<br />
along a stalk. The flowers do not have a scent. Along<br />
this the fruits form, giving a long hanging stalk of quite<br />
large nuts. The fruit are oval shaped and about 6-8 cm<br />
long by 3-4 cm across. The seed or nut inside the fruit<br />
has lines running along its surface. This edible part is<br />
about 3 cm long by 1-2 cm across and white coloured.<br />
The seed is flattened particularly on one side. Pao nut<br />
trees tend to flower and produce nuts throughout the<br />
year. There are some different kinds. The size and<br />
shape of the nuts can vary slightly. Also some are white inside and some are red. The most<br />
obvious difference is the colour of the outside of the fruit. Some kinds are green or slightly blue<br />
whereas other kinds are a dark reddish black. The nuts have a fairly hard shell and are split open<br />
with a knife. The white part in the centre is eaten raw. It also has a fairly hard texture.<br />
Distribution: Trees grow in tropical coastal areas and up to about 600 m altitude. They occur in<br />
primary rainforest on rich alluvial soil. They grow naturally and are also planted. In Papua New<br />
Guinea it grows in the Huon Peninsula, Manus, New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville.<br />
Cultivation: Pao nut trees are mostly grown from seed. Several different races or types of pao<br />
nut have been selected by villagers and these trees seem to produce fruit that is similar to the<br />
seed that was planted. Trees can be grown from stem cuttings. Trees grown from cuttings have<br />
shorter trunks and branch closer to the ground.<br />
Production: If trees are planted in suitable sites and well looked after, they can produce fruit in a<br />
year or two. As pao nuts often do well and are most common on low off shore islands and coral<br />
waterfront villages, it may be particularly suited to coral and alkaline soils. This needs to be<br />
further studied. Flowering is not seasonal. Well grown trees can produce after one year.<br />
Use: The kernels inside the nuts are eaten raw or roasted.<br />
Caution: The related plant Barringtonia asiatica (L) Kurz which grows along the foreshore is<br />
used as a fish poison.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Nuts<br />
Insects: Pests: Diseases: A leaf spot occurs on the leaves.<br />
Importance: A common and popular nut in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
308<br />
Names<br />
English: Breadfruit Scientific name: Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg<br />
Tok pisin: Kapiak Synonyms: Artocarpus communis Forster & Forster f.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 20-26 m in height. The<br />
trunk can be 6 m tall before branching. The trunk can<br />
be up to 1 m across. It is an evergreen tree but can lose<br />
its leaves in dry weather. The leaves are large and vary<br />
in the amount the leaves are divided. They can be<br />
entire or divided into 5 to 11 lobes. The leaves are<br />
bright green on the upper surface with yellow veins and<br />
are pale and dull on the under surface. They have very<br />
small stiff hairs underneath. Male and female flowers<br />
occur on the same tree. The male flowers are<br />
cylindrical spikes which droop and are 12-30 cm long.<br />
The female flowers are grouped in a round head. The<br />
flower head develops into the compound fruit. The<br />
fruit are large and green. They can be 20 cm across.<br />
Seeded kinds have spines, and seedless kinds have a<br />
more smooth surface. Seeded, small seeded, and non<br />
seeded types occur. There are a number of cultivars of<br />
each. Seed can be 2 cm across and with darker lines.<br />
Fruit can be 12-22 cm long and 9-17 cm wide. The fruit shape varies from round to oblong.<br />
Leaves vary from entire to deeply lobed and from rough to smooth and shiny. The central core<br />
and the skin are not eaten. Seeded fruit have projecting tuberances on the surface of the fruit.<br />
Seedless fruit have rounded or 5 to 6 sided processes on the surface.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in the hot, humid, tropical lowlands. The plant is purely tropical and<br />
normally below about 650m altitude, but trees grow from sea level up to about 1150 m. Seeded<br />
types are more dominant in the west of Papua New Guinea. Trees are killed by temperatures<br />
below 5°C. It probably requires an average temperature over 22°C to grow well. It tends to<br />
grow in the temperature range 16°C to 38°C. It grows on a range of soils providing they are well<br />
drained. There is some cultivar difference in drought tolerance and salt tolerance. Uniformly<br />
warm humid climates suit it best. An annual rainfall of 200-250 cm and a relative humidity of<br />
70-80% suits. It suits hardiness zone 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Seeded forms are self sown by birds or bats, and also grown from seed. The<br />
presence or absence of seeds significantly affects the production. Seeded trees are mostly<br />
propagated by seed which needs to be sown fresh, without seed drying out. Seedless trees are<br />
propagated by root cuttings. Cuttings of roots 1.5 cm to 4 cm across and 25 cm long are suitable.<br />
Cuttings can be rooted during the wet season, in sand. They should be placed horizontally.<br />
They need to be kept moist and shaded. Using intermittent mist improves root formation and<br />
cutting establishment. Rooting hormones also assists. This process takes 10 weeks or more and<br />
then rooted cuttings should be hardened off in a sunny position for up to 3 more months before<br />
planting out into the field. Young plants do best with adequate sun and not shade. Root suckers<br />
produced naturally, or by damaging the roots, are a common method of production of new<br />
material. Marcottage or budding can also be used for propagation. Because trees often occur<br />
from natural seed dispersal by fruit bats and marsupials trees are often randomly spaced and<br />
common in secondary forest. A spacing of 10-13m is suitable between trees. Trees rarely<br />
receive much attention after establishment but pruning of branches to allow easier access to fruit<br />
is sometimes undertaken.
309<br />
Production: Male and female flowers grow separately on the same tree. Male flowers form an<br />
oblong catkin while female flowers form a globular head. The flowers are in the axils of leaves.<br />
Both flowers normally appear at the same time. Artificial pollination has resulted in increased<br />
yields in some places. This is both an increase in fruit size and more fruit retained on the tree to<br />
maturity. The pollen in the male flower is available 10 to 15 days after emergence. It is about 3<br />
months from flowering to fruit maturity. Seeded fruit have 30 to 90 seeds per fruit. Seedless<br />
fruit are picked before maturity when the fruit is eaten by boiling. Harvesting mature fruit can<br />
be sweeter fruit but they need to be cooked by baking or roasting. Seeded fruit are normally<br />
allowed to drop and are then harvested. Seeds are boiled in salted water or roasted. A mature<br />
tree can yield up to 700 fruit per year. Fresh fruit are highly perishable and need to be handled<br />
carefully and efficiently. Pit preservation of breadfruit involves lactic acid fermentation. The<br />
fermentation needs to be undergone for 2 to 3 months to produce a palatable product. Breadfruit<br />
slices can be stored under refrigeration in a fresh marketable state at 14°C for up to 10 days.<br />
Segments can be boiled for 2 to 5 minutes then frozen at minus 15°C for at least 11 weeks.<br />
Trees begin to bear after 3-6 years. Growth of the trees is vigorous, with fruiting starting<br />
after about 3 years. Trees grow to 10-15 m in 10-12 years. Mature trees can be 30 m high.<br />
Fruiting can occur over 5-8 months in some locations and this is partly due to varieties with<br />
overlapping fruit seasons. A tree can produce 50-150 fruit per year. A fruit can weigh 1-1.6 kg<br />
each. Large trees can give 700 fruit per year of 1-4 kg each. An average seed weighs 5 g.<br />
Use: The large seeds are roasted and eaten. The flesh of the fruit is eaten cooked. The young<br />
leaves are edible. The male and female flowers are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds 56.5 799 7.4 3.7 26 6.6 0.9<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
74.4 506 1.5 0.4 4 25 0.2<br />
The seeds are about 20 % of dry matter as protein with a good nutritional balance. The essential<br />
amino acid levels are high for vegetable protein.<br />
Insects:<br />
Abgrallaspis cyanophylli (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) Diaspididae (HEM) Yellow scale<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Sign. Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Bactrocera frauenfeldi Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit flies<br />
Bactrocera frenchi Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit flies<br />
Bactrocera obliquus Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit flies<br />
Bactrocera peculiaris Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit flies<br />
Bactrocera umbrosus (F.) Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit flies<br />
Ceroplastes rubens Maskell Coccidae (HEM) Pink wax scale<br />
Chrysomphalus aonidum (Linnaeus) Diaspididae (HEM) Florida red scale<br />
Coccus hesperidium Linnaeus Coccidae (HEM) Soft brown scale<br />
Coccus longulus (Douglas) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Dysmiccocus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealybug<br />
Dysmicoccus nesophilus Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Kilifia acuminata (Signoret) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Hibiscus mealy bug<br />
Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Mutabilicoccus vanheurni (Reyne) Pseudococcidae (HEM)
310<br />
Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) Coccidae (HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Pseudococcus longispinus Targioni Pseudococcidae (HEM) Longtailed mealybug<br />
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targ.) Diaspididae (HEM) White scale<br />
Saissetia coffeae (Walker) Coccidae (HEM) Coffee scale<br />
Telostylinus sp. Neriidae (DIPT)<br />
Xyleborus spp. Scolytidae (COL) Island pinhole borer<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Pseudocercospora artocarpi (H & P Sydow)Dei<br />
Rust Fungus Uredo artocarpi Berk & Br<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A quite important supplementary seasonal food in many coastal areas. The seeded<br />
forms are more common in the western part of Papua New Guinea.
311<br />
Names<br />
English: Jackfruit Scientific name: Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Artocarpus integra (Thunb.) Merr.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree up to 20 m tall and in<br />
the breadfruit family. Trees form many branches but<br />
have one or two main trunks. The bark is smooth and<br />
dark green. Leaves of young trees have 1 or 2 lobes but<br />
mature leaves are long (15 cm) and entire. They are<br />
leathery, deep green and glossy. Flowers occur on<br />
spikes, on stalks from the trunk or main branches.<br />
Some stalks only have male flowers, others only have<br />
female flowers while some have both male and female<br />
spikes. Generally male flowers are on short stalks<br />
among the leaves, and female flowers are on trunks.<br />
Male flowers are 5 cm long by 2 cm wide and are dull<br />
green. Female flowers are bright green. The very large<br />
spiny fruit grow on main branches and the trunk. The<br />
fruit is a composite fruit made up from the many<br />
individual flowers of the flower cluster. Fruit can be 1<br />
m long and weigh 36 kg. They have 6 sided fleshy<br />
spines. Each seed is surrounded by a yellow fleshy<br />
sheath. Seed are 2-4 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. There<br />
can be 100-500 seed in a fruit. Unlike breadfruit, there<br />
are no seedless Jackfruit. When ripe the unopened fruit<br />
has a strong smell<br />
Distribution: It grows in the tropical lowlands and up to about 1200 m altitude. It grows in<br />
Nepal up to 800 m altitude. It can stand some drought, but not water-logging. Trees do best<br />
where there is year round rainfall. It does best in a well drained, frost-free location that is warm<br />
and sunny. They are slightly more tolerant of cold than breadfruit. Trees can survive occasional<br />
frosts down to 0°C. They have some wind and salt tolerance. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are usually sown from seeds, but it is best to sow them in their final location<br />
as the plants don't transplant easily. They have a long delicate taproot which makes<br />
transplanting difficult. Fresh seed must be used (less than 4 weeks). If fresh seed are planted<br />
immediately they grow more quickly and more seeds germinate. It is better to use larger seed.<br />
The fleshy layer around the seeds should be removed. Seeds can be soaked in water for 24 hours<br />
to give better germination. It is best to sow seeds with the embryo pointing downwards and also<br />
with the narrow end pointing downwards. Seeds germinate in 3-8 weeks. A spacing of 12 m is<br />
suitable. Where trees are used as a wind break, trees are spaced 6 m apart. Air-layering can be<br />
used, and stem cuttings are also possible. Air layering is best done in the rainy season. Rooting<br />
hormones can be used to help roots develop. The shoots used for air layering should be 2-3<br />
years old and brown in colour. To produce air layers, a small branch 3-4 cm across, is cut below<br />
a node and only part way around the stem. A ring 5-7 cm wide is cut and a layer of sand<br />
wrapped around the stem and covered with plastic. Using 1% IBA growth substances helps<br />
shoots to strike and form roots. Roots form in about 22 days and the stem can be cut off and<br />
planted after about 2-3 months. Because trees vary in their growth rate, how quickly they flower<br />
and fruit, and in the fruit quality, it is best to grow plants by using vegetative parts from good<br />
trees. This can be done by budding or grafting onto 12 month old seedlings already established<br />
in the field. Budding and grafting are not easy with jackfruit. Because the fruit develops on the<br />
trunk, early pruning to allow 2-3 trunks to develop is helpful. As well, trees can be topped to<br />
prevent them becoming too tall and large.
312<br />
Production: Jackfruit is a fast growing tree. They can be 7 m tall by 3 years old. Trees begin<br />
bearing after about 8 years. The fruiting season lasts about 4 months in subtropical places, but<br />
fruit can be produced year round in tropical places. Fruit take about 100 to 120 days from when<br />
the flower is pollinated until a fully mature fruit is developed but can take another 4 months to<br />
ripen. Trees tend to have heavy crops every second year. Pollination is by wind but hand<br />
pollination has been used to improve the amount of fruit set. Fruit can be up to 50 kg in weight.<br />
Fruit change from green to yellow when mature. Up to 250 fruit can be produced each year on<br />
large trees. Fruit do not store well but can be kept in a cool store for 4-6 weeks at 11°-12°C and<br />
with high humidity.<br />
Use: The flesh of ripe fruits can be eaten raw.<br />
Unripe fruit can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.<br />
The seeds (5%) can be roasted and eaten. (Some kinds have more seeds).<br />
The young leaves and flowers are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit ripe 74.5 395 1.5 0.6 30 6.7 0.4<br />
Seeds 57.6 5.6 0.8 10<br />
Fruit unripe<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
85.8 1.6 0.1 13<br />
Insects:<br />
Anthococcus kerevatae Williams Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Ceroplastes rubens Maskell Coccidae (HEM) Pink wax scale<br />
Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Coccus longulus (Douglas) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) Coccidae (HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Parastasia guttulata Fairmaire Scarabaeidae (COL)<br />
Pinnaspis buxi (Bouche) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Unaspis citri (Comstock) Diaspididae (HEM) White louse scale<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor (Berk & Br.) Julich<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Colletotrichum sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Gaining importance in some areas of Papua New Guinea, such as the Sepik. At<br />
present it is mainly only the seeds that are eaten.
313<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Artocarpus vrieseanus Miq<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A tall tree. The branches are brown with<br />
shallow cracks along their length. They also have<br />
round air pores in the bark. The leaves are thin and can<br />
be soft or papery. They are oval and have a tail at the<br />
tip. They are smooth and 20 cm wide by 25 cm long.<br />
The flower cluster has male and female flowers<br />
separately. The fruit is a composite fruit with parts<br />
fused together. It is 5 cm across. The fruit are orange,<br />
pulpy and edible.<br />
Distribution: A coastal tropical plant.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are mostly self sown. Presumably they grow from seeds.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten after cooking.<br />
The young fruit are chewed as a substitute for betel nut.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A minor fruit in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
314
315<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Pandanus jiulianettii Martelli<br />
Tok pisin: Karuka Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: Pandanus jiulianetii is cultivated karuka.<br />
Pandanus trees are separately male and female. With<br />
cultivated karuka, male trees are rare. About 25-30<br />
cultivars of cultivated karuka are recognised and named<br />
within an area of cultivation. The karuka tree is a tall<br />
palm like tree with a straight trunk and aerial prop roots<br />
at the base. Sometimes it branches near the top to<br />
produce 3 or 4 crowns of leaves. The leaves grow in<br />
pairs opposite each other and they are twisted to look<br />
like a spiral going up the trunk. The leaves are long (3<br />
m), narrow, have spikes along the edges and are often<br />
bent at the tips. The fruit is a round composite fruit 15<br />
to 30 cm across which is made up of about 1,000<br />
individual keys which contain the nut which is eaten.<br />
On a branch that is about to bear fruit, the leaves are<br />
upright and clumped slightly together. The fruit bunch<br />
emerges from the centre of these leaves. It hangs close<br />
to the trunk amongst the dead hanging leaves. Large<br />
leaves (bracts) almost cover the fruit bunch while it<br />
hangs there.<br />
Distribution: Trees grow between 1800 and 2500 m altitude. They do best in the forest<br />
clearings. They also occur in Irian Jaya. Outside this range it often does not grow well. They do<br />
best in the forest clearings. The microenvironment for karuka to grows best includes fairly good<br />
soil fertility such as along the banks of small creeks; in the natural hollows that occur around the<br />
edges of hills, and around the edges of small clearings in the bush. Karuka on knobs in the<br />
grassland often only bear small nuts.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from seed. More commonly vegetative cuttings of the top<br />
section of a branch is used. This is suitable for a tree that has several branches. When planted in<br />
moist fertile soil it quickly develops roots and becomes established. This maintains the trees true<br />
to variety. Old trees with a number of branches tend to have smaller clusters of fruit because the<br />
fruit are competing on the same plant for their requirements so this pruning inproves production.<br />
Sometimes karukas develop young suckers or shoots near the ground. When these are seen, they<br />
are broken off and replanted from these vegetative suckers. All cultivated karuka are planted.<br />
Seedling trees are slower to produce and have a taller straighter trunk. Karuka can be grown<br />
from seeds. It is best to wait till the nuts are fully ripe and start falling naturally from the tree.<br />
These nuts are taken and planted while fresh. They are planted in the shell with the bristles<br />
uppermost. Normally the seeds are established in a nursery and then transplanted to their<br />
permanent sites a few months later. Clonally propagated trees produce 5-8 years after planting.<br />
To produce good sized nuts the karuka plantation needs to be kept free of weeds. Fruiting is<br />
seasonal and probably biennial for any individual branch of the tree. One crown of leaves on the<br />
one branch of a karuka tree normally only produces one cluster of nuts (called a syncarp ) during<br />
the one season. In fact, that particular branch normally only produces one bunch every second<br />
year.<br />
Production: Karuka nuts can be harvested before they are fully ripe by climbing the tree and<br />
cutting the whole bunch. When this is done, the fruit bunch is cut in half the central pink portion
316<br />
cooked and eaten and the two halves with the outside skin burnt off can be stored in a platform<br />
above the fire. These halves can be cooked over hot stones and the nuts eaten. The season is<br />
normally Dec to Feb but may occur in mid year. Trees last 50-60 years. The nuts can be eaten<br />
raw or cooked. Dried nuts store well. The season is normally Dec to Feb but may occur in mid<br />
year. Trees bear every second year. They take 5-8 years from planting to first harvest. Trees last<br />
50-60 years. An average karuka fruit can be about 6 kg weight. It is about 25 cm high and 20<br />
cm across. It contains about 1000 separate nuts. After burning off the outside and removing the<br />
stalk, the weight is about 5 kg. A single kernel weighs about 0.5 g. The weight of edible kernels<br />
in a fruit is about 8% of the total fresh weight or about 0.5 kg.<br />
Use: Both the kernel inside the individual nut is eaten and the mesocarp inside the cephalium is<br />
eaten. The nuts can be eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The flesh in the centre of the fruit can be eaten cooked.<br />
Dried nuts store well.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Nut 2868 11.9<br />
Flesh<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Segetes cornellii F. Willemse Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Longhorn grasshoppers<br />
Segetes gracilis Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
Segestidea montana F.Willemse Tettigoniidae (ORTH)<br />
Grubs eat the spongy layer inside the fruit.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black leaf mould Fungus Lembosia pandani (Rostr.) Theiss<br />
On seeds Fungus Macrophoma pandani Berl. & Vogl.<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Meliola juttingii Hansf.<br />
On stems Fungus Polyporus gilvus (Schw.)Fr.<br />
Large leaf spot<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Yellow spot mosaic Probably virus<br />
Pests: Tree kangaroos<br />
Importance: A very important nut crop in high altitude areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
317<br />
Names<br />
English: Wild karuka Scientific name: Pandanus brosimos Merrill & Perry<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: A screwpine with erect leaves which are<br />
normally not bent at the tip. The wild karuka plant looks a<br />
lot like the cultivated karuka except that the leaves are<br />
bigger and normally they point straight up instead of<br />
bending over at the top. The trunk of the tree is straight<br />
like a palm but it can have some branches near the top.<br />
The leaves are long and have thorns along the edge. Dead<br />
leaves normally hand down around the top of the tree.<br />
The leaves are close together. The leaves at the centre<br />
turn red then white at fruiting time. The fruit is a round<br />
cluster of nuts. The ends of the individual nuts come to a<br />
sharper point than in cultivated karuka. The shell of the<br />
nuts is very hard. The large fruit is made up of about 1000<br />
nuts. The fruit hangs on a stalk against the trunk.<br />
Different varieties of wild karuka are recognised. These<br />
have different shaped nuts. Other small differences are<br />
also noticed by village growers. As a wild karuka plant is<br />
getting ready to produce a bunch of nuts the leaves at the<br />
top of the tree go tightly together and stick straight up.<br />
Then the top of the leaves become a red colour (With<br />
cultivated karuka the top of the leaves change to a white<br />
colour.)<br />
Distribution: The usual range is from 2500 to 3100 m altitude. Some are transplanted to lower<br />
altitudes.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are normally self sown but some are transplanted. Self sown plants are<br />
weeded, protected and owned. The wild karuka is disemminated throughout the high altitudinal<br />
forest as single widely spread trees and the dispersal agent is claimed to be marsupials (tree<br />
kangaroos etc). Some are transplanted to lower altitudes. The fruiting is seasonal and often a<br />
good season occurs every second year. Individual people within the clan are given permission to<br />
look after different sections or trees and these people clear the bush near the base of the tree and<br />
build traps to stop tree kangaroos.<br />
Production: The fruiting is seasonal and often a good season occurs every second year.<br />
(Sometimes nuts are stored in the ground to soften the hard shell.)<br />
Use: The kernel of the nuts is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Nuts 10.0 8.5<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Segestidea spp. Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Longhorn grasshoppers<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, an important wild harvested nut for people with land at the<br />
right altitude.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
318<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Pandanus antaresensis St John<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: A branched screwpine with crowns<br />
normally at the same height. Fruit are large clusters<br />
made up of groups of 5 nuts. The kernels are small and<br />
hard to extract. When ripe the fruit turn red and the<br />
nuts drop individually.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the highlands from about<br />
1600 to 2500 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are often self sown but are also planted from seed.<br />
Production: Nuts are usually harvested after they fall. Production is not distinctly seasonal.<br />
The outside fibres are burnt off then the shell splits.<br />
Use: The kernels are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Although the trees are fairly common in Papua New Guinea, the nuts are not<br />
highly prized because they are hard to extract.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
319<br />
Names<br />
English: Coastal Pandanus Scientific name: Pandanus tectorius (Solander) Parkinson<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Pandanus odoratissimus sensu auct.non L.f.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: An erect branched shrub 3 to 5 m high. It<br />
can be 14 m tall. The trunk has several prop roots. The<br />
leaves are spirally crowded towards the ends of<br />
branches and covered with waxy powder. They are up<br />
to 1.5 m long and 3 to 5 cm wide. The edge of the leaf<br />
and the midrib have sharp spiny teeth pointing towards<br />
the end of the leaf. The fruit are alone and hang down.<br />
They are rounded and 20 cm long. They are composed<br />
of 50 to 75 fibrous fleshy fruit with a stone in the<br />
centre. They are somewhat angular.<br />
Distribution: It grows on the sandy edges of<br />
mangroves and along rivers. They are very common<br />
along the seashore throughout the islands of the<br />
Philippines. They are never found very far inland. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally self sown. The preferred kinds are grown from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fleshy portion of the lower part of the mature fruit is eaten raw.<br />
The seeds are eaten.<br />
Caution: The seeds can contain calcium oxalate crystals. These can be removed by cooking<br />
and straining. They irritate the mouth.<br />
The tender shoots are eaten as a vegetable.<br />
The tip of the aerial root is eaten raw or roasted.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part % KJ g<br />
Fruit<br />
Seeds<br />
80.0 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Probably only rarely used in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
320<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Pandanus dubius Spreng.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Bakong Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: A large erect and branched screwpine<br />
with prop roots. The leaves are numerous and spirally<br />
arranged and crowded towards the ends of branches.<br />
The edges and midrib are covered with spines.<br />
Distribution: They are widely distributed in wooded<br />
areas along the seashore of Mindanao in the<br />
Philippines.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The kernels of the nuts are eaten raw.<br />
They are also cooked and stored.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is probably only of occasional occurrence and minor use in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
321<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Terminalia kaernbachii Warb.<br />
Tok pisin: Okari Synonyms: Terminalia okari C.T.White<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: A large tree. It can be 20-30 m tall. It<br />
usually has buttresses. The branches are in layers and<br />
the leaves are mostly near the ends of the thick twigs.<br />
The twigs are hairy when young. The young leaves are<br />
yellow-green. The leaves are large, hairy and reddish<br />
brown. The leaf stalks are 2 cm long. The leaves can<br />
be 15-28 cm long by 6-13 cm wide. They are thick and<br />
with a tip at the end. They taper towards the base. The<br />
veins often stick out underneath the leaf and are<br />
depressed on the upper surface of the leaf. The flowers<br />
occur on spikes which stick upwards. The buds are<br />
usually hairy. The flower stalks are shorter then T.<br />
impediens. The fruit is very large, up to 11 cm x 8 cm<br />
and slightly flattened. They are red and smooth when<br />
ripe. The fruit have reddish brown hairs when young.<br />
The fruit has a large woody stone inside. The stone<br />
inside the fruit splits into 2 more or less equal parts.<br />
The seedling leaves are 3-4 and thin.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It occurs in lowland<br />
areas. They will grow up to 1300 m altitude but do not<br />
produce well at this altitude.<br />
Cultivation: Okari nut trees are normally grown from seeds. Seeds grow easily but rapidly lose<br />
their viability. The trees grow very fast and they can increase in height by up to 2 metres in one<br />
year. But trees need to be fairly old before they produce many nuts. Twenty year old trees often<br />
only produce a few nuts. Fruit are normally harvested after falling.<br />
Production: Trees grow quickly but nut production may not start for 20 years. The kernel can<br />
be 7-8 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The kernel is made up of coiled leaves which make up the<br />
seed. A kernel can weigh up to 10 grams in weight.<br />
Use: The kernel inside the stone of the fruit is edible.<br />
The seed can be pressed to extract oil.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: A very popular and very important nut in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
322<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Terminalia impediens Coode<br />
Tok pisin: Talis Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 42 m tall. Often the tree has<br />
buttresses. The twigs are usually fairly large. The<br />
young parts of the tree are sometimes hairy. The young<br />
leaves are purple underneath. It has leaves that are<br />
clustered at the ends of thick twigs. Leaves can be 25<br />
cm x 12 cm or larger and they taper towards the stalk.<br />
The leaves are often blunt at the tip. The leaves often<br />
have a purplish colour underneath. The flowers occur<br />
on spikes 10-30 cm long. The flowers are small. The<br />
flower spikes are longer than okari nut (Terminalia<br />
kaernbachii) and less hairy looking. The fruit are 7-9<br />
cm long by 3.5-6 cm wide. They are red and have<br />
fibrous flesh. They usually do not have a wings or<br />
flanges. Inside there is a large woody stone. The stone<br />
inside the fruit splits into 2 unequal parts. The 2<br />
kernels inside are edible.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in the lowland forest in Papua<br />
New Guinea.<br />
Cultivation: Trees grow wild and are preserved in gardens. They grow from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The kernel inside the hard shell of the fruit is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nut<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
Importance: An important nut in the lowlands of Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
323<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Terminalia copelandii Elm<br />
Tok pisin: Talis Synonyms: Terminalia catappoides C.T. White & Francis<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 40 m tall. Trees often<br />
have many buttresses. The twigs are thick and have<br />
leaf scars which are prominent. The leaves are<br />
crowded at the thickened end of the small branches.<br />
Leaves are 22-36 cm long and 9-13 cm wide. They<br />
have no real leaf stalk. Flowers are small and white on<br />
many flowered stalks 22-30 cm long and near the end<br />
of branches. Flowers towards the base of the flower<br />
spike are female and the ones towards the end are male.<br />
The fruit is 3.5-6 cm long and 2.2-3 cm wide. They are<br />
oval and slightly flattened.<br />
Distribution: They occur in primary rainforest up to<br />
500 m altitude. This species occurs in Malaysia,<br />
Indonesia and the Philippines as well as PNG. It is<br />
mostly known from the Western Province within PNG.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are recorded as edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The tree is not common in Papua New Guinea and mostly occurs in the Western<br />
Province. It is only a minor food.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
324<br />
Names<br />
English: Java almond, Tropical almond Scientific name: Terminalia catappa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 25-40 m tall. It loses its<br />
leaves during the year. The trunk can be straight or<br />
twisted. There can be buttresses up to 3 m tall. The<br />
branches lie horizontally and come out in layers. The<br />
leaves are long, smooth and shiny with an abrupt point<br />
at the tip and a rounded base. Leaves tend to be near<br />
the ends of branches. Leaves can be 17-29 cm long and<br />
10-15 cm wide. Young leaves have soft hairs. The<br />
leaves turn red and fall off twice a year. Flowers are<br />
greenish white and in a spike at the end of the branches.<br />
The lower flowers on a spike are female, then the<br />
others are male. The fruit is about 6 cm long by 3-4 cm<br />
wide, thick and flattened with a flange around the edge.<br />
The fruit are green and turn red when ripe. The pulp is<br />
edible.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. This tree occurs on the beach front in most tropical countries in<br />
the world. They occur near the seashore from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao in the<br />
Philippines. They are sometimes cultivated as a shade tree. The tree is common in lowland areas<br />
particularly on sandy or rocky beaches. Seeds are spread by both bats and sea water as well as<br />
being planted by people. Trees are common along streets in coastal towns. They will grow from<br />
sea level up to about 800 m altitude. <strong>Plants</strong> are frost tender. They can tolerate drought. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. Seeds can be stored dry for a year or more. Seeds<br />
germinate freely and most seeds grow.<br />
Production: It is fast growing. Nut production is seasonal.<br />
Use: The kernels of the fruit are eaten raw.<br />
An edible oil can also be extracted.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nut 4.2 2987 20.0 6.3 0 2 41.0<br />
The seed kernel is rich in zinc.<br />
Insects: Insects can badly damage the leaves of young seedlings.<br />
Aiteta iridias Meyr. Noctuidae (LEP) Larvae feed on leaves<br />
Neotermes sp. Colotermitidae (ISOPTERA)<br />
Perissopneumon Mealy bug<br />
Nagia episcopalis Hampson Noctuidae (LEP) Noctuid moth larvae<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora catappae<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Lembosia terminaliae Hansf.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In coastal areas of Papua New Guinea trees are common and the nuts are popular<br />
especially with children.
325<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Terminalia calamansanai (Blanco)Rolfe<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: A large tree. It grows up to 40 m tall.<br />
The tree has plank like buttresses which extend 10 m up<br />
the trunk. The small branches are often grouped in<br />
rings and thickened where they branch. The young tips<br />
of branches are ridged. The leaves are crowded near<br />
the ends of twigs and leave scars after they fall off.<br />
The leaves are hard and stiff. The leaves are oval and<br />
8.5-16 cm long and 4-8 cm wide. They taper towards<br />
the base. Flowers are yellowish green to brown and<br />
easily fall off. They are very small. The fruit is<br />
flattened and has very broad wings. The fruit is more<br />
broad than long. It is 2-5 cm wide and 1-2 cm long.<br />
The fruit is dry and does not burst open. The seeds are<br />
brownish yellow and covered with fine short hairs and<br />
two wings up to 4 cm wide and less than 1 cm long.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. Occurs occasionally in most areas of the Philippines amongst<br />
trees near the sea.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is probably only of occasional occurrence and minor importance in Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
326<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Terminalia megalocarpa Exell<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: A tree which can be up to 40 m tall. The<br />
leaves are at the tips of twigs and tend to hang<br />
downwards. The leaf stalks are quite long (307 cm).<br />
The fruit is large and up to 8 cm long. The fruit inside<br />
is thin shelled and the embryo inside has 3 or 4 twisted<br />
cotyledons.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It occurs in lowland<br />
forests.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The outer flesh of the fruit is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: A selected yellow fleshed form is eaten in the Solomon Islands.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
327<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Terminalia microcarpa Decne<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Kalumpit, Ganurru Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: A large tree. It loses its leaves during the<br />
year. The leaves are smooth and pointed at both ends.<br />
The flowers are yellowish white, on slender flower<br />
stalks which grow from the axils of leaves. The fruit<br />
are about 3 cm across, smooth, dark red and fleshy.<br />
Distribution: It grows naturally in monsoon vine<br />
forests. Very common and widely distributed in the<br />
forests throughout the islands of the Philippines.<br />
Cultivation: The fruit are generally collected from the ground.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw when ripe or made into jam. There is little flesh but it is very sweet.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is probably only an occasional introduction and very minor food in Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
328<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Terminalia sepicana Diels<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 25 to 40 m tall. It often has<br />
buttresses. The leaves are clustered at the twig tips.<br />
The leaf stalks are less than 2 cm long. The leaves are<br />
8.5 to 15 cm by 4-8 cm. They taper near the base. The<br />
flowers are 3-4 mm long and 1-3 fruit are produced per<br />
spike. The fruit are 4-6 cm long by 2.5 to 4.5 cm wide.<br />
They are green with 4-5 flanges. The fruit redden and<br />
become fleshy when ripe.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in lowland rainforest and often<br />
in swampy areas. It occurs in Papua New Guinea and<br />
the Solomons.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
329<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Terminalia solomonensis Exell<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Combretaceae<br />
Description: Trees from 25 to 40 m tall. The<br />
trunk can be 3.3 m around. The bark is dark<br />
brown and thick. It peels in strips from<br />
below and the lower part bends outwards.<br />
The crown is small and cone shaped. The<br />
branches are not in distinct layers. The<br />
leaves are generally in clusters on the ends of<br />
twigs. The leaf stalk is 2-3 cm long and often<br />
curved. The leaves are 10-18 cm long and 6-<br />
9 cm wide. The tip is rounded but the base is<br />
tapering. The flowers are about 3 mm long<br />
and on spikes about 18 cm long. Male and<br />
female flowers are separate on the same<br />
spike. The fruit is 4-5 cm long and 2-3.5 cm<br />
wide. It is mostly smooth and unwrinkled<br />
but sometimes flattened. It does not have a<br />
distinct wing. The fruit is red and firmly<br />
fleshy when ripe.<br />
Distribution: It is mostly in the lowland areas but can be up to 1200 m altitude. It can grow on<br />
swampy ground.<br />
Cultivation: In Papua New Guinea trees are in flower in July and August with fruit in<br />
December.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The flesh of the ripe fruit can be eaten. They are preferred cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
330<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Finschia chloroxantha Diels<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Grevillea densiflora Diels<br />
Tok ples: Sauge, Akama, Togtua, Mbrein Plant family: Proteaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 24-30 m tall with<br />
adventitious roots up to 1.5 m above the ground.<br />
Leaves are long (25 cm) and narrow (5 cm) and without<br />
hairs. The leaves are often clustered near the ends of<br />
branches so that the tree does not have a dense covering<br />
of leaves. The leaves can be 25 cm by 10 cm in size<br />
and have a vein around the edge joining the other leaf<br />
veins. The flowers occur is a long cluster up to 30 cm<br />
long and are bright orange in colour. They hang below<br />
the leaves and on the older wood. The flowers have<br />
both male and female parts in the same flower. The<br />
nuts are round and 2.5 cm by 3 cm across and brown.<br />
They have a sharp point on one side. The outside of the<br />
fruit is soft but there is a hard shell inside with one<br />
large edible seed. Flowers are rusty brown in long<br />
strings up to 20 cm long. Fruit are about 5 cm across.<br />
They have one seed inside. The nuts are round and 2.5<br />
cm by 3 cm across and brown.<br />
Distribution: Trees occur in lowland and mountain areas throughout Papua New Guinea up to<br />
about 1800 m altitude. They are usually in well drained primary forest. They also occur in the<br />
Solomons and Vanuatu.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are planted from seed but also grow wild. Seeds often germinate slowly.<br />
The fruit is harvested when ripe and roasted to crack the shell to obtain the edible kernel. The<br />
seeds are cooked and eaten.<br />
Production: Trees flower from December to March and nuts are available from March to<br />
August. The seeds can be 3-4 g weight.<br />
Use: The kernels of the fruit are eaten. The hard shell is broken by burning after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nut<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black leaf mould Fungus Chaetothyrium fusisporium Fraser<br />
Rust Fungus Puccinia finschiae Cummins<br />
Black leaf mould and spots Fungus Verrucispora proteacearum<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A quite important nut tree in several areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
331<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Finschia ferruginiflora White<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Proteaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 30 m tall with adventitious<br />
roots up to 1.5 m above the ground. Leaves are long<br />
(25 cm) and narrow (5 cm) and without hairs. Flowers<br />
are rusty brown in long strings up to 20 cm long. Fruit<br />
are about 5 cm across. They have one seed inside.<br />
Distribution: They occur in rainforest between 1500<br />
and 1800 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: Trees grow from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seeds are cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nut<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, the species has mostly been recorded in the Eastern<br />
Highlands near Aiyura and Okapa.<br />
Another species Finschia rufa Warb. also has edible nuts.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
332<br />
Names<br />
English: Macadamia nut Scientific name: Macadamia ternifolia F.Muell<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Proteaceae<br />
Description: A medium size evergreen tree. It has a<br />
bushy habit. It grows 5-10 m tall. The young shoots<br />
are pink. Young leaves are long and toothed at the<br />
edge. The leaves are 10-18 cm long by 3-5 cm wide.<br />
The leaves mostly occur in rings of three. They are<br />
stiff, leathery and dark green. Flowers are in stalked<br />
clusters 10-20 cm long. They are produced in the axils<br />
of leaves and hang downwards. The flowers are 0.8 cm<br />
long and pink. The fruit are 1.5-2 cm long and are<br />
produced in a hanging cluster. The nuts are smooth,<br />
woody, and rounded with a point at the tip.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical and subtropical plant. In<br />
Papua New Guinea it does well at 1000 to 1200 m<br />
altitude and will grow up to 1700 m.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seed. They can be grown from cuttings. Pruning<br />
increases branching. A spacing of 5 to 10 m is suitable.<br />
Production: Trees produce in 7 years from seed and 3-4 years from grafted trees. Nuts on some<br />
types are produced seasonally about Dec to April. Nuts are harvested after they fall. The<br />
outside husk needs to be rubbed off then the nuts dried in the sun.<br />
Use: The nuts are edible.<br />
The nuts yield an oil used with salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Nuts 2.5 3238 7.46 0.2 Tr<br />
Insects:<br />
Gesonula mundata Walker Acridiidae (ORTH) Grasshopper<br />
Oribius spp. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
333<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Macadamia tetraphylla L.Johnson<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Macadamia, Rough Shelled Bush Nut Plant family: Proteaceae<br />
Description: A tree which grows 8-15 m high. It<br />
spreads to 6-8 m wide. It has a spreading bushy habit.<br />
Young growth is red. Young leaves are coarsely<br />
toothed. The leaves are 6-30 cm long by 2-5 cm wide.<br />
They occur in whorls or rings of 3-5 leaves but usually<br />
4 in a ring. The leaves are stiff and dark green. There<br />
are coarse spines on the edge of the leaf. The flowers<br />
are in dense stalks 15-45 cm long which hang down<br />
from the axils of leaves. The flowers are 1 cm long and<br />
slender. They are pink or white and densely hairy. The<br />
fruit are 2-3.5 cm across and green and leathery. The<br />
nuts are the same size. They are brown and rough. (It<br />
produces natural hybrids with Macadamia integrifolia.)<br />
Distribution: It is a subtropical plant. It can grow from<br />
temperate to tropical climates. It grows naturally in<br />
Australia in the rainforest. It can grow in full sun or<br />
light shade. It will tolerate light frost. It needs a welldrained<br />
soils and benefits from mulching. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. Fresh seed should be used and seeds germinate and<br />
grow easily. Budding or grafting onto seedlings is possible. They can be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production: In Australia, the nuts are ripe January to March.<br />
Use: The nuts are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Nut<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Introduced into Papua New Guinea. Although not yet common in Papua New<br />
Guinea it is probably one of the nuts worth promoting.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
334<br />
Names<br />
English: Polynesian chestnut Scientific name: Inocarpus fagifer (Parkinson)Fosberg<br />
Tok pisin: Aila Synonyms: Inocarpus fagiferus (Park.)Fosb.<br />
And Inocarpus edulis J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: A tree from 9-30 m tall with buttresses at<br />
the base of the trunk. The bark is dark grey and gives a<br />
red sap when cut. The branches droop downwards.<br />
The leaves are long (20 cm), leathery, shiny and feather<br />
veined. The leaves have short stalks and are one after<br />
the other (alternate) along the branch. The leaves are<br />
large and reddish when young and shiny green when<br />
adult. The flowers of Aila are not obvious. They are<br />
pale yellow and hang loosely on the twigs from the<br />
angles where leaves join. They have 5 narrow petals<br />
joined in a tube. The flowers smell sweetly. The fruit<br />
is irregular or kidney shaped and is a one seeded pod<br />
with ridges on the surface. It can be 8-10 cm across<br />
and 3 cm thick. The ripe fruit is yellow.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the lowland primary and secondary forest from sea level up to 390 m<br />
altitude. It often grows near rivers and swamps and mostly as a clump of trees. Often they are<br />
very close to the water front. It also occurs in the Pacific Islands. They do better where there is<br />
no distinct dry season. Seeds are mostly planted. Seeds are also naturally distributed by bats.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> can be propagated vegetatively by cuttings of half ripe wood. Seeds are the more<br />
common method of production. Seeds store easily for over a month but viability declines fairly<br />
rapidly in salt water. Trees prefer swampy ground but they also grow satisfactorily on higher<br />
slopes. It is presumed that plants have some salt tolerance as they often grow along the<br />
foreshore.<br />
Cultivation: Time to first production of nuts from planting is about 8 years. An average seed<br />
weighs 40 g. Fruit production occurs throughout the year but has a main season. Uncooked<br />
seeds can be stored.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: Seeds are cooked and eaten.<br />
The fleshy layer around the seed is eaten after cooking. The nuts are usually roasted although<br />
they can be boiled. Soaked nuts can be grated, mixed with coconut milk and roasted in banana<br />
leaves. Seeds can be stored by partly fermenting them in pits in the ground. Nuts can be stored<br />
for a considerable time but once shelled or cooked will only keep a short time.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Seed 43.0 1008 4.5 0 2<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Bactrocera sp. Fruit fly maggots<br />
Ceroplastes rubens Maskell Coccidae (HEM) Pink wax scale<br />
Coccus longulus (Douglas) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
335<br />
Coccus viridus (Green) Coccidae (HEM) Green scale<br />
Dysmiccocus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealybug<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Ischnaspis longirostris (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM) Black thread scale<br />
Lepidosaphes rubrovittata Cockerell Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Maculicoccus malaitensis (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Neoplatyolecanium sp. Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Parlatoria crotonis Douglas Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Pinnaspis aspidistrae (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Pinnaspis buxi (Bouche) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Fungus Helotium inocarpi P Henn.<br />
Importance: They occur in most coastal areas of Papua New Guinea, normally very close to the<br />
coast. Fruit are sold in markets.
336<br />
Names<br />
English: Nypa palm Scientific name: Nypa fruticans Wurmb.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A palm with stout creeping underground<br />
stems. It forms clumps. The stems lie along the<br />
ground and are underground in soft mud. The leaves<br />
have leaflets along a 7 m long axis. The leaves occur in<br />
erect clusters. The leaflets are 0.-1.3 m long by 5-8 cm<br />
wide. The fruit are flat and 12 cm long by 10 cm<br />
across. They are crowded into a very characteristic<br />
large round fruiting head which is borne on a special<br />
erect stalk. The female flower is a round head on the<br />
end of the stalk and below it long male flowers are<br />
produced. The centre of the fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: They occur along tidal streams throughout the Philippines. They thrive in<br />
brackish swamps. They occur in tidal mud flats. They occur naturally along the Papuan coast of<br />
Papua New Guinea but are most likely planted along the North coast.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown by dividing off suckers. To<br />
get the sap to flow in the stalk, the stalk must be banged and shaken then the end cut off and<br />
trimmed daily. Tree densities of up to 2,500 palms per hectare occur but only 700-750 are sap<br />
producing. <strong>Plants</strong> are spaced at 1.5-1.7 m giving 390 per hectare where plantings occur. <strong>Plants</strong><br />
are pollinated by insects therefore contact insecticides need to be avoided. To collect sap the<br />
almost full grown head is cut off. About 2 mm of the tip is removed each day during sap<br />
collection. Sap flow is increased by banging the trunk and tapping the fruit stalk regularly.<br />
Production: Palms flower and fruit after 3-5 years. Yields of sap of up to 1,500 ml of sap per<br />
day per palm over one month can be achieved. Tapping can occur for 50 years. Near Kerema in<br />
Papua New Guinea it flowers in May and fruits in July. The season is later in the Western<br />
Province.<br />
Use: The kernel inside the nut is edible. It is normally eaten while immature.<br />
Also the base of the "nut" is chewed.<br />
Sugar (or vinegar) can be obtained by collecting the sap from the fruit stalk.<br />
Young shoots are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Nut<br />
Sap<br />
Shoots<br />
88.9 1.6 0.4 2<br />
Insects:<br />
Nacoleia octasema (Meyrick) Pyralidae (LEP) Banana scab moth<br />
Oryctes spp. Scarabaeidae (COL) Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black plaque on leaves Fungus Rhipidocarpan javanicum (Pat.)Theiss & Syd<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The palm occurs near mangrove swamps and along the shoreline, in Papua New<br />
Guinea. The nut is used especially by children.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
337<br />
Names<br />
English: Tambor Scientific name: Omphalea queenslandiae F.M.Bail.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Omphalea gageana (Pax & Hoffm.)Airy Shaw<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Euphorbiaceae<br />
Description: A large woody vine which climbs high up<br />
into trees. It has a red sticky sap when cut. The vine<br />
can become 10 - 15 cm across and grow to 20 m long.<br />
Leaves are alternate. Young leaves are deeply five<br />
lobed and the base of the leaf can extend down the<br />
stem. Leaves are 10-18 cm across and 15-20 cm long.<br />
Leaves are dark green and leathery. At the base of the<br />
leaf there are conspicious glands. Flowers are white,<br />
greenish or red. The flowers are of one sex with several<br />
male flowers clustered around one female flower. A<br />
cluster of fruit is borne on a branch up to 5 cm long<br />
near the base. Fruit is 6-10 cm across and fleshy with<br />
3-4 lobes. The fruit surface is smooth and yellow when<br />
ripe. The seed coat is hard, brown and ridged. The<br />
kernel is white.<br />
Distribution: It occurs from sea level up to at least<br />
1800 m altitude in hot places near the equator and to<br />
800 m in Queensland. It grows in the rainforest.<br />
Cultivation: It is normally self sown. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or from cuttings of firm<br />
new growth. <strong>Plants</strong> require a sunny position in well drained soil. It can not withstand frost.<br />
Production: Fruit production is seasonal. Fruit are ripe February to May. A kernel of a nut<br />
weighs about 3 g.<br />
Use: The kernels are eaten after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nut 28.5 1991 11.5 2.1 3.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The nut occurs occasionally in forest areas both in the highlands of Papua New<br />
Guinea and on the islands.
338<br />
Names<br />
English: Cape nutmeg Scientific name: Horsfieldia australiana Blake<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myristicaceae<br />
Description: A tree. It grows 10-120 m high and<br />
spreads 3-6 m wide. It has a dense spreading crown.<br />
The bark is slightly rough and cream and blotchy. It<br />
flakes and has fine cracks along it. The stem has a<br />
distinct ridge which zigzags from leaf to leaf. The<br />
leaves are simple, alternate and smooth and leathery or<br />
papery. They are oblong and 16-28 cm long by 4.5-7<br />
cm wide. They are shiny dark green on top and paler<br />
underneath. The tip of the leaf is rounded or slightly<br />
pointed. There are 12-15 pairs of side veins. The leaf<br />
stalk is thick and curved. It is about 1 cm long. Male<br />
and female flowers occur on separate trees. The<br />
flowers are very small and orange-yellow. Male<br />
flowers have a spicy scent and are 0.2 cm across. They<br />
occur in dense clusters in the axils of leaves. The<br />
female flowers are nearly round and in flower clusters<br />
1.5-2.5 cm long. The fruit are smooth and oblong.<br />
They are 4 cm long by 2.5 cm across. They hang in<br />
clusters along the stalk. They are pale yellow when<br />
ripe. The fruit stalk is very short. Inside is one seed<br />
covered by a fleshy orange-red aril. The seed is 1.5 cm<br />
long.<br />
Distribution: Tropical. It grows naturally in thick monsoon forest near freshwater streams. It is<br />
often on moist organic soils in sandstone country. They need deep, well drained soils. It<br />
requires ample moisture.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. The seed should be sown fresh.<br />
Production: In Australia, trees flower from August to October and fruit from November to<br />
January (January to March).<br />
Use: The kernel of the fruit is eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nut 3.6 2384 11.0 4.0 2.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: This species is being grown commercially in Darwin, Australia for its edible seeds.
339<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Elaeocarpus polydactylus<br />
Schltr. gp 4 Schltr.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A tree or shrub up to 13 m tall. The<br />
leaves are 3-6 cm wide and 6-11 cm long and leathery.<br />
Flowers are few and are 5-11 cm long. Fruit are 1.5 cm<br />
x 1 cm. They are green when unripe and blue when<br />
ripe.<br />
Distribution: It grows in regrowth forest at 1850-2550<br />
m above sea level. It mainly occurs in the Western and<br />
Eastern Highlands Provinces of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Cultivation: Trees grow wild from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The kernels inside the seeds are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: An occasionally eaten wild edible nut in some areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
340<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Elaeocarpus womersleyi Weibel<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 34 m tall mostly with<br />
buttresses. The leaves are arranged alternatively, are<br />
simple and have a toothed margin. The flowers and<br />
fruit are in groups on a small branch. The fruit can be<br />
up to 10 cm across with green flesh and a stone inside<br />
which has a hard corrugated surface. The hard stone has<br />
3 valves and is cracked to release the kernel.<br />
Distribution: It occurs from sea level up to at least<br />
2400 m altitude but is most common in mid altitude<br />
regions. It is common in bush regrowth in old gardens.<br />
Cultivation: It normally grows wild but is occasionally planted from seed.<br />
Production: Fruit production is seasonal probably late August to September.<br />
Use: The kernel of the nut is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nut<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Rhyparida coriacea Jac. Chrysomelidae (COL) A leaf eating beetle<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rust Fungi Aecidium elaeocarpi Racib.<br />
And Aecidium elaeocarpicola Cummins<br />
And Aecidium morobense Cummins<br />
Sooty mould<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, an occasional nut tree in quite a few highland areas. It is<br />
mainly just harvested and used when found.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
341<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Elaeocarpus pullenii Weibel<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 30 m tall. The leaves are<br />
long (18 cm x 8 cm) and shiny. They are clustered near<br />
the ends of twigs. The leaf stalks are long (5 cm) and<br />
twigs are bluish. The fruit is large (5.5 cm x 4.5 cm)<br />
with a bluish skin. Inside a 3 cornered hard stone has<br />
one seed inside<br />
Distribution: It occurs in rainforest and near streams.<br />
It is known from 700 to 1100 m above sea level.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seed is recorded as being eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seed<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, an occasionally eaten wild edible nut.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
342<br />
Names<br />
English: Queensland almond, Karanda nut Scientific name: Elaeocarpus bancrofti<br />
F. Muell & F.M.Bailey<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized to tall tree. It<br />
grows 15-30 m tall and spreads 8-15 m across.<br />
The bark is dark grey and scaly. Young shoots<br />
are covered with fine silky hairs. The leaves<br />
are oblong to sword shaped and 7-15 cm long<br />
by 2-6 cm wide. They are dark green and<br />
glossy on top and paler underneath. The edges<br />
of the leaf are entire. The flower racemes are<br />
4-8 cm long with flowers 1.5 cm long. These<br />
flower arrangements grow in the leafless part<br />
of the stem. The flowers are white and bell<br />
shaped. The edges of the flower petals have<br />
lobes.<br />
The fruit is 2.5-3.5 cm across and rounded. They are greenish black. The kernel of the fruit is<br />
edible. The shell around the kernel is very hard.<br />
Distribution: It is native to NE Australia. It grows in tropical rainforests. It requires well<br />
drained soil and plenty of moisture. It is sensitive to drought and frost.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production: Seedlings grow quickly. In Australia flowering occurs from March to June and<br />
fruit are mature in July to October.<br />
Use: The kernel of the fruit is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Kernel 37.6 1000 2.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
343<br />
Names<br />
English: Blue quandong Scientific name: Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Elaeocarpus grandis F. Muell.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized to tall tree. It<br />
grows 35-40 m high. There are buttresses 5-6<br />
m up the trunk. It has an open crown. The<br />
bark is light grey. The young shoots are pale<br />
green. The leaf stalks are long 15 mm, slender<br />
and narrowly winged near the tip. The leaves<br />
are partly deciduous. The leaves are oval and<br />
7-18 cm long by 3.5-5 cm wide. They are dark<br />
green and glossy on top and paler underneath.<br />
They are thin textured. The edges of the<br />
leaves have fine teeth. Old leaves turn bright<br />
red. The flowers are borne on twigs behind<br />
the leaves. Flowers are 1.2-1.5 cm across and<br />
placed along a stalk on side branches.<br />
This flower arrangement is 5-15 cm long. The flowers are greenish white. The petals have a<br />
fine fringe. The fruit is 2-3 cm across and round. It is shiny bright blue or purple. The flesh is<br />
often fibrous. The seeds have a hard pitted coat. The fruit are edible.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in lowland secondary forest from India to Fiji. It grows in rainforests<br />
and along stream banks. They require well drained soil and need plenty of moisture. In Nepal it<br />
grows between 600-1100 m altitude. It grows in hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Seed only germinate irregularly. Cracking the hard seed coat helps seeds grow<br />
more quickly. Seeds have also been made grow better by fermenting them and by storing them<br />
in plastic bags. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are very fast growing. In Australia plants flower in March to June and then<br />
in December and fruit are mature in August to January.<br />
Use: The fleshy layer around the hard stone is edible, when ripe.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
344<br />
Names<br />
English: Arnhem Land quandong Scientific name: Elaeocarpus arnhemicus F. Muell.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A tall shrub or small evergreen tree. It<br />
grows 6-15 m tall and spreads 3-5 m across. The crown<br />
has a spreading pattern. The bark is pale grey and<br />
smooth. Young shoots are hairy and the stems reddish.<br />
The leaves are oblong and 3-8 cm long by 3-4 cm wide.<br />
They are blunt at the end. They are dark green above<br />
and dull green underneath. The edges of the leaves are<br />
notched. The flower racemes are 2-8 cm long and the<br />
flowers about 0.5 cm long. The flower arrangements<br />
occur in the axils of the upper leaves and the flowers<br />
are greenish white with a fringe. The fruit is 1.2-1.5 cm<br />
long with a central stone. It is oval and bright blue.<br />
Distribution: It is native to N Australia and Papua New<br />
Guinea. <strong>Plants</strong> grow naturally along stream banks in<br />
tropical places. They extend into drier areas. It often<br />
grows in rocky areas. It needs a sunny position and a<br />
well drained soil. It can tolerate some frost. It is very<br />
tolerant of drought and salt.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production: Seed do not germinate regularly. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown from cuttings. In<br />
Australia fruit mature November to January.<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
345<br />
Names<br />
English: Qandong Scientific name: Elaeocarpus culminicola<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Elaeocarpus michaelii<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A shrub or bushy tree. It grows up to 10<br />
m tall. The leaves are glossy and bright green. They<br />
are leathery and 12 cm long by 6 cm wide. The edges<br />
of the leaf have coarse teeth. The flower racemes are 7<br />
cm long and the flowers 1.5 cm long. The flowers are<br />
pink and bell shaped. The fruit are blue, oval and 1.5<br />
cm long.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It needs a sunny<br />
sheltered position.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from fresh seed. The seed germinates erractically.<br />
Production: In Australia, flowering occurs August to September and fruit are ripe February to<br />
March.<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
346<br />
Names<br />
English: Castanopsis chestnut Scientific name: Castanopsis acuminatissima (Bl.)A DC<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fagaceae<br />
Description: This tree grows up to 40 metres tall and it can<br />
have a trunk 1 metre through at the base. Most trees have<br />
several suckers growing from their base and the roots of the<br />
tree are close to the surface. It is a widely spreading tree.<br />
The bark is quite rough and yellowish. The leaves are<br />
mainly horizontal with recurved tips. They are rich green<br />
on the upper surface and copper brown underneath. The<br />
male and female flowers occur separately but they both<br />
occur on the one tree. The tree has flushes of growth with<br />
new leaves having a slightly reddish colour. The fruit are<br />
borne on spikes 15 to 25 cm long carried near the ends of<br />
twigs. They are covered with a prickly envelope. The nut<br />
has a spiky type of covering around it and as it ripens this<br />
peels back and the nut falls. The nut is pointed, brown and<br />
slightly hairy. It is about 1.5 cm long and has two large<br />
"seeds" inside.<br />
Distribution: It occurs throughout much of Papua New Guinea and can form pure stands in<br />
lower montane rainforest between 500 and 2000 m altitude. The most common place is between<br />
1100 and 2300 metres above sea level but they can occur down to 500 metres or sea level. Often<br />
these chestnut trees are more common on the boundary between the grassland and the forest.<br />
They form a thick covering of leaves which stops many smaller plants from growing underneath.<br />
As well they commonly grow in groups or clumps made up only of chestnut trees. From planes,<br />
these Castanopsis forests can be picked out because they have a distinctive yellowish brown<br />
colour. Under the trees there is usually a thick layer of fallen leaves.<br />
Cultivation: The seeds grow easily. Self sown plants can often be found under large trees.<br />
These can be transplanted to where you want to grow a tree. A nursery can be used by planting<br />
seeds and then transplanting them when they are big enough. Although suckers are common<br />
near the base of trees they do not grow easily.<br />
Production: Pollination is most probably by wind. Nut production is seasonal. Large numbers<br />
of nuts are produced in a good season. The nut is about 1.5 cm long and pointed at the end. A<br />
nut is quite small. One nut weighs about 1 gm and the edible seed inside weighs about 0.5g.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten preferably after cooking. They are boiled. Small numbers of the nuts<br />
are eaten raw by children. If small amounts are available they are boiled in a container. If large<br />
quantities are available they are cooked in earth ovens. Cooked they taste like rice. Pigs readily<br />
eat the nuts so people tie them up under the trees in the bush during the nut season.<br />
Caution: Mouth ulcers and anaemia have been reported from eating large numbers of raw nuts.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Nuts<br />
Insects: Pests:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Aporhytisma urticae<br />
Slimy brown mould<br />
Importance: A fairly common nut tree in most highland areas of Papua New Guinea, but more<br />
important in some areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
347<br />
Names<br />
English: Candle nut Scientific name: Aleurites moluccana (L.)Willd.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Euphorbiaceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 40 m tall and 1 m<br />
through at the base. The bark is rough. The leaves are<br />
large and can be round, triangular or have several lobes.<br />
The leaves have a pale colour. The leaves are alternate,<br />
silvery green and crowded near the tips. Young leaves<br />
are hairy and sometimes lobed. The leaves, leaf stalks<br />
and flowers are all covered with short soft hairs. There<br />
are 2 distinct brown glands where the leaf blade and<br />
stalk join. The flowers are small and white and in large<br />
groups on the ends of branches. Male and female<br />
flowers are separate but on the same tree. The female<br />
flowers are on the end surrounded by small male<br />
flowers. The fruit is a large (4 to 5 cm across) green 2<br />
lobed berry with 1 or 2 large (2.5 cm across) seeds with<br />
a hard corrugated shell. They do not open naturally to<br />
release the seeds.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical tree. It mostly grows in the lowland rainforest but can be at up to<br />
2000 m altitude. It suits drier climates. It does well on well drained sandy soil. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: The trees grow wild but are transplanted. Often candle nut trees are just self sown,<br />
growing in the bush where the seeds fell. These small trees can be transplanted to a more<br />
suitable place if needed. Seeds are very hard shelled. To get seeds to start growing more<br />
quickly, the seed coat needs to be cracked. To do this a single layer of seeds are put on the<br />
ground covered with dry grass then burnt. Immediately after burning while the seeds are still<br />
hot they are thrown into cold water, and then planted. This cracks the shells allowing more rapid<br />
germination. Without this it may take many months for this hard shell to break down and<br />
germination to commence. Trees can also be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production: The tree grows quickly. 30-45 kg of nuts can be produced on a tree in one year.<br />
Trees can start producing after one year.<br />
Use: The nuts are normally roasted. The hard, oily nut is used for thickening in Asian dishes.<br />
They are used in a sauce for the greens eaten with rice.<br />
Caution: The nuts contain a moderately poisonous substance so should be cooked before eating.<br />
The raw kernels of candle nut are poisonous. They are a strong purgative. Before eating they<br />
must be well cooked. Mostly the nuts are roasted in the fire until the shell is blackened and half<br />
burnt, then the kernels are taken out by cracking the shells. The nuts should probably only be<br />
eaten in moderate amounts. Because the kernels are high in oil, they can be burnt as candles.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nut 1.4 2836 20.6 22.6 3.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Chrysomphalus aonidum (Linnaeus) Diaspididae (HEM) Florida red scale<br />
Coccus longulus (Douglas) Coccidae (HEM)
348<br />
Dysmicoccus nesophilus Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Eucalymnatus tessellatus (Signoret) Coccidae (HEM)<br />
Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Probably fungus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A reasonably important nut in several areas of Papua New Guinea.
349<br />
Other minor nuts<br />
often from others places<br />
and introduced for trials
Minor and introduced nuts<br />
350<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Cashew Anacardium occidentale 351<br />
European chestnut Castanea sativa 353<br />
Fragrant screwpine Pandanus odoratissimus 354<br />
Moreton Bay chestnut Castanospermum australe 355<br />
Pecan Carya illinoinensis 356<br />
Hazel Corylus avellana 357<br />
Walnut Juglans regia 358<br />
Pangi Sis Pangium edule 359<br />
Pistachio nut Pistacia vera 360<br />
Almond Prunus dulcis var. amygdalus 361<br />
Java olive Sterculia foetida 362<br />
Peanut tree Sterculia quadrifida 363<br />
Sterculia schumanniana 364<br />
Sloanea tieghemii 365
351<br />
Names<br />
English: Cashew Scientific name: Anacardium occidentale L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: A spreading evergreen tree up to 7-14 m<br />
tall. It has spreading branches. The canopy can spread<br />
12 m. The roots grow deeply and spread widely. The<br />
bark is rough. The trunk is 15-20 cm across. The<br />
leaves are alternate. The leaves are pale green and<br />
large. They are 10-15 cm long by 6-8 cm wide. They<br />
have fine veins. They are narrow at the base. The leaf<br />
stalk is 1-2 cm long. The leaves are shiny. The flowers<br />
are produced on the ends of the branches. They are red<br />
in colour. About 14 % of the flowers are both male and<br />
female and the remainder are male. Many of the<br />
flowers which contain female flower parts do not form<br />
fruit. The nut is borne below the "apple" which is<br />
really a fleshy stalk. The nut is kidney shaped. It is<br />
about 3 cm long.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It suits the lowland<br />
tropics but will grow up to about 1200 m altitude. It<br />
only bears well in dry areas because of blight of the<br />
flowers. It needs warm frost free locations. It grows<br />
with temperatures between 22-26°C. A rainfall of 1750<br />
mm per year is considered suitable but good yields<br />
have been obtained with rainfall of 750 mm. Wider<br />
spacing is needed in drier areas. It can grow on poor<br />
soils. It needs good drainage. It is drought resistant.<br />
In South India it grows up to 1000 m altitude. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: It is usually grown from seeds. Seeds germinate poorly and slowly. Only nuts<br />
which sink in water (or a solution of 150 g of sugar in a litre of water) should be planted. Seeds<br />
are sun dried for 2-3 days to improve germination. Seeds can be sown in a nursery then<br />
transplanted or more commonly are sown directly. Trees are spaced 7-10 m apart. The crop is<br />
cross pollinated mostly by insects. It can be propagated by air layering. For good production<br />
complete fertiliser or appropriate organic material should be applied. Pruning to shape the tree is<br />
often undertaken in the first 2 or 3 years. Cashews are often planted scattered in gardens or<br />
amongst other trees. Clearing under the tree prevents fire and makes finding nuts easier.<br />
Allowing nuts to fall before harvesting ensures only ripe nuts are collected. Resin in the cashew<br />
nut shell can damage hands and discolour the nuts. Roasting the nuts before removing the kernel<br />
avoids this.<br />
Production: Trees commence bearing after 3 years. Fruit production is seasonal. The fruiting<br />
season is normally October to January. Mature nuts are produced in 2-3 months. Yields of 80-<br />
200 kg per hectare of nuts are normal. Trees produce maximum after 10 years and trees last for<br />
about 100 years.<br />
Use: The fleshy "apple" is edible but acid until very ripe. It is used for jams and drinks.<br />
The nut is eaten after roasting.<br />
The young shoots and leaves are edible.<br />
Caution: The oil of the nut can blister the skin till roasted.
The apple is used to make alcoholic drinks.<br />
352<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nut 4.0 2478 17.5 2.8 4.8<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
84.7 213 0.8 1.0 0.12 265 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Apirocalus cornutus Pasc. Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Eupholus cinnamoneus Pasc. Curculionidae (COL) Weevil<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Coreidae (HEM) Cacao mirid<br />
Oribius cruciatus Fst. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard.) Thripidae (THYS) Cacao thrips<br />
Scopelodes nitens B Bak. Limacocidae (LEP) Cup moth<br />
Symphilites sp. Cerambycidae (COL)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Algal spot Algae Cephaleuros virescens Kunze<br />
Twig dieback Fungus Glomerella cingulata<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: At present mainly on research stations in Papua New Guinea. It is very important<br />
in India and common in Africa. The shell contains anacordolic which affects the salivary glands<br />
and can paralyse the jaw.
353<br />
Names<br />
English: European Chestnut Scientific name: Castanea sativa Mill.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fagaceae<br />
Description: A large deciduous tree up to 30-40 m<br />
high. It spreads to 6-15 m across. The stem is erect<br />
and stout. It has spreading branches and a wide<br />
rounded crown. The bark is grey-brown. The bark is<br />
ridged in a right handed spiral. The large leaves have<br />
toothed edges. The leaves are oblong to sword shaped<br />
and have prominent veins. The leaves can be 20 cm<br />
long. Leaves turn yellow to brown in autumn. Male<br />
and female flowers are separate. The male flowers are<br />
brownish and hang down like a cat's tail. They are 20<br />
cm long. The female flowers are joined together into a<br />
distinctive little tube. Normally male flowers are lower<br />
in the current season's shoots while the female (or both<br />
sexes) flowers are nearer the end of the shoot. The<br />
pollen can have an unpleasant smell. The brown nuts<br />
are inside green, spiny coverings. These burrs open to<br />
reveal the nut. The outer shell is shiny light brown. It<br />
needs to be cut off with a sharp knife. A softer layer<br />
appears inside surrounding the nut.<br />
Distribution: A Mediterranean climate plant. It can withstand frost. Trees do produce in the<br />
highlands of South India so may produce in the highlands of PNG. It requires light to medium,<br />
well drained soils. It is drought tender. It is slightly hardier than a peach and has less chilling<br />
requirement than a walnut. It is not suited to heat or humidity. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seeds, but it is better to use grafted trees onto chestnut<br />
seedlings. Trees can be grown from cuttings. They can also be grown by layering. Seeds<br />
should be from cross pollinated trees and should be stored in a refrigerator at just below freezing<br />
for several months to break the dormancy, before planting. Some trees need to be cross<br />
pollinated, but some kinds will self between male and female flowers on the one tree.<br />
Pollination is by wind so trees should be near each other. Normally trees are trained to have a<br />
single trunk with at least 1.5 m to the lowest branch.<br />
Production: This is the fastest growing of the chestnuts. Trees can live for centuries. Seedling<br />
trees can bear after 3-10 years. Up to 100 kg of nuts can be produced per year. There is little<br />
seasonal fluctuation in nut production. The nuts fall naturally. The nuts need to be partly dried<br />
to improve the taste and stop rots. The nuts can be stored in closed boxes, with newspaper to<br />
absorb the moisture. If kept cool they will store for 6 months. Kernels can be kept for much<br />
longer if cooked and frozen. To do this the nut is placed in boiling water for 2 minutes then<br />
peeled and cooled and frozen.<br />
Use: The kernel of the nuts is eaten boiled or roasted.<br />
They are also slowly dried then ground and made into porridge.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Nut 51.7 720 2.0 0.9 0 27<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: Seeds have been introduced into Papua New Guinea for growing trials only<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
354<br />
Names<br />
English: Fragrant screwpine Scientific name: Pandanus odoratissimus L.f<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
See Pandanus tectorius.<br />
Description: A screwpine or erect branched shrub 3 to<br />
5 m high. The trunk has several prop roots. The leaves<br />
are spirally crowded towards the ends of branches and<br />
covered with waxy powder. They are up to 1.5 m long<br />
and 3 to 5 cm wide. The edge of the leaf and the<br />
midrib have sharp spiny teeth pointing towards the end<br />
of the leaf. Trees are of one sex. The male flowers are<br />
in loose spike of flowers with a fleshy axis and<br />
enclosed by a spathe. These have several 5-10 cm long<br />
spikes along them. The female flowers are solitary and<br />
5 cm across. The fruit are alone and hang down. They<br />
are rounded and 20 cm long. They are composed of 50<br />
to 75 fibrous fleshy fruit with a stone in the centre.<br />
They are somewhat angular with fruit in groups of 6-7<br />
forming a large cluster. There are several forms or<br />
kinds which vary in details.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> occur in coastal areas especially just behind the shoreline. They grow along<br />
the coasts in India. It grows at Mumbai, India. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally self sown.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The strongly scented flavouring essence is distilled from male flowers.<br />
The fleshy base of the fruit is eaten in one kind. The lower part of the fruit is sucked.<br />
The kernels are eaten in another kind. Kernels are eaten raw or lightly cooked.<br />
The growing shoot can be eaten after thorough washing in salt water.<br />
Drinks are made using the male flower.<br />
Caution: The fruit can cause irritation in the mouth when eaten.<br />
The young tender leaves near the flower are eaten raw or cooked. They are used to flavour drinks<br />
and desserts.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Nacoleia octasema (Meyrick) Banana scab moth<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Moderately common in coastal areas in Papua New Guinea, but nut only eaten in<br />
some places.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
355<br />
Names<br />
English: Moreton Bay Chestnut Scientific name: Castanospermum australe<br />
A Cunn & Fraser ex Hook<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree up to 18-35 m tall. It<br />
spreads to 5-12 m across. The stem is erect and stout.<br />
The bark is grey to brown and smooth. The leaves are<br />
glossy dark green. The leaves are 30-45 cm long.<br />
Leaves have 11-15 leaflets. These are slightly curved.<br />
The leaflets are 7-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The<br />
leaves or cut bark have a cucumber like smell. Flowers<br />
are in clusters 5-15 cm long on old wood. They are<br />
yellow to orange. The flowers are pea shaped and grow<br />
one after another along a stalk in dense clusters. The<br />
fruit are broad, bean-like pods. The pods are up to 20<br />
cm long and thick. They can be 4-6 cm wide and<br />
woody. Inside the pods, the seeds are in a white pith.<br />
There are 1-5 seeds in a pod. The seeds are large and<br />
starchy with a shiny brown coat. They are 3-5 cm long.<br />
Distribution: Introduced and grown along the coast in Papua New Guinea in some areas. It<br />
suits rainforest and creek bank sites. It needs light, well drained soil in a protected sunny<br />
position. It is drought and frost tender and is damaged by wind. Trees need a temperature above<br />
7°C but can stand very short periods down to 0°C. It suits warm temperate to tropical regions. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It grows from seeds which often commence germinating while still in the pod on<br />
the ground. Seeds germinate very easily. Seed need to be sown when the temperature is at least<br />
13-18°C.<br />
Production: In Australia fruit are produced from March to November.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten after extensive processing (They are soaked for 10 days, pounded and<br />
baked.) They may still contain some poison.<br />
Caution: In Australia several deaths and stomach upsets have been reported in cattle which<br />
have eaten the seeds.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds 51.4 824 4.0 6.1 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The tree is introduced to Papua New Guinea and may not be much used for food.
356<br />
Names<br />
English: Pecan Scientific name: Carya illinoinensis (Wang.) K.Koch<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Juglandaceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 55 m high. Trees lose<br />
their leaves during the year. Branches extend upwards<br />
giving the tree an open, rounded crown and the tree can<br />
be 8 m wide. The stem is stout and erect. The bark is<br />
grey and furrowed with an ornamental appearance. The<br />
leaves are bright green, compound leaves. The leaves<br />
are 30-50 cm long. The leaves are made up of 7-10<br />
leaflets. These are long and curved sword shaped. The<br />
leaflets have short leaf stalks. The leaves turn yellow<br />
before they fall. The flowers are greenish and small.<br />
Trees normally have male and female flowers<br />
separately on the same plant, but because the flower<br />
parts develop at separate times, cross pollination<br />
normally occurs. Male flowers grow on catkins near<br />
the branches on the previous year's growth. The fruit<br />
are dark brown nuts that are carried in clusters of 4-12.<br />
The fruit can be 6 cm long. It has a thin shell. At<br />
maturity the fruit splits into 4 valves and reveal the<br />
smooth brown kernel. There are many cultivars.<br />
Distribution: It is native to S. United States. It requires a dry subtropical climate. It does best<br />
in loamy soil in an open sunny position. It is frost resistant but drought tender. They need to be<br />
in areas with warm summers. Trees grow naturally near streams in arid areas. They need deep<br />
fertile, well drained soil. Thick shelled varieties are more cold tolerant. Trees can tolerate<br />
temperatures above 38°C. Trees need to have 700 hours with a temperature under 7°C. It is<br />
grown extensively in China. It suits hardiness zones 6-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally grown from seeds. It can be grown from root-shoots. Seeds<br />
need to be fresh or they won't grow. Nuts which will grow, sink when put into water. Trees can<br />
be pruned to stop them growing too tall. Often trees are pruned to 15 m high. Trees easily suffer<br />
from zinc deficiency. Thin shelled selections are grown using cuttings grafted onto seedlings.<br />
Cross polination normally means better nut production. Different pollinating kinds are inter<br />
planted to ensure pollen is shed while female flowers are receptive.<br />
Production: Trees grow slowly at first while they form a taproot, then they grow more quickly.<br />
During the first 8-15 years they do not produce nuts. Trees can live for 1000 years. Grafted<br />
trees produce more quickly.<br />
Use: The nuts are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nuts 3.2 3188 9.3 2.4 8 2 4.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Nuts have been imported into Papua New Guinea for trial plantings. Trees at<br />
Aiyura bear irregularly.
357<br />
Names<br />
English: Hazel nuts Scientific name: Corylus avellana L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Betulaceae, Corylaceae<br />
Description: A small deciduous tree up to 7 m high. It<br />
spreads to 3-5 m across. The stem is erect, with<br />
smooth, brown bark and hairy twigs. The trees sucker a<br />
lot, which produces a clumpy bush. The leaves are<br />
rounded, tapering to a point, with a heart shaped base.<br />
They are 10 cm long, and dull, dark green. The edges<br />
of the leaves have saw-like teeth. The leaves are hairy.<br />
Male and female flowers are separate, on the one tree.<br />
Male flowers are greenish-yellow stalks, like cat's tails.<br />
They are 8 cm long and hang downwards. The female<br />
flowers are very small, and in groups of four. The fruit<br />
are brown nuts 2 cm across. A green husk covers the<br />
nut, but then shrinks to allow the nut to darken and<br />
ripen. <strong>Plants</strong> within the Hazel nut group hybridise<br />
easily, giving rise to new kinds.<br />
Distribution: A temperate climate plant. They are very frost resistant. They need a certain<br />
minimum cold requirement for good production of nuts, so are basically unsuited to the tropics.<br />
They need 800-1600 hours of chilling, about the same as apples. They grow in light, welldrained<br />
soils, in a protected, partly shaded position. They are drought tender. The flowers can<br />
withstand frosts down to -8°C and the wood down to -20°C or -30°C. It suits hardiness zones 4-<br />
8.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Once established, they can be grown from suckers,<br />
layering or cuttings. They are often pruned to a single trunk, to make harvesting easier. Trees<br />
normally cannot be pollinated from flowers on the same tree. They mostly require cross<br />
pollination by wind from suitable pollinator trees. Trees transplant fairly easily. A spacing of 3<br />
m x 3 m is suitable.<br />
Production: Nuts are produced 3-4 years after planting. Layered plants produce nuts in 2-3<br />
years. Yields of 4-6 kg of nuts per tree, are average. Nuts fall when mature. Nuts store well.<br />
They should be kept dry and cool.<br />
Use: The nuts are eaten.<br />
The seeds are eaten both raw and dried.<br />
The kernels have a fatty oil which is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Nuts 5.2 2810 12.0 3.8 3 1.9<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Seeds have been introduced into Papua New Guinea for trial plantings only and are<br />
not really a suitable plant for the country.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
358<br />
Names<br />
English: Walnut Scientific name: Juglans regia L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Juglandaceae<br />
Description: It is a large deciduous tree up to 30 m<br />
high. The trunk can be 120 cm across. The trunk is<br />
straight. The leaf stalks are 5-7 cm long. Leaves are<br />
often 30 cm long and with 5-9 leaflets. Leaflets can be<br />
6-15 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are smooth except<br />
for a tuft of hair in the axils of the veins. Flowers are<br />
small and greenish. Male flowers are compact in<br />
hanging spikes. Female flowers are on short stalks.<br />
The fruit has a green leathery husk. Nuts are hard<br />
shelled and about 4 cm across. The surface is figured.<br />
The kernels are edible.<br />
Distribution: It is native to China and S.E. Europe. Trees can stand hard frosts when no flowers<br />
are on the tree. It is a cold temperate plant. It grows in Vietnam between 500 and 1,500 m<br />
altitude. As it does not bear in the highlands of India it is unlikely to succeed in PNG. In India it<br />
produces in Garhwal Himalayas. In China they are common in the northern regions. They are<br />
grown in China between 23-42°N. They grow on mountain slopes between 500-1800 m altitude.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 4-10.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from seeds but quality is often variable. It is best to used<br />
grafted trees. They can be pruned. Pruning should be done during the summer as calluses form<br />
more easily preventing bleeding. They easily become boron deficient.<br />
Production: Seedling trees can produce nuts in 8-12 years. Grafted trees can produce in 4 years.<br />
Trees can live for 150 years.<br />
Use: The kernels of the nuts are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The young green fruit can be pickled in vinegar and eaten.<br />
Oil is extracted from the fruit. The remainder can be used in bread.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Nuts 4.4 2903 14.4 2.5 4 3 2.7<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Seeds have been introduced into Papua New Guinea for trial plantings only.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
359<br />
Names<br />
English: Pangium Scientific name: Pangium edule Reinw. ex Blume<br />
Tok pisin: Sis Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Flacourtiaceae<br />
Description: A large tree reaching a height of 25-40 m<br />
and about 50-100 cm across the trunk. The crown of<br />
the tree can spread to 50 m across. It has buttresses.<br />
The branches normally droop over. The leaves are very<br />
large and smooth. They can vary between 10 to 60 cm<br />
long by 8 to 40 cm across. They can be entire or lobed,<br />
pointed at the tip and rounded or heart shaped at the<br />
base. Leaves in young trees have 3 lobes. Often leaves<br />
are in a spiral arrangement near the ends of branches.<br />
Flowers are separate sexes and often on different trees.<br />
The flowers are yellowish white and have a faint smell.<br />
They are about 4 cm wide. The fruit are large, up to 15<br />
cm long, brown and contain several seeds embedded in<br />
yellowish edible pulp. The seeds are about 5 cm long.<br />
The fruit has a strong smell.<br />
Distribution: It is native to SE Asia. It is a plant of the hot humid tropics. They are widely<br />
distributed in primary forests and clearings at low and medium altitudes from southern Luzon to<br />
Palawan and southern Mindanao in the Philippines. It mostly grows below 300 m altitude but<br />
can be up to 1000 m. It is in the lowland and mid altitude rainforests often near creeks. It<br />
prefers slightly acidic soils.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> grow wild and are also cultivated from seeds. Seeds can float for a long time<br />
in water.<br />
Production: Trees start to fruit when about 10-15 years old. Trees live for a long time. Fruiting<br />
is seasonal and the fruit season tends to be May to August.<br />
Use: The old leaves are eaten after shredding and being cooked.<br />
The fleshy portion around the seeds is eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The seeds are eaten after steeping and roasting in an extensive process to remove poison.<br />
Sometimes seeds are buried and fermented for about 40 days.<br />
Caution: All parts of the plant can contain large amounts of poison (Prussic acid). This must be<br />
thoroughly removed by processing. Mature fruit are less poisonous than young fruit.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Seeds are sold in markets. The tree is moderately common in coastal areas of<br />
Papua New Guinea, but the nut is not always eaten. It is popular near Madang.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
360<br />
Names<br />
English: Pistachio nut Scientific name: Pistacia vera L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: A small deciduous tree up to about 10<br />
metres tall. It can have one or several trunks. Trees<br />
tend to dropp and spread. Leaves are large and greyish.<br />
They have 3-5 leaflets. These are roundish and 5-10<br />
cm long. Trees produces clusters of small green nuts.<br />
Male and female flowers are borne on different trees.<br />
Male and female flowers occur on separate trees. The<br />
fruit are red and wrinkled. The kernel is 3 cm long by<br />
1.5 cm wide. It is protected by a thin shell. The seed is<br />
edible.<br />
Distribution: It suits hot dry places. They do well in light calcareous soils. They need fertile,<br />
well-drained soils. They can tolerate drought. Winters need to be cool to break bud dormancy.<br />
Trees need 600 to 1,500 hours of chilling. Trees do not do well in areas with high humidity.<br />
They grow in places with temperatures from -10°C in the winter to 40°C in the summer. In<br />
western Asia they grow to 1500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.<br />
Cultivation: Mostly grown from seed. The seed should be presoaked in alkalized water or for 3-<br />
4 days in warm water before sowing. Germination can be slow and irregular. Cuttings of half<br />
ripe wood from young trees can be used. Trees can be grown by layering. Because male and<br />
female flowers occur on separate trees both male and female trees must be present. One male<br />
tree to 5 female trees is suitable. It is possible to graft a male branch onto a female tree. The<br />
pollen is carried by wind. The flowers are small and green in clusters in the axils of leaves. The<br />
nuts are normally knocked off the trees then harvested off the ground.<br />
Production: Seedlings take 8 years to bear. Budded and grafted trees can bear in 4 years. Trees<br />
can live for centuries under suitable conditions.<br />
Use: The nuts are eaten after roasting and salting. They can be eaten raw.<br />
An edible oil can be produced from the seed.<br />
The fruits can be used for marmalade.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nuts<br />
Fruit<br />
5.9 2598 17.6 7.3 55 7 2.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:
361<br />
Names<br />
English: Almond Scientific name: Prunus dulcis var. amygdalus Batsch<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A small tree. It grows 5-7 m tall. Leaves<br />
are narrower than those of peach but long and toothed<br />
around the edge. Flowers can be 5 cm across and are<br />
slightly pink. Leaves are folded in the bud. The fruit is<br />
green and leathery. The edible kernel is in a hard shell<br />
covered with a downy covering.<br />
Distribution: It needs reasonable soil drainage. It is<br />
suited to areas with a long, hot dry summer.<br />
Cultivation: Seeds grow more quickly if chilled in a fridge for 2 weeks then planted in warm<br />
damp sand (26°C). Trees often need to be pollinated by another kind of almond.<br />
Production: Trees commence fruiting after 3-4 years. Trees can live for 50 years on their own<br />
rootstock.<br />
Use: The kernels of the nuts are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nuts 4.7 2336 16.9 4.2 0 Tr 3.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Introduced to Papua New Guinea but no other information.
362<br />
Names<br />
English: Java olive Scientific name: Sterculia foetida Linn.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree. It grows to 10-20<br />
m high. The tree has a straight trunk and branches to<br />
form a small crown. The bark is brown and flakes off.<br />
It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are<br />
crowded at the ends of branches. They are compound<br />
and with 7 to 9 leaflets borne in a ring at the end ot the<br />
leaf stalk. Each leaflet is 10-18 cm long by 3-5 cm<br />
wide. They have a pointed tip. The leaf stalk is 15-24<br />
cm long and grooved. The flowers are strongly<br />
scented. They are red, dull yellow or purple. They are<br />
2-4 cm wide in clusters 15-20 cm long and shaped like<br />
a pyramid. Male and female flowers are separate. The<br />
fruit are large, woody, nearly smooth and oval. They<br />
are 7.5-10 cm long and flattened. They turn red when<br />
ripe. The ripe fruit splits open showing large black<br />
seeds. The seeds are edible.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> grow in the tropical lowland in dry woodlands. They are common<br />
throughout the islands of the Philippines along the seashores and partly open forests at low and<br />
medium altitudes. In Nepal it grows up to 300 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seed kernels are eaten raw.<br />
They can also be roasted like chestnuts. They can be soaked to remove the skins before roasting.<br />
The seeds can be used for oil.<br />
Caution: The seeds eaten in large numbers can cause diarrhoea and headaches.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Seeds 21.0<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
363<br />
Names<br />
English: Peanut tree, Red-fruited Kurrajong Scientific name: Sterculia quadrifida R. Br.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae<br />
Description: A small to medium sized tree. It grows<br />
up to 5-12-20 m tall. It has an open rounded crown. It<br />
is a straggly plant and the smaller stems are thick. The<br />
bark is smooth and grey. The leaves are long and heart<br />
shaped. They are 9-23 cm long by 5.5-17.5 cm wide.<br />
They are dark green and rough with prominent veins.<br />
They are paler and finely hairy underneath. The leaves<br />
fall off during the year. The leaf stalk is 4-10 cm long.<br />
The flowers are small, greenish-yellow and not easily<br />
noticed. They are produced in flower heads towards<br />
the ends of branches. The sepals of the flower remain<br />
joined forming a tube which is bell-shaped. They are<br />
0.5-1 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. The outer surface is<br />
green and hairy. Several flowers occur together in<br />
flower arrangements that are 3-10 cm long. The fruit<br />
are groups of leathery pods or capsules carried stiffly<br />
on the stems. The fruit are 5-8 cm across by 3-4 cm<br />
long. The skin is rough velvety and leathery and turns<br />
red when ripe. The ripe pods split to show the light<br />
shiny inner surface and black seeds. There are 2-8<br />
shiny seeds. The seeds are 1-2 cm long. The seeds are<br />
edible.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows naturally in coastal monsoon vine thickets and on sand<br />
dunes behind the beach. It can be grown on a wide variety of well-drained soils. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production: Young plants are fast growing. In Australia, flowering occurs from February to<br />
November and fruiting from April to December.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten raw. When peeled they have a pleasant peanut like taste.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Nut 40.7 1249 12.3 2.6 2 6.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:
364<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Sterculia schumanniana (Laut.) Mildb.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree up to 20 m high.<br />
The trunk is often crooked and the tree slender. The<br />
trunk can be 45 cm across. It has buttresses. The<br />
crown of the tree is often broad. The branches are<br />
slender, light brown and often with grooves. The<br />
leaves are alternate, simple and at the ends of branches.<br />
They are oblong and have a tail. The blade can be 20<br />
cm long by 8 cm wide. There are 6-7 pairs of side<br />
veins. The leaf stalk is 2.5 cm long and and thicker at<br />
both ends. The flowers are bell shaped. <strong>Plants</strong> can<br />
have male, female or both sex flowers. These hang in<br />
loose stalked branches. These can be in the axils of<br />
leaves but are mostly on buds from stems and main<br />
branches. The flowers are dull red. The fruit are often<br />
in clusters. They have 3-5 velvety sacs. The fruit is<br />
bright orange-red at maturity. The seeds inside are<br />
black. They are 1.8 cm long by 1 cm wide.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It occurs in the lowlands.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The nut-like fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
365<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Sloanea tieghemii gp 4 (F.Muell)A.C.Sm.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Sloanea archboldiana Smith<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A small shrub or a large tree. It can be 2-<br />
30 m high. Larger trees have buttresses. It has<br />
alternate leaves which are almost opposite. The leaves<br />
are 3-5 cm x 2-3 cm and not consistently hairy. The<br />
edge of the leaves is fairly smooth. The leaf stalk is<br />
0.5-2 cm long and is usually thickened at each end.<br />
The flowers are small but showy.<br />
Distribution: They grow from 2200 to 2800 m altitude.<br />
It often grows naturally in old gardens and regrowth<br />
sites.<br />
Cultivation: They mostly grow wild from seed. They can be grown from ripe wood cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The kernels of the nuts are eaten after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Nuts<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: Scattered trees occur in highland areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
366
367
368<br />
Fruit and other often sweet foods<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Sugarcane Suga Saccharum officinarum 369<br />
Pawpaw Popo Carica papaya 371<br />
Mountain pawpaw Carica pubescens 373<br />
Pineapple Painap Ananas comosus 374<br />
Bukubuk Burckella obovata 376<br />
Watermelon Citrullus lanatus 377<br />
Marita Pandanus conoideus 379<br />
Pandanus englerianus 381<br />
Pandanus krauelianus 382<br />
Pandanus lamekotensis 383<br />
Pandanus lauterbachii 384<br />
Cherimoya Annona cherimola 386<br />
Atemoya, Custard apple Annona cherimola x A squamosa 387<br />
Soursop Sapasap Annona muricata 389<br />
Bullock’s heart Annona reticulata 391<br />
Sweetsop Annona squamosa 392<br />
Pacific lychee Ton, Taun Pometia pinnata 394<br />
Avocado Apokat Persea americana var. americana 395<br />
Guava Psidium guajava 397<br />
Cherry guava Psidium cattleianum 399<br />
Golden apple Spondias cytherea 400<br />
Spondias philippensis 402<br />
Carambola Faiv kona Averrhoa carambola 403<br />
Bilimbi, Tree cucumber Averrhoa bilimbi 405<br />
Pomelo, Pummelo Citrus grandis 407<br />
West Indian Lime Citrus aurantifolia 408<br />
Grapefruit Citrus paradisi 409<br />
Orange Swit muli Citrus sinensis 410<br />
Lemon Muli Citrus limon 411<br />
Citron Citrus medica 412<br />
Mandarin Citrus reticulata 413<br />
Wild lime Citrus hystrix 414<br />
Sour orange Citrus aurantium 415<br />
Clymenia Clymenia polyandra 416<br />
Lime berry Triphasia trifolia 417<br />
Mundroi Corynocarpus cribbianus 418<br />
Baccaurea papuana 419<br />
Tree tomato, Tamarillo Cyphomandra betacea 420<br />
Naranjilla Solanum quitoense 422<br />
Argus pheasant tree Mon Dracontomelon dao 423<br />
Surinam cherry Eugenia uniflora 424<br />
Beach cherry Eugenia reinwardtiana 425<br />
Watery rose apple Syzygium aqueum 426<br />
Malay apple Laulau Syzygium malaccense 427<br />
Java apple Syzygium javanicum 428<br />
Rose apple Syzygium jambos 429<br />
Pink satinash Syzygium sayeri 430<br />
Lockerbie Satinash<br />
See more page 432<br />
Syzygium branderhorstii 431
369<br />
Names<br />
English: Sugarcane Scientific name: Saccharum officinarum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Suga Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A tall thick stemmed clumpy grass. It has<br />
many nodes. It grows 1-6 m tall. It spreads 100 cm<br />
wide. A large number of different cultivars occur. The<br />
leaves are long and narrow. They taper to the tip. They<br />
are rigid and droop at the tip. The cane varies in<br />
thickness, length of nodes, colour etc. The stalks have<br />
distinct nodes and the bottom of the leaf is wrapped in a<br />
sheath around the stalk. The flower is brownish. It is<br />
surrounded by dense silky white hairs.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It occurs throughout<br />
the country of Papua New Guinea. It needs a<br />
temperature over 21°C for sprouting. It is frost<br />
sensitive. In Nepal it grows up to about 1400 m<br />
altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are mostly grown from tops of canes. They can be grown from sections of<br />
the stalk or division of the root stock. It requires a good fertility and good rainfall. <strong>Plants</strong> can be<br />
ratooned or cut back if the soil fertility is high. Tall cultivars need staking.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> mostly take 14-18 months until they are ready for harvest.<br />
Use: The stems are chewed.<br />
The flowers can be cooked and eaten before the flower opens.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Stem<br />
Flowers<br />
78.8 343 0.3 0.7 2<br />
Insects:<br />
Borers<br />
Bathytricha truncata Walker Noctuidae (LEP) Large sugarcane moth borer<br />
Chilo terrenellus Pag. Pyralidae (LEP) Sugarcane borer<br />
Maliarpha separatella Rag. Pyralidae (LEP) White rice stem borer<br />
Ostrinia furnacalis Pyralidae (LEP) Maize stem borer<br />
Rhabdoscelis obscurus (Boisd.) Curculionidae (COL) Cane weevil borer<br />
Sesamia grisescens Wal. Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Sesamia arfaki B-B.<br />
Sap suckers<br />
Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Aleurodes comata Aleurodidae (HEM)<br />
Aphis sacchari Aphididae (HEM) Sugarcane aphid<br />
Ceratovacuna lanigera<br />
Aphididae (HEM) Sugarcane woolly aphid<br />
(Zehntner)<br />
Neomaskiella bergii (Sig.) Aleyrodidae (HEM) Sugarcane white fly<br />
Perkinsiella spp. Delphacidae (HEM) Sugarcane leafhoppers<br />
Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cock) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pink sugarcane mealybug<br />
Tettigella sp. Cicadellidae (HEM)<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
370<br />
Leaf eating insects<br />
Anomala comata Rutelidae (COL)<br />
Aracerus sp. Anthribidae (COL)<br />
Araeocorynus sp. Anthribidae (COL)<br />
Arrhenes dschilus Hesperiidae (LEP)<br />
Brontispa lateralis Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Mythimna unipuncta Haw Noctuidae (LEP)<br />
Euryphlepsia sp. Cixiidae (HEM)<br />
Hypolixus ritsemae Pasc. Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Lophops saccharicida K. Lophopidae (HEM)<br />
Melanitis constantia Cr. Nymphalidae (LEP)<br />
Opogona spp.<br />
Grasshoppers<br />
Hieroxestidae (LEP)<br />
Atractomorpha crenaticeps Bl. Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Austracris sp. Acrididae (ORTH) Spur throated locust<br />
Locusta migratoria (L) Acrididae (ORTH) Migratory locust<br />
Heteropternis obscurella (Bl.) Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Stenacatantops angustifrens (Walk.) Acrididae (ORTH)<br />
Valanga irregularis (Walk.) Acrididae (ORTH) Giant grasshopper<br />
Diseases:<br />
Redrot leaf sheath Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Brown stripe Fungus Bipolaris stenospila<br />
Eye spot Fungus Bipolaris sacchari<br />
Yellow spot Fungus Cercospora koepkei Kruger<br />
Brown spot Fungus Cercospora longipes<br />
Red leaf streak Fungus Cercosporella sp.<br />
Pineapple disease Fungus Ceratocystis paradoxa (Dade) Moreau<br />
Veneer blotch Fungus Deightoniella papuana D Shaw<br />
Pokkah boeng Fungus Gibberella fujikuroi<br />
Red rot Fungus Glomerella tucumanensis (Speg)Arx & Mull<br />
Ring spot Fungus Leptosphaeria sacchari<br />
Yellow spot Fungus Mycovellosiella koepkei<br />
Downy mildew Fungus Peronosclerospora sacchari<br />
Rind disease Fungus Phaeocytostroma sacchari<br />
Tar spot Fungus Phyllachora sacchari<br />
Rust Fungus Puccinia kuehnii (Kruger)Butler<br />
Red leaf streak Fungus Ramulispora sacchari<br />
Leaf scorch Fungus Stagnospora sacchari<br />
Ramu stunt<br />
Red stripe Bacteria Pseudomonas rubrilineans<br />
Fiji disease Virus Sugarcane Fiji disease virus<br />
Mosaic Virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Rats<br />
Rat damage to sugarcane<br />
Importance: A very important snack and social food in all areas of Papua New Guinea. Papua<br />
New Guinea has the largest range of sugarcane varieties in the world and has contributed these to<br />
most of the sugarcane grown in the world.
371<br />
Names<br />
English: Pawpaw Scientific name: Carica papaya L.<br />
Tok pisin: Popo Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Caricaceae<br />
Description: Pawpaw is one of the very well known fruits<br />
of the tropics. The straight soft stemmed plant grows up<br />
to 3-5 metres tall and only occasionally has branches. The<br />
stem is softly woody and has scars from fallen leaves<br />
along it. At the top of the plant there are a clump of<br />
leaves. The leaves are large (50 cm wide) deeply lobed<br />
and on long leaf stalks. The leaf stalks are 90 cm long.<br />
There is a crown of leaves at the top of the trunk. Trees<br />
can be male, female or bisexual. The male flowers are<br />
small and white and on long stalks. Female and bisexual<br />
flowers are on short stalks. These have no fruit, round<br />
fruit and long fruit respectively. There are three forms of<br />
long fruit. The seeds are black.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. Pawpaws will grow<br />
from sea level up to about 1700 m altitude in the<br />
equatorial tropics. In cooler regions they have to be<br />
planted but in humid tropical regions are commonly<br />
self sown. Sunlight allows germination when forest is cleared. <strong>Plants</strong> cannot stand frost. Also<br />
they cannot stand waterlogging. <strong>Plants</strong> die after 48 hours in standing water. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Pawpaw seeds grow easily and plants grow quickly. Fresh seeds can be used, or if<br />
dry seeds are used they should be soaked before planting. To produce well they need a<br />
reasonably fertile soil. Seeds can be sown directly or the seeds can be put in a nursery and the<br />
seedlings transplanted. Seeds in a nursery should be about 1-2 cm deep. Seedlings can be<br />
transplanted when they are about 20 cm high. <strong>Plants</strong> should be about 3 m apart.<br />
Production: Seeds emerge in 2 to 3 weeks. Vegetative growth before flowering is 4-8 months.<br />
Fruit is produced as one or more per leaf axil, about every 1-2 weeks, under good growing<br />
conditions. So with good growth 100 fruit can be produced from one plant in a year. Fruit<br />
development from pollination to maturity is about 2-3 months. On the coast in tropical<br />
equatorial regions, pawpaws start producing fruit after about 4 or 5 months but in the highlands<br />
this may not start for 12-18 months. The first fruit produced and ripe, are ready 6-11 months<br />
from planting. Practical tree life is about 2 to 3 years, although trees may live for 10 - 12 years.<br />
Continuous fruit production depends on fertility, temperature and moisture being adequate to<br />
maintain active growth. The fruit is produced year round but the growth and development rate<br />
decreases with temperature. Also the size and quality of fruit declines at lower temperatures.<br />
Pollination is by wind and insects. Normally cross and self pollination both occur. Pollination is<br />
not normally limiting. Seeds are widely dispersed by birds, bats and people. Seeds remain<br />
viable for a few months and also germinate freely.<br />
Use: Fruit can be eaten ripe and raw.<br />
Green fruit can be cooked as a vegetable.<br />
The young leaves can be eaten cooked, but are bitter.<br />
The flowers and the middle of the stem can be eaten.
372<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 88.0 163 0.5 0.4 290 54 0.18<br />
Leaves 75.4 378 8.0 0.77 140<br />
Insects:<br />
Adoxophyes melichron Tortricidae (LEP) Leaf roller<br />
Amblypelta spp. Coreidae (HEM) Amblypelta bugs sucking sap<br />
Aonidiella orientalis (Newstead) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Sign. Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Aspidiotus excisus Green Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Bactrocera musae (Try.) Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Bactrocera bryoniae (Try.) Tephritidae (DIPT) Banana fruit fly<br />
Bactrocera neohumeralis Hardy Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Ceroplastodes chiton Green Coccidae (HOM)<br />
Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Coccus hesperidium Linnaeus Coccidae (HEM) Soft brown scale<br />
Coccus longulus (Douglas) Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Drepanococcus chiton (Green) Coccidae (HEM) Scale<br />
Dysmicoccus nesophilus Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Howardia biclavis (Comstock) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM) Scale<br />
Ischiopsopha bifasciata Quoy & Gaim Cetoniinae (COL) Damaging fruit<br />
var. hyla Heller<br />
Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) Aphididae (HEM) Potato aphid<br />
Morganella longispina (Morgan) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Oxyderes cyrtus Jordan [ex Araecerus ] Anthribidae (COL)<br />
Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targ.) Diaspididae (HEM) White scale<br />
Rhabdoscelus obscurus Boisduval Curculionidae (COL) Cane weevil borer<br />
Rhinoscapha maclayi MacLeay Curculionidae (COL) Weevil boring stems<br />
Saissetia coffeae (Walker) Coccidae (HEM) Coffee scale<br />
Steatococcus samaraius Morrison Margarodidae (HEM) Scale<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm eating leaves<br />
Diseases:<br />
Butt rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora papayae<br />
Shot hole leaf spot Fungus Corynespora cassiicola (Berk & Curt)Wei<br />
Leaf spot(Anthracnose) Fungus Glomerella cingulata (Stonem) Spauld & Schrenck<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium caricae<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phyllosticta sp.<br />
Root rot Fungus Phytophthora palmivora Butler<br />
Leaf spot & fruit rot Fungus Mycosphaerella caricae<br />
Fruit rot Fungus Botrydiplodia theobromae<br />
Fruit rot Fungus Fusarium oxysporum<br />
Stem rot Bacteria Pseudomonas cepacia<br />
Mosaic Virus<br />
Pests: Fruit bats<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it occurs in all lowland areas in gardens and bush. Trees are<br />
near houses in the highlands. The fruit is popular for snacks and baby food.
373<br />
Names<br />
English: Mountain papaya Scientific name: Carica pubescens (A. DC.) Solms-Laub.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Carica candamarcensis Hook.f.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Caricaceae<br />
Description: A small tree. The tree has a silvery grey<br />
trunk. The tree is soft and not woody. It grows 1-2 m<br />
tall. The trunk has leaf scars. The leaves are smaller<br />
than ordinary pawpaw and deeply lobed. They are 8<br />
sides and lobed. Laves are 20-26 cm long by 34-40 cm<br />
wide. The leaf stalks are 17-34 cm long. Male and<br />
female flowers can be on the same or different plants.<br />
Many plants have both sexes. The fruit are small and<br />
angular. The fruit are 8-10 cm long. The fruit contain<br />
small round black skinned seed. The fruit is edible but<br />
tart.<br />
Distribution: They will grow to a higher altitude than<br />
common pawpaws. They grow at least between 1750<br />
and 2200 m altitude. They can stand light frosts. They<br />
like a warm, dry site. They need shelter from the wind.<br />
It can grow in cooler tropical and subtropical climates.<br />
It suits a temperate between 10°C and 24°C. It benefits<br />
by plenty of rain. In the Andes it will grow above 2600<br />
m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seed. <strong>Plants</strong> can be male, female or both sexes. Seeds<br />
germinate easily. They can grow in 30 days. Occasionally cuttings are used.<br />
Production: Trees are fast growing. Trees from seed can start flowering after one year. Trees<br />
produce in 2-3 years. A tree can produce 50-60 fruit in a season. A spacing of 3 m is probably<br />
suitable. One plan can produce 50-60 fruit over a growth period of 4 months.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten. It often needs to have sugar added. It is also made into jam.<br />
The fruit is usually cooked and used as a vegetable.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Only a few plants occur in Papua New Guinea and fruit is rarely used.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
374<br />
Names<br />
English: Pineapple Scientific name: Ananas comosus (L.)Merrill<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Bromeliaceae<br />
Description: A perennial herb with a rosette of long,<br />
thick, spiky leaves up to 1 m high & spreading 1-1.5 m.<br />
The leaves are arranged in spirals. Some kinds have<br />
thorns along the edges of the leaves. The plant<br />
produces suckers both near the base of the stem and<br />
also higher up the stem near the fruit. These are called<br />
slips and these, and the suckers, are broken off and used<br />
for planting. The main plant dies after producing a fruit<br />
but the suckers keep growing. The plant produces a<br />
flower and fruit at the end. The fruit is made up of<br />
about 150 berry-like fruitlets that are almost fused<br />
together. There is a small crown of leaves on top of the<br />
fruit. The fruit can be 25 cm long and weigh 0.5-4 kg.<br />
The two main kinds of pineapples are the rough leafed<br />
variety which has spines on the leaves and produces a<br />
smaller but sweeter fruit. The other kind is the smooth<br />
leaf kind with spineless leaves and larger fruit.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. They grow from sea level up to 1800 m altitude near the<br />
equator. It can survive brief periods down to freezing but cold retards growth, delays fruiting<br />
and causes fruit to be more acid. A friable well drained soil with high organic matter is best.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> cannot stand waterlogging. It can survive drought but adequate soil moisture is necessary<br />
for good fruit production. Pineapples need an annual average temperature between 17.2°C and<br />
26.9°C. In the equatorial tropics this is mostly between sea level and 1800 metres altitude.<br />
Pineapples need well drained and fertile soil. They suit an acid soil and can develop rots in soils<br />
where lime has been added. The soil acidity can be between pH 3.3 and 6.0. The best range is<br />
pH 4.5 to 5.5. Soils which are not sufficiently acid can be treated with sulphur. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 9-10.<br />
Cultivation: The suckers and slips can be used for planting as well as the top of the fruit. The<br />
time to maturity is the fastest for the suckers near the bottom of the plant and slowest when the<br />
top of the fruit is planted. Therefore use suckers that grow from the stem near the ground, for<br />
earliest yield. Other suckers or the top of the fruit can be used. Pineapples can grow well under<br />
shade. Pineapple flowering hormone can be used for fruit production with thorny varieties and<br />
calcium carbide for smooth kinds. Fruiting is less seasonal in the highlands than in the lowlands.<br />
Pineapples can be planted with 35,000 to 43,000 plants per hectare or 3 or 4 plants per square<br />
metre. If plants are spaced more widely they produce more suckers. Fruits become more acid<br />
where plants are closely spaced. If too many suckers are left growing from the main plant then<br />
smaller fruit will be produced. They can grow in partial shade and in this situation the plants are<br />
normally more green. The red colouring of pineapple leaves is due to a deficiency of the nutrient<br />
nitrogen. This shows up more quickly in plants in full sunlight.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> usually produce for about 4 years. Fruiting is less seasonal in the highlands<br />
than in the lowlands in the tropics. The growth rate for pineapples gets slower as the<br />
temperature gets less. So plants grown in the highlands or at higher latitudes take longer to get<br />
ready for harvest. It takes 60 days from when the flower starts to form until it appears. Then<br />
there are 5 months until the fruit is ready for harvest. The time from planting to harvesting<br />
ranges from 11 months up to 32 months depending on temperature. The fruit are smaller, poorer<br />
shape and more acid where the temperatures are lower or there is less sunlight.
375<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten fresh or used for juice. The young heart leaves can be eaten.<br />
Unripe fruit are also cooked and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
84.3 194 0.5 0.4 60 25 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Coccus viridus (Green) Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale on pineapple<br />
Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealy bug<br />
Kilifia acuminata (Signoret) Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale on pineapple<br />
Leptococcus metroxyli Reyne Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug on pineapple<br />
Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus) Acrididae (ORTH) Migratory locust<br />
Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Hibiscus mealy bug<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug on pineapple<br />
Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug on pineapple<br />
Pulvinaria ubicola (Cockerell) Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale on pineapple<br />
Scapanes australis grossepunctatus<br />
Sternb<br />
Dynastidae (COL) N G Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Scapanes australis australis (Boisd.) Dynastidae(COL) New Guinea Rhinoceros beetle<br />
Diseases:<br />
Associated with leaf blotch Fungus Cochliobolus lunatus<br />
And Strachylidium bicolor Link ex Fries<br />
And Trichobotrys pannosa Penz & Sacc.<br />
Water blister or leaf blotch Fungus Cerotocystis paradoxa (Dade) Moreau<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Asterina sp.<br />
And Nigrospora sp.<br />
Wilt outside leaves Fungus Pythium vexans<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Pineapples are a common and popular fruit.
376<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Burckella obovata (Forst.) Pierre<br />
Tok pisin: Bukubuk Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sapotaceae<br />
Description: A tree which can be up to 30 m tall and<br />
with buttresses. The trunk can be 3 m across. A white<br />
sticky sap is produced from the broken ends of twigs<br />
and leaves, which is typical of this family of trees.<br />
Leaves tend to be clustered near the ends of branches.<br />
Leaves are simple and shiny. The leaf tip is tapered to<br />
a point and the base is wedge shaped. The leaf stalk is<br />
1-4 cm long. The flowers occur 20-50 together without<br />
flower stalks and in a cluster near the ends of branches.<br />
The fruit is large (9 cm across) and green. It has a very<br />
thin skin. The flesh is white. Fruit normally have 4 or<br />
5 furrows around it. The fruit has 3-5 cells but often<br />
only one or two seeds mature. The seed is oval shaped<br />
and about 4 cm long. Fruit shape can vary; some being<br />
more round and others more elongated. The fruit are<br />
carried near the ends of the branches. The fruit has a<br />
sweet smell. Fruit quality varies significantly in size<br />
and edibility throughout the regions where the tree<br />
occurs. Good fruit have a texture like an avocado and a<br />
taste like a sweetsop but less sweet.<br />
Distribution: Trees grow wild in coastal areas or Papua New Guinea. They are also planted. It<br />
will probably grow up to about 1100 metres altitude. It occurs in Papua New Guinea, the<br />
Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It has been introduced to Fiji.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seed. There is normally only one fertile seed in each fruit.<br />
Both domesticated and wild trees occur. Trees grow wild in coastal areas. They are also<br />
planted.<br />
Production: Fruiting is not seasonal although two main seasons may occur in a year. Fruit<br />
bruises easily so is hard to transport. It needs to be stored in soft containers lined with leaves or<br />
packaging. To avoid fruit damage, fruit are often harvested while not quite ripe. It can be stored<br />
for a short time if baked and is also stored in pits where it is fermented.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten raw. Occasionally the fruit is baked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, it is a popular fruit in the Gazelle and occurs in a number of<br />
coastal islands.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
377<br />
Names<br />
English: Watermelon Scientific name: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.)Mansf.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae<br />
Description: An annual climber with deeply divided<br />
leaves and tendrils along the vine. It trails over the<br />
ground and has hairy, angular stems. The leaves are on<br />
long leaf stalks. The leaves are deeply divided along<br />
their length. These lobe are rounded and can<br />
themselves be divided. The leaves are 5-20 cm long by<br />
2-12 cm across. The tendrils are divided. The plant<br />
has separate male and female flowers on the same<br />
plant. The flowers are pale yellow and smaller than<br />
pumpkins. The flowers occur in the axils of leaves.<br />
The male flowers appear first. Fruit are large and<br />
round or oval. They can be 60 cm long. Fruit have a<br />
hard smooth skin. Several fruit colours and shapes<br />
occur. Often they have a dark green mottle. The fruit<br />
has reddish juicy flesh and black or red seeds. The<br />
seeds are oval shaped and smooth<br />
Distribution: They grow best on the coast in the tropics but will grow up to about 1000 m<br />
altitude. They will not stand waterlogging and do well on sandy soils. <strong>Plants</strong> are frost sensitive.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are suitable mainly for the dry season. A spacing of 1.5 to 2 m is suitable.<br />
They grow easily from seed. They do best when fully exposed to the sun. Seed can be dried and<br />
stored.<br />
Production: Harvesting commences after 4-5 months. The main fruit season is November to<br />
January.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten raw when ripe.<br />
Small unripe fruit can be cooked as a vegetable.<br />
Seeds are also eaten. They are dried, soaked in salt water then roasted. Oil is extracted from the<br />
seeds.<br />
Occasionally very young leaves are eaten.<br />
The skin of the fruit is sometimes candied in vinegar then eaten with fish.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 94.0 92 0.4 0.3 20 5 0.1<br />
Seeds 5.1 2330 28.3 7.3 0 0 10.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Atherigona orientalis Schiner Muscidae (DIPT) Stem fly<br />
Aulacophora coffeae Hornst. Chrysomelidae (COL) Pumpkin beetles<br />
Bactrocera cucurbitae Coq Tephritidae (DIPT) Melon fruit fly<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
378<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora citrullina Cooke<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare<br />
And Leptosphaerulina trifolii<br />
Black rot Fungus Mycosphaerella melonis<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Oidium sp.<br />
Damping off Fungus Pythium irregulare<br />
Mosaic Probably virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The seeds are a popular food in China. Common and popular in lowland areas of<br />
Papua New Guinea.
379<br />
Names<br />
English: Marita Scientific name: Pandanus conoideus Lamarck<br />
Tok pisin: Marita Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: A short much branched screwpine with<br />
many prop roots. The prop roots have prickles. Trees<br />
may have up to 8 or 10 main branches. Trees grow up<br />
to about 5 metres tall. There are many short sharp<br />
spikes on the trunk and branches. The leaves are<br />
between 1 and 2 metres long and about 10cm wide.<br />
The leaves grow opposite each other but are twisted to<br />
look like a spiral. There are thorns along the edges of<br />
the leaf. It produces a large (1 m long) dark red to<br />
yellow fruit with a hard rough/spiky surface. The fruit<br />
is hard and has small lumps or spikes over the surface.<br />
The fruit grows at the ends of the branches between the<br />
leaves and it has 3 straight leaf like bracts along the<br />
edges.<br />
Distribution: It grows throughout PNG from sea level<br />
up to 1650 m altitude. It becomes common above 500<br />
m. It occurs in Maluku in Indonesia.<br />
Cultivation: Marita pandanus are normally planted from suckers or cuttings. The cuttings are<br />
using ends of branches. Suckers produce more quickly. A new shoot normally sprouts out of<br />
the branch just below where the end was cut off. The cutting will soon develop roots and<br />
become established when it is planted. A more popular method is to use a sucker or shoot<br />
growing from the plant down near the ground. The sucker is separated from the parent plant<br />
then replanted in its new place. These suckers grow more quickly and can bear fruit after 18<br />
months to 2 years. A cutting off a branch may take up to 4 or 5 years before it produces a fruit.<br />
Marita is often planted along the roads and walking tracks. It is also planted in most gardens and<br />
serves as a reminder that the land is owned by the person who planted the marita. So plants are<br />
dispersed instead of being grown in a plantation.<br />
Production: A marita fruit is harvested when the colour starts to change to a brighter red or<br />
yellow. Sometimes it also starts to crack slightly at this stage. The fruit is cut from the branch.<br />
Marita is a seasonal crop but the fruiting season is not a short clearly marked one. The main<br />
season goes from about October to March but individual trees can bear almost throughout the<br />
year. Near the sea the marita season is longer and more spread out but as the places increase in<br />
altitude above sea level the season becomes more distinct. The marita season is an important<br />
occasion. During the season people often use marita twice a day.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit is cooked then the juice mixed with water to make a sauce. To do this, a ripe<br />
marita fruit is normally split into 3 sections along its length. Then the central yellow stalk and<br />
pith area are dug out. The outside hard red layer is then cooked. Preferably it is cooked using<br />
hot stones although sometimes it is boiled in a saucepan. After cooking for about half an hour<br />
the hard pits are squeezed from the soft red juice by squeezing through the hands. Water is<br />
added to make an oily red soup. The soup is then eaten. Sometimes it is eaten by dipping green<br />
leaves or sago into the soup. At other times it is eaten with a spoon made from the marita leaf.<br />
Some people just suck the cooked juice from the seeds. As well, some people use the oily juice<br />
to cook food in. The pits or seeds are thrown away, normally to pigs. A harvested marita fruit<br />
will only keep for about one week. After cooking it will only last for about 12 hours.
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
380<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Nacoleia octasema (Meyrick) Pyralidae (LEP) Banana scab moth<br />
Segistidea spp. Tettigoniidae (ORTH) Longhorn grasshoppers eat leaves<br />
Borers get into the stem<br />
Diseases:<br />
Black leaf mould Fungus Lembosia pandani (Rostr.) Thiess<br />
Leaf spot cause unknown<br />
Yellow mottle cause unknown<br />
Soft squashy rot of fruit cause unknown<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, a popular and common seasonal food in mid altitudinal<br />
zones.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
381<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Pandanus englerianus Mart.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: An erect branching tree up to 12 m tall.<br />
The trunk is up to 12 cm across and has prop roots.<br />
The bark has many sharp prickles. Leaves are long<br />
(200 cm) and narrow (8-12 cm) and toothed along the<br />
edge. The fruit is long (40-60 cm) x 10-14 cm across<br />
and red.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in coastal areas in New Ireland<br />
and New Britain.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are planted.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The red outer layer of the fruit is cooked with hot stones to make a sauce.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, it is used for an important sauce very similar to "marita" in<br />
the mid altitude zones.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
382<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Pandanus krauelianus K.Schumann<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: A screwpine or Pandan. The leaves are<br />
oblong and 2 m long by 3-3.5 cm wide. They have<br />
short spines along the edges. They taper at the tip. The<br />
fruit is made up or lots of fused fruit. They are cylinder<br />
shaped and 20-30 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. The fruit<br />
are yellow when mature. The small sections are 1.5-2.5<br />
cm long by 3-5 mm wide.<br />
Distribution: It grows in mountainous regions along<br />
rivers.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit contains an oil used to flavour food in cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
383<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Pandanus lamekotensis Mgf.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Kiat, Kariat, Baig, Keg Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: A tree. It grows 4-7 m high. It has 5-8<br />
branches. The leaves are 250 cm long by 9 cm wide.<br />
The leaves on the fruiting branches are smaller. There<br />
are fine thorny teeth along the edge. The fruit is a<br />
round composite fruit. When mature it is 22 cm long<br />
by 25 cm wide. It is deep orange to red. The fingers<br />
are 6-8 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. Their surfaces are not<br />
deeply furrowed. There are 10-17 nuts. Many are<br />
empty. The weathered fruit becomes very fibrous. The<br />
ripe fruit are eaten.<br />
Distribution: It grows on Lamekot Island in Papua<br />
New Guinea. It grows on the swampy banks of creeks.<br />
Cultivation: It starts producing fruit when 1 m high so the first fruit rests on the ground.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The ripe fruit are sucked and can be made into jam.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
384<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Pandanus lauterbachii K. Schum. & Warb.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Pandanaceae<br />
Description: A shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall. It<br />
spreads 2-3 m across the crown. It does not have prop<br />
roots. The leaves are simple and 1-2 m long. Leaves<br />
are 4-6 cm wide and strap shaped. They are dark green<br />
and shiny above and paler underneath. The edges of<br />
the leaves and the underside on the midrib have teeth.<br />
Trees are separately male and female. The male flower<br />
is 50-90 cm long. It hangs down anmd has broad white<br />
bracts. The female flowering stalk is 70-90 cm long. It<br />
is branched and has 7-9 spikes. The fruit is up to 10-17<br />
cm long by 8-12 cm wide. They hang in bunches of 7-<br />
9 heads. They contain several seeds. Each segment is<br />
tipped with a prickly point. The seeds are about 1.5 cm<br />
long. The flesh is edible.<br />
Distribution: They grow naturally in rainforests in NE<br />
Queensland in Australia, usually near streams. It is<br />
also in PNG. It grows in rainforest near mangroves.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from young plantlets near<br />
the base of other plants.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The flesh is edible but it can sting the mouth.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
385
386<br />
Names<br />
English: Cherimoya Scientific name: Annona cherimola Mill.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Annonaceae<br />
Description: A small deciduous tree up to 6 -10 m tall.<br />
In some locations trees keep their leaves throughout the<br />
year. It has a brown velvety tomentum on the under<br />
surface of the leaves. The leaves are 8-20 cm long and<br />
up to 10 cm wide. There is a single leaflet. The<br />
flowers occur either singly or 2-3 together along the<br />
branches. The female parts of the flower open first<br />
then the male parts. The fruit is 8-15 cm across with<br />
black or brown seeds in white flesh. The fruit is cone<br />
or heart shaped. It can be 10-20 cm long by 10 cm<br />
wide. Fruit can weigh 0.5 kg. The skin can have finger<br />
like markings. The flesh is juicy and each segment has<br />
one seed. There can be 20-40 large brown seeds in<br />
each fruit.<br />
Distribution: Not suited to the lowland hot tropics. It<br />
grows at higher altitudes in the equatorial tropics. They<br />
suit places with cool nights. It is better suited to a dry<br />
climate but not desert. Cherimoya needs to be in areas<br />
with high humidity during the flowering period.<br />
Otherwise they suit areas that are cool and fairly dry. It<br />
is essentially a sub tropical fruit and grows in higher<br />
altitudes in equatorial regions. Temperatures should be<br />
above 14° to 15°C. Mature trees can stand light frosts.<br />
Good deep soils are best but clays that are well drained<br />
are suitable. It is a subtropical or warm temperate<br />
plant. It can only tolerate light frosts. Young trees are<br />
very frost sensitive. They need 50 to 100 hours of mild<br />
chilling to remain productive. Trees do best in a sunny<br />
position. A pH of 6.5 to 7.6 is best. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are usually grown from seeds but cuttings of ripe wood will root in sand. It<br />
can be grafted or budded. Seeds can only be stored for 2-3 days when fresh but can be stored for<br />
several years if kept dry. Seeds will then still grow or they can be planted fresh. Seeds are<br />
planted about 3 cm deep in fine soil. They will germinate in about 21-40 days. Seedlings are<br />
often transplanted into pots or plastics bags after 3-4 months then into nursery beds when one<br />
year old. They are easy to transplant and even trees 3 or 4 years old can be transplanted when<br />
the leaves have fallen off. It is best done while trees are still dormant.<br />
Fruit setting is often greatly improved by hand pollination. In some places natural pollinating<br />
agents do not occur. Hand pollination of the flowers can give more even shaped fruit and also<br />
ensure more fruit are formed. To do this, flowers are gathered in a small brown paper bag and<br />
kept till the pollen falls. Then with a small brush the pollen is put on freshly open flowers. The<br />
three petals of the flower are gently held open and the pollen spread around on the female flower<br />
parts (pistils). (Pollen can be stored overnight in a refrigerator if necessary.) Several trees<br />
should be planted near each other to allow them to pollinate. Young trees need support. For best<br />
growth they need adequate moisture during the growing season and good soil nutrition. Pruning<br />
during the dormancy period is done to allow strong branches for fruit bearing.
387<br />
For better kinds of trees it is necessary to use budding or grafting. Rootstocks of Annona<br />
reticulata or A. squamosa can be used. Grafted trees fruit after about 6 years while seedling<br />
trees fruit after 11 years. Shield budding done at the beginning of the growing season is often<br />
used.<br />
Trees can be spaced 8 metres apart. They can be pruned to give a better shaped tree and this<br />
should be done when leaves have fallen. Fruit are carried on both current years growth but also<br />
more prolifically on mature wood. Several trees should be planted near each other for<br />
pollination. As the roots are very sensitive, fertiliser should not be used at transplanting.<br />
Production: Trees are fairly fast growing. Trees can fruit in 4 years. Trees mostly only produce<br />
fruit every second year. Fruit turn a pale green or cream colour as it ripens. As fruit ripen they<br />
develop a bloom on the skin and the carpels begin to separate. Fruit can be stored under<br />
refrigeration. The stalk should be cut from the tree and fruit need to be handled carefully. Fruit<br />
can only be stored for short periods. They need to be stored above 13°C.<br />
Use: Fruit can be eaten raw or used to make drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 73.5 395 1.3 0.5 1 9<br />
Insects:<br />
Graphium agamemnon L. Papilionidae (LEP) Green spotted triangle larvae eating leaves<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rust Fungus Sphaerophragmium boanense Cummins<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Occasional trees occur in higher areas within Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
388<br />
Names<br />
English: Atemoya, Custard apple Scientific name: Annona cherimola x A squamosa<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Annonaceae<br />
Description: A small tree. It can be 3-10 m tall. The<br />
fruit is large and with segments. It is sweet. These are<br />
hybrid trees which bear characteristics between<br />
cherimoyas and sweetsops. They are semideciduous<br />
losing many of their leaves during the year. Flowering<br />
often occurs as a new flush of leaves is produced. The<br />
flesh of the fruit is soft and creamy and sweet.<br />
Distribution: They are semideciduous and suit the<br />
subtropics. The plant is suited to the highlands above<br />
1000 m altitude in the tropics. Low relative humidity<br />
(less than 70%) shortens the receptive period of the<br />
stigmas and results in flowers falling off. Humidity can<br />
be increased by closer spacing, windbreaks and<br />
misting. As trees are shallow rooted, windbreaks are<br />
important to prevent trees falling over. Trees will grow<br />
on a range of soils but more consistent yields come<br />
from trees on sandy to sandy loams. Waterlogged soils<br />
cause flowers to fall off. They require uniform soil<br />
moisture from flowering to harvest.<br />
Cultivation: A spacing of 6 m apart is suitable. Grafting is used for propagation. Tree pruning<br />
and training is done to avoid weak branches which break. Potassium is required in reasonable<br />
amounts. Trees are also sensitive to zinc and boron deficiencies. With high yielding varieties,<br />
some fruit thinning may be required to maintain fruit size. Flowering corresponds with a new<br />
flush of growth and so can be controlled by pruning or removing leaves. The stigmas of the<br />
flowers are only receptive for a few hours and this often results in poor fruit set. Hand<br />
pollination improves fruit set. This is done by transferring pollen with a brush.<br />
Production: It takes about 30 days for a flower to fully open and from fruit development to<br />
maturity takes 4-5 months.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used for drinks and ice cream.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 78.7 309 1.4 0.3 1 43<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
389<br />
Names<br />
English: Soursop Scientific name: Annona muricata L.<br />
Tok pisin: Sapasap Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Annonaceae<br />
Description: It is a low bushy tree 8-10 m high. The<br />
leaves are long (14 cm) and narrow (4 cm). The leaves<br />
are thick and slightly shiny on top. The flowers are<br />
large (2-3 cm), rounded and produced on short stems on<br />
the branches. They occur singly, or in groups of three.<br />
The flowers have two layers of thick fleshy petals. The<br />
fruit are 10-30 cm long. The fruit is spiny and the flesh<br />
is juicy. Many black seeds are embedded in the white<br />
flesh. Fruit are often distorted due to only some of the<br />
ovules being fertilised. Beetles are normally thought to<br />
do the pollinating. This means fruit end up heart<br />
shaped when unevenly pollinated. The flesh of the fruit<br />
is white. Several kinds with different sweetness, shape<br />
and juiciness occur.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows in tropical lowland areas below 1200 m altitude. It can<br />
tolerate quite poor soils and a humid climate. It cannot tolerate frost. The trees can withstand<br />
temperatures down to freezing (0°C) for a short time but salt laden winds from the sea can kill<br />
the trees. They need a well drained soil and cannot tolerate waterlogging. The trees continue to<br />
grow and produce satisfactorily in fairly poor compact soil. But improving the fertility increases<br />
the amount of fruit. They can grow well in hot humid areas but a fungus disease called Blossom<br />
blight can cause flowers to fall off. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown either as seedling trees or grafted plants. They can be grown from<br />
cuttings or air layering. Trees are easy to grow and maintain. <strong>Plants</strong> can easily be grown from<br />
seeds. Seeds can be planted fresh or stored. Seeds grow in about 15 to 20 days. Trees grown<br />
from seeds vary in the quality of the fruit. Seedlings are transferred to polythene bags when 15<br />
cm tall. Trees can also be grown from cuttings or by grafting. This allows better trees to be<br />
selected and produced. Seedlings are suitable for grafting after 6 months. Trees need to be<br />
about 5m apart. Flowers are pollinated by insects. Hand pollination of flowers can increase the<br />
number of fruit that are produced. Fruit are soft and fleshy and difficult to transport.<br />
Production: Trees grow quickly. Trees commence bearing by the third year. It bears fruit<br />
almost continually throughout the year, but there is normally one season when more fruit are<br />
getting ripe. Fruit can weigh up to 4-5 kg each. A tree can produce 12-24 fruit in a year.<br />
Use: Fruit can be eaten fresh or used in ice-cream and for drinks.<br />
Young fruit can be cooked as a vegetable.<br />
Leaves are edible cooked.<br />
CAUTION The seeds are toxic, so should be removed before processing.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
82.4 294 0.88 0.3 16 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Ceroplastes chiton Green Coccidae (HEM) Scale insects
390<br />
Graphium agamemnon L. Papilionidae (LEP) Larvae of Green spotted triangle<br />
Planococcus citri (Risso) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Citrus mealy bug<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungi Capnodium sp. and Microxyphium sp.<br />
Blossom blight Fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz.<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor<br />
Algal leaf spot Alga Cephaleuros virescens<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A quite popular fruit in many coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and other<br />
tropical countries.
391<br />
Names<br />
English: Bullock’s heart Scientific name: Annona reticulata L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Annonaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 7.5 m tall. It has<br />
several branches near the base. Trees loose their leaves<br />
at some times of the year. New shoots have short<br />
brown hairs but older wood is smooth and shiny. The<br />
leaves are long and spear shaped with short leaf stalks.<br />
Around the edge of the leaf is a clear edge. The leaves<br />
smell when crushed. Flowers are greenish yellow.<br />
They occur in groups where the leaves join the stalk.<br />
Flowers occur on new wood growth. The fruit are<br />
reddish brown in colour and 10-12 cm across. There is<br />
a fine hexagonal pattern over the fruit. Inside there are<br />
large brown seeds. The fruit are edible but the seeds<br />
are not eaten.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in the tropical lowlands and<br />
grows up to at least 1200 m altitude. It can grow on<br />
poorer soils with different levels of acidity. It cannot<br />
stand waterlogging. It is less suited to dry climates. In<br />
Nepal it grows to 900 m altitude. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally grown from seeds. Seedling trees vary quite a bit. Seedlings<br />
are easy to transplant. A spacing of 4-7 m is suitable. Better kinds can be grown using budding<br />
or grafting.<br />
Production: Trees begin fruiting at 3-5 years. Fruit setting is often improved by hand<br />
pollination. Fruit can vary from 0.25 to 2.25 kg each. Fruit production is seasonal. The season<br />
is normally Dec. to March.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit is eaten fresh.<br />
Caution: The seed kernel is poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 66.4 462 2.06 0.5 10 50<br />
Insects:<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Coreidae (HEM) Cacao mirid<br />
Paratella sp. Flatidae (HEM)<br />
Terentius nubifasciatus Walker Membracidae (HOM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Commonly seen on Manus Island and in some other coastal areas in Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
392<br />
Names<br />
English: Sweetsop Scientific name: Annona squamosa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Annonaceae<br />
Description: A bushy deciduous tree up to 6 m high. It<br />
has irregular spreading branches. The leaves are<br />
oblong and narrow, often 12 cm long by 4 cm wide.<br />
The leaves have fine hairs underneath. The leaves are<br />
dull green and smell when crushed. The flowers droop<br />
or hang from branches either singly or in groups of 2 or<br />
3. The flowers are greenish colour. The fruit are 8-10<br />
cm across and greenish in colour. The fruit is covered<br />
with round fleshy scales which drop off as the fruit<br />
ripens. Inside the fruit are several shiny black seeds<br />
about 1.5 cm long. The fruit flesh is white and soft.<br />
Distribution: It suits lowland drier climates. It grows<br />
naturally in the dry hills around Port Moresby in Papua<br />
New Guinea. The trees will probably grow<br />
satisfactorily up to about 1000 metres altitude in<br />
equatorial zones. Sweetsops cannot stand frost but they<br />
are able to survive droughts better than many fruit trees.<br />
Trees do not like waterlogged soils. Sweetsops can<br />
grow on fairly poor, dry, stony soils. In Bolivia they<br />
grow in areas with rainfall or 500-1,000 mm per year.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are normally grown from seeds and the seeds retain their viability for several<br />
years. It is better to grow sweetsops from fresh seeds and it is best to soak seeds for 3 days<br />
before sowing. Seeds germinate and start to grow 50 to 70 days after planting. The fruit is<br />
borne on old and new wood. As the fruit is more commonly on new wood, pruning is an<br />
advantage. Trees can be budded or grafted. A small branch of a selected variety is grafted onto<br />
another seedling sweetsop. <strong>Plants</strong> are very hard to get to grow from cuttings. A spacing of 6 m<br />
apart is suitable for sweetsop trees. The fruit is eaten raw. The sweet soft fleshy layer around<br />
the seeds can be eaten raw. When the fruit is ripe it is easy to separate the different soft fleshy<br />
parts of the fruit. Often it is easiest and best to harvest the fruit when they are nearly ripe and<br />
then let them ripen in a warm place.<br />
Production: The tree is slow growing. Trees can start to produce fruit 2 years after they are<br />
planted.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten raw. It is also used in ice cream.<br />
Caution: The seeds, leaves and roots are poisonous. Both an alkaloid, and hydrocyanic acid<br />
have been shown to occur in these parts of the plant.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 76.4 441 2.09 0.6 1 40 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Coreidae (HEM) Cacao mirid<br />
Paratella sp. Flatidae (HEM)
393<br />
Terentius nubifasciatus Walker. Membracidae (HOM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Blossom blight Fungus Glomerella cingulata<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is fairly common in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea especially near Port<br />
Moresby.
394<br />
Names<br />
English: Pacific lychee Scientific name: Pometia pinnata J.R. & G.Forster<br />
Tok pisin: Ton, Taun Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sapindaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree. It can grow into quite a<br />
large tree up to 40-50 metres high. At the base of the tree<br />
there are often large buttresses and the bark is a bright<br />
orange brown colour and rough and scaly. The hard timber<br />
is widely used. The young leaves and twigs of the tree are<br />
bright red. The lowest pair of leaflets are small and clasp<br />
the stem like stipules. There are often 5-11 pairs of<br />
leaflets along a stalk and the leaflets at the centre are often<br />
the largest. The leaflets droop from long stalks. The<br />
flowers are produced in clusters on stalks that are up to 50<br />
cm long and grow near the ends of the branches. The<br />
flowers are small and yellowish green and do not have any<br />
scent. The skin of the ripe fruit peels off like a mandarin.<br />
The edible part is a clear layer around the seed, like in a<br />
rambutan. An inedible kind also occurs. The fruit is<br />
about 6 cm across and the seed about 3 cm across.<br />
Distribution: It is native from Malaysia to Polynesia. It occurs in lowland and lower montane<br />
forest. They occur from sea level to 700 m altitude. They grow along riverbanks and near<br />
swamps. (The inedible kind occurs on the ridges and is the more useful timber tree.)<br />
Cultivation: Dispersal of self sown trees is probably by bats or fresh water. Trees are produced<br />
from seeds. Seedlings are transplanted from a nursery site. Ton are planted from seed. Also self<br />
sown seedling are transplanted and some trees occur wild in the bush. The seeds are probably<br />
spread around by fruit eating bats. It probably takes about 5 years from planting until the trees<br />
bear fruit. The aril around the seed is eaten raw. Roasted seeds are recorded as eaten in other<br />
countries.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> grow quickly. Fruiting is distinctly seasonal with a short and clearly defined<br />
season, early in the year. There also appears to be a significant fluctuation between years on the<br />
amount of fruit set. This does not follow a clearly biennial pattern. In Santa Cruz it has been<br />
observed that fruit set does not always follow flowering. The cause is not known. The season is<br />
very short and is between November and March.<br />
Use: The fleshy layer (aril) around the seed is eaten raw.<br />
Caution: The edible form of ton must be chosen. The actual seeds have been reported to be<br />
poisonous.<br />
The seed are roasted and eaten in parts of the Solomons.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A very popular fruit in season. It occurs in several coastal areas in Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
395<br />
Names<br />
English: Avocado Scientific name: Persea americana var. americana Mill.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Lauraceae<br />
Description: A small to medium sized tree. It grows 8-<br />
10 m high. Trees can grow to 25 m high. The leaf<br />
stalk is 1.5-5 cm long. Leaves are entire, oval and 5-40<br />
cm long. Flowers are greenish, small and on the ends<br />
of branches. Clusters of flowers may contain 200-300<br />
flowers. Normally only 1-3 fruit develop from each<br />
cluster. The fruit is pear shaped or round. It can be 7-<br />
20 cm long. The fruit are greenish-yellow with some<br />
red colouration. The fruit has greenish yellow flesh and<br />
a large round seed. There are 3 named races - West<br />
Indian, Guatemalan and Mexican.<br />
Distribution: Trees grow from sea level up to 2250 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It cannot stand waterlogging.<br />
Branches are easily damaged by wind. It needs to be in<br />
a frost free location or where frosts are rare. West<br />
Indian varieties thrive in humid, tropical climates and<br />
freeze at or near O°C. It does best with neutral or<br />
slightly acid soil. West Indian avocadoes can stand<br />
some salinity. They need a well aerated soil. Growth<br />
is disrupted when soil temperatures are below 13°C. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: Seeds remain viable for 2-3 weeks. Fresh seed held at 25°C day to 15°C night will<br />
germinate in 3 weeks. It is best to propagate vegetatively. Tip cuttings, layers and grafts can be<br />
used. Because different types have pollen at different times of day, for best pollination a mixture<br />
of trees which have pollen and flowers receptive at different times gives bet fruit set. Although<br />
trees will grow in shade, they need sun for fruiting. The leaves do not rot easily and can<br />
accumulate under trees. Other plants cannot be grown under avocado trees.<br />
Production: Seedlings grow quickly and continuously in warm, moist conditions. Seedlings<br />
bear after 5-8 years. Grafted trees can fruit in 1-2 years. A good tree produces 400-600 fruit<br />
each year. A fruit can weigh 50 g to 1 kg. In the subtropics trees often produce 2 main flushes<br />
of fruit per year. From fruit set to maturity can take 6-12 months. Fruit ripen off the tree in 4-14<br />
days.<br />
Use: The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw or cooked.<br />
It is mixed with salads.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 74.4 805 1.8 0.7 480 11 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Abgrallaspis cyanophylli (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scales<br />
Adoxophyes sp. Tortricidae (LEP) leaf roller<br />
Amblypelta spp. Coreidae (HEM) Amblypelta bugs<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Signoret Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
396<br />
Ceroplastes destructor Newstead Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Ceroplastes rubens Maskell Coccidae(HEM) Pink wax scale<br />
Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Coccus hesperidium Linnaeus Coccidae (HEM) Soft brown scale<br />
Coccus longulus (Douglas) Coccidae(HEM) Soft scale<br />
Colgar tricolor Dist. Flatidae (HOM)<br />
Dysmicoccus nesophilus Williams Pseudococcidae (HEM) mealy bug<br />
Eupholus spp. Curculionidae (COL) Eupholus weevils<br />
Euricania villica Ricaniidae (HEM) plant hopper<br />
Ferrisia virgata Cockerell Pseudococcidae (HEM) Striped mealy bug<br />
Fiorinia fioriniae (Targioni) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Gascardia destructor De Lotto Coccidae (HEM) Soft wax scale<br />
Graphium agamemnon L. Papilionidae (LEP) Green spotted triangle<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Miridae (HEM) Cacao mired<br />
Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Homeoxipha fuscipennis Gryllidae (ORTH)<br />
Hyposidra talaca (Wlk.) Geometridae (LEP)<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae<br />
Idopsis grisea Faust. Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) Coccidae(HEM) Soft scale<br />
Milviscutulus spiculatus Williams Coccidae(HEM) Soft scale<br />
Morganella longispina (Morgan) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Oribius spp. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Paratella miniata Mcl. Flatidae (HEM)<br />
Perissopneumon mealy bug<br />
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Planococcus citri (Risso) Pseudococcidae (HEM) mealy bug<br />
Pseudodoniella typica China & Carvalho Miridae (HEM)<br />
Saissetia coffeae (Walker) Coccidae(HEM) Coffee scale<br />
Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard) Thripidae (THYS) Cacao thrips<br />
Terentius nubifasciatus Walker Membracidae (HOM)<br />
Xyleborus perforans (Wollastan) Scolytidae(COL) Island pinhole borer<br />
Diseases:<br />
Root rot Fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands<br />
Algal spot Algae Cephaleuros pulvinatus Schmidle<br />
Root rot Fungus Phellinus noxius (Corner) G.H.Cunn.<br />
And Rigidoporus microporus (Sw.ex Fr.) Overeem<br />
And Fusarium solani<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Corynespora sp.<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor<br />
Algal spot (red rust) Alga Cephaleuros virescens<br />
Sooty mould Fungus<br />
Could get anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporoides<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is an important fruit tree in many tropical and subtropical countries. The tree<br />
and fruit is getting quite wide acceptance at least in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
397<br />
Names<br />
English: Guava Scientific name: Psidium guajava L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A small tree or shrub 8-10 m high. It is<br />
evergreen. It has smooth bark which is mottled. The<br />
bark peels off in smooth flakes. The plant branches<br />
close to the ground. The branches are four angled.<br />
Trees are shallow rooted. The leaves are opposite, dull<br />
green and somewhat hairy. They are oval and<br />
somewhat pointed at both ends. They are 15 cm long<br />
by 2-5 cm wide. The leaves have short leaf stalks. The<br />
flowers are white and showy and borne in loose<br />
irregular types of arrangements of one to three flowers.<br />
The petals are 1.5 to 2 cm long. Both self and cross<br />
pollination occurs due to insects. The flowers grow in<br />
the axils of leaves on new growth. The fruit are<br />
rounded and 4 to 5 cm long. They are green but turn<br />
yellow when ripe. The outer covering is firm and<br />
encloses a pink or nearly white sweet smelling edible<br />
pulp. This contains many seeds. It better selected<br />
varieties both the skin and the seeds are fully edible.<br />
Fruit vary from very acid to very sweet.<br />
Distribution: It is native to C and S America. Guavas thrive in both humid and dry tropical<br />
climates. They do best in sunny positions. They grow wild and are also cultivated. It grows<br />
well from sea level up to 1600 m and occurs up to 1900 m. In Nepal it grows up to 1400 m<br />
altitude. It is killed by frost. They fruit better where there is a cooler season. Temperatures near<br />
30°C give best production. They are very widely distributed in open places and secondary<br />
forests throughout the islands of the Philippines and Papua New Guinea and can become weedy<br />
under some conditions. They produce better in soils with good organic matter. They prefer a<br />
well drained soil but can stand some waterlogging. A pH of 5 to 7 is suitable. Trees cannot<br />
tolerate salty conditions. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are mostly grown from seeds but seedling trees vary in quality. Seeds remain<br />
viable for a year or longer. Seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks but can take 8 weeks. Selected trees<br />
can be propagated by budding or grafting. They can also be propagated by layering, root<br />
cuttings or stem cuttings if hormones are used. For stem cuttings the tips are used and grown<br />
under mist at 28-30°C with bottom heat. Suckers can also be used. Using vegetative methods of<br />
propagation enables better fruit kinds to be preserved. In the lowland tropics trees are self sown.<br />
As fruit are produced on new season's growth, pruning does not affect fruiting greatly. Trees<br />
should be managed to give the maximum number of new vigorous new shoots. Trees can be<br />
pruned for shape. Trees can be grown at 2.5 m within rows and 6 m apart between rows.<br />
Production: Seedling trees may begin to bear 2-3 years after transplanting. Pruning back the<br />
tips slightly increases fruit production. Fruit taste best if ripened on the tree. Ripening can be<br />
hastened by placing them in a brown paper bag with a banana or apple. Mature fruit which have<br />
not changed colour can be stored 2-5 weeks at temperatures of 8-10°C and relative humidity of<br />
85-95%. Mature fruit ripen in 2-3 days at normal temperatures and will keep for 7 days.<br />
Use: The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The fruit are eaten raw.<br />
The fruit can be used for jams and jellies. Half ripe fruit are added to help the jelly set.
398<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
77.1 238 1.1 1.4 60 184 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Abgrallaspis cyanophylli Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Aleurodicus dispersus Russel Aleurodidae (HEM) Spiralling whitefly<br />
Amblypelta spp. Coreidae (HEM) Amblypelta bugs<br />
Apirocalus cornutus Pasc. Curculionidae (COL) Horned weevil<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Bactrocera bryoniae (Tryon.) Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Bactrocera frauenfeldi Schiner Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Bactrocera musae (Try.) Tephritidae (DIPT) Banana fruit fly<br />
Bactrocera trivialis Drew Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Ceroplastes destructor Newstead Coccidae (HEM) Soft waxy scale<br />
Chrysomphalus dictyospermi Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Coccus longulus Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Dysmicoccus brevipes Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealybug<br />
Dysmicoccus nesophilus Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealybug<br />
Eucalymnatus tessellates Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Ferrisia virgata Pseudococcidae (HEM) Striped mealybug<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Coreidae (HEM) Cacao mirid<br />
Hemiberlesia lataniae Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Hemiberlesia palmae Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Icerya purchasi Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Lymantria rosina Pag. Lymantriidae (LEP) Moth larvae<br />
Oribius destructor Marsh. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Parasaisettia nigra Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Perissopneumon sp. Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Planococcus citri Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Planococcus pacificus Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Pulvinaria psidii Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Ragwellelus festivus Miller Miridae (HEM) Cardamom mired<br />
Rastrococcus vicorum Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Saissettia coffeae Coccidae (HEM) Brown coffee scale<br />
Saisettia neglecta Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Steatococcus samaraius Coccidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Syntherata janetta White Saturniidae (LEP) Moth larvae<br />
Unaspis citri Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Diseases:<br />
Fruit rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Fruit rot Fungus Botrydiplodia theobromae<br />
Anthracnose of fruit Fungus Glomerella cingulata (Ston.)Spauld & Schr.<br />
Fruit canker Fungus Pestalotiopsis psidii<br />
Algal spot Algae Cephaleuros virescens Kunz.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The trees are widely spread throughout the country and fruit are popular<br />
particularly with children. Trees mostly grow naturally in coastal areas.
399<br />
Names<br />
English: Cherry guava Scientific name: Psidium cattleianum Sabine<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Psidium littorale var. longipes (O. Berg) Fosb.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen shrub. It grows 3-6 m high.<br />
The young shoots are rounded. They can be hairy or<br />
smooth. The leaf stalk is 4-15 mm long. Leaves are<br />
dark green and shiny above and 4-6 cm x 2-3 cm. The<br />
edges of the leaves curl backwards. The leaves are<br />
wedge shaped at the base. There are several glands<br />
under the leaf. Flowers are white and singly in the axils<br />
of leaves. The flower stalk is 3-7 mm long. It has small<br />
round red or purplish fruit. The flesh is white. There<br />
are several hard seeds inside. The seeds are 3 mm long<br />
by 2.5 mm wide. The fruit are edible<br />
Distribution: It is native to Brazil. It does quite well in<br />
highland areas in the tropics. It grows from sea level to<br />
1900 m. It is more frost resistant than common guava.<br />
It can be grown on a range of soils. It is fairly drought<br />
resistant. It suits hardiness zones 8-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by seed, suckers or cuttings. Pruning helps fruit production. It<br />
can be pruned to form a hedge.<br />
Production: Fruit production is seasonal. There are probably two crops per year.<br />
Use: Fruit are eaten raw or used in jams and jellies.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 80.7 289 0.6 0.2 9 37<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: At present not widely grown in Papua New Guinea, but fruit are liked and it will<br />
probably get wider acceptance.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
400<br />
Names<br />
English: Golden apple, Scientific name: Spondias cytherea Sonnerat<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Spondias dulcis Soland. ex Forst.f.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: Often a Golden apple tree grows to a<br />
large tree which can be up to 30 m high but is more<br />
often 15 m high in cultivation. It has a trunk 60 cm<br />
across which can have buttresses. The bark on the<br />
trunk of the tree is fairly smooth. The twigs break off<br />
easily. The wood is soft and not much use. The leaf is<br />
made up of 4 to 12 pairs of leaflets which have fine<br />
teeth around the edge. The leaves are 20-30 cm long.<br />
The leaves are smooth and dark green on top and pale<br />
green underneath. The leaves are alternate. The leaves<br />
of the tree fall off for a part of the year. The old leaves<br />
wither to a bright yellow colour. The flowers are<br />
produced near the ends of the branches and mostly the<br />
flowers develop before the new young leaves grow.<br />
The flowers occur as several flowers on long stalks.<br />
The flower panicle is 15 to 30 cm long. The flowers<br />
are small and white. They look something like a<br />
mango flower. The fruit is yellow, oval and up to 7cm<br />
long and 4cm across. Sometimes the outside of the<br />
fruit has a mottled black colour. There is one large<br />
stone inside divided into 5 cells with a seed in each.<br />
The stone is branched and has fibres.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. They occur in well drained soils or in dry forests. It occurs in<br />
the lowland rainforest and in valleys up to about 950 m altitude in the equatorial tropics. They<br />
suit warm tropical and subtropical climates and are frost tender. Flowering is normally during<br />
the dry season. This may be important for fruit set. The trees also grow in Indonesia, the<br />
Philippines, Thailand and a number of other Pacific countries. It has also been taken to other<br />
tropical countries. This species covers a full range from being a wild unutilised tree in some<br />
areas to a planted, pruned and highly regarded village fruit tree in other areas. It is better suited<br />
to deeper alluvial soils and rarely occurs on limestone with a thin clay soil cover. Trees often<br />
grow as a pioneer tree on landslides. The wild trees are probably spread around by birds, pigs<br />
and people<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seed and often grows wild. Flowers are bisexual and<br />
there are no apparent pollination problems. The seeds do not produce true to type so that poor<br />
and sour fruit are often produced. Seed normally germinate within one month. It is possible to<br />
grow plants from cuttings although it is difficult. Large cuttings should be used. Doing this<br />
would enable better types of fruit to be regrown. It can also be grown using budding. Seedling<br />
trees are larger and more vigorous than budded or grafted trees. Tree spacing varies from 7.5 m<br />
to 12 m. Young trees benefit by shade during their first year. The top can be cut off trees to give<br />
a lower and more spreading tree. Large cuttings can be used with difficulty. Trees can be<br />
topped to give a lower tree with spreading branches.<br />
Production: Trees may bear from 4-5 years old from seed. Cuttings take 2-3 years. Fruiting<br />
occurs seasonally from Jan. to April in the southern hemisphere.<br />
Use: Fruit are eaten after peeling. They are eaten raw or pickled.<br />
Leaves are edible raw or cooked.
401<br />
The kernel of the seed may be edible.<br />
(Some fruit are poor size and very sour.)<br />
The fruit are also used for sweet drinks and made into jams and chutneys.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Fruit 70.0 657 0.6<br />
Leaves<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Insects:<br />
Often has leaves eaten by caterpillars.<br />
Leaves are also attacked by a beetle<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Sign. Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Moderately common in lowland rainforests in Papua New Guinea and also grown<br />
in villages. Fruit quality varies. It is common and popular in Vietnam.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
402<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Spondias philippensis (Elmer)<br />
Airy Shaw & Forman<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: A small or creeping tree often gaining<br />
support from other trees. Can be up to 30 m high and 7<br />
cm across the trunk. Leaves have 1-4 pairs of leaflets.<br />
The leaflets are somewhat leathery. The white flowers<br />
are in panicles. The fruit are yellow when ripe and 1-2<br />
cm across<br />
Distribution: They grow between 30 and 400 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. They are mostly in the rainforest.<br />
Cultivation: Trees grow wild from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are edible but sour.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Recorded in the Sepik district of Papua New Guinea. A very minor wild edible<br />
fruit.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
403<br />
Names<br />
English: Carambola, Star Fruit Scientific name: Averrhoa carambola L.<br />
Tok pisin: Faiv kona Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Oxalidaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree up to 6-12 m high.<br />
The trunk of the tree is short and crooked and has<br />
branches near the base. The bark is smooth and dark<br />
grey. A leaf is made up of 2 to 11 leaflets with a leaflet<br />
at the end. The leaves are darker and more shiny on the<br />
top surface. The flowers are small (8 mm long) and red<br />
and white in clusters on the small branches. The fruit<br />
are star shaped with five or six angled ridges. They are<br />
yellow and up to 16 cm long and 9 cm wide. The flesh<br />
is white. There are one or two shiny light brown seeds<br />
about 1 cm long, in the bottom of each lobe. Some<br />
carambola have short styles (female flower parts) and<br />
these types need to be cross pollinated by insects. This<br />
means two types need planting. Long style types can<br />
fertilise themselves. Fruit flavour can vary from very<br />
acid to very sweet.<br />
Distribution: Five corners need a warm tropical climate so they are mostly seen in the coastal<br />
lowlands below about 500m altitude. They will grow up to 1200m in the equatorial tropics.<br />
Mature trees can tolerate slight frost. Five corner can grow on several different types of soil.<br />
The soil should be well drained. <strong>Plants</strong> cannot stand waterlogging. It is suited to moist places<br />
but performs better in areas where there is some dry season rather than in places with heavy,<br />
constant rain. Trees are fairly wind resistant providing the winds are not cold. Trees are stressed<br />
by temperatures near 0°C as well as above 37°C. It grows in Nepal to about 300 m altitude. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seed. Seeds grow easily but in fact only a small number of<br />
seeds are fertile. Well developed seeds should be chosen. Seeds are planted in a seed bed and<br />
planted out when 15-20 cm high. Because seeds are produced by cross pollination, variation is<br />
common. It is therefore better to use budding or grafting. Taking buds off good trees, or<br />
grafting twigs from them, onto 1 year old seedling roots, is the commonest method. Marcottage<br />
or air layering can also be used, although it is difficult. A spacing of 6 m x 6 m is suitable.<br />
Trees need to be grafted if sweeter kinds of fruit are to be selected. Because the seeds are<br />
covered by a fatty layer, washing them with soap improves the germination<br />
Production: Seedling trees fruit after 4-5 years. They can produce 400 fruit per tree. Flowers<br />
open after 14-21 days and fruit mature after 14-15 weeks. Trees live for a long time and some<br />
fruit is produced at most times of the year. Flowers and fruit can be found on the tree at most<br />
times, although there is often 2 or 3 main flushes of flowering and fruiting. Fruiting tends to be<br />
seasonal about March to May in the southern hemisphere. The tree does not require pruning or<br />
any special care once established. Flowers are cross pollinated by bees, flies and other insects.<br />
Hand pollination does not help fruit set much. Fruit once ripe will keep for 7-20 days but can be<br />
stored longer at 12°C.<br />
Use: Fruit can be eaten raw or used for drinks.<br />
They can be used for souring dishes. They are also used for jams, jellies, preserves and pickles.<br />
(They are also useful for cleaning brass.)<br />
Caution: The fruit contain soluble oxalates.
404<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 90.8 149 0.5 1 300 40 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Bactrocera sp. Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly maggots<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot cause unknown<br />
Fruit rot Fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporoides Penz<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees are moderately common in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea. Types vary<br />
in their sweetness.
405<br />
Names<br />
English: Bilimbi, Cucumber tree Scientific name: Averrhoa bilimbi L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Oxalidaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree up to 7-10 m high.<br />
It can spread 3 m across. The stem is erect and short.<br />
Leaves are large. Leaves have from 5 to 17 or 34 pairs<br />
of leaflets. Leaves are pale green. The leaves are often<br />
clustered near the branch tips. Flowers are crimson.<br />
They are produced on old branches and the stem. The<br />
flowers are in 15 cm long clusters. These then bear<br />
clusters of cucumber shaped fruit on the trunk and older<br />
branches. Fruit are 8-10 cm long and yellow or green.<br />
They are soft and fleshy with a few flat seeds in the<br />
centre. Fruit are sour but edible.<br />
Distribution: The tree is drought resistant. It will grow<br />
from sea level up to at least 750 m altitude in the<br />
tropics. It prefers well composted, moist soil, in a<br />
protected, partly shaded position. It is frost tender. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seeds. It grows wild in secondary forest in many<br />
coastal areas in tropical Asia.<br />
Production: Flowers are produced all year round. Flowering is more common in dry seasons.<br />
Use: The fruit are used for souring dishes.<br />
They can also be used for jams, drinks, pickles and in curries.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 94.2 84 0.8 1 30 16<br />
Insects:<br />
Bactrocera sp. Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly maggots<br />
Diseases:<br />
Fruit rot Fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporoides Penz<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only of minor use as a flavouring in cooking. Occasional trees occur in Papua<br />
New Guinea and the fruit is probably little used.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
West Indian lime<br />
Citrus aurantifolia<br />
Sweet orange<br />
Citrus sinensis<br />
Wild lime<br />
Citrus hystrix<br />
406<br />
Citrus<br />
Grapefruit<br />
Citrus paradisi<br />
Mandarin<br />
Citrus reticulata<br />
Pomelo<br />
Citrus grandis<br />
Clymenia<br />
Clymenia polyandra<br />
Lemon Citrus limon<br />
Pomelo, Pummelo Citrus grandis 407<br />
West Indian Lime Citrus aurantifolia 408<br />
Grapefruit Citrus paradisi 409<br />
Orange Swit muli Citrus sinensis 410<br />
Lemon Muli Citrus limon 411<br />
Citron Citrus medica 412<br />
Mandarin Citrus reticulata 413<br />
Wild lime Citrus hystrix 414<br />
Sour orange Citrus aurantium 415<br />
Clymenia Clymenia polyandra 416<br />
Lime berry Triphasia trifolia 417
407<br />
Names<br />
English: Pomelo, Pummelo Scientific name: Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A spreading, spiny tree. It grows up to 15<br />
m high. Leaves are large. The leaf stalks have wings.<br />
Young shoots and stems have fine hairs on them.<br />
Flowers are large (2 cm) and creamy white. The<br />
flowers are produced in bunches from woody shoots.<br />
The fruit is very large (20 cm) with a thick skin. The<br />
skin is dotted with oil glands. The skin is light green or<br />
pale yellow. The flesh can be white, pink or red. Each<br />
segment of the fruit is covered by a strong membrane.<br />
Some kinds have many seeds, while others are almost<br />
seedless.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. They thrive in warm<br />
lowland areas in the tropics. They can grow from sea<br />
level up to 900 m. They are tolerant of brackish and<br />
salty conditions. They suit humid climates.<br />
Cultivation: They are mostly grown from seed, but do not breed true. The seed only produce<br />
one seedling unlike many citrus. Trees are often produced by aerial layering, but budding or<br />
grafting can be used. Air-layered trees give sweeter fruit. Trees start producing after about 9<br />
years. Trees need to be about 9 m apart. Trees grown away from other trees often produce<br />
almost seedless fruit.<br />
Production: Fruit is produced almost all the year round. The time from flowering to ripe fruit,<br />
is about 6 months. Fruit can be stored quite well.<br />
Use: The fruit can be eaten fresh or made into marmalade.<br />
The peel can be candied.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Peel<br />
89.1 159 0.76 0.11 0 61.0 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees can be seen occasionally in several coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and<br />
they are common in New Ireland Province.
408<br />
Names<br />
English: Lime, West Indian Lime Scientific name: Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A small much branched evergreen tree. It<br />
grows up to 5-6 m tall with short sharp spines. It<br />
spreads to 3 m across. The leaves are small and dark<br />
green. There are narrow wings on the leaf stalk. The<br />
leaf blade is about 5 cm long by 3 cm wide and oval.<br />
They have a sweet smell when crushed. There is a<br />
thorn at the base of each leaf. (Thorn free kinds are<br />
known). The flowers are yellowish white. They are<br />
2.5 cm across and have 5 petals. The flowers are<br />
produced in the leaf axils or at the ends of branches.<br />
The fruit is small, round 3-4 cm across and become<br />
pale orange to yellow when ripe. They are thin<br />
skinned. The flesh of the fruit is green. West Indian<br />
limes with larger, better fruit also occur<br />
Distribution: They need a warm climate and are most common in coastal regions in the lowland<br />
tropics. They grow from sea level to 2200 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. They suit humid<br />
areas and can survive in poor soils. Light to medium well drained soils are best. It is drought<br />
and frost tender. It grows in Nepal to about 1800 m altitude. It can grow in alkaline soil. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are often grown from seed but are better if grafted. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown by<br />
cuttings. A spacing of 4-5 metres is suitable. When grown from seed, several shoots may<br />
develop from the one seed, which means the seedlings may be identical to the parent.<br />
Production: Trees can start producing fruit quickly. They fruit in 5-6 years. They normally<br />
produce fruit all the year round. Fruit drop when mature. Black limes are sun dried limes. They<br />
are 2.5-4 cm across.<br />
Use: They are mainly used for juice and drinks.<br />
They can be used in pickles.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 91.0 133 0.7 0.25 4 40 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Agrilus occipitalis Esch. Buprestidae (COL) Larvae under the bark<br />
Eudecatoma sp. Eurytomidae (HYMEN) Wasp forming galls<br />
Papilio aegeus Don Papilionidae (LEP) Larvae of citrus butterfly<br />
Phyllocnistis citrella Staint Phyllocnistidae (LEP) Citrus leaf miner<br />
Planococcus citri (Risso) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Meliola citricola<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor<br />
Collar & root rot Fungus Phellinus noxius<br />
Bacterial canker Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Moderately common in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea
409<br />
Names<br />
English: Grapefruit Scientific name: Citrus paradisi Macf.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Probably now Citrus x aurantium Grapefruit gp<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized evergreen tree up to 10-<br />
15 m high. They spread 5 m across. The stem is stout<br />
and crooked. The branches hang down giving a<br />
rounded crown. The thorns are small. The leaves are<br />
dark shiny green and sword shaped. They can be 18 cm<br />
long. The leaves are leathery and they have rounded<br />
teeth along the edge. The leaf stalk usually has a broad<br />
wing. The flowers are creamy white and large. The<br />
flowers occur either singly or in clusters (2-20) in the<br />
axils of leaves. The flowers are 4-5 cm across. The<br />
fruit are large, yellow and in clusters. Fruit can be 9-15<br />
cm across. Fruit are very juicy with a sweet-sour pulp.<br />
The juice sacs are large but closely packed. There are<br />
many cultivars.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> grow from sea level up to 2000 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. They are frost tender. <strong>Plants</strong><br />
prefer well-drained soils and a protected sunny<br />
position. <strong>Plants</strong> are drought tender. They do best in<br />
humid climates. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. The seed should be sown fresh. Trees are best<br />
grown by layering or grafting.<br />
Production: Fruiting tends to be seasonal from April to August in the Southern hemisphere.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten as fresh fruit, or the juice is used in drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 43.5 45 0.3 0.1 Tr 19 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Anthracnose Fungus Glomerella cingulata (Stonem)Spauld & Schr.<br />
Bacterial canker Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris<br />
Algal leaf spot Alga Cephaleuros virescens<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not widely grown in Papua New Guinea.
410<br />
Names<br />
English: Orange, Sweet orange Scientific name: Citrus sinensis (L.)Osbeck<br />
Tok pisin: Swit muli Synonyms: Probably now Citrus x aurantium<br />
Sweet Orange group<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree up to 8-10 m high. It<br />
spreads to 4 m across. The stem is short, stout and<br />
spiny. It has a dense, rounded crown. The leaves are<br />
dark green, sword shaped and tapering towards the tip.<br />
They are 5-15 cm long. The leaves have a sweet smell<br />
when crushed. The leaf stalks have narrow wings and<br />
the stalk is jointed to the blade. The flowers are white<br />
and have a scent. The flowers have 5 petals and occur<br />
either singly or in clusters. The fruit often remain<br />
green colour and don't turn orange when ripened below<br />
600 m altitude in the tropics. The fruit are about 9 cm<br />
across. They have 10-14 segments.<br />
Distribution: Not suited to very wet areas. Not suited<br />
to high altitudes. Seeds won't grow below 13 °C. They<br />
need a well drained, fertile, sandy soil. They are<br />
drought and frost tender. Trees need temperatures<br />
above 3-5°C to grow. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are often grown from seeds but these do not breed true. Seeds grow most<br />
easily between 27°C and 32°C. It is better to use budded plants. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grafted.<br />
Green fruit can be treated with ethylene to give an orange colour, if people think an "orange"<br />
fruit is not supposed to have green colour!<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten fresh, and the juice used in drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 86.8 197 0.94 0.1 21 53.2 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor<br />
Sooty mould Fungus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees are seen scattered in many lowland areas in Papua New Guinea. Few good<br />
quality fruit are produced.
411<br />
Names<br />
English: Lemon Scientific name: Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f<br />
Tok pisin: Muli Synonyms: Probably now Citrus x limon<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree with short spines.<br />
It grows to 7 m high and spreads to 3 m across. It<br />
branches freely. Young branches are often reddish.<br />
Leaves are about 5-12 cm long. They are green and<br />
drawn out to a point, with notched edges. The leaf<br />
stalk is usually not winged. The leaves do not have<br />
much of a scent. The flowers are white, with 5 petals<br />
and have a strong sweet smell. They are 4-5 cm across.<br />
The fruit is oval shaped and with a knob at the end.<br />
Fruit can be 7-15 cm long. The skin is fairly thin,<br />
rough and light yellow. The flesh is sour and the seeds<br />
are oval.<br />
Distribution: Trees do not do well on the coast in the tropics but they grow well at about 1300<br />
m and will grow up to 2200 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. They prefer a light to medium,<br />
well drained soil. They are drought resistant but most varieties are frost tender. They need a<br />
temperature above 3-5°C for growth. They suit temperate regions. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: Many trees are seedlings. Better trees are grafted.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is mostly too sour to eat fresh but the juice is used to make drinks.<br />
The peel is candied.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 83.3 65 1.1 0.4 Tr 80 0.1<br />
Juice 91.3 31 0.3 0.1 Tr 50 Tr<br />
Insects:<br />
Aonidiella aurantii Maskell Diaspididae (HEM) Red scale<br />
Amblypelta theobromae Brown Coreidae (HEM) Amblypelta bug<br />
Oribius cinereus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Papilio aegeus Don Papilionidae (LEP) Orchard butterfly<br />
Phyllocnistis citrella Staint Phyllocnistidae (LEP) Citrus leaf miner<br />
Planococcus citri (Risso) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Citrus mealy bug<br />
Rhinoscapha thomsoni Waterh. Curculionidae (COL) Weevil<br />
Unaspis citri (Comst.) Diaspididae (HEM) White louse scale<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Ascochyta citri Penz.<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Meliola citricola Sydow<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonicolor<br />
Scab Fungus Sphaceloma fawcettii<br />
Bacterial canker Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Less common than West Indian limes on the coast in Papua New Guinea but more<br />
common in highland areas.
412<br />
Names<br />
English: Citron Scientific name: Citrus medica L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree. It grows up to 3-<br />
5 m high and spreads to 2 m across. The stem is stout,<br />
erect and thorny. The leaves are green and 20 cm x 10<br />
cm. The tree has fat spines. The leaves have teeth<br />
along the edge. The leaf stalk does not have wings.<br />
The flowers are white, star shaped and with 5 petals.<br />
They have a scent. The fruit are large and long, with a<br />
rough skin. The fruit grows to 15-25 cm long by 10-15<br />
cm wide. The flesh is white. The fruit does not have a<br />
lot of juice.<br />
Distribution: It prefers rich, moist soils. They should<br />
be in a protected sunny position. They are drought and<br />
frost tender. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown by seed, cuttings or grafting.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The thick layer of inner white skin is used as candied peel.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 90.2 170 0.7 0.5 53 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Scab Fungus Sphaceloma fawcettii<br />
Algal spot Algae Cephaleuros virescens Kunze<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Fruit are sold in markets. Trees and fruit are only occasionally seen in Papua New<br />
Guinea.
413<br />
Names<br />
English: Mandarin, Tangerine Scientific name: Citrus reticulata Blanco<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree up to 4-8 m tall. It<br />
spreads to 2 m across. The stem is erect, branching and<br />
thorny. The leaves are dark green, and long and narrow<br />
in shape. They are 3-4 cm long. There is only a<br />
narrow wing on the leaf stalk. It has a few or no spines.<br />
The flowers are white and star shaped. They are 2.5-4<br />
cm across and have a scent. Fruit are almost round and<br />
the skin peels off easily. The fruit are 4-8 cm long.<br />
The flesh is red, juicy and sweet.<br />
Distribution: The hardiest of the citrus. It grows from<br />
sea level up to 2300 m altitude in the tropics. They do<br />
best between 800 m and 1200 m altitude. A well<br />
drained soil is needed. They also prefer a drier climate.<br />
It is drought and frost resistant. They need a<br />
temperature above 3-5 °C. It suits hardiness zones 9-<br />
11.<br />
Cultivation: Often trees are grown from seed. Some breed true from seed. Seedling trees take a<br />
long time to start producing fruit. Budded trees are best. A spacing of about 8 m between trees<br />
is suitable. From one seed, several seedlings can grow. Using seedlings of seeds with 3 or more<br />
shoots helps produce trees true to type. Cuttings or layering can also be used.<br />
Production: Fruit tend to be produced seasonally. The season is often from April to August in<br />
the Southern Hemisphere.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten fresh.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 87.6 184 1.5 0.8 42 RE 136<br />
Insects:<br />
Black leaf-footed bug Coreidae (HEM) Leptoglossus australis (F).<br />
Also scales, aphids, fruit flies and leaf miners.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Meliola citricola Sydow<br />
Pink encrustation on stems Fungus Podonectria sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Not widely grown in Papua New Guinea but more are being planted.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
414<br />
Names<br />
English: Wild lime Scientific name: Citrus hystrix (L.) D.C.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Probable syn. Citrus papuana Bail.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A low shrubby tree up to 6 or 8 m high.<br />
The trunk is thin and crooked. It has slender sharp<br />
thorns. The leaf petiole has very large lobes. The leaf<br />
is oval. The leaves can be 8-15 cm long by 3-5cm wide<br />
including the leafy stalks. The leaves are dark green<br />
and shiny above and pale and matt underneath. The<br />
flowers are small and white. The fruit are small (8 cm<br />
across) with a rough, thick skin and very little edible<br />
pulp inside. They are very acid. The peel of the fruit is<br />
very fragrant.<br />
Distribution: It mainly occurs in lowland areas in the<br />
tropics. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It often now grows wild in coastal areas. It grows slowly.<br />
Production: The tree flowers throughout the year but has most ripe fruit about June and July.<br />
Use: The leaves and fruit are used to make drinks or to flavour food.<br />
The fruit are eaten crystallised. The juice of the fruit is used for flavouring.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A citrus of only minor importance in Papua New Guinea, but grown is some<br />
coastal areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
415<br />
Names<br />
English: Sour orange Scientific name: Citrus aurantium L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree up to 10-15 m high and<br />
with slender thorns. It spreads to 5 m across. The stem<br />
is stout and erect. It is covered with smooth greyishbrown<br />
bark. The leaf stalks have broad wings. The<br />
leaves are glossy green, oval and 10 cm long. The<br />
leaves taper towards the base and are paler under the<br />
leaf. There are spines in the axils of the leaves. The<br />
flowers are white and have a sweet smell. They are 2<br />
cm across and there can be 1, 2 or a cluster, in the axils<br />
of leaves. The fruit is often green with a reddish tinge<br />
and fairly juicy but sour. The fruit are 5-7 cm long.<br />
The fruit is often rough skinned. The flesh is divided<br />
into segments with sour pulp.<br />
Distribution: Mostly in coastal areas in the tropics. It<br />
is drought and frost resistant. It does best in a protected<br />
sunny position. It must have a temperature above 3-<br />
5°C to grow. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is mostly grown from seeds. It can also be grown by cuttings. The seeds often<br />
produce several shoots.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is bitter, therefore mostly used for marmalade or flavouring.<br />
The fruit are used for peel and for sherry and wine.<br />
The tree is used as a rootstock for budding or grafting other citrus on to.<br />
The oil from the flowers is used for flavouring.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 86.0 205 0.9 0.5 4 53<br />
Peel<br />
Diseases:<br />
Insects:<br />
Aonidiella citrina Coq Diaspididae (HEM) Yellow scale<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees are scattered in a number of coastal areas in Papua New Guinea but fruit are<br />
not used and just left lying under the tree.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
416<br />
Names<br />
English: Clymenia Scientific name: Clymenia polyandra (Tanaka) Swingle<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Citrus polyandra Tanaka;<br />
Citrus flaviflora Peekel<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A citrus relative. The tree is 5-8 m tall.<br />
The leaves are large (18 cm x 6 cm) and simple.<br />
Young leaves have lobes. The leaves are more thin and<br />
papery than other citrus. The leaves taper towards the<br />
tip and have notched edges. The leaf stalks are short<br />
and without wings. It does not have thorns. The<br />
flowers are dark yellow and 2.5-3 cm across. They<br />
occur either singly, or as 2-4 together, in the axils of<br />
leaves. The fruit is yellow and the size of a large lime.<br />
They are 7-10 cm long by 6-8 cm wide. The flesh is<br />
edible. The skin of the fruit can irritate human skin.<br />
The seeds are flattish with lines on them.<br />
Distribution: It is cultivated on Manus and New<br />
Ireland. It only occurs in PNG.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seed.<br />
Production: Some kinds have sweet pleasant tasting fruit.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten fresh.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, fruit are of moderate importance in only a few limited<br />
areas. It could become important for breeding or rootstocks.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
417<br />
Names<br />
English: Lime berry Scientific name: Triphasia trifolia (Burm.f.)P.Wils.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Triphasia trifoliata (L.) DC.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A small spiny shrub up to 7 m high with<br />
slender zigzag twigs. There are 2 spines near each leaf.<br />
The leaves have 3 leaflets and are small and dark green<br />
with slightly toothed edges. Flowers are in axils of<br />
leaves and are white and about 1 cm across. The small<br />
berry is green when young and turns red when ripe.<br />
They are 1-2 cm across. The skin has glands in it and<br />
the 3 sections of the fruit have 1-3 slimy seeds inside.<br />
Distribution: It grows in tropical Asia. They are<br />
widely distributed in the settled areas of the Philippines<br />
and are sometimes cultivated. Mainly in lowland<br />
coastal areas.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw or cooked or made into jam or juice. They are preserved in syrup.<br />
They are also pickled.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A minor cultivated fruit in some coastal villages in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
418<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Corynocarpus cribbianus (F.M.Bail.) L.Smith<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Cyanocarpus cribbiana F.M. Bail.<br />
Tok ples: Mundroi Plant family: Corynocarpaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree, up to 20 m<br />
high. The trunk can be straight or crooked.<br />
The bark is grey, with many long cracks along<br />
it. The twigs vary between angular and round,<br />
in cross section. The leaf stalk is 1-5 cm long<br />
and with a groove along it. The leaf is 9-26<br />
cm long by 3-13 cm wide. (Leaves tend to be<br />
larger in the Solomons than in Papua New<br />
Guinea or Australia.) The leaf is pointed at the<br />
tip, and rounded near the base. The 8-11 pairs<br />
of veins curve, and join near the leaf edge.<br />
The veins have a dent inwards on the top of<br />
the leaf surface, and are raised, underneath the<br />
leaf. The leaf is thin textured but firm. The<br />
flower cluster is branched and about 20 cm<br />
long.<br />
The individual flower stalks are about 2-4 mm long. The flowers have a scent, and are whitish<br />
or occasionally slightly pink or greenish. It produces clusters of fruit on the ends of the<br />
branches. The fruit are 10 -12 cm x 8-10 cm, and have one large seed inside. The fruit is green<br />
when young, and pink or cream when ripe. The fruit is shaped like a mango. This is an<br />
attractive tree, especially when fruiting. It is a good shade tree.<br />
Distribution: Trees occur in well drained rainforest, up to 1800 m altitude, in the tropics near<br />
the equator. They have been recorded up to 2750 m above sea level. They occur naturally in<br />
Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. In the Solomons trees have been<br />
recorded up to 600 m above sea level.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seed.<br />
Production: The tree flowers and fruits throughout the year. The fruit fall when ripe, and are<br />
then collected from the ground. (It is important to only use fruit which fall naturally)<br />
Use: The fruit are edible. They are sweet but not juicy. Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: This is a quite important fruit in Papua New Guinea on Manus and on islands near<br />
Madang.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
419<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Baccaurea papuana F.M.Bail.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Euphorbiaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 12 m tall but often only<br />
3-4 m high. The leaves are rather rough and clustered<br />
at the ends of the small branches. The leaves are 10 to<br />
18 cm long and 6 to 8 cm wide. The edges of the<br />
leaves are wavy and the leaf is tapered towards the<br />
base. Flowers form long yellow stalks. These female<br />
flower stalks are 15-20 cm long. They have a sweet<br />
smell. The fruit hang on a chain (raceme) from the<br />
branches and main trunk. The fruit are 4-5 cm across<br />
and turn yellow when ripe. Male and female trees<br />
occur. The flower gives off a strong smell. The fruit<br />
have several seeds inside.<br />
Distribution: They occur in several lowland areas from<br />
sea level up to 1600 m altitude. They are mainly eaten<br />
in Gulf and Milne Bay Provinces of Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Cultivation: They are both cultivated and grow wild from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: An indigenous tree in Papua New Guinea, valued in some areas and at least worth<br />
evaluation. Several other Baccaurea species are grown and used in SE Asia.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
420<br />
Names<br />
English: Tree tomato, Tamarillo Scientific name: Cyphomandra betacea<br />
(Cavanilles) Sendtner<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: This is a small fruit tree or shrub in the<br />
tomato and tobacco family. It grows as a shrub with<br />
soft wood and it grows up to 4 m high. The stem is 5-<br />
10 cm across. It is brittle and shallow rooted. The<br />
leaves are large (25 cm x 12 cm) and soft. They are<br />
heart shaped at the base. The flowers are 1-2 cm across<br />
with a sweet smell. They are in loose clusters near the<br />
ends of branches. Flowers are normally self pollinating<br />
but need wind. The fruit is about 6-12 cm long, the<br />
shape of a hen's egg and red or orange in colour. They<br />
hang off the ends of the branches. The skin of the fruit<br />
is somewhat tough but the flesh around the seeds is soft<br />
and juicy. The flesh varies between yellow and dark<br />
purple. The flesh is edible. The seeds are black, thin<br />
and nearly flat. They are edible.<br />
Distribution: Tree tomatoes are subtropical and the normal range is 750 m to 2200 m altitude in<br />
the equatorial tropics but can be up to 3000 m in continental tropical regions. In Nepal it grows<br />
between 1000-1400 m altitude. It is slightly more hardy to cold temperatures than the tomato.<br />
They do best where average temperatures are about 15°-21°C. <strong>Plants</strong> don't fruit at low altitudes<br />
in the tropics. <strong>Plants</strong> do best where temperatures are above 10°C. Trees cannot stand much frost<br />
although mature trees will survive light frosts over short periods. They can't stand waterlogging<br />
or drought. Trees can grow under shade but do better in the sun unless it is too hot and dry.<br />
Deep, fertile, permeable soil is best. The trees can be grown in shade as well as in full sunlight.<br />
They need garden sites that are clean of disease and fertile. <strong>Plants</strong> don't fruit at low altitudes in<br />
the tropics due to constant high temperatures. They are susceptible to frost damage. The brittle<br />
branches make them easily damaged by wind and therefore needing sheltered sites. They need<br />
shelter from strong wind. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: They can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Seeds grow better is they are washed<br />
and dried then placed in a freezer for 24 hours before planting out. Seeds produce a high<br />
branched erect tree. Cuttings produce a lower bushier plant. Cuttings of 60-90 cm long stalks<br />
are suitable. Cuttings should be taken from 1 to 2 year old wood which is 1-2 cm thick. Root<br />
cuttings can also be used. It has shallow roots therefore needs careful weeding. A spacing of 3<br />
m apart is sufficient. Because the roots are easily damaged by nematodes, plants grafted or<br />
budded onto rootstocks that are resistant to nematode will live longer. The root rot fungus can<br />
mean it is difficult to get plants established in old gardens. The root knot nematodes also mean<br />
trees can die more quickly than they should, and sometimes this occurs in 3 or 4 years. High<br />
humidity can also cause stem rots. Young plants can be pruned to produce lower branches and<br />
fruiting. As fruit is produced on new branches, branches which have borne fruit can be pruned<br />
out. Flowers are self compatible so that pollination can occur within the one plant by wind.<br />
Production: It commences bearing in its second year, when grown from seed. Fruit production<br />
is continuous throughout the year. Trees can bear hundreds of fruit year round. The tree is short<br />
lived lasting 5 or 6 years. Yields of 20 kg per plant are possible. Fruit are ready to harvest when<br />
the red or yellow colour develops. Fruit can be stored in a refrigerator for 10 weeks provided<br />
they are not frozen (3°C).
421<br />
Use: The content of the berries is eaten. It can be eaten raw or cooked. The layer just under the<br />
skin can be bitter while the layer around the seeds is sweet. The seeds can be eaten, or strained<br />
out. The outside skin is easily removed by immersing fruit in boiling water for one or two<br />
minutes.<br />
Sometimes the fruit is boiled to make a drink.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Seed<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Bactrocera tryoni Frogg Tephritidae(DIPT) Queensland fruit fly<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Ascochyta sp.<br />
Very susceptible to root rot Fungus Phytophthora palmivora Butl.<br />
And Pythium sp.<br />
Leave and ripe fruit get anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporoides Penz.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is quite often seen in the highlands and appears to be<br />
increasing in importance.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
422<br />
Names<br />
English: Naranjilla Scientific name: Solanum quitoense Lam.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: A small shrub up to 2 m high. It is hairy<br />
or thorny. The leaves are large (60 cm) and angular<br />
and hairy on both surfaces. They have thorns along the<br />
veins. Young leaves are purple. The flowers are pale<br />
violet and 2-4 cm across. The fruit are produced in<br />
clusters on the trunk. The fruit is bright orange in<br />
colour and covered with short hairs which can be<br />
removed by rubbing. The fruit is about 6 cm across.<br />
The flesh is yellow-orange to green. It has numerous<br />
small edible seeds.<br />
Distribution: It suits the highland areas in the tropics.<br />
The best altitude is probably 800 to 2000 m. In the<br />
Andes it grows between 1,500-2,800 m altitude. The<br />
temperatures are 14-22°C. It is frost sensitive. It likes<br />
humidity. It grows well with rainfall of 1,500 mm per<br />
year. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seeds. Seeds can be bought in stores or collected from the<br />
fruit. Seeds germinate in 25-40 days in warm soil. A spacing of 1-2 m is suitable. <strong>Plants</strong> can be<br />
grown from cuttings. Cuttings need to be about 15 cm long. The cuttings should be stored for a<br />
few days to allow the cut surfaces to heal before planting. Grafting onto more resistant root<br />
stocks is possible.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> commence bearing fruit after 6-12 months. They bear fruit throughout the<br />
year.<br />
Use: Fruit is eaten fresh or used for jams and drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii<br />
Pests:<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: <strong>Plants</strong> are not common in Papua New Guinea, but they are increasing in<br />
importance in the highlands.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
423<br />
Names<br />
English: Argus pheasant tree Scientific name: Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe<br />
Tok pisin: Mon Synonyms: Dracontomelon puberulum Miq.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 50 m tall and with an umbrella<br />
shaped crown of leaves. It often has buttresses at the base. The<br />
leaves are hairy and compound with both the leaflets and leaves<br />
carried alternately. The leaves come one after the other on<br />
opposite sides and have 5 to 7 pairs of leaflets. The leaves are<br />
pointed at the end and bluntly pointed at the base. The leaflets<br />
have a smooth edge. Young leaves are reddish colour. The<br />
flowers are small white, with no smell and carried as several on<br />
a stalk. The fruit are yellow and round. The fruit is 2-3 cm<br />
across and has 5 flecks around it. There is little edible flesh<br />
around a flattened seed.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest<br />
and in valleys up to about 800 m. It occurs in high rainfall<br />
areas. It is common throughout the Philippines at low altitudes.<br />
The tree also occurs in other SE Asian countries. They are<br />
common from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao in the<br />
Philippines.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seed. Many trees grow wild.<br />
Production: It flowers and fruits throughout most of the year. Leaf fall and a fruit flush follows<br />
a dry spell. Trees can produce after 3-4 years. An average fruit weighs 17 g. The season<br />
normally coincides with the breadfruit and mango season. The fruit turn slightly yellow when<br />
ripe and the seed inside turns brown. If the seed inside is white, then the fruit is not ripe.<br />
Use: The fleshy part of the fruit is eaten raw. It is sour. They are used as a sour relish.<br />
The flowers and leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.<br />
The kernel inside the seed is edible.<br />
Caution: The sap of the tree may be irritating and /or poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Flower<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The fruit are sold in markets. The tree is common in coastal areas of Papua New<br />
Guinea, but the popularity of the fruit varies. In Madang it is a most popular fruit.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
424<br />
Names<br />
English: Surinam cherry Scientific name: Eugenia uniflora L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia michelii Lamk.;<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 5-7.5 m high. It is<br />
often a much smaller shrub. Branches often develop<br />
close to the ground. The branches are thin and wiry. It<br />
has attractive oval and pointed leaves. They are dark<br />
green and shiny. The leaves are 2.5-6 cm long by 1.5-3<br />
cm wide. New leaves are dark purple or red. The<br />
flowers are small and white and the fruit is lobed and<br />
red. There is a single large seed inside. The fruit is<br />
about 3 cm across. The tree is used as a hedge plant.<br />
The flesh of the fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It is native to South<br />
America. It grows in the tropical lowlands from sea<br />
level up to about 800 m or higher in Papua New<br />
Guinea. In south India it grows to 1700 m altitude.<br />
It is suited to a warm moist climate. Adequate moisture is needed during fruit development. It<br />
can be grown in the subtropics. It can stand some frost. Mature trees can withstand frosts down<br />
to -3°C. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seeds but can be grown from cuttings. Seeds should<br />
be fresh. Seeds grow in 3-5 weeks. Seed which are extracted from the fruit then washed and<br />
dried can be stored for a month. Seed can be sun dried for 7 days then stored in cool open<br />
containers for a few months. Seed can be planted 1-2 cm deep in nursery beds than transplanted<br />
when 20-30 cm tall. Trees can be trimmed and pruned to form hedges. Ground layering and<br />
suckers could probably be used to produce new plants. Tips from trees with better fruit types<br />
can be grafted onto seedling root stocks.<br />
Production: It is a slow growing plant. Several crops of fruit are produced each year. Flowers<br />
or fruit can be on the tree throughout the year in tropical locations. Trees start to produce fruit<br />
after about 3-4 years. Fruit are mature 5-6 weeks after flowering.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit is eaten fresh. It can be cooked or used for jams and other products.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Scab of fruit Fungi Pestalotia eugeniae Thuem.<br />
And Pyrenochaeta sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees have been grown and distributed in some coastal areas in Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
425<br />
Names<br />
English: Sweet cherry, Beach cherry Scientific name: Eugenia reinwardtiana (Blume)DC<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia carissoides F. Muell.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 3-6 m tall. It<br />
spreads 0.5-2 m across. The bark is smooth<br />
and flaky. It is pale brown. The young<br />
shoots have short hairs pressed against the<br />
stem. The leaves are simple and 2-9 cm<br />
long by 1-4.5 cm across. They are smooth<br />
and have oil dots along them. The leaf<br />
stalks are short (0.2-0.4 cm long). The<br />
leaves are fairly thick with a blunt tip. The<br />
leaves are shiny on the upper surface.<br />
Young leaves are bronze red. The flowers<br />
are mostly 1-3 together. The flowers are<br />
white and about 1.2 cm across. Both male<br />
and female parts occur on the one flower.<br />
The fruit occur either singly or in bunches in the angles of leaves. The fruit are 1.5-2.1 cm long<br />
by 1.3-2.3 cm wide. When ripe the fruit are red. There is one seed inside. The seed is 0.7-1.2<br />
cm long. The flesh is edible.<br />
Distribution: It is native to NE Australia. It is a tropical rainforest species. Often it occurs in<br />
coastal scrub. They can tolerate salt laden winds. They require a well drained soil. Trees will<br />
grow in full sunlight or heavy shade. They can tolerate very slight frosts.<br />
Cultivation: They can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings but the<br />
cuttings are slow to form roots.<br />
Production: Trees are very slow growing but commence flowering while still small. Trees<br />
flower and fruit throughout the year. Most commonly flowering is June to February with fruit<br />
maturing August to March.<br />
Use: The flesh of the fruit is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is reported to be in some areas in Western Province in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
426<br />
Names<br />
English: Watery rose apple Scientific name: Syzygium aqueum (Burm.f.)Alst.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia aquea Burman f.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: It mostly occurs as just a small shrub with<br />
branches near the base. It is 5-8 m tall. But it can<br />
occur as a tree up to 10-30 m high with a short crooked<br />
trunk. The trunk can be 70 cm across. The twigs are<br />
angular and carry simple opposite leaves. The leaves<br />
are somewhat narrow and pointed at both ends and they<br />
clasp the stem without a stalk. They are stiff. They are<br />
from 5 to 23 cm long by 6 cm wide. They have a heart<br />
shaped base. The leaves have many oil dots. The<br />
flowers are yellowish green. They are about 3 cm<br />
across. The flowers occur in many flowered clusters in<br />
the angles of leaves. They can also be on the ends of<br />
branches and on side shoots from stems. Flowers and<br />
fruit are slightly scented. The fruit is a fleshy yellow or<br />
red berry which is bell shaped. The fruit is about 3-5<br />
cm across. It has a crater in the end with a long thread<br />
in it. The fruit is waxy and crisp and is often seedless.<br />
When seeds occur there can be one or more seeds. The<br />
fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in many tropical countries. In grows in lower montaine forest. It grows<br />
from sea level to 1600 metres near the equator. It grows well in wet places but needs a well<br />
drained soil. They can grow in poor alkaline soils. They are found in Samar in the Philippines<br />
growing in areas of shrub and forest at low and medium altitudes. <strong>Plants</strong> are sensitive to frost. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown fairly easily from cuttings but can also be grown by air layering<br />
or budding. Buds do not always continue to grow successfully. A spacing of 6-8 metres<br />
between trees is suitable. Where seeds occur, plants can be grown from fresh seed. Fruit from<br />
these plants can be more oily and acidic.<br />
Production: Fruiting is seasonal but there can be 2 or 3 crops a year. In the southern<br />
hemisphere flowering is often about October with fruit from October to January. Fruit develop<br />
quickly.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw.<br />
They are also used for drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Insects:<br />
Coccus viridus Coccidae (HEM) Green scale<br />
Diseases:<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is moderately common in lowland areas of Papua New Guinea and suits drier<br />
areas than Malay apple.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
427<br />
Names<br />
English: Malay-apple Scientific name: Syzygium malaccense (L.)Merr. et Perry<br />
Tok pisin: Laulau Synonyms: Eugenia malaccensis L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree 5 to 25 m tall. It spreads out<br />
to 4 m across. Trees tend to branch near the base. Leaves are<br />
simple, thick and leathery and shiny on both surfaces. They<br />
are large and oval. Leaves can be up to 25-30 cm long and<br />
12 cm wide. The leaves have a vein around the edge of the<br />
leaf. Flowers are produced on old wood and on the trunk as<br />
well as in the angles where leaves join and at the ends of<br />
branches. Flowers are purple, crimson or white and 2.5 cm<br />
across. They mostly occur in dense clusters giving a brilliant<br />
display. The red stamens are often fallen under the tree. The<br />
fruit is rounded or oblong and 5-6 cm across by 6-8 cm long.<br />
The fruit has white flesh around a large brown seed. The<br />
seed is about 1.3 cm by 1.7 cm. Some kinds are seedless.<br />
The skin of the fruit is red or pink with darker stripes. The<br />
fruit are edible.<br />
Distribution: They grow in coastal areas in the tropics and up to 1000 m altitude. It is a<br />
rainforest species. They need fertile soil, plenty of moisture, and good drainage. They are<br />
sensitive to frost. It does best in an open sunny position. It can tolerate drought but does best<br />
where there is an absence of drought. They occur in NE Queensland in Australia and across<br />
Malesia. They have also been introduced into other regions. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are normally grown from seed. Seeds need to be fresh. Where termites are a<br />
problem damaging seedlings, growing them in light shade reduces the problem. <strong>Plants</strong> can be<br />
grown by budding, grafting, layering or cuttings. Aerial layering is probably the most common<br />
method for vegetative propagation. Budding onto rootstocks of the same species have proven<br />
successful, but they are rarely successful if rootstocks of related species are used. A spacing of<br />
10 m between trees is suitable.<br />
Production: Flowering and fruiting is seasonal. In the southern hemisphere flowering is about<br />
October to November. Fruit ripen in 2-3 months. The fruit are ripe January to February.<br />
Use: The fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked. They are also used in jam and pickles.<br />
The young leaves are eaten. The flowers have also been recorded as being eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
91.1 105 0.4 0.4 15<br />
Insects:<br />
Bactrocera sp. Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly larvae<br />
Coccus viridus Coccidae (HEM) Green scale<br />
Lasiodactylus notabilis Oliff. Nitidulidae (COL)<br />
Cryptophasa sp nr arithmologa Meyr. Xyloryctidae (LEP)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungi Chaetothyrium womersleyi Hansf.<br />
And Brooksia tropicalis Hansf.<br />
Importance: A common village fruit tree in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
428<br />
Names<br />
English: Java apple Scientific name: Syzygium javanicum Miq.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia javanica Lam.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A tree which grows 5-15 m tall. It often<br />
has branches near the base. The leaves are smooth on<br />
both surfaces. It has a short leaf stalk. Fruit are usually<br />
green but can be pink or red. White fruited kinds are<br />
often seedless while pink fruited kinds can have 1 or 2<br />
seeds. The fruit are pear shaped. The skin of the fruit<br />
has a waxy feel. The fruit can be 12.5 cm long.<br />
Distribution: It needs a fertile soil. In south India it<br />
grows to 1200 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown by seed. Seed need to be sown while fresh. Seedless kinds are<br />
grown using air layering. Where branches are low to the ground layering in the soil can be used.<br />
Production: Trees start to produce fruit while still small.<br />
Use: Fresh fruit are eaten raw. They are also made into sauce.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
429<br />
Names<br />
English: Rose apple Scientific name: Syzygium jambos (L.)Alston<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia jambos L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree. It grows up to 7.5-15 m tall<br />
and with a spread of 4 m. It can be a small shrub. The stem is<br />
erect and 20-40 cm across. The branches hang downwards. The<br />
bark is greyish-green. The young twigs are either flattened of<br />
somewhat square in cross section. The leaves are simple, thick<br />
and shiny. The leaves are narrow and pointed (10-20 cm long<br />
and 3-4 cm wide). They taper towards both ends. Young leaves<br />
are brownish red coloured. The leaves have 16-18 pairs of side<br />
veins which join near the edge of the leaf. The leaf stalk is 1 cm<br />
long. The flowers are large (4-5 cm) and greenish-white and<br />
fluffy. They occur in clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit<br />
is rose scented and apple like. They are dull yellow and tinged<br />
pink. Fruit are 4 cm across. The fruit have a distinct crown at<br />
the end. They contain 1 or 2 large seeds. The seeds are pale<br />
brown. The fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It needs adequate moisture and suits the warm moist tropics. It<br />
can't stand waterlogging. It prefers a rich well composted soil but will do well on poorer soils.<br />
It does best in an open sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It is often along stream<br />
banks. It does well near the sea shore. Young plants need shade and moisture but established<br />
trees can tolerate harder conditions. It probably grows up to about 1200 metres above sea level<br />
in equatorial regions but near the altitudinal and latitudinal limits it produces no fruit. Trees can<br />
grow on a variety of soils. A pH between 5.5 and 7 is recommended. In Nepal it grows between<br />
600-1400 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. Seeds germinate well and have no dormancy.<br />
Seeds often give rise to more than one seedling. These can be carefully separated when young.<br />
As fruit quality varies it is best to preserve better kinds of trees using vegetative propagation<br />
methods. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grafted or budded if needed. Cuttings root fairly easily in sand. Tip<br />
cuttings are suitable. Trees need to be 6-8 metres apart.<br />
Production: Trees grow slowly. They start bearing when 4-5 years old. Fruiting is normally<br />
seasonal but over a long season. In the northern hemisphere it flowers from April to May and<br />
fruit ripen July to August.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw. They are poor as a dessert fruit but because of the sweet rose smell<br />
are often crystallised and used in sweets. They can be used for jams and jellies. (It is good to<br />
mix with other fruits as rose apple helps the jam to set.)<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 80.4 105 0.6 0.1 34 27 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Green scale Coccidae (HEM) Coccus viridus<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungi Chaetothyrium womersleyi Hansf.<br />
And Brooksia tropicalis Hansf.<br />
Importance: Not widely grown or used in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
430<br />
Names<br />
English: Pink satinash Scientific name: Syzygium sayeri<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia sayeri<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A tree. It grows up to 35 m tall. The<br />
leavess are simple. They are 7-16 cm long and smooth.<br />
Usually there are 2 veins near the edge of the leaf. Oil<br />
dots are visible on the leaves. The fruit are 3-4 cm<br />
acrpss. The hang in bunches on special branches.<br />
These are usually within the crown of the tree. There is<br />
one seed inside. The seed is 1-2 cm long. The flesh of<br />
the fruit is edible<br />
Distribution: It grows in lowland and upland rainforest<br />
in north east Queensland in Australia.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production: The fruiting season is mostly November to April.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
431<br />
Names<br />
English: Lockerbie Satinash Scientific name: Syzygium branderhorstii Laut.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A tree which grows up to 10 m<br />
tall. It has a rounded dense crown of leaves.<br />
The small branches are round in cross section.<br />
The leaves are oblong and thick. They are14-<br />
18 cm long by 6-9 cm wide. They are dark<br />
green on the upper surface and paler<br />
underneath. The flowers are small and cream<br />
to red coloured. They occur in large numbers<br />
in clusters on the trunk and larger branches.<br />
The fruit is oval and about 4 cm across. It may<br />
vary between white to dark purple. The fruit<br />
are edible.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in northern Queensland and in Papua New Guinea. It occurs in the<br />
lowland rainforest.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> need protection when young. They need plenty of watering.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> grow less quickly in subtropical regions. Flowers are produced September to<br />
November and fruit are ripe December to March.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
432<br />
Fruit (Continued)<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Fivrous Satinash Syzygium fibrosum 433<br />
White apple Syzygium forte subsp. forte 434<br />
Java apple Syzygium samarangensis 435<br />
Red bush apple Syzygium suborbiculare 436<br />
Bamaga Satinash Syzygium tierneyanum 437<br />
Governor’s plum Flacourtia indica 438<br />
Thornless rukam Lovi-lovi Flacourtia inermis 439<br />
Coffee plum Flacourtia jangomas 440<br />
Rukam Flacourtia rukam 441<br />
Red raspberry Rubus fraxinifolius 442<br />
Black raspberry Rubus lasiocarpus 443<br />
Moluccan bramble Rubus moluccanus 444<br />
Rubus parvifolius 445<br />
Rose-leafed raspberry Rubus rosifolius 446<br />
Rubus archboldianus 447<br />
Alpine strawberry Fragaria vesca 448<br />
Garden strawberry Fragaria x ananassa 449<br />
Purple passionfruit Passiflora edulis 450<br />
Banana passionfruit Passiflora tripartita var. mollisima 452<br />
Yellow granadilla Passiflora laurifolia 453<br />
Sweet granadilla Passiflora ligularis 454<br />
Passionflower Passiflora foetida 455<br />
Granadilla Passiflora quandrangularis 456<br />
Pakal Parartocarpus venenosus 457<br />
Tooth-leafed winter cherry Physalis angulata 458<br />
Native gooseberry Physalis minima 459<br />
Canistel Pouteria campechiana 460<br />
Pouteria maclayana 461<br />
Peach Prunus persica 462<br />
Plum Prunus sp. 463<br />
Durian Durio zibethinus 464<br />
Mangosteen Garcinia mangostana 466<br />
Warren’s mangosteen Garcinia warrenii 468<br />
Garcinia riparia 469<br />
Garcinia eugeniaefolia 470<br />
Egg tree Garcinia dulcis 471<br />
Loquat Eriobotrya japonica 472<br />
Mango Mangifera indica 473<br />
Wild mango Mangifera minor 475<br />
Horse mango Mangifera foetida 476<br />
Wild mango Mangifera altissima 477<br />
Horsfieldia sylvestris 478<br />
Mangrove nutmeg Myristica hollrungii 479<br />
European grape Vitis vinifera 480<br />
Wild olive, Yellow plum Ximenia americana var. america 481<br />
Salak Salacca zalacca 482<br />
Nonda plum Parinari nonda 483<br />
Santol<br />
More fruit listed page 485<br />
Sandoricum koetjape 484
433<br />
Names<br />
English: Fibrous satinash, Apricot Satinash Scientific name: Syzygium fibrosum<br />
(Bailey) T. Hartley & Perry<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia fibrosa<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A tree which grows about 5-10-<br />
15 m tall. It has a rounded canopy of leaves.<br />
The new leaf growth is bright purplish red.<br />
(This is more so when plants are in sunny<br />
positions.) The branches usually hang<br />
downwards. The bark is smooth and mottled<br />
brown-grey. The leaves are sword shaped and<br />
thick and leathery. They are 6-15 cm long by<br />
4-5 cm wide. They are dark green and shiny<br />
on the upper surface and paler underneath.<br />
The tip is pointed. The flowers occur in<br />
clusters on the ends of branches.<br />
The flowers are dull orange to brown. They have many stamens which can be 2.5 cm long<br />
giving the flower a fluffy appearance. The fruit are round and bright red when ripe. They are<br />
fleshy and 2 cm across. The crown at the end is prominent. The fruit have one seed inside.<br />
Fruit can often be seedless. The fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: Trees occur in northeast Queensland in Australia and in Papua New Guinea. It is<br />
a rainforest species and also occurs in monsoon vine forest. It often grows near stream banks<br />
and in shady positions. They need well drained soils. They benefit from organic matter in the<br />
soil.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. They can be grown from cuttings but the cuttings are<br />
slow to strike.<br />
Production: Trees flower from April to December and the fruit are ripe July to January.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
434<br />
Names<br />
English: White apple Scientific name: Syzygium forte subsp. forte<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia fortis<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A graceful tree. It grows up to 15 m tall.<br />
It has a round crown of leaves. The bark is papery.<br />
The young shoots are deep bronze colour. The leaves<br />
are thick with a blunt point. They are 14 cm long by 8<br />
cm wide. They are bright green on the upper surface<br />
and dull underneath. The flowers are white. They<br />
occur in clusters at the ends of small branches. The<br />
fruit are oval and white and grow to 6 cm across. The<br />
fruit are edible. The fruit have one seed inside and it is<br />
1-2.5 cm long.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in northern Australia and in Papua New Guinea. It grows near the<br />
seaside on sandy soils. It can tolerate salt laden winds. They cannot tolerate poorly drained<br />
soils.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are slow growing.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
435<br />
Names<br />
English: Java apple Scientific name: Syzygium samarangensis<br />
(Blume) Merr. & Perry<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia javanica Lam. in part<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 15 m high which branches<br />
near the base giving a spreading open tree. The leaves<br />
are smaller (25 cm x 10 cm) and more pointed than<br />
Malay apple and on short stalks. Flowers are about 3<br />
cm wide and white. They are on leafy twigs. It<br />
produces clusters of attractive glossy pink waxy<br />
looking fruit. Fruit are 3 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. At<br />
the end of the fruit there is a cavity almost enclosed by<br />
four lobes. The fruit has a waxy skin and crispy flesh.<br />
Distribution: Trees grow in coastal areas in the tropics.<br />
They need a deep fertile soil. It needs adequate rainfall<br />
and some humidity. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are mainly raised from seeds. Fresh seeds must be used. Often few seeds<br />
are produced. They can be propagated by air layering or budding. Girdling of the shoots and<br />
using rooting hormones enables cuttings to be used for propagation. A spacing of 8-10 m apart<br />
is suitable.<br />
Production: It is fast growing. Trees start fruiting when quite small. Fruit production is<br />
seasonal. Normally large numbers of fruit are produced.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten fresh.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 90.3 94 0.7 0.8 0 8<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: This is not a common fruit tree in Papua New Guinea. Where it occurs fruit<br />
quality is poor.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
436<br />
Names<br />
English: Lady apple, Red bush apple Scientific name: Syzygium suborbiculare<br />
(Benth.) T. Hartley & Perry<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia suborbicularis Benth.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A tree. It grows 8-12 m tall. It has an<br />
upright form and a rounded crown. The bark is slightly<br />
rough, tightly attached and is grey-brown. The leaves<br />
are oval to roundish, opposite and smooth. They are 7-<br />
19 cm long by 4-13 cm wide. They are glossy and dark<br />
green on the upper surface and paler underneath. They<br />
have a short pinted tip. The flowers are large. They<br />
have numerous stamens. The flowers are 3-5 cm long<br />
by 2.5-3 cm wide and carried in dense clusters at the<br />
ends of branches. The fruit can occur either singly or in<br />
bunches. The fruit is round but flattened and fleshy. It<br />
is 3-7 cm long by 3.5-9 cm wide. It has distinct ribs<br />
and is red when ripe. The flesh around the seed is 1 cm<br />
thick. It is crunchy and bluish-pink in colour. It is<br />
edible. There is one large seed inside. The seed is<br />
about 3.5-5 cm across. It looks like a large apricot<br />
stone.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical tree. It occurs as an understorey tree to open forest. It also grows in<br />
rainforest. It occurs on well drained soils and sandy soils. It can tolerate fire because it produces<br />
a lignotuber under the ground. It can regrow from this tuber. During drought it can lose most of<br />
its leaves. It tolerates salty winds.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from fresh seed. Branches are low making harvesting easy. Fruit<br />
should be harvested when ripe before fruit fall.<br />
Production: Seedling growth can be rapid. Flowering occurs July to October in Australia and<br />
fruiting is October to February. It can produce fruit during any month but tends to fruit during<br />
the wet season. The quality of the fruit varies between trees.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw.<br />
They can be used in cooking or for sauces and relishes.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 89.3 146 0.6 1.2 8 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A popular food in northern Australia.
437<br />
Names<br />
English: Bamaga satinash, River cherry Scientific name: Syzygium tierneyanum<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia tierneyana<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A small tree. It grows to 10-25<br />
m tall. It has a spreading dense crown. The<br />
bark is flaky. The young shoots are coppery<br />
brown. The leaves are sword shaped and thin.<br />
They are smooth and without hairs. They are<br />
9-18 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are dark<br />
glossy green on the upper surface and paler<br />
underneath. The flowers are fairly large.<br />
They are cream and borne in small clusters in<br />
the axils of the older leaves. The fruit are<br />
round and 2 cm across. They are usually pink<br />
or red but may be white. The fruit are edible.<br />
There is one seed inside. It is 5-8 mm across.<br />
The cut seed is red-purple.<br />
Distribution: A tropical tree. It occurs in north east Queensland in Australia. <strong>Plants</strong> will grow<br />
in a range of soils. They need plenty of moisture. They occur in rainforests.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from fresh seed.<br />
Production: In Australia the fruit are ripe in January and February.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
438<br />
Names<br />
English: Governor’s plum Scientific name: Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.)Merr.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Flacourtia ramontchii L'Her.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Flacourtiaceae<br />
Description: A shrub or small tree. It grows 5-15 m<br />
high. The trunk is crooked and low branched and armed<br />
with scattered slender spines. The leaves are alternate,<br />
pointed at the base and rounded at the tip. The edges of<br />
the leaves toothed with rounded lobes. Leaves are dark<br />
green on top and pale green underneath. They are 6-17<br />
cm long and 3-7 cm wide. Male and female trees<br />
occur. The flowers are small and white, occur singly or<br />
in pairs in the axils of leaves or near the ends of short<br />
branches. The fruit are rounded, fleshy, purple or<br />
nearly black. They are smooth and about 1 cm across.<br />
The flesh is yellowish, juicy and acid. There are 6 to<br />
10 small flattened seeds inside.<br />
Distribution: They are found in the Philippines. They<br />
thrive in dry shrubby areas at low altitudes. Trees grow<br />
in coastal areas and up to 700 m or higher. They suit<br />
drier areas. In Yunnan, China it grows between 700-<br />
1500 m altitude. It grows in subtropical broadleaved<br />
evergreen forest. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are normally grown from seed. Groups of trees containing both male and<br />
female trees need to be grown from root suckers or by budding. A spacing of 12-16 m apart is<br />
needed.<br />
Production: Fruit matures in 60 days from pollination.<br />
Use: The fleshy pulp of the fruit is eaten raw when ripe.<br />
They are also cooked and eaten.<br />
They can be used to make jelly.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 69.5 452 0.5 1.2 15 14<br />
Insects:<br />
A caterpillar of an unidentified moth eats the leaves.<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The fruit are eaten especially by children. A fruit tree occasionally seen in lowland<br />
areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
439<br />
Names<br />
English: Thornless rukam Scientific name: Flacourtia inermis Roxb.<br />
Tok pisin: Lovi-lovi Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Flacourtiaceae<br />
Description: It is a small tree. It grows up to 15 m<br />
high. It is without spines on the trunk. The trunk is<br />
often crooked. Leaves are 10-20 cm long and 5-9 cm<br />
wide. New leaves are deep red. Flowers have both<br />
sexes. The fruit is round, green when young and dark<br />
red when ripe. It is about 2-3 cm across. It has 5 seeds<br />
inside.<br />
Distribution: Trees occur in New Britain in Papua<br />
New Guinea and some other coastal areas. They grow<br />
from sea level up to about 1300 m. They can grown on<br />
a variety of soils.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seed. It is<br />
better to grow them by marcottage or budding.<br />
Seedlings take up to 18 months to be ready to plant out.<br />
A spacing of 12-16 m apart is needed. Seeds are small.<br />
Production: Fruit is mostly ready about May to July in the Southern hemisphere.<br />
Use: Many kinds have sour fruit so they are often cooked or used for jam, jellies, syrups and<br />
preserves.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Closteria rubida Druce. Notodontidae (LEP) Caterpillars of moth chewing leaves<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot probably Fungus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees occur occasionally in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
440<br />
Names<br />
English: Coffee plum Scientific name: Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Flacourtia cataphracta Roxb ex Willd<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Flacourtiaceae<br />
Description: A small deciduous tree up to 10 m tall. It<br />
spreads to 3 m across. The stem is erect and branching.<br />
Young tree parts can have large branched spines. The<br />
leaves are 5-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. Young<br />
leaves are red and glossy. There are several flushes of<br />
new growth during the year. Old trees often do not<br />
have thorns on the trunk or branches. Flowers are<br />
small and in clusters in the axils of leaves. They have a<br />
strong sweet smell. The fruit is a dull brownish red<br />
with a greenish yellow pulp. Fruit are about 2 cm<br />
across.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. In regions near the<br />
equator they are grown as a fruit tree up to about 600<br />
m. They would probably grow up to about 1500 m. It<br />
also occurs wild. It does best in rich, moist soil. It<br />
needs a protected site and a partly shaded position. It is<br />
damaged by drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones<br />
10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seed but better kinds should be propagated by<br />
grafting. They can be grown by cuttings. It produces root suckers and these can be used for<br />
planting. A spacing of 14-16 m apart is needed.<br />
Production: Fruiting is seasonal. Fruit probably occur from May to October. Rubbing the fruit<br />
to bruise them improves eating quality.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. Because they are sour, they are often used for jams or<br />
preserves.<br />
The young red leaves are edible. They contain tannin. They are also used for tea.<br />
Young roots are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Roots<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Trees have been planted in a few coastal areas in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
441<br />
Names<br />
English: Rukam Scientific name: Flacourtia rukam Zoll. and Mor.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Flacourtiaceae<br />
Description: A tree reaching a height of 5-20 m and<br />
about 30 cm across the trunk. It can be 40 m tall with a<br />
trunk 1 m across. The old branches are usually crooked<br />
with furrows along them. The leaves are 5 to 15 cm<br />
long and 4-7 cm wide and pointed at the tip. Young<br />
leaves are reddish brown and leaves are shiny on top.<br />
The young stems are very rough. The flowers are very<br />
small and occur in greenish yellow clusters in axils of<br />
leaves. They occur with separate sexes in separate<br />
flowers. The fruit is a flattened berry with soft juicy<br />
flesh and a red colour. The trunk in young trees has<br />
many simple spines. The leaf size and shape varies a<br />
lot.<br />
Distribution: It grows in humid tropical conditions. It can grow in shade as well as full sun.<br />
They occur in Benguet to the southern parts of the islands of the Philippines. Trees occur in tall<br />
lowland rainforest. They probably grow from sea level up to about 1600 m in Papua New<br />
Guinea. In Samoa it grows from 50 to 550 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly self sown. They grow from seed. Seed germinate quickly and<br />
easily. Trees can be grown from seed or root suckers. Root suckers are commonly produced.<br />
Fruit are made sweeter by rubbing them after harvest. Trees can also be budded or grafted.<br />
Trees are spaced 8-12 m apart.<br />
Production: Fruiting is seasonal. There can be several flowering and fruiting flushes during the<br />
year. Fruit are often produced about Sept to Nov in the southern hemisphere. Fruit take 14<br />
weeks to ripen.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw when ripe. It can be sour and is used for jam, sauce or pickles.<br />
The young leaves and shoots are edible.<br />
The young roots are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part % KJ g<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Roots<br />
77 345 1.7<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, trees occur but are not very common in coastal areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
442<br />
Names<br />
English: Red raspberry Scientific name: Rubus fraxinifolius Poir.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A scrambling shrub reaching 2 to 4 m<br />
high. It is armed with fair sized sharp spines. The<br />
leaves have leaflets on opposite sides of the stalk with 3<br />
to 11 leaflets. The edges are toothed and they are<br />
pointed at the tip and slanting at the base. The flowers<br />
are white and the berries borne in clusters. The berries<br />
are bright red and fairly juicy but tasteless. The fruit<br />
are 0.8-1.4 cm across.<br />
Distribution: They grow in damp forests at low and<br />
medium altitudes up to 1800 m. They occur in the<br />
Philippines. It grows in thickets near sea level in<br />
Taiwan.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The berries are eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Insects:<br />
Gymnopholus marquardti Hllr. Curculionidae (COL) Weevils<br />
Gymnopholus interpres Hllr. Curculionidae (COL)<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rust Fungus Hamaspora acutissima Sydow<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The plants are common in Papua New Guinea. The fruit is mainly eaten by<br />
children.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
443<br />
Names<br />
English: Black raspberry Scientific name: Rubus lasiocarpus Smith<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A long white cane with large thorns along<br />
it. It produces black fruit.<br />
Distribution: It has been introduced from India. It<br />
grows between 800 m and 2600 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild and is cultivated. New plants do not grow easily from canes.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten or used for drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is gaining importance as a fruit around compounds and houses in the highlands<br />
of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
444<br />
Names<br />
English: Molucca bramble Scientific name: Rubus moluccanus L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A scrambling shrub reaching 2 to<br />
3 m high. They can be 10-15 m long. The<br />
stems and leaves are armed with medium sized<br />
spines. The leaves are large and lobed and the<br />
upper surface hairy. The leaves can be 25 cm<br />
long and 25 cm wide. They are broadly heart<br />
shaped with 5 indistinct lobes. The flowers<br />
are white and borne in clusters. The berries<br />
are about 1-3 cm across. They are red and<br />
with little flavour.<br />
Distribution: They occur in mountains in the<br />
Philippines. They are common in the<br />
highlands of Papua New Guinea from sea level<br />
to 2700 m.<br />
Cultivation: They both grow wild. They could be grown by division of the root.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The berries are eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The plants are common in Papua New Guinea. The fruit is mainly eaten by<br />
children.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
445<br />
Names<br />
English: Rose-leaved raspberry Scientific name: Rubus parvifolius L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen shrub. It is weakly<br />
climbing or trailing. It grows to 60 cm high and<br />
spreads to 1-3 m across. The stem is trailing and<br />
prickly The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 2-6<br />
cm long. The leaves have teeth around the edge. These<br />
have a silvery undersurface. The flowers are small and<br />
pink. The fruit are red. They have a few, large, pointed<br />
grains.<br />
Distribution: It will grow on most soils. it is drought<br />
and frost resistant.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown by cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
446<br />
Names<br />
English: Rose-leaf bramble Scientific name: Rubus rosifolius Smith<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A spiny evergreen shrub. It grows to 3 m<br />
high and spreads to 3 m across. The stem is trailing<br />
and forms suckers. The leaves have 3 to 7 leaflets on<br />
opposite sides of the stalk. These are either smooth or<br />
hairy with lobed edges. The leaflets are 1-9 cm long.<br />
The flowers are white and 3 cm across. The fruit are<br />
red and about 1.5 to 2 cm across. They occur on their<br />
own or in clusters. They are juicy and tasteless. They<br />
have several seeds inside which are very tiny.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> are resistant to drought and frost. They are common in forests in the<br />
Philippines at low and medium altitudes. They are common in the highlands. In Papua New<br />
Guinea, Rubus rosifolius grows from 750-2850 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: They grow wild. They could be grown by division of the root or from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 82.9 1.3 1 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The plants are common in Papua New Guinea. The fruit is eaten especially by<br />
children.
447<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Rubus archboldianus Merr. & Perry<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A climbing or scrambling shrub. The<br />
stems are up to 5 m long. The prickles are 2 mm long<br />
and curved. Often they are purplish. The leaves have 3<br />
leaflets. The leaf stalks are 1-4 cm long. The leaflets<br />
are oval and the side ones are 5.5 cm long by 4 cm<br />
wide. The edges of the leaves have saw like teeth. The<br />
leaves are leathery. The flowerings stalks have 1 or 2<br />
flower stalks below the end flower. These have 1 or 2<br />
flowers each. The petals are red. The fruit or berry is 3<br />
cm across made up of many small fruit. The fruit is<br />
dark red. The fruit are edible.<br />
Distribution: In mountain forests from 1,800 to 3,600<br />
m altitude.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
448<br />
Names<br />
English: Alpine strawberry Scientific name: Fragaria vesca L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A small plant which keeps growing from<br />
year to year. It grows to 20 cm high and spreads to 30<br />
cm wide. The stems are long runners which form roots<br />
at the nodes. The leaves have 3 leaflets and are bright<br />
green. The leaflets are oval and with coarse teeth<br />
around the edge. They are 6 cm long and arranged in<br />
rings on long leaf stalks. The flowers are small white<br />
and open. They have 5 petals. The fruit are oval and<br />
fleshy. They are white and turn red (or white) as they<br />
ripen. They are sweet. A strawberry with small leaves<br />
and fruit and the seeds are on the outside of the fruit.<br />
Distribution: It grows from 1600 m up to 3550 m in<br />
the tropics. They do poorly in hot humid climates. It<br />
becomes naturalised in high mountain regions in Papua<br />
New Guinea. It needs well drained soils and a<br />
protected sunny position. They are drought and frost<br />
tender. They enjoy acid soil. It suits hardiness zones<br />
5-9.<br />
Cultivation: They can be grown from seed. Seed are best put in a refrigerator for 2 weeks<br />
before planting. Mostly they are grown from runners. It grows wild in some areas.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten.<br />
The leaves are used to make tea. It has a good flavour and is high in Vit C.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
449<br />
Names<br />
English: Garden strawberry Scientific name: Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A herb which keeps growing from year to<br />
year. The stems are short. The leaves occur in a ring<br />
and the plant has runners with new rings of leaves. The<br />
leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalk is 1.5 cm long.<br />
They have soft hairs. The leaflets can be 1.8-7 cm long<br />
by 1.3-6 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. The<br />
flowering shoots are up to 26 cm long. There can be 16<br />
flowers on branches that divided into 2 at each joint.<br />
The false fruits are round or oval and 4.5 cm long by<br />
5.5 cm wide.<br />
Distribution: It suits temperate and subtropical<br />
locations. It can be grown in the highlands in tropical<br />
regions. It suits hardiness zones 3-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from runners. These<br />
runners form roots and then new plants. Flowers<br />
require short days and warm weather, otherwise only<br />
runners form. <strong>Plants</strong> form few runners when there is no<br />
winter cold.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also used in desserts.<br />
They are also used in jams, preserves and for flavouring.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 91.2 126 0.6 0.4 3 57 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:
450<br />
Names<br />
English: Purple passionfruit Scientific name: Passiflora edulis Sims<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Passifloraceae<br />
Description: A vine which continues to grow for<br />
several years. The main vine becomes woody. Vines<br />
can be 6-7 m long. It climbs by tendrils. The leaves<br />
are shaped like the fingers on a hand with three lobes.<br />
They are 5-10 cm long. The vine can set flowers at<br />
each leaf. The flowers are white and often tinted<br />
purple. They are 5 cm across. The fruit are oblong and<br />
thickly dotted with purple when ripe. The skin is hard<br />
and they have a sweet smell. The flesh is orange. The<br />
seed occupy most of the inside with a small amount of<br />
flesh. The flesh is edible.<br />
Distribution: A subtropical plant. They are cultivated<br />
up to 2000 m altitude in the tropics. The purple variety<br />
grows in the highlands up to 3000 m. It can stand very<br />
light frosts. The yellow one grows in the lowlands. Its<br />
normal range is 700 to 2300 m. Often fruit set is poor<br />
in wet conditions. Wind breaks are important. Vines<br />
can tolerate very light frosts. If frosts are likely<br />
wrapping the stems near ground level with insulation<br />
paper can help protect the plant. Heavy rain at<br />
flowering can reduce fruit set through poor pollination.<br />
Soils should be fertile, moist and well drained. <strong>Plants</strong><br />
cannot tolerate waterlogging. A pH in the range 5.5-6.5<br />
is best. In Nepal they grow between 1200-1700 m<br />
altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate in 15-45 days. Seedlings<br />
can be grafted. When the end shoots of the mother plant are the same thickness as the seedling<br />
stem, shoot tips 8 cm long can be used. The leaves should be removed from the cutting being<br />
used in the graft. An even light and high humidity allows these grafted plants to be ready in a<br />
few weeks. <strong>Plants</strong> are put in a hole 30 cm deep and which has had organic matter added. A<br />
spacing of 3-4 m apart is suitable. <strong>Plants</strong> need a trellis to climb over. Often a trellis 2 m high is<br />
used. Normally the side shoots are picked off until the vine reaches the trellis height. Then the<br />
tip is picked out to promote branching. Normally later pruning is not done. Putting mulch<br />
around the plant helps retain moisture and adds nutrients as well as controlling weeds. Hand<br />
pollination can improve fruit set. The fruit turns purple, wrinkles then drops off when ripe.<br />
Balanced fertiliser to promote healthy growth is important. Deficiencies of magnesium, iron,<br />
zinc, copper and boron can occur in some places. Pruning is important to keep vines vigorous.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> produce after about 12-18 months and keep producing well for 4 or 5 years.<br />
Good production is related to keeping the vine growing well by avoiding low temperatures and<br />
lack of water. <strong>Plants</strong> are pollinated by insects, so it is important to not kill these with<br />
insecticides. They can also self pollinate. Fruit mature between 60 and 100 days from<br />
pollination.<br />
Use: The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten raw.<br />
Passionfruit are also used for flavouring in juices, and with other foods.<br />
The seeds are edible.
451<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Seeds<br />
73.3 280 2.8 1.3 10 20 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Coreidae (HEM) Cacao mirid<br />
Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Idiopsis grisea Faust. Curculionidae (COL) Weevil<br />
Leptoglossus australis (Fab.) Coreidae (HEM) Black leaf footed bug<br />
Oribius cinereus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Oribius destructor Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shothole weevils<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shothole weevils<br />
Planococcus citri (Risso) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Citrus mealy bug<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni) Diaspididae (HEM) White scale<br />
Tiracola plagiata (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Diseases:<br />
Brown spot Fungus Alternaria passiflorae J.H.Simm.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: <strong>Plants</strong> are common in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The fruit are eaten but<br />
are not popular.
452<br />
Names<br />
English: Banana passionfruit Scientific name: Passiflora tripartita var. mollisima<br />
(Kunth.) Hlm-Niels. & P.M. Jorg.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Passiflora mollissima (Kunth) L. H. Bailey<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Passifloraceae<br />
Description: A vigorous vine. It has a leaf with 3<br />
lobes. The vine has tendrils by which it attaches to<br />
other plants. The flowers are pink and about 7.5 cm<br />
across. The fruit is long and yellow, 5-12 cm long x 3-<br />
4 cm diameter. It contains several hard black seeds.<br />
Distribution: In continuously wet areas in temperate or<br />
high altitude tropical regions the plant can spread<br />
rapidly climbing trees for support. It is suited to colder<br />
highland conditions. It grows wild over 2500 m<br />
altitude in Papua New Guinea. <strong>Plants</strong> will fruit<br />
between 1600 and 2800 m altitude in the tropics.<br />
Cultivation: Seeds can be sown in a nursery and then<br />
transplanted. <strong>Plants</strong> are mostly grown from seeds, but<br />
it can be propagated by cuttings. Bottom heating the<br />
seeds at 20-26°C can result in germination at 1-2<br />
weeks, at lower temperatures seeds can take up to 10<br />
weeks to germinate. <strong>Plants</strong> need a framework to climb<br />
over.<br />
Production: Up to 300 fruit can be produced from a well established vine.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten when ripe.<br />
It is also used for drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea is common and fairly popular fruit in very high altitude<br />
areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
453<br />
Names<br />
English: Yellow granadilla Scientific name: Passiflora laurifolia L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Passifloraceae<br />
Description: A perennial climbing vine. It can be up to<br />
10 m long. Leaves do not have lobes and stems are<br />
round. Leaves are rounded (10 cm x 5 cm), hairless<br />
and rough. Flowers are large (6 cm across) and have a<br />
pleasant smell. Fruit are oblong and taper at both ends.<br />
They are about 8 cm x 5 cm smooth and yellow or<br />
orange when ripe. They have tough yellow skins and<br />
paler orange pulp. The fruit are edible.<br />
Distribution: It grows in lowland areas in the tropics.<br />
It does best in slightly drier, humid climates. It is<br />
damaged by frost. It can grow on a variety of soils.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are mostly grown from seed. They<br />
can be grown from cuttings. Bottom heating the seeds<br />
at 20-26°C can result in germination at 1-2 weeks, at<br />
lower temperatures seeds can take up to 10 weeks to<br />
germinate.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: Fruit are eaten raw. They are also used in drinks.<br />
Caution: The leaves are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Not commonly seen in Papua New Guinea. Fruit are sold in markets in many<br />
countries.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
454<br />
Names<br />
English: Sweet granadilla, Yellow passionfruit Scientific name: Passiflora ligularis Juss.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Passifloraceae<br />
Description: A vigorous climbing vine. It grows 26 m<br />
long. The fruit is larger, yellow skinned and sweeter<br />
with larger seeds than the more common purple<br />
passionfruit. Leaves are entire, heart shaped and up to<br />
20 cm long. Flowers are pale green. They are large.<br />
Distribution: They grow between 1300 and 2400 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It needs rich soil with good<br />
drainage.<br />
Cultivation: They can be grown from cuttings. <strong>Plants</strong> need a fence or trellis to grow on. They<br />
can also be grown from fresh seed.<br />
Production: Fruit production is seasonal. Vines bear in 1-2 years.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten. They can be eaten fresh or used in drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 78.5 393 2.8 0.9 20 20<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, it is not very often seen in the highlands but it is being more<br />
widely planted.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
455<br />
Names<br />
English: Passionflower Scientific name: Passiflora foetida L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Passifloraceae<br />
Description: A vine with tendrils. It creeps over the<br />
ground. The vine can be 2-10 m long. It has a strong<br />
smell. The stems are yellowish and have soft erect<br />
hairs. The leaves are 3 lobed and with fine hairs. They<br />
are pale green. The leaves are 3-10 cm long and 3-8<br />
cm wide. The base of the leaf is often heart shaped.<br />
The flowers occur singly on flower stalks. The flowers<br />
are flattish with several rings of structures. They are 5<br />
cm wide. They are white with a purple centre. The<br />
fruit is small (2-3 cm across) yellow and with a soft<br />
skin. The fruit is enclosed in a green net which dries<br />
brown then falls off. The fruit is edible. Seeds are flat.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It is common in the<br />
lowlands and occurs up to 1000 m altitude in the<br />
tropics. It is drought resistant and can grow on poor<br />
soils. In prefers sunny situations. It does best in humid<br />
places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. It grows wild<br />
in the lowlands. Seeds germinate rapidly.<br />
Production: Fruit occur throughout most of the year.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit are eaten. The seeds are also eaten.<br />
The young stalks and leaves are boiled and eaten in soup in times of food shortage.<br />
Caution: The unripe fruit and leaves are claimed to be poisonous. They contain cyanide so can<br />
be poisonous raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 64.2 421 4.9 8.4 5 1.1<br />
Leaves 86.0 176 6.9 220<br />
Insects:<br />
Brachyplatis translineatus Walk. Pentatomidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungus Schiffnerula mirabilis Hohnel<br />
Chlorotic spot Virus<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A common plant in lowland areas. The fruit is widely eaten especially by children.
456<br />
Names<br />
English: Granadilla Scientific name: Passiflora quandrangularis L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Passiflora macrocarpa Mast.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Passifloraceae<br />
Description: A long creeping vine with square stems.<br />
It has fleshy tuberous roots. The vine can be from 5-15<br />
m long. The vine has four wings. The tendrils are pale<br />
green and coiled in a spiral. The tendrils are not<br />
branched and can be 30 cm long. The leaf stalk is 3<br />
sided and 5-8 cm long. The leafy structures (stipules)<br />
at the base of the leaf are sword shaped and 2-5 cmlong<br />
by 1-2.5 cm wide. The leaves are also large (10-25 cm<br />
long and 8-17 cm wide) and green or purple. The<br />
flowers occur singly in the axils of the leaves and can<br />
be 10-12 cm across. Flowers are white and purple and<br />
have red dots on them. The fruit is greenish yellow 12-<br />
30 cm long by 10-18 cm wide and with black seeds<br />
amongst purple flesh. The aril or layer around the seed<br />
is white and edible. The seeds are 1 cm long.<br />
Distribution: It mainly occurs in the tropical lowlands but grows up to about 1000 m. It suits<br />
hot humid lowland areas in the tropics. Fruiting is often best between 200-500 m altitude. They<br />
can stand cool temperatures when mature. At 21-26°C seed germinate in 1-2 weeks but at lower<br />
temperatures seed can take 10 weeks. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally grown from cuttings but they can be grown from seed.<br />
Cuttings 25- 30 cm long from well matured stems should be used. A spacing of 2-3 m between<br />
plants is suitable. It needs a trellis to grow over. It often pays to hand pollinate. Seed germinate<br />
in 2-4 weeks. Seedlings can be planted in the field within 4 months.<br />
Production: A vine lasts for 5-6 years. Flowers are produced 9 months from planting. Fruit are<br />
ready to harvest 60-80 days from flowering. A vine can produce 16-50 fruit in a season.<br />
Use: Sometimes unripe fruit is boiled as a vegetable.<br />
Otherwise the fruit is eaten ripe. It can be used for juice.<br />
Sometimes the swollen root is cooked and eaten like a yam.<br />
Caution: The leaves are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 94.4 170 0.7 0.8 15<br />
Seed<br />
Root<br />
78.4 339 1.9 2.9 15<br />
Insects:<br />
Pternistra sp. Coreidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Chlorotic spot Virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Reasonably common in lowland areas.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
457<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Parartocarpus venenosus (Zoll. & Mor.) Becc.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Purut, Pakal Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree up to 35-45 m tall<br />
with milky sap. The trunk is 45 cm across. The bark is<br />
yellow or grey-brown. It is papery and scaly. The<br />
twigs are 3-8 mm thick. The leaves are alternate and<br />
oblong and pointed at the tip. They are leathery. They<br />
can be rounded or pointed at the base. They are 8 to 15<br />
cm long and 5 to 7 cm wide. They are smooth on the<br />
upper surface and can have hairs on the veins<br />
underneath. The flowers are borne in the axils of the<br />
leaves. Flowers are separately male and female but<br />
both on the one tree. Male heads are round and 15-30<br />
mm across. They are covered by close, hard spines.<br />
The flower stalk is 12-35 mm long. The fruit is a<br />
cluster of "seeds" forming a rough checkered head<br />
about 18 cm across. The "seeds" are about 3 cm long.<br />
The fruit is brown on the outside and yellow inside and<br />
irregular in shape.<br />
Distribution: They occur in the Philippines. The<br />
subspecies that occurs in PNG occurs from 5 to 1000 m<br />
altitude. It occurs in humid forest.<br />
Cultivation: It grows wild. It can be grown from seed.<br />
Seeds are distributed naturally by flying foxes<br />
Production: The fruit turns very brown on the outside<br />
and has a sweet smell when ripe. Fruit production is<br />
seasonal.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten either raw or cooked.<br />
The ripe fruit is edible. They are very dry so a drink is needed with them.<br />
Caution: The sap of the tree is often used as an arrow poison.<br />
The unripe seeds are poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Seed<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A minor edible fruit moderately common particularly on islands and peninsulas<br />
along the north coast of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
458<br />
Names<br />
English: Toothed-leaved winter cherry Scientific name: Physalis angulata L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: A perennial herb up to about 1 m high.<br />
The leaves are smooth. The stems are angular. The<br />
leaves are oval and have teeth along the edge. They are<br />
5-10 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. The flowers occur<br />
singly. The flowers are small and cream coloured.<br />
They do not have a dark spot. It has a yellow berry<br />
with many seeds inside. The berry is enclosed in a<br />
veiny inflated case about 3 cm across. The berries are<br />
sticky.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It mostly occurs<br />
above 1000 m and up to 2800 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It is easily grown by sprinkling a few seeds into moist ground. It grows easily<br />
under most conditions. If the plants are in a very sheltered place, fertilization is improved by<br />
spraying the plants with water.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The young leaves are used in soup.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves 83.9 113 4.0 58<br />
Insects:<br />
Heliothis assulta (Guenee) Noctuidae (LEP) Cape gooseberry budworm<br />
Tiracola plagiata (Walker) Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm<br />
Leaf miner<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora physalis Ellis<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea a common plant and the fruit is being used more commonly.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
459<br />
Names<br />
English: Native gooseberry Scientific name: Physalis minima L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: An erect or spreading branched herb. It is<br />
an annual plant. The roots are fibrous. The leaves are<br />
alternate and entire and covered with soft downy hairs.<br />
They have irregular teeth along the edge. They are 2-3<br />
cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide. They are pale green. The<br />
stems are round or nearly so. The flowers are yellow<br />
with the inner ring of petals bell shaped. These are<br />
sometimes purple at the base inside. The fruit is a<br />
round berry about 6 mm across. It is completely<br />
surrounded by an inflated calyx. This is 5 angled.<br />
Distribution: It grows in the tropics. They are<br />
common in waste places at low altitudes up to 1600 m<br />
in the Philippines. It grows in southern China on slopes<br />
between 1000-1800 m. altitude.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten. They are also preserved.<br />
The leaves are eaten, cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
84.2 264 3.2 4.2 1 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: They are mostly eaten by children.
460<br />
Names<br />
English: Canistel, Yellow sapote Scientific name: Pouteria campechiana (HBK) Baehni<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Lucuma nervosa A. DC.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sapotaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 8 m high. It can be 30 m<br />
high. It is evergreen and has an open crown. The<br />
branches are mostly horizontal. The leaves are oval but<br />
taper towards both ends. They can be 6-25 cm long by<br />
2.5-8 cm wide. They are shiny and bright green. The<br />
leaves are clustered near the ends of the twigs. The leaf<br />
stalks can be 5-25 cm long. The small flowers grow in<br />
clusters of 2 to 5 on young wood. The flowers have a<br />
scent. The fruit is round, slightly pointed at the end,<br />
orange yellow and up to 10 cm long. The skin is thin,<br />
tough and waxy. The flesh is orange and has a musky<br />
smell. The seeds are about 2-3 cm long, dark brown<br />
and shiny. There are often 1-3 seeds per fruit.<br />
Distribution: It is native to C and S America. It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It suits the<br />
coast in the tropics and is damaged by frost. It can grow up to 1400 m in the tropics. It will<br />
grow on fairly poor soils. It does better on fertile well drained soils. It can tolerate reasonably<br />
dry periods. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are normally grown from seed. Seed need to be planted fresh. Seeds<br />
germinate in 2-3 weeks. Seedlings can be planted out after one year. A spacing of 4 m is<br />
suitable. It benefits from mulching due to the shallow root system. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grafted<br />
and grown by air-layering.<br />
Production: Seedlings and grafted trees grow quickly. It begins bearing at about 3-5 years old.<br />
Grafted trees produce a year or so earlier. Fruit are harvested when they develop their full<br />
yellow colour. Fruit should be clipped when mature and ripened at room temperature for 3 to 10<br />
days. Putting a little salt on the end of the fruit stalk hastens ripening. Fruit ripen 5-6 months<br />
after flowering.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten fresh or made into icecream. The skin and seeds are removed. It is not<br />
good cooked but is used instead of pumpkin in pie.<br />
It is often eaten with lemon juice. It can also be eaten with pepper and salt.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 60.6 580 1.68 0.92 320 58<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is only being tried out in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
461<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Pouteria maclayana (Muell.) Baehni<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Warap Plant family: Sapotaceae<br />
Description: A small to medium sized tree. It<br />
commonly has buttresses. It can grow up to 27 m tall<br />
and with a 2 m girth. The branches are green with<br />
brown areas. The leaves are at the ends of the small<br />
branches. They are long and rounded. They are 23 cm<br />
long by 9 cm wide. They have a wavy and scalloped<br />
edge. The base of the leaf tapers to the leaf stalk. The<br />
leaves are dark green and shiny on top and dull<br />
underneath. The veins are whitish and prominent on<br />
both sides of the leaf. There are 7-8 pairs of side veins.<br />
The leaf stalk is about 2.5 cm long. The flowers occur<br />
in clusters of 6 in the axils of leaves. The flowers are<br />
small and creamy white. The fruit are like flattened<br />
spheres about 7.5-10 cm across. They are light olivegreen.<br />
The flesh is orange and fibrous with 2-3 large<br />
seeds. The pulp has a sickly sweet smell. The seed are<br />
6 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The seed is partly covered<br />
by a hard shell.<br />
Distribution: It mainly grows on the coast. It grows up to 500 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit have an edible yellow flesh. It is probably cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: It is not known how common it is in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
462<br />
Names<br />
English: Peach Scientific name: Prunus persica (L.)Batsch<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A small tree. It loses its leaves during the<br />
year. It grows 3-8 m tall. It has an open growth habit.<br />
The leaves have stalks. These are 5-10 mm long. The<br />
leaves are oblong to sword shaped. They have fine<br />
teeth along the edge. The leaf blades are 7-15 cm long<br />
and 2-3 cm wide. They are acute at the base and taper<br />
to the tip. The flowers occur singly. They appear<br />
before the leaves. The flowers are small and pink or<br />
white. The fruit varies in shape and size. It is round<br />
with a groove down the side. It is 5-8 cm across. It is<br />
yellow when ripe. It has one hard stone inside with<br />
holes in it.<br />
Distribution: It is native to China. They need a specific cold requirement below 7°C to start<br />
flowers and leaves forming but a warm period for fruit ripening. It likes a warm sheltered<br />
position. It will tolerate mild frosts. Mild hot summers and cool cold winters are best.<br />
Temperate. In Nepal it grows between 1100-2000 m altitude. Some varieties can be grown in<br />
some highland regions in the tropics if the leaves are picked off. It suits hardiness zones 5-10.<br />
Cultivation: It is easily grown from seed. It can be budded. Trees can be grown from seed but<br />
do not breed true. It is better to graft. Branches which have borne fruit should be removed to<br />
allow new fruit bearing wood to grow.<br />
Production: Budded trees commence fruiting in 2 or 3 years. Useful bearing takes 8-10 years.<br />
Trees often need zinc and borax sprays. Trees tend to be fairly short lived (20 years).<br />
Use: Ripe fruit are eaten fresh, preserved or made into wine.<br />
The seed oil is used for cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Seed oil<br />
86.2 156 0.6 0.4 500 8 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only occasional trees occur in Papua New Guinea.
463<br />
Names<br />
English: Plum Scientific name: Prunus sp.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: Slender trees which lose their leaves. The<br />
leaves are toothed around the edge and hairy<br />
underneath. Leaves in the bud are rolled. Flowers are<br />
white. The fruit is a one seeded round fleshy fruit.<br />
Distribution: Suitable only for high altitude areas in<br />
the tropics. (Japanese plums need less cold weather<br />
than European plums to start off flower formation).<br />
The soil needs to be well drained. Trees need plenty of<br />
sunlight. Trees can stand frost except at flowering.<br />
Cultivation: Plums are often grown from seed. They can be budded or grafted. Many kinds of<br />
plums have to be pollinated from other trees.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A few trees are established and fruit in the highland areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
464<br />
Names<br />
English: Durian Scientific name: Durio zibethinus Murray<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Bombacaceae/ Malvaceae<br />
Description: A large evergreen tree up to 30-50 m high<br />
and with buttresses. The bark is dark red-brown and<br />
rough and peels off irregularly. The leaves are alternate<br />
and oval. They are about 10 to 15 cm long and 3 to 5<br />
cm wide. The upper surface is smooth and shiny and<br />
the midrib is sunken. The lower surface is covered<br />
with silver scales. The flowers are on the older<br />
branches and form bunches of flowers where the lower<br />
flower stalks are longer. They have 3 to 30 flowers on<br />
a main stalk up to 5 cm long. The fruit are green to<br />
yellow, fat and up to 25 cm long by 20 cm wide. They<br />
have sharp spines over the surface. The seeds are<br />
completely covered with a yellowish soft very sweet<br />
seed covering. The fruit drop unopened. As the fruit<br />
ripens it splits open naturally into 3-5 sections which<br />
have large seeds embedded in a yellow coloured pulp.<br />
The seeds are oval and 4-5 cm long by 2.5-3.5 cm wide.<br />
Distribution: A tree of the humid tropics preferably below 300 m altitude but they may grow up<br />
to about 800 m above sea level in the equatorial tropics. Trees are mainly within 15° latitude of<br />
the equator. They need plenty of soil moisture and a rich soil. For a tropical tree it can tolerate<br />
cooler temperatures eg 23°C and can tolerate temperatures up to 46°C. A rainfall of over 2000<br />
mm evenly distributed throughout the year is best. A drier period during flowering is beneficial.<br />
Poorly drained or sandy soil are not suitable. In the Philippines they occur from Davao to<br />
Butuan and central Mindanao. It suits hardiness zone 12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees grow readily from seed. Seeds need to be fresh. Seeds germinate in about 3<br />
days and can be transplanted in about 4 weeks. Seeds do not breed true. Trees fruit about 7<br />
years after planting. Trees can be grown by budding or grafting. A spacing of at least 14 m<br />
between plants is needed. Grafted trees seldom reach 20 m height. Heavy mulching near the<br />
trunk can help patch canker (Phytophthora palmivora) to develop. Trees should be pruned and<br />
shaped for uniform branching and by topping to reduce excessive growth and give optimum<br />
production.<br />
Production: Flowers are cross pollinated by bats. Normally flowers cannot self pollinate.<br />
Flowers open in the afternoon and fall by next morning. Up to 50 fruit can be produced per tree<br />
per year. Between 0 and 400 fruit can grow on one tree and this varies with season. Fruit can be<br />
up to 3 kg weight. Fruiting is seasonal. Fruit take between 90 to 130 days from flowering to<br />
maturity depending on variety.<br />
Use: The flesh around the seeds is eaten. Fruit need to be eaten within 2 days of falling from the<br />
tree. Fruit should only be opened at time of eating as the flesh goes sour. The unripe fruit can<br />
be cooked as a vegetable. Fruit are also processed for ice-creams and desserts.<br />
The seeds are edible, usually cooked.<br />
The young leaves and shoots can be eaten.<br />
The raw fruit is used as a vegetable or in soups.
465<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
61.1 602 2.5 5 0.7 5 24 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Can be damaged by Pink disease Fungus Corticium salmonicolor<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Very common in Indonesia and Malaysia. Introduced into several coastal areas of<br />
Papua New Guinea and plantings are increasing. At present fruit are mainly used by Asians.
466<br />
Names<br />
English: Mangosteen Scientific name: Garcinia mangostana L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Clusiaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree 10-20 m high with<br />
bright glossy leaves. Trees keep their leaves all year.<br />
Leaves are 15-25 cm long and leathery. Male and<br />
female flowers are on separate trees. Commercial trees<br />
only have female flowers. Male trees occur but are<br />
rare. Flowers are produced on shoots near the end of<br />
branches. Female flowers have 4 cream petals and 4<br />
sepals and a round ovary with a thick stigma composed<br />
of 4 to 8 lobes. No pollination is required because fruit<br />
develop without fertilisation. The fruit is dark blue<br />
with 4-8 white juicy segments inside the thick skin.<br />
Each segment is enclosed in fine pinkish veins. It is 8<br />
cm across and has flower sepals attached to the stalk<br />
end. It leaks yellow sap from wounds. Fruit is<br />
produced on side branches near to the tips of the main<br />
branches. Fruit often have no seeds or up to 2. These<br />
are not true seeds but they will grow.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It needs a hot humid climate (25°C to 35°C). Temperatures<br />
below 5°C will kill the plant and temperatures below 20°C slow growth. It grows from sea level<br />
up to 1000 m altitude in the equatorial tropics although they grow very slowly at this altitude. It<br />
can stand light shade. It often does not do well with sea breezes, and needs protection from<br />
wind. It cannot tolerate drought. It needs fertile soil. Good fertility enables earlier bearing. It<br />
suits high rainfall areas over 2500 mm per year. It cannot tolerate alkaline soils. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees breed true from seed because they are produced asexually. This means trees<br />
are very uniform. As well some seeds can produce more than one seedling. They germinate<br />
between 10 and 54 days. Seeds need to be fresh (less than 5 days after extraction) and<br />
undamaged, and cleaned of pulp. They quickly lose their viability. Transplanting is done with<br />
care after 2 years. Long tap roots make this difficult. Young trees require shade during hot<br />
weather. The slow early growth is because the original roots of the seedling are replaced by new<br />
roots from the base of the stem. A spacing of 7 - 10 m suits. Grafting onto vigorous root stocks<br />
is difficult. It has been performed on Garcinia tinctoria. Budding, cuttings and layering have<br />
been unsuccessful.<br />
Production: Trees are slow growing and begin to bear after 8-20 years. Fruit are produced on<br />
shoots which are more than two years old so pruning is unecessary. Fruiting is seasonal once or<br />
twice a year. Often more fruit are produced every second year. The main fruiting season is Nov<br />
to March. Fruit need to be harvested when mature and ripe. Fruit can only be transported with<br />
difficulty. They can be stored under refrigeration. (10°C for up to eight weeks). Between 500 to<br />
1500 fruit are produced per tree. Fruit are best opened by cutting the skin around the middle to<br />
prevent tannins from the skin spoiling the flavour. Fruit can be stored for 3 weeks if<br />
undamaged.<br />
Use: Fruit is best eaten fresh. It is the arillus or layer around the seeds which is eaten.<br />
The seeds are edible raw.
467<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Seeds<br />
81.3 299 0.6 0.4 2.7<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A few trees have been planted in lowland areas of Papua New Guinea. It is a very<br />
popular fruit.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
468<br />
Names<br />
English: Warren’s mangosteen Scientific name: Garcinia warrenii F. Muell.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Clusiaceae<br />
Description: A tall shrub or small bushy tree. It grows<br />
to 6-13 m high and spreads 1-3 m wide. When the tree<br />
is damaged it produces a yellow exudate. The small<br />
branches are angular. The leaves are 10-16 cm long by<br />
4-5 cm wide and leathery. They are dark green and<br />
have short thick leaf stalks. Flushes of new growth are<br />
often red. The flower cluster is produced in the axils of<br />
leaves. It is branched and stiff. The flowers are about<br />
1 cm across and white. They have a strong scent.<br />
There are 4 thick petals. The fruit is a berry 3-3.5 cm<br />
across. It is oval, purple and fleshy. Two seed occur in<br />
a fruit. The seed are 3 cm by 2 cm. The flesh of the<br />
fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It occurs in<br />
rainforest. Often it is near streams or on flood plains.<br />
They need good drainage. They can grow in full<br />
sunlight or partial shade. It will grow in subtropical<br />
regions but young plants are sensitive to frost.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. The seed needs to be sown fresh.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are slow growing. In Australia, fruit are mature in November to January.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It apparently occurs in Papua New Guinea, presumably on the South Coast.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
469<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Garcinia riparia A.C.Smith<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Clusiaceae<br />
Description: A tall shrub or small tree. It grows 4-8 m<br />
high and spreads 1-3 m wide. When trees are damaged<br />
they produce a clear exudate. The leaves are 7-9 cm<br />
long and 2-3 cm wide. They are narrowly oval and<br />
dark green. They are thick textured and the veins are<br />
prominent underneath the leaf. The tips of the leaves<br />
are drawn out to a fine point. The flower cluster is<br />
produced in the axils of leaves and these occur as dense<br />
clusters. The flowers are about 0.6 cm across and<br />
white. The fruit are 2.5 cm across and yellowish.<br />
There are 1-5 seeds inside.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It occurs in rainforests.<br />
It grows near rivers.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed which should be sown fresh.<br />
Production: In Australia, the fruit are mature in December to January. Flowering occurs in July.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It apparently occurs in Papua New Guinea and its distribution is unknown.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
470<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Garcinia eugeniaefolia T.Anders<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Clusiaceae<br />
Description: A tree. The small branches are slender<br />
and stiff. The leaves are crowded at the ends of<br />
branches. The leaves are opposite and sword shaped<br />
tapering gradually to the tip. The leaves are 9 cm long<br />
by 2.5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 0.4 cm long. The<br />
flower clusters are in the axils of leaves. The flowers<br />
occur singly on the cluster. The fruit is oval and<br />
curved. It is 1.5 cm long. The fruit do not have a stalk.<br />
Distribution:<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A minor fruit and its importance in Papua New Guinea is unknown.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
471<br />
Names<br />
English: Egg tree Scientific name: Garcinia dulcis (Roxb.) Kurz<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Xanthochymus dulcis Roxb.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Clusiaceae<br />
Description: A bushy tree up to 10-20 m high. It<br />
spreads 2-4 m wide. It has a short trunk. It has 4<br />
angled yellow drooping branches. It has large leathery<br />
leaves 10-30 cm long and 4-14 cm wide. The leaves<br />
are opposite, smooth and somewhat oval in shape.<br />
Young leaves are pale green and older leaves are dark<br />
green. The leaves are shiny above and often hairy<br />
underneath. The leaf stalk is 2 cm long. Male and<br />
female flowers are separate. The flowers are white or<br />
greenish yellow and borne in small rounded clusters.<br />
Male flowers are very small. The flowers have a sour<br />
smell. The fruit is smooth, yellow and the size of a<br />
small orange but with a point at the end. It is 5-8 cm<br />
wide. It has a thin skin and 1 to 5 seeds inside. These<br />
are brown and 2.5 cm long. The pulp is yellow.<br />
Distribution: They are common and widely distributed<br />
in the Philippines from northern Luzon to the southern<br />
part growing in primary forest at low and medium<br />
altitudes. It grows in coastal areas up to 500 m altitude.<br />
It is not particular as regards soil.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seed. Seed need to be sown while fresh. Trees can be<br />
budded or grafted. Shield budding on fairly mature wood using large buds is best.<br />
Production: Fruit production is seasonal about Dec to May in the Southern Hemisphere.<br />
Use: The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten raw. They are a bit acid. They can be cooked. They<br />
can be used to make jam.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 86.7 205 0.4 0.4 25 5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: At present not commonly planted in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
472<br />
Names<br />
English: Loquat Scientific name: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindley<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rosaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree up to 6-10 m high. It<br />
has a round crown. Leaves are large and strongly ribbed.<br />
They are 12-30 cm long and 8-10 cm wide. They are dark<br />
green and glossy on the upper surface and woolly white<br />
underneath. They are leathery with slight teeth. The new<br />
growth is tinged with red. Flowers have a strong scent.<br />
Flowers are small and white and in clusters at the ends of<br />
branches. Fruit are in loose clusters of about 10. They are<br />
pear shaped. They are 3-5 cm long and yellow when ripe.<br />
There are 3-5 large brown seeds in each fruit.<br />
Distribution: It is native to China and Japan. They suit<br />
subtropical and warm temperate areas. Trees grow best<br />
between 750 and 1750 m altitude in the tropics, and are best<br />
about 1000 m. It is not suited to the coastal tropics and can't<br />
stand heavy frosts on the flowers or fruit. It does better in<br />
drier areas and needs good drainage. Well established trees<br />
can tolerate a low temperature of -11°C.<br />
The killing temperature for the flower bud is about -7°C, and for the mature flower about -2°C.<br />
At -4°C the seed is killed, causing the fruit to fall. Trees need good drainage and do best in full<br />
sunlight. Trees can stand drought but yield best with water at flowering and fruit development.<br />
In Nepal they grow between 1300-2000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from cuttings or layering. It can also be grown from seeds or by<br />
grafting. Seeds grow easily. Trees should be planted in groups to cross pollinate. A spacing of<br />
6 m is suitable. Trees grow quickly. Trees need light pruning of the tips of branches to maintain<br />
tree shape and avoid excessively thin fruit bearing branches.<br />
Production: Seedling trees begin to bear in 6-8 years compared with 2-3 years for grafted trees.<br />
Biennial bearing occurs. Thinning in heavy bearing years can give larger fruit. The fruiting is<br />
seasonal. The season is August to October in the Southern Hemisphere. Fruit should be<br />
allowed to ripen fully before harvesting. Fruit reach maturity after about 90 days from full<br />
flowering. Ripe fruit can be stored in a refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit is eaten fresh. If the fruit are cooked, the seeds should be removed as they<br />
give a bitter taste. The fruit are used for alcohol production. Fruit are also used for jam, jellies<br />
and sauces.<br />
Caution: The leaves are poisonous. The seeds are also poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 86.7 197 0.4 0.3 153 1 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Bactrocera sp. Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit are prone to fruit fly damage<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pink disease Fungus Corticium salmonicolor Berk. & Br.<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, at present only occasional trees are seen.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
473<br />
Names<br />
English: Mango Scientific name: Mangifera indica L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: An erect, branched evergreen tree. It can<br />
grow to 10-40 m high and is long lived. (Trees grown<br />
vegetatively are smaller and more compact.) Trees<br />
spread to 15 m across. It has strong deep roots. The<br />
trunk is thick. The bark is greyish-brown. The leaves<br />
are simple and shaped like a spear. Some kinds of<br />
mangoes have leaves with a wavy edge. They can be<br />
10-30 cm long and 2-10 cm wide. They are arranged in<br />
spirals. The leaf stalk is 1-10 cm long and flattened.<br />
Leaves are often brightly coloured and brownish-red<br />
when young. These tender leaves which are produced<br />
in flushes become stiff and dark-green when mature.<br />
The flower stalks are at the ends of branches. They are<br />
10-50 cm long and branching. Up to 6,000 flowers can<br />
occur on a stalk. Most of these are male and between 1<br />
and 35 % have both male and female flower parts.<br />
Fruit are green, yellow or red and 2.5 to 30 cm long. The fruit hang down on long stalks. The<br />
outside layer of the seed is hard and fibrous and there is one seed inside. Several embryos can<br />
develop from one seed by asexual reproduction. The fruit shape and colour vary as well as the<br />
amount of fibre and the flavour.<br />
Distribution: Mango grows in the tropics and subtropics. It grows from sea level up to 1300 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It does best in areas below 700 m and with a dry season. Rain and high<br />
humidity at flowering reduces fruit set. It thrives best where temperatures are about 25°C but<br />
will grow with temperatures between 10 and 42°C. Temperatures of 0°C will damage young<br />
trees and flowers. Low temperatures (10-20°C) at flowering time will reduce fruiting. As<br />
temperatures get lower due to latitude or altitude, fruit maturity is later and trees become more<br />
likely to only have good crops every second year. Mangoes can grow on a range of soils. In<br />
wetter areas soils with less clay are better. They can withstand occasional flooding. A soil pH<br />
of 5.5 to 6.5 is best. Soils with pH above 7.5 cause plants to develop iron deficiency. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown by planting fresh seed and they can be transplanted. Mangoes<br />
vary in their ability to breed true from seed. When more than one seedling emerges from the<br />
seed some of these are asexual and breed true. Clean seed germinate best if they are treated at<br />
50°C for 20 minutes, then planted on their edge with the round bulge upwards and near the soil<br />
surface. The husk around the seed should be removed. Seeds germinate in 3-6 weeks. The<br />
strongest growing seedlings from this seed are used and the others thrown away. The seedlings<br />
from the folds of the seed are vegetative while the seedling from the centre of the seedling near<br />
the stalk end may be sexual and show variation from type. Other seeds only produce one<br />
seedling and these normally vary and can be different from the parent tree. <strong>Plants</strong> can be<br />
propagated by budding, or by grafting using inarching. This is not easy. Cuttings grow with<br />
care. In wetter places flowers need to be protected with fungicides to enable fruit to form. If<br />
organic manure is used this should not be directly in the planting hole nor immediately against<br />
the new plant. Young transplanted seedlings need regular watering. A spacing of 6-12 m<br />
between plants is used. Wind protection is advisable to prevent fruit rubbing and getting<br />
damaged. Trees should only ever be lightly pruned as fruit develop on new growth and heavy<br />
pruning can reduce flowering. Flowering can be brought about by foliar sprays of potassium<br />
nitrate
474<br />
Production: Seeds germinate after about 20 days. Seedling trees produce after 4-6 years and<br />
increase in production up to 20 years. Trees often bear better each second year. Rain at<br />
flowering reduces fruit setting. Fruiting is at the end of the year. Fruit take 4-5 months to<br />
mature. Fruit vary in weight from 200 to 1,000 g. Trees can produce one million flowers but<br />
only 500 fruit. Trees last for many years.<br />
Use: Ripe fruit are eaten raw.<br />
Seeds can be eaten cooked. They are boiled or roasted and soaked to remove the bitterness.<br />
They are made into meal by powdering.<br />
Young leaves can be eaten cooked.<br />
Unripe fruit is pickled. Amchur is made from the dried unripe fruit. This is used in curries, and<br />
pickles and chutneys.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 83.0 253 0.5 0.5 1200 30 0.04<br />
Seeds<br />
Leaves 122 0.5 60<br />
Insects:<br />
Aleurodicus dispersus Russel Aleyrodidae (HEM) Spiralling whitefly<br />
Amblypelta spp. Coreidae (HEM) Tip wilt bugs<br />
Aspidiotus destructor Sign. Diaspididae (HEM) Coconut scale<br />
Bactrocera bryoniae (Tryon.) Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Bactrocera frauenfeldi Schiner Tephritidae (DIPT) Fruit fly<br />
Bombotelia jocosatrix (Guen.) Noctuidae (LEP) Large mango tip borer<br />
Ceroplastes rubens Mask. Coccidae (HEM) Pink wax scale<br />
Chlumetia transversa Walker Noctuidae (LEP) Mango shoot caterpillar<br />
Idioscopus niveosparsus (Leth.) Cicadellidae (HEM) Leafhopper on flowers<br />
Coccus viridis (Green) Coccidae (HEM) Green scale<br />
Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Pineapple mealy bug<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Miridae (HEM) Cacao mirid<br />
Idioscopus clypealis (Leth.) Cicadellidae (HEM) Mango hopper<br />
Idioscopus niveosparsus (Leth.) Cicadellidae (HEM) Mango hopper<br />
Ischnaspis longirostris (Sign.) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Noorda albizonalis Hamps Pyralidae (LEP) Red banded mango borer<br />
Protaetia fusca Herbst. Scarabaeidae (COL) Mango flower beetle<br />
Rhyparida clypeata Jacoby Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Saisettia coffeae Walker Coccidae (HEM) Brown coffee scale<br />
Scopelodes dinawa B.Bak Limacocidae (LEP) Cup moth<br />
Scopelodes nitens B.Bak Limacocidae (LEP) Cup moth<br />
Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard) Thripidae (THYS) Cacao thrips<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungi Asterina sp.<br />
And Meliola mangiferae Earle<br />
Leaf spot, wither tip, fruit rot Fungus Glomerella cingulata (Stonem) Spauld & Schrenk<br />
Fungus Stigmina mangiferae<br />
Pink disease Fungus Phanerochaete salmonic<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Very popular and important in seasonally dry lowlands.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
475<br />
Names<br />
English: Wild mango Scientific name: Mangifera minor Bl.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: A large tree often 10-15 m tall but can be<br />
up to 30 m tall. The trunk can be 30-120 cm across. It<br />
can have buttresses. It has a thick round crown of<br />
leaves. Leaves are more narrow than the cultivated<br />
mango. They are 10-22 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. The<br />
leaves are dark green and shiny on top but paler and<br />
smooth underneath. They are papery. The leaf stalk is<br />
1-3 cm long. The flowers occur on the ends of<br />
branches in a much branched flower arrangement.<br />
These stalks are 30 cm long. The individual flowers<br />
are small. The flowers have a scent. Fruit are yellow<br />
green and flattened at the sides and with one large seed<br />
inside. They are smaller than mango. They can be 6-10<br />
cm long by 4-7 cm wide. The fruit have stringy flesh.<br />
It is edible. The stone is very fibrous.<br />
Distribution: It occurs mainly in the lowlands and foothills below 750 m altitude but grows up<br />
to 1900 m altitude. It occurs as scattered individuals. It prefers damp, even wet ground. It is<br />
common near the foreshore. They grow in the humid tropics.<br />
Cultivation: Trees grow from seed both as wild and cultivated plants.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is peeled and eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Insects:<br />
Helopeltis clavifer (Walker) Coreidae (HEM) Cacao mirid<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is sometimes cultivated around villages. A minor edible fruit in several areas of<br />
Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
476<br />
Names<br />
English: Horse mango Scientific name: Mangifera foetida Lour.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Mangifera horsfieldii Miq.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: A tree. It grows 10-27 m high. It has<br />
rough brown bark. The trunk is straight and can be 1 m<br />
across. It does not have buttresses. The bark is brown<br />
and has broad flat cracks. The sap causes irritation and<br />
it turns black on exposure. The branches are large and<br />
the crown is dense. The leaves are dark green. They<br />
are oblong and 15-40 cm long by 9-15 cm wide. They<br />
are stiff and rough. They are dark green above and<br />
clear green underneath. The leaf stalks are 15.8 cm<br />
longand are stout with a fattened base. The flowering<br />
clusters are upright and form a pyramid shape. These<br />
can be 10-40 cm long. The flowers are pinkish red and<br />
do not have a scent. The flowers and dead leaves are<br />
found on the ground. Pink flowers are on red stems.<br />
The fruit is oval and 9-14 cm long by 5-10 cm wide. It<br />
is like a mango fruit. The fruit is dull green with a<br />
smooth skin. They have small dark spots. The flesh is<br />
fibrous and yellow. The juice has a strong smell of<br />
turpentine. The stone is plump and 6 cm long by 5 cm<br />
wide and 3 cm thick.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. They grow in the<br />
humid tropics.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production: Flowers can be produced throughout the year but often in two main flushes.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten once they are fully ripe. They are also used in chutney and pickles.<br />
The fruit has a turpentine smell which makes it less popular.<br />
Caution: The unripe fruit can irritate the skin. The ripe fruit is peeled thickly to avoid this.<br />
The unripe fruit are washed in salted water and sliced and used as a vegetable and in pickles.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 72.5 1.4 56<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: They are sold in markets in Malaysia and in Brunei. It is only a minor fruit in<br />
Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
477<br />
Names<br />
English: Wild mango Scientific name: Mangifera altissima Blanco<br />
Tok pisin: Wel mango Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Anacardiaceae<br />
Description: A large tree. It grows 12-35 m tall or<br />
taller. The trunk is 35-80 cm across or wider. The<br />
small branches are angular with prominent leaf scars.<br />
The leaves are long and narrow and pointed at both<br />
ends or wedge shaped at the base. They are 15-43 cm<br />
long by 2-11 cm wide. They are rough. They are dark<br />
green above. The flowers are small and white. They<br />
have a smell. They are produced in large numbers on<br />
branched compound flowers. The veins are net like.<br />
The leaf stalk is 1.5-5 cm long. The flowers stalks are<br />
crowded near the ends of the twings. They are 10-25<br />
cm long. The flowers are creamy-white. They occur in<br />
groups of 4-5 on side branches. The fruit are 5 to 8 cm<br />
long and 4 to 6 cm wide. They are shaped like a mango<br />
and are smooth, green and sticky. They turn yellow as<br />
they ripen. The flesh is white and fibrous. The stone is<br />
4.5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide annd 1 cm thick.<br />
Distribution: They grow in the humid tropics. It can grow up to 400 m altitude. It does best in<br />
places with a wet and dry season. They are common in the forests in the Philippines.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are usually grown from seed. They can be grown by cleft grafting.<br />
Production: A fruit can weigh about 40 g. Fruit can be harvested about 70 days from flowering.<br />
They ripen in 6 days.<br />
Use: The fruit are used to make pickles or mixed with vegetables.<br />
The immature fruit are also eaten fresh.<br />
Ripe fruit are used to prepare marmalade.<br />
The seeds are salted and pounded to prepare an edible meal.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 82.0 277 0.7 131 IU 33<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is a minor edible fruit. In some countries it is grown in<br />
backyards and fruit are sold in markets.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
478<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Horsfieldia sylvestris (Hout.)Warb<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Myristica sylvestris Hout.<br />
Myristica edulis F.v.Muller<br />
Tok ples: Pendarahan Plant family: Myristicaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree 15-20 m tall with<br />
fairly straight trunk and long narrow leaves. The leaves<br />
droop. The yellow pointed fruit hang singly on short<br />
stalks along the branches. The fruit is orange on the<br />
outside with yellow flesh around a red coated seed.<br />
Male and female flowers are separate.<br />
Distribution: Tropical. The tree occurs in the<br />
Moluccas and Papua New Guinea, but not in the New<br />
Guinea Islands or the Solomon Islands. They occur in<br />
primary forest on sandy or clayey soils. They are<br />
mainly in the coastal plain. They probably need some<br />
shade in the seedling stage.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are planted from seeds.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The flesh around the seed is eaten raw.<br />
The leaves are used as a spice or flavouring.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, a fruit tree cultivated at least at Kawito near Balimo in the<br />
Western Province.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
479<br />
Names<br />
English: Mangrove nutmeg Scientific name: Myristica hollrungii Warb.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myristicaceae<br />
Description: A large tree up to 40 m tall with a straight<br />
trunk and buttress roots. Twigs have 2 raised lines<br />
along them between the leaves. The leaf stalk is 3 cm<br />
long and 0.3 mm wide. The leaf is 20-35 cm long x 5-<br />
13 cm wide. The base of the leaf is rounded and the tip<br />
tapers. The midrib and veins are sunken on the top of<br />
the leaf and raised underneath. The veins are almost<br />
parallel with fine networks between them. The male<br />
flower cluster is a woody scar covered knob. The male<br />
flowers have stalks 6 mm long. The female flowers are<br />
similar to the male flowers but with thicker shorter<br />
stalks. The fruit are oval and 3-6 cm long by 2-4 cm<br />
wide. Fruits are yellow with a red covered seed inside.<br />
The seed is 3 cm long by 1.5 cm wide.<br />
Distribution: Tropical. Trees are often just behind the<br />
mangrove swamps. They can grow up to 920 m<br />
altitude. They grow in the lowland rainforests, by<br />
rivers and streams.<br />
Cultivation: Trees grow wild from seed.<br />
Production: Fruiting is seasonal.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, a common tree in lowland areas of the mainland and islands<br />
but only a minor edible fruit.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
480<br />
Names<br />
English: European grape Scientific name: Vitis vinifera L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Vitaceae<br />
Description: A woody vine which keeps growing from<br />
year to year. It is often pruned to reduce its size. It climbs<br />
by coiled tendrils which attach to objects. It has large<br />
leaves which are roughly heart shaped. They can be entire<br />
or be deeply divided into 3-5 lobes. Leaves can be 20 cm<br />
across. The edges of the leaf are sharply and irregularly<br />
toothed. The tip of the leaf is pointed and the base is<br />
rounded. Sometimes the leaves are hairy. The flowers are<br />
small and yellow-green. They occur in clusters which are<br />
5-20 cm long and beside the leaves. The 5 green petals<br />
drop off together to show 5 central stamens and the ovary.<br />
These bear clusters of fleshy fruit.<br />
The fruit is a berry which is generally oval and juicy. The skin can be yellow or violet-black.<br />
They are 1-4 cm long. The flesh is edible. They contain a few hard seeds.<br />
Distribution: It mainly grows in Mediterranean-type climates with hot dry summers and cool<br />
rainy winters. It needs shelter from the wind. In Nepal it grows up to 1400 m altitude. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 6-9.<br />
Cultivation: They are mostly grown from hardwood cuttings. It needs a trellis for support. It is<br />
normally pruned to control the growth. A spacing of 2.4 m by 3 m is suitable. Vines are pruned<br />
when they have lost their leaves. Pruning in the first year is designed to form the permanent<br />
shape of the plant. Nomally it is pruned to allow a single stem with two branches just below the<br />
trellis.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten ripe and also used for juice and wines, champagnes and brandies.<br />
Sometimes young slightly acid leaves are eaten.<br />
The dried fruit are eaten as raisins.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit raw 80.6 297 0.7 0.3 7 10.8 0.1<br />
Fruit dry 19.2 1184 4.1 3.3 7 4.7 0.7<br />
Leaves 73.3 389 5.6 2.6 2699 11.1 0.7<br />
Insects:<br />
Hippotion celerio (L.) Sphingidae (LEP) Grapevine hawkmoth<br />
Oribius spp. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil<br />
Diseases:<br />
Powdery mildew Fungus Plasmopara viticola (Berk & Curt ex de Bary ) Berl & de Toni<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only very occasional plants occur in hot humid tropical places like Papua New<br />
Guinea and produce very poorly. They are suited to drier Mediterranean places.
481<br />
Names<br />
English: Wild olive, Yellow plum Scientific name: Ximenia americana var. america L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Olacaceae<br />
Description: A small tree or spiny shrub about 3-4 m<br />
high. It has spines about 1 cm long which are thin and<br />
straight. The leaves and branches are without hairs.<br />
The leaves are alternate, oval and about 2-4 cm long.<br />
The leaves are bluish green. The leaves fold upwards<br />
along the midrib. The tip of the leaf can be round or<br />
with a notch. The flowers are greenish white, have a<br />
smell and are less than 1 cm long. They occur in small<br />
branched clusters with a common stalk. The fruit are<br />
yellow, egg shaped and 2 cm across. They are thin<br />
skinned. They are sour. There is one large seed.<br />
Distribution: They occur along the back of coasts and<br />
seashores in the Philippines. It occurs in the vegetation<br />
near the coastline. The plant occurs in all tropical<br />
countries. It is found in savannah in Africa. It is<br />
drought resistant. In China it grows in sandy areas<br />
behind beaches along the sea shore and mostly below<br />
100 m in S China. In Bolivia it grows up to 900 m<br />
altitude.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> normally grow wild. The plant often has roots which feed off other plants.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. These can be grown in pots then transplanted or can be sown<br />
where they are to grow. As seed do not store well, they should be sown fresh.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are slow growing. They can be pruned as a hedge or cut back and allowed to<br />
regrow.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten fresh or pickled. They are used for jam and jellies. They are also used<br />
to make beer.<br />
The nuts are powdered and mixed with sago to make bread.<br />
The kernels of the nuts are recorded as both edible and purgative. They should only be eaten in<br />
small numbers.<br />
Caution: The leaves have been reported as poisonous. They contain a cyanogenic glycoside.<br />
Young leaves are eaten after cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Nuts<br />
Leaves<br />
78.6 210 2.7 0.7 0.3<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A minor wild edible fruit (and nut) in several coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.
482<br />
Names<br />
English: Salak, Snake fruit Scientific name: Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.)Voss<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Salacca edulis Reinw.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae<br />
Description: A clumping palm. The trunk is<br />
underground. It branches. The plant is covered with<br />
long, black, sharp spines. The fronds are erect and 4-6<br />
m long. The leaf stalk is about 2 m long and has large<br />
flattened spines. The fronds have leaflets along the<br />
stalk. These are in rings. The leaflets are 60 cm long<br />
by 5 cm wide. They taper to the tip. They are shiny<br />
green above and greyish underneath. Male and female<br />
flowers occur on different plants. One cultivar from<br />
Bali has male and female flowers on the one plant. The<br />
flowering stalks are branched and without spines. The<br />
male flower stalks are drooping and 50-100 cm long.<br />
The female flowers are in crowded spikes and are 20-<br />
30 cm long. The fruit are carried in small clusters<br />
between the bases of the leaves. The fruit are 4-8 cm<br />
long and pear shaped. They are covered with<br />
overlapping brown scales which give it an appearance<br />
like a snake skin. The pulp is firm and tart. There is<br />
one seed inside.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It does best in lowland tropical areas. It usually grows in marshy<br />
ground. <strong>Plants</strong> can tolerate full sun from an early age.<br />
Cultivation: Male and female plants are normally needed to get fertile seed and fruit.<br />
Sometimes single plants can fruit. <strong>Plants</strong> respond to regular applications of fertiliser. Flower<br />
production is improved if old fronds and debris is removed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The ripe fruit are eaten fresh or used in preserves.<br />
The unripe fruit can be made into pickles.<br />
The palm cabbage is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Cabbage<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: Some plants have been introduced from Indonesia into Sepik coastal villages.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
483<br />
Names<br />
English: Nonda plum Scientific name: Parinari nonda F.v.Muell. ex Benth.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Parinari papuanum CT White<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Chrysobalanaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 10-15 m tall. It is often<br />
only 3 m tall but can be 34 m tall. It has an open<br />
growth habit. The bark is greyish-brown and cracked<br />
along its length. The small branches are angular,<br />
drooping and hairy. The leaves are narrow, oval and<br />
leathery. They are 3.5-8 cm long by 2-4.5 cm wide.<br />
They are dark green and smooth on the upper surface<br />
and paler with dense white hairs underneath. Under the<br />
leaf the midrib is prominent and the veins are like a net.<br />
The tip of the leaf has a blunt point. The leaf stalk is<br />
short. Flowers are brownish yellow and very small.<br />
They occur at the ends of branches and in the axils of<br />
upper leaves. The fruit is smallish (2 cm x 3 cm) and<br />
brownish. It hangs on the ends of the branches. The<br />
fruit has a slightly rough skin due to a brown scaly like<br />
layer. The fruit is edible. Inside the fruit is a rough<br />
kernel.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. The tree grows in lowland areas from 6 to 1300 m altitude in<br />
Papua New Guinea. It occurs in moist rainforest and open woodland. It is often in dunes behind<br />
sandy beaches. It occurs in northern Australia. It suits seaside dry tropical regions. It can<br />
tolerate drought. It needs full sun.<br />
Cultivation: The tree grows wild. They can be grown from fresh seed. It can probably be<br />
grown from cuttings of semi ripe wood.<br />
Production: It is slow growing. Fruit occur in August and November (May). Fruit are bitter<br />
when fresh from the tree so are best ripened off the tree to make them more sweet. Burying<br />
them for a week has been used to improve ripening. They can be harvested after they fall. To<br />
make nut-milk the fruit was dried and the kernels crushed and the mash was washed, squeezed<br />
and strained to extract the white "nut-milk".<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten raw.<br />
The floury pulp of the fruit can be ground into flour and baked.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 78.3 222 1.0 1.5 1 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A minor edible wild fruit. The "nut-milk" has been especially used for babies.
484<br />
Names<br />
English: Santol Scientific name: Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.)Merr<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Melia koetjape Burm. f.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Meliaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree. It loses its leaves.<br />
It grows up to about 25-50 m high. It is 80 cm across<br />
the trunk. It can have buttresses 3 m tall. Branches<br />
normally develop after 7-10 m. The crown is dense and<br />
dark green. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets.<br />
The leaves are 18-40 cm long. The leaflets are hairy.<br />
They are pointed at the tip and more rounded at the<br />
base. They are 10 to 25 cm long. The end leaflet is the<br />
largest. The flowering cluster is 2.5-24 cm long. The<br />
flowers are greenish yellow and about 1 cm long. They<br />
occur in considerable numbers in compound flower<br />
clusters. The fruit are rounded and 4 to 6 cm across.<br />
They cluster like grapes. The fruit have one stone.<br />
They are yellowish or red with a thick outer covering.<br />
The flesh of the fruit is white, juicy and allows light<br />
through. The seeds are large. The pulp of the fruit is<br />
edible.<br />
Distribution: It is native to SE Asia. It is a tropical plant. It can withstand light frosts. It needs<br />
light. They occurs throughout the Philippines and is very common both wild and cultivated.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed, air-layering or budding.<br />
Production: It is fast growing.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw or made into preserves. The skin can be eaten.<br />
Fruit are made into alcoholic beverages. This is done by fermenting them with rice.<br />
The leaves are eaten.<br />
The fruit are eaten. The seeds are removed and the skin taken off. They are then boiled and later<br />
candied with sugar.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 85.0 192 0.9 0.4 3 86<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: They are not common in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
485<br />
Fruit (Continued)<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum 486<br />
Rhubarb Rheum rhaponticum 487<br />
Panama berry Muntingia calabura 488<br />
Pomegranate Punica granatum 489<br />
Mulberry Morus alba 490<br />
Persian mulberry Morus nigra 491<br />
Indian mulberry Morinda citrifolia 492<br />
Ceriman, Monstera Monstera deliciosa 493<br />
Garraway lime Microcitrus garrawayae 494<br />
Olive Olea europaea 495<br />
Fei banana Musa maclayi 496<br />
Musa ingens 497<br />
Sapodilla Manilkara zapota 498<br />
Litchi Litchi chinensis 500<br />
Maesa edulis 501<br />
Langsat Lansium domesticum 502<br />
Rosella Hibiscus sabdariffa 503<br />
Garuga Garuga floribunda 504<br />
Kumquat Fortunella margarita 505<br />
Fig Ficus carica 506<br />
Persimmon Diospyros kaki 507<br />
Velvet apple Diospyros blancoi 508<br />
Tulican Diospyros hebecarpa 509<br />
Longan Dimocarpus longan 510<br />
Elephant apple Dillenia indica 511<br />
Golden beach Dillenia alata 512<br />
Akee Blighia sapida 513<br />
Black currant tree Antidesma ghaesembilla 514<br />
Wild currant Antidesma erostre 515<br />
Chinese laurel Antidesma bunius 516<br />
Chinese gooseberry Actinidia chinensis 517<br />
Broad leafed lillypilly Acmena hemilampra var. hemilampra 518<br />
Aceratium oppositifolium 519<br />
Feijoa, Pineapple guava Acca sellowiana 520
486<br />
Names<br />
English: Rambutan Scientific name: Nephelium lappaceum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sapindaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree up to 12-25 m high.<br />
It keeps its leaves throughout the year. Trees spread to<br />
6 m wide. The leaves are alternate with leaflets<br />
opposite along the stalk. There are 5-7 pairs of leaflets.<br />
Each leaflet can be 20 cm long by 8 cm wide. The<br />
leaflet stalks are short and the leaflets are pointed at the<br />
tip and rounded at the base. The flowers are very<br />
numerous on compound flower arrangements. Seedling<br />
trees can produce only female or only male trees.<br />
Some kinds have both male and female flowers or both<br />
flower parts in the one flower. The fruit are dark red<br />
with many prominent projections united at the base.<br />
The colour can vary between yellow, green, orange and<br />
bright red. Sometimes trees are separately male and<br />
female and sometimes seedless fruit is set. Often male<br />
and female flowers are separate but on the same tree.<br />
The fruit hang in loose clusters of 10-12 and are up to 5<br />
cm long. Normally each fruit contains one large seed.<br />
Distribution: It is native to Malaysia. It requires a moist hot climate mostly within 12° of the<br />
equator. They extend from sea level up to altitudes of about 500 m in equatorial zones and will<br />
grow about 17° from the equator. They do best where the temperature is constant around 28°C<br />
or range from 22-30°C and rainfall of 2000 to 5000 mm per year. Low humidity can cause<br />
scorching of leaves. Excessive rainfall before flower formation reduces flowering. A dry period<br />
of about one month assists flower initiation and areas with two seasonal dry periods can get<br />
double crops. A well drained soil is needed. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from fresh seeds. The seeds are short lived so need to be<br />
planted fresh, after washing. Germination takes place in 7-10 days. Seedlings are not easy to<br />
transplant. Roots are very sensitive to drying out. Selected trees can be propagated by budding<br />
or airlayering. Seedling trees vary considerably in quality due to cross pollination. Planting<br />
densities of 80-120 trees per hectare occur. About 1% male flowers are sufficient if enough<br />
pollinating insects are present. Some kinds need to have varieties mixed in the garden to get<br />
good fruit set. Twice yearly applications of organic manure are often used.<br />
Production: Seedling trees can start to bear after 6 years. Fruiting is seasonal. Flowering<br />
occurs during the dry season. The main fruit season is November to March. Fruit mature about<br />
110 days after flowering. Where trees with only female flowers occur male pollinator trees are<br />
needed. Fruit can weigh 20 to 40 g each. Fruit need to be harvested when ripe.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten fresh. Fruit that are more sour are eaten stewed.<br />
The seeds are sometimes roasted and eaten. The seed can be used for oil.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 82.0 271 1.0 1.9 0 53 0.1<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: It is an important fruit tree in SE Asia. Trees have been planted in several coastal<br />
areas of Papua New Guinea and produce well.
487<br />
Names<br />
English: Rhubarb Scientific name: Rheum rhaponticum Linn.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Polygonaceae<br />
Description: A clumpy plant with broad leaves. They<br />
grow to 1.2 m high. It has long leaf stalks which are<br />
mostly red in colour. The leaf stalks have a channel on<br />
the upper surface. The leaves are large and heart<br />
shaped at the base. They have a wavy edge. The roots<br />
are thick and clustered. They are woody and<br />
underground forming a crown. The stems arise<br />
individually from this. The flowers grow in tall dense<br />
leafy panicles which branch close to the stem. They<br />
can he cream, white or yellow. They can be 3 m high.<br />
Distribution: It grows between 750 and 2600 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It needs a fertile soil. It needs a<br />
sunny location. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown by division of the rootstock. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed.<br />
Seedlings are not easy to transplant. So seed should be sown shallowly and plants thinned to 15-<br />
100 cm apart. Flowers should be removed to encourage leaf stalk growth. Leaf stalks can be<br />
forced by covering the plant with a container and keeping it warm and dark. Stalks grow more<br />
rapidly but the plant is weakened quickly.<br />
Production: Once crowns are well established, leaf stalks are produced very regularly. The leaf<br />
stalks are removed regularly. They should be pulled off the crown, not broken or cut off.<br />
Use: The sour leaf stalks are eaten after cooking with sugar. They are also used in sauces and<br />
pies.<br />
Caution: The leaves are poisonous due to oxalates.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Stalk 94.6 25 0.6 0.4 55 8<br />
Insects:<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Aschochyta rhei (Ell. & Ev.)Ell & Ev.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Stalks are sold in a few highland markets in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
488<br />
Names<br />
English: Panama berry Scientific name: Muntingia calabura L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Muntingiaceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 5-12 m high. The trunk<br />
is 15-20 cm across. Branches are wide spreading and<br />
almost horizontal. The young shoots are covered with<br />
hairs. The leaves are alternate and elliptical. They are<br />
4-5 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The leaves are unequal<br />
at the base. The leaves have teeth along the edge. The<br />
leaf is dark green on top and dull below. The flowers<br />
are small and white or cream. They occur as one or<br />
two in the axils of leaves. The fruit stalk is 1.5 cm<br />
long. The fruit are small red berries 1-2 cm across.<br />
They have many tiny seeds. The fruit are edible.<br />
Distribution: It is native to the West Indies and South<br />
America. A tropical plant. They suit sandy coral soils<br />
of low islands. They grow from sea level up to about<br />
1000 m altitude in the tropics. They need a warm,<br />
sunny, sheltered position. It suits hardiness zones 10-<br />
12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings of half ripe<br />
wood. Seed germinate more readily if they have passed through bats. This means the plant<br />
often spreads naturally. Seedlings do not tolerate shade.<br />
Production: Trees grow fairly quickly. Fruit is produced in the second year. Trees flower and<br />
produce fruit all year round. Fruit ripen in 6-8 weeks.<br />
Use: The berries are eaten raw. They can be used for jam.<br />
The leaves can be used for tea.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Root rot Fungus Phellinus noxius (Corner)G H Cunn.<br />
Shoots affected by Pink disease Fungus Corticium salmonicolor Berk & Br.<br />
Pests:<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: It is one of the most common roadside trees in SE Asia. The fruit are eaten<br />
especially by children. Trees have been planted as small ornamentals in some coastal areas of<br />
Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
489<br />
Names<br />
English: Pomegranate Scientific name: Punica granatum L<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Punicaceae<br />
Description: A shrub. It grows up to 2-6 m tall. It has short<br />
thorns. It can grow up to 10 m tall. Usually trees lose their leaves<br />
at one season during the year. The trunk is covered by reddishbrown<br />
bark. Trees often sucker near the base. The leaves are<br />
opposite, entire and 8 cm x 1.5 cm. Leaves narrow towards the<br />
base. It has large scarlet flowers. These are at the ends of<br />
branches. 1-3 flowers occur together. The fruit is round, leathery<br />
skinned and up to 10 cm across. It is yellow brown in colour.<br />
Inside there are angular hard seeds in a juicy yellow pulp. The<br />
seeds are 10 mm long.<br />
Distribution: It is native from SE Europe to the Himalayas. It<br />
suits drier subtropical climates. It suits areas with a long hot dry<br />
summer and cool winter. A humid climate affects fruit formation.<br />
They have borne fruit in Papua New Guinea at 1620 m altitude.<br />
They are mostly coastal up to 500 m in the tropics. Trees are<br />
severely damaged by temperatures below -11°C. In Nepal they<br />
grow to about 2700 m altitude. It suits hardiness zone 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: They are easily raised by seed. They are best propagated by layering or grafting<br />
but cuttings or root suckers can be used. Cuttings root easily. Cuttings 30 to 50 cm long of one<br />
year old wood can be used. Pruning of sucker growth and surplus branches is needed. A<br />
spacing of 4-5 m is suitable.<br />
Production: Trees bear after about 2-3 years. Fruiting is seasonal. The season tends to be Dec<br />
to May. The tree loses its vigour after about 15 years but trees can live for many years. The<br />
pomegranate is self-pollinated as well as cross-pollinated by insects. Cross-pollination increases<br />
the fruit set. Fruit matures 5 to 7 months after flowering. Fruit need to be picked when mature<br />
to prevent splitting. Fruit develop a distinctive colour and have a metallic sound when tapped,<br />
when they are ripe.<br />
Use: The juicy pulp around the seeds is eaten.<br />
The juice can be used for a drink.<br />
The seeds are dried with their aril and used in the Indian condiment Anardana.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Seeds<br />
81.0 285 1.0 0.3 0 6 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Nipaecoccus vastator (Mask.) Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Sooty mould Fungi Chaetothyrium sp.<br />
and Microxyphium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Occurs in some areas of Papua New Guinea.
490<br />
Names<br />
English: Mulberry Scientific name: Morus alba L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A small tree up to 9 m high but it can grow to 20<br />
m tall. Often it is low and spreading. It has dark green toothed<br />
leaves. The leaves vary considerably in shape even on the one<br />
tree. They can be oval, heart shaped or 3 lobed and 5-15 cm<br />
long. The tip is pointed and the leaf is on a stalk 5 cm long.<br />
The upper surface is smooth but there can be some hairs on the<br />
veins underneath. Male and female flowers occur separately<br />
either on the same or separate plants. The flowers are greenish<br />
and in spikes which droop down. The fruit is a dark red or black<br />
berry but pale kinds also occur. The fruit is about 2 cm long.<br />
Distribution: It is native to N. China. A warm temperate plant.<br />
The white mulberry (M.alba ) is normally used for silk worms<br />
and the black mulberry suits more highland regions. The normal<br />
range is 700 to 2200 m altitude in the tropics. Once established<br />
it can tolerate heat and drought. It suits hardiness zones 4-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed but seed are slow to germinate. If seed are used<br />
they should be soaked in cold water for 48 hours. Trees from seeds take a long time to bear. It<br />
is better to grow trees from cuttings. Trees can also be grown by grafting. Because trees "bleed"<br />
it is best not to do too much pruning but trees can be topped or trained.<br />
Production: Cuttings produce fruit in 3 years while it takes 5-8 years for seedling trees. Fruit is<br />
produced seasonally. The fruit season is normally September to December in the southern<br />
hemisphere.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten raw or used in juice, stews and tarts.<br />
The leaves are edible. (Leaves are also used for silk worms.)<br />
The bark can be roasted and ground into a flour.<br />
NOTE The stain from the fruit can be removed by rubbing with an unripe fruit.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Bark<br />
80.2 152 1.3 0.5 Tr 10 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Bothrichara palliata Macleay Cerambycidae (COL)<br />
Cassena intermedia Jacoby Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Howardia biclavis (Comstock) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM)<br />
Lagria sp. Chrysomelidae(COL)<br />
Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Hibiscus mealy bug<br />
Oribius destructor Mshl Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) Coccidae (HEM) Nigra scale<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM)<br />
Rhyparida coriacea Jac. Chrysomelidae (COL) Beetle feeding on leaves<br />
Tiracola plagiata Walk Noctuidae (LEP) Cacao armyworm
Diseases:<br />
491<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees moderately common in most highland areas of Papua New Guinea for fruit<br />
and leaves. (Also cultivated for silkworms.)<br />
Names<br />
English: Persian mulberry, Black mulberry Scientific name: Morus nigra L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A deciduous tree. It is a medium sized<br />
tree which grows 10-12 m high. The trunk is short and<br />
then branches widely. It has an extensive root system.<br />
The bark is dark brown. The young branches are hairy.<br />
The leaf stalk is 1.5-2.5 cm long. The leaf blade is oval<br />
and 6-12 cm long by 7-11 cm wide. The flowers are<br />
small and greenish. The fruit is blackish purple when<br />
mature. It is 2-2.5 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide.<br />
Distribution: It grows in temperate Asia. It will grow<br />
on most types of soils. The soils need to be welldrained.<br />
The black mulberry will grow in colder places<br />
than the white mulberry. It suits hardiness zones 5-10.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown by cuttings of 1-2 year old wood. Larger cuttings make faster growth.<br />
Cuttings are taken while trees are dormant in winter. Cuttings should be 1.5-2.5 cm across and<br />
25-35 cm long. They need to be planted in sandy soil to half their depth. Grafted plants can also<br />
be used.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten. They can be eaten raw or preserved. They can be used for jams, jellies,<br />
and drinks.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 87.7 180 1.4 1.9 3 36 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:
492<br />
Names<br />
English: Indian mulberry Scientific name: Morinda citrifolia L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Morinda tinctoria Ridley<br />
Tok ples: Noni Plant family: Rubiaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree. It grows 4-10 m<br />
tall and spreads 2-6 m wide. The branches are thick<br />
and somewhat 4 angled. It has large oval leaves which<br />
grow opposite each other along a four sided shiny<br />
branch. The leaves have a small leaf like appendage at<br />
the base of the leaf stem which is fused into a type of<br />
sheath. The leaves are 12.5-31 cm long by 6.2-15 cm<br />
wide. The stalks are 0.6-2.5 cm long. The flowers are<br />
numerous. They are 1.5 cm across. They grow in<br />
clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are rounded<br />
and small each with two 1-seeded nutlet. The fruit are<br />
yellowish white when mature, with warty looking<br />
lumps. They are about 6 cm across. The fruit is a little<br />
like soursop and has an unpleasant smell when ripe.<br />
Distribution: They are common along the seashores<br />
throughout the Philippines. The trees grow wild in<br />
coastal areas and are also planted. They suit dry areas<br />
because of high drought tolerance. It is part of the<br />
coastal vegetation behind the beach. They can grow on<br />
sand and have salt tolerance. Seeds can float easily in<br />
salt water. Trees can grow up to about 1500 m altitude.<br />
Trees cannot stand frost.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are grown from seeds. Seeds remain viable for at least 6 months. Seeds are<br />
planted in a nursery. They germinate in 3-9 weeks after sowing. Within 6 months trees grow to<br />
1.5 m. Flowering and fruiting start in the third year. Trees last for up to 25 years.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable or pot herb.<br />
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is often eaten with salt. Green fruit are curried.<br />
(Red, yellow and brown non edible dyes are obtained from the root.)<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 86.1 160 0.8 1.1 56<br />
Leaves 77.6 449 4.5 2.3 50<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
A light brown target leaf spot Probably fungus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees are moderately common in some lowland areas of Papua New Guinea. Fruit<br />
are used more than the leaves. It is a minor food.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
493<br />
Names<br />
English: Ceriman, Monsteria, Fruit Salad Plant Scientific name: Monstera deliciosa Liebm.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Araceae<br />
Description: A woody climber with large leaves with<br />
natural holes. It attaches itself to trees by roots at the<br />
nodes and climbs up to 15-20 m high. The stem is stout<br />
and crooked. The have a few branches. The leaves are<br />
glossy green. The leaves are divided around the edge.<br />
The leaves are 30-90 cm across. Young leaves are<br />
usually on shorter stalks, smaller and entire. The<br />
flowers are lily like and green. It has long (20-40 cm)<br />
cone like fruit.<br />
Distribution: It does best in rich, moist, well-drained<br />
soils. It suits a protected, shady position. It bears fruit<br />
between 700 m and 2300 m altitude in the equatorial<br />
tropics but the plant grows down to the coast. It is<br />
damaged by drought and frost. Seed need to be sown at<br />
a temperature between 18-24°C. The plant needs a<br />
temperature above 15°C. It suits hardiness zones 11-<br />
12.<br />
Cultivation: It is easily propagated by cuttings. Stem cuttings with one or two nodes or eyes are<br />
used. These are placed horizontally in potting mix. Putting these in a warm place with bright<br />
light but not direct sunlight quickens rooting. It should have a trellis, tree or wall to climb<br />
against. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. Fruit can be ripened evenly by cutting them as soon as<br />
the base starts to ripen then wrapping them in paper for few days.<br />
Production: The fruit take about a year to mature after flowering.<br />
Use: The fruit is edible.<br />
The fruit pulp can be strained and used as a drink.<br />
Caution: The unripe fruit have irritant crystals which sting the mouth.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
494<br />
Names<br />
English: Garraway lime Scientific name: Microcitrus garrawayae (Bailey) Swingle<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: A shrub. It has a dense bushy habit. It<br />
can grow up to 15 m tall but is often 2-6 m tall and 2-4<br />
m wide. Leaves are 1-6 cm long and 1-2.5 cm across.<br />
The leaves are broader than finger lime. The leaves are<br />
dull green, thick and leathery. Sometimes leaves have<br />
broad notches at the tip. Twigs have thorns. The<br />
flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are 1<br />
cm across and white. They have a scent. The fruit are<br />
finger shaped and 5-10 cm long by 1-3.5 cm wide.<br />
They have both a green skin and a green pulp. The skin<br />
is up to 2 mm thick and rough. The skin contains large<br />
oil glands. Cut fruit smell of citrus. There are few<br />
seeds which are 7 mm long.<br />
Distribution: A tropical and subtropical plant. It<br />
grows naturally in the Gulf District in Australia and on<br />
Goodenough island in Papua New Guinea. It grows as<br />
an understorey shrub in the deciduous vine forests.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> need some protection when small. They need<br />
good drainage.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. They can be grown from cuttings on a heat bed but<br />
rooting is slow and can take 6 months. They can be budded onto citrus rootstocks. Because the<br />
buds are small this takes some skill to be successful.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are slow growing. In Australia, plants develop flowers from August to<br />
December and fruit from April to November. An average fruit weighs 25 g.<br />
Use: The fruit can be used for processing into drinks or marmalade.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
495<br />
Names<br />
English: Olive Scientific name: Olea europaea L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Oleaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized evergreen tree. It grows<br />
to 16 m high and can spread to 10 m wide. The trunk is<br />
often gnarled and twisted. The leaves are greyishgreen.<br />
They are feather shaped and grow opposite each<br />
other. Leaves are replaced every two or three years.<br />
The flowers are small and cream coloured. They are on<br />
long stems in the axils of leaves but are hidden by the<br />
leaves. Some flowers contain both male and female<br />
parts while others are male only. Pollination is by wind<br />
but most olives are self pollinated. Fruit set is better<br />
with cross pollination and some varieties can only be<br />
cross pollinated. The fruit is small and green or black<br />
and oily. The shape, size and colour of fruit vary with<br />
variety.<br />
Distribution: Olive require a long hot growing season<br />
to properly ripen the fruit. They also need sufficient<br />
winter chill to insure fruit set. <strong>Plants</strong> can survive frosts<br />
but green fruit can be damaged as -2°C. Trees are wind<br />
tolerant. Olives can grow on any well drained soil up<br />
to pH 8.5. They can tolerate mild saline conditions. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 8-10.<br />
Cultivation: Growing trees from seed mean they revert to wild small fruited kinds. Seed are<br />
poorly viable and may take 2 years to germinate. Normally trees are grown by budding or<br />
grafting. Suckers can be used but these may be wild seedling kinds. Trees can be grown from<br />
cuttings. Cuttings 30-35 cm long and 3-8 cm thick from 2 year old wood are used with rooting<br />
hormone. Thinning the crop can increase fruit size. Thinning to 2-3 fruit per twig is best.<br />
Pruning both regulates growth and shapes the tree. Careful pruning can avoid bearing in<br />
alternate years. Olives never bear fruit in the same place twice and normally produce on the<br />
previous year's growth.<br />
Production: Trees can reach bearing age in about 4 years. Trees can live for 500 years. Green<br />
olives are picked unripe, black olives when ripe.<br />
Use: The fruit is used after being preserved. It is also used for oil. Raw fruit contain an alkaloid<br />
making them bitter and unpalatable. This is removed by lye curing then washing with water and<br />
then transferring to a saline solution.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 80.0 481 0.84 1.6 40 0.9 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A minor introduced fruit in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
496<br />
Names<br />
English: Fei banana Scientific name: Musa maclayi<br />
F.Muell ex Miklouho-Maclay<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Musaceae<br />
Description: A dark green stemmed banana with an<br />
upright bunch of fruit. The plant has red sap. The fruit<br />
is largely seedless.<br />
Distribution: They occur in small numbers in many<br />
areas of PNG.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten.<br />
Caution: After eating the fruit, the faeces and urine become red.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: A minor edible fruit in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
497<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Musa ingens Simmonds<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Musaceae<br />
Description: A wild banana with angular seeds in the<br />
fruit. The seeds are up to 8 mm across and the fruit are<br />
green but turn yellow/brown when ripe. The fruit are<br />
close together on the bunch.<br />
Distribution: It grows wild in some areas between<br />
1000 and 2100 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation: It grows from seeds and also has some suckers.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The central pith of the false stem of some kinds is used as a food by hunting parties.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Stem<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A very minor food.<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
498<br />
Names<br />
English: Sapodilla Scientific name: Manilkara zapota (L.)Van Royen<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Achras sapota L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sapotaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized evergreen tree up to<br />
18 m tall. It can grow to 30 m in tropical regions.<br />
The leaves are 8-12 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The<br />
leaves are green and shiny. The leaves tend to be<br />
clustered in spirals near the ends of twigs. The<br />
flowers are single and white in the axils of leaves.<br />
They are bell like and 1 cm across and produced on<br />
long stalks. The fruit has several smooth black<br />
shiny seeds. The fruit are normally in pairs and 5-8<br />
cm across. It is rusty brown in colour. The fruit can<br />
be seedless or can have up to 3 to 12 hard shiny<br />
seeds inside. The seeds are flattened and about 2 cm<br />
long. The tree has a milky juice.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It will grow in<br />
subtropical climates.<br />
It needs a warm climate above 18°C to 24°C. Tree can stand temperatures down to freezing for<br />
short periods of time. Frost will kill young trees but mature trees can tolerate reasonable frosts.<br />
Good year round rainfall is needed especially for young trees. It will probably grow up to 1000<br />
m in the tropics but is better at lower altitudes. It can tolerate some salt in the soil. They need<br />
good fertile soil. It can grow in heavy clay soils. It can grow in acid soils. Young trees need<br />
extra fertiliser for good growth. It does best in sunny positions. It cannot tolerate waterlogged<br />
soils but can withstand drought. It can stand strong winds. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from fresh seeds but they are not true to type. This has resulted<br />
in many varieties which vary in fruit shape and size. It is best to use grafted plants. Seed remain<br />
viable for several years. Better varieties should be grown by grafting or airlayering. Trees can<br />
be grown from cuttings of mature branches. Seedling trees tend to be taller. Growing from<br />
cuttings is not easy. A spacing of 8-9 metres is suitable. Thinning of fruit is rarely undertaken<br />
as sap discolours other fruit. Topping of the tree can be done if the tree becomes too tall. Trees<br />
need little pruning.<br />
Production: Trees are slow growing. Seedling trees take about 8-10 years to commence<br />
bearing. Grafted trees bear when about 4-5 years old. Fruit takes about 4-6 months after<br />
flowering to mature. There can be several bunches of fruit throughout the year. The fruit should<br />
be harvested when fully ripe to avoid the sticky latex. Often there are two crops each year. A<br />
well established 10 year old tree can produce 200-250 kgs of fruit per year. Fruit need to be<br />
fully ripe. It is not easy to determine ripeness except for a slight colour change. Allowing fruit<br />
to fall ensures full maturity. The fully ripe fruit are eaten. Fruit weigh about 110 g. Fruit can be<br />
stored at 2°C for 6 weeks.<br />
Use: The fully ripe fruit are eaten. The fruit are eaten fresh. They can be used for drinks, jams<br />
or jellies. The unripe fruit can be pickled.<br />
The juice can be boiled into syrup or made into syrup or wine.<br />
The bark contains a gummy substance (chicle) used for chewing gum.<br />
The very young shoots and leaves may be eaten, but older leaves contain an alkaloid poison.<br />
Caution: The seeds are hooked and can catch in the throat so should be removed.
499<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
74.0 361 0.5 0.7 10 12 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Fruit are sold in markets. It is a popular fruit in SE Asia. It has been introduced to<br />
Papua New Guinea and is not yet common.
500<br />
Names<br />
English: Litchi, Lychee Scientific name: Litchi chinensis Sonnerat<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sapindaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized evergreen tree. It grows up<br />
to 15 m tall but can be 35 m tall. It has a dense round<br />
crown. The trunk is smooth and grey with brittle trunk<br />
and branches. The trunk can be 1 m across. Leaves are<br />
shiny and light green. The leaves are reddish when young.<br />
They are leathery and divided into 4-8 leaflets. The<br />
leaflets are oval and taper to the tip. The flowers are pale<br />
green and in loosely branched groups at the ends of<br />
branches. It bears bunches of rough skinned pinkish fruit<br />
3-4 cm across. These droop in clusters. There are 3<br />
subspecies ssp. chinensis, ssp. philippinensis, ssp.<br />
javensis. There are many cultivated varieties.<br />
Distribution: It is native to Asia from China to Malaysia. It grows satisfactorily in the humid<br />
equatorial lowland areas but does not fruit. For fruiting it needs to be at a higher altitude or<br />
latitude because it has a cold temperature chilling requirement. Most varieties need between 100<br />
and 200 hours of standard chilling (0° and 7°C). It needs a deep moist soil and freedom from<br />
frost. Trees can stand temperatures down to -2°C when mature. Temperatures below 5°C at<br />
flowering upset normal flower opening. Cool dry climates are important. Although litchi will<br />
grow on a range of soils, well drained soils are best. A pH between 5.5 and 7.5 is suitable. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-11.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seed but they do not breed true and are slow to<br />
produce. Trees can be propagated by aerial layering, grafting or cuttings. Air layering is best.<br />
Seeds do not store well (4-5 days), so fresh seed must be sown. Air layers on mature branches in<br />
the warmer season are best. Branches of 2 to 2.5 cm across with 45 cm of shoot are suitable for<br />
air layers. A spacing of 10-12 m is suitable. Good soil preparation prior to planting enables<br />
good early growth. Organic matter dug in over 1 metre square and 30 cm deep 3 months before<br />
planting is good. A stick for support of the young plant and shelter are needed at planting. A pH<br />
of 5.5 to 6.0 is required. Because it is shallow rooting, cultivation should be avoided and<br />
mulching practised. Small amounts of fertiliser added often is the appropriate method. Lychee<br />
trees have a high water consumption. Only limited tree training is required. Often no general<br />
pruning is required. <strong>Plants</strong> need adequate water but not waterlogged soil.<br />
Production: Vegetatively propagated trees bear in 4-6 years. Fruiting is normally seasonal. It<br />
takes 140 days from flowering to fruit maturity. Fruit need to be harvested ripe from the tree.<br />
The normal harvesting method is to remove the fruit with a few cm of the stem still attached.<br />
Early fruit set is affected by vegetative growth at flowering. Insects (bees) are important for fruit<br />
set. Wind breaks are essential because wind at flowering can reduce fruit set.<br />
Use: The fleshy pulp around the seeds is eaten. They are eaten fresh, preserved or dried.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 80.6 286 1.1 0.5 0 49 0.1<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: It is an important fruit in Asia and is exported. It has been introduced into Papua<br />
New Guinea and trees grow well but fruiting is rare probably because trees should be at mid<br />
altitude zones.
501<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Maesa edulis White<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Maesaceae<br />
Description: A small spreading tree or large shrub up<br />
to 8 m high with dark green leaves. The leaves are<br />
papery and long. Flowers occur with 2-4 together in a<br />
cluster. The flowers are bell shaped with an orange<br />
centre. The fruit is cream coloured and transparent<br />
with black seeds visible from the outside. It has a<br />
sweetish pulp.<br />
Distribution: It grows in coastal areas in lowland<br />
rainforest on both the mainland and islands.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are fruiting at least February to August.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea, a minor wild edible fruit with a pleasant taste.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
502<br />
Names<br />
English: Langsat Scientific name: Lansium domesticum Correa<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Meliaceae<br />
Description: An upright slender tree to 12-20 m high. It<br />
has sticky sap. The leaves are alternate and simple.<br />
Leaves are up to 40 cm long and made up of 5-7 large<br />
leaflets. The flowers are yellow in spikes from old wood<br />
mostly on the branches. The flowers have 5 petals which<br />
join to form a tube. The flowers have a sweet smell. The<br />
fruit is 3-5 cm across and divided into 5 segments with 1-2<br />
large seeds. The fruit is borne in long drooping clusters.<br />
There can be 25 fruit in a cluster. The fruit is pale yellow<br />
when ripe. It develops a brown scurf on the surface as it<br />
ripens. The seeds are green and bitter and are not eaten.<br />
Langsats have thin skin, milky juice and are oval and 3.7<br />
cm across. Dukus have thick skin, are round, do not have<br />
milky juice and are 5 cm across. They are also sweeter<br />
than Langsat.<br />
Distribution: It is native to Malaysia. It is a tropical plant. It occurs in coastal areas and<br />
probably up to 700 m altitude in the tropics. A rich deep well drained soil is needed. It suits<br />
humid places and is not suited to places with a distinct dry season. It does well in part shade. It<br />
can tolerate lower temperature, rainfall and humidity than rambutan.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown by seed. Seeds remain viable for about 5 weeks if kept<br />
moist. Seeds should be washed and cleaned before planting. Seeds are planted 1 cm deep in a<br />
nursery. Germination takes 1- 3 weeks. When seedlings are 15 cm tall they are put into nursery<br />
beds for 1-2 years before being planted out in the field. Seedlings do not come into bearing for<br />
12-20 years. They can be grown by budding. Buds should be put onto 4 year old rootstocks of<br />
the same species. Buds dry out quickly so should be inserted immediately. Propagation by<br />
grafting, marcottage and cuttings is difficult. A spacing of 8-10 m is suitable. Seedlings dry out<br />
quickly, so need to be transplanted carefully. Shade is normally provided for the first few years.<br />
Production: Trees are slow growing. Fruit production is seasonal. The season tends to be from<br />
December to March. Often trees have large crops every second year. Trees start to produce<br />
after 5-8 years but can take 15 years to bear fruit. Fruit will only last about 4 days at normal<br />
temperatures. They can be stored at low temperatures for several weeks.<br />
Use: Fruit is eaten fresh after they fall. Seedless fruit can be bottled in syrup.<br />
NOTE The stickiness of the juice of the fruit can be removed by dipping it in boiling water.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg<br />
Fruit 86.5 238 0.8 5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is an important fruit in SE Asia. In Papua New Guinea, introduced to research<br />
farms and now being grown in a few places.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
503<br />
Names<br />
English: Roselle, Rosella Scientific name: Hibiscus sabdariffa L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Abelmoschus sabdariffa<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Malvaceae<br />
Description: A branched shrub up to 2 m high. It has<br />
reddish stems, leaves and fruit. Different types vary in<br />
their height, shape and leafiness. The leaves are 7-10 cm<br />
across and lobed. The upper leaves often have more lobes<br />
than the lower leaves. The flowers are large and yellow<br />
and in the axils of the leaves. They are carried singly.<br />
The bracts at the base of the flower are enlarged and form<br />
a fleshy red fruit. This capsule is 3 cm long and contains<br />
22-34 seeds. The seeds are dark brown and 4-6 mm long.<br />
1000 seeds weigh about 25 g.<br />
Distribution: It grows from sea level up to about 1000 m<br />
altitude. It will tolerate a range of soils. It requires short<br />
days for flowering. They will grow in semi arid locations.<br />
It grows best where average temperatures are in the range<br />
25-30°. <strong>Plants</strong> will tolerate high temperatures. They grow<br />
up to 800 m altitude in Africa. A rainfall of 450-550 mm<br />
distributed over a 90-120 day growing period is required.<br />
It cannot tolerate waterlogged soils. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: Seeds are sown and the seedlings can be transplanted. They are transplanted when<br />
15-20 cm high. Seed should be planted 1-2.5 cm deep. A spacing of 50 cm x 50 cm is suitable<br />
although a wider spacing is used for fruit and a closer one for leaves. <strong>Plants</strong> can be propagated<br />
by cuttings.<br />
Production: Fruit are ready 12-15 weeks after sowing. The bracts are picked 15-20 days after<br />
flowering. They can produce about 1 kg per plant. The yield of leaves can be 10 tons per<br />
hectare.<br />
Use: The swollen bases of the flowers are used for jams or drinks.<br />
The young leaves can be cooked and eaten. They can also be dried and used.<br />
The flowers can be used to flavour drinks.<br />
The seeds can be eaten. They can be pressed for oil.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Flower base 86.0 185 1.6 3.8 29 14<br />
Leaves<br />
Seeds<br />
86.4 185 10.9 1.5 35 4.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The leaves are flowers are sold in markets in India. In Papua New Guinea, not<br />
common except in areas where people have been encouraged to grow it. eg Sepik.
504<br />
Names<br />
English: Garuga Scientific name: Garuga floribunda Decne<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Garuga pacifica Burkill<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Burseraceae<br />
Description: A small tree. It grows 8-12 m tall and<br />
spreads 5-10 m wide. The branches are thick and have<br />
scars left where the leaves have fallen. The leaves are<br />
crowded at the ends of branches. The leaves are 10-30<br />
cm long and divided into leaflets along the central stalk.<br />
There are 14-16 leaflets and these are 4-8 cm long by 2-<br />
4 cm across. They are oval or sword shaped. They are<br />
leathery and dark green on the upper surface and paler<br />
underneath. They taper towards the tip and have<br />
unequal slanting sides at the base. Young leaves often<br />
have a reddish tinge. The flower branch is 20-30 cm<br />
across and occurs at the ends of small branches. They<br />
flowers are greenish white and hairy and 1 cm across.<br />
The fruit is fleshy with a woody shell around the seed<br />
inside. The fruit is about 2.5 cm across. It is oval and<br />
rough. The fruit is edible.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It suits coastal regions<br />
in tropical places. It is very sensitive to cold. They<br />
need an open sunny position and well drained soil. It<br />
grows from sea level to 450 m altitude in Samoa.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seed which should be sown while fresh. The seed germinate<br />
irregularly. to break the seed coat it may pay to scratch the seed then soak in water before<br />
sowing.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
505<br />
Names<br />
English: Kumquat, Oval kumquat Scientific name: Fortunella margarita (Lour.) Swingle<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Citrus margarita Lour.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Rutaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen shrub up to 4 m high. It<br />
spreads to 2 m across. The stem is slender and<br />
branching. It has a rounded crown. It has spiny<br />
branches and shiny oval leaves with pointed tips. The<br />
leaves are leathery. Flowers are white with 5 petals.<br />
They occur singly and have a perfume. Fruit are very<br />
small and about 2.5 cm across. They are divided into<br />
only 3-6 sections.<br />
Distribution: It suits subtropical locations. It grows<br />
from sea level to at least 1150 m altitude in the tropics.<br />
It is cold tolerant. When dormant it can stand frosts,<br />
but not when in leaf. It cannot tolerate drought. It<br />
prefers well drained soils in an open sunny position.<br />
They cannot stand waterlogging. They do best with a<br />
pH of 5 to 6. They cease growth when temperatures<br />
fall below 13°C. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seeds or by grafting. They can also be grown from cuttings.<br />
Seed need to be sown fresh.<br />
Production: Fruiting is seasonal. The season tends to be December to May in the southern<br />
hemisphere. The fruit improve in flavour if allowed to stay on the tree after ripening.<br />
Use: The ripe fruit can be eaten fresh, skin and all.<br />
The fruit are often pickled or used in jam.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 81.7 264 0.9 0.4 30 37 0.1<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Occasionally grown in Papua New Guinea. These plants have been hybridised to<br />
give limequats and orangequats.
506<br />
Names<br />
English: Fig Scientific name: Ficus carica L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Moraceae<br />
Description: A low spreading deciduous tree with large<br />
leaves. It can grow to 10 m high. Trees are widely<br />
spreading with many branches. It has milky sap. The<br />
small branches are straight and strong. The leaves<br />
spread out like fingers on a hand with 3 or 5 lobes. The<br />
leaves are rough textured on the upper surface and<br />
downy underneath. The flowers are of one sex only.<br />
There are two sex forms - the caprifig and the fig. The<br />
caprifigs are dry and hard and develop 3 times a year.<br />
They harbour the fig wasp which itself goes through 3<br />
different stages of its life cycle in these 3 fruit seasons.<br />
The "fruit" is a hollow receptacle with an opening at the<br />
tip. Inside this the flowers grow and mature. The true<br />
fruit develop inside this large receptacle. They are<br />
produced either singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves.<br />
Fruit colour can vary from black, brown, green and<br />
yellow.<br />
Distribution: It is native to S.W. Asia. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions.<br />
It can stand light frosts once hardened. Of the very large number of figs in PNG, this one is<br />
introduced. It suits highland areas in the tropics with a lower rainfall. It produces better if rain<br />
is less at flowering. Good summer heat is necessary for sugar-rich fruit. <strong>Plants</strong> do best in heavy<br />
soil in well prepared sites. It needs a neutral pH. It has some salt tolerance. In Nepal it grows to<br />
about 1200 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown by cuttings. It can also be grown by budding and grafting. Smyrna<br />
figs need fig wasps for pollination. Adriatic figs develop fruit without pollination. Trees should<br />
be pruned for good production and easy harvesting.<br />
Production: Figs start to bear after about 7 years and can continue for decades but they become<br />
unprofitable after 50 years. Fruit ripen in their second year.<br />
Use: Fruit are eaten raw or cooked.<br />
They can be dried, preserved or used in jam.<br />
The fruit are made into brandy and wine.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit raw 84.6 174 1.3 0.4 500 2 0.3<br />
Fruit dry 16.8 908 3.6 4.2 50 0 0.9<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rust Fungus Cerotelium fici (Cast.)Arth.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: They have been introduced to Papua New Guinea, and tried but are not common.
507<br />
Names<br />
English: Persimmon, Japanese persimmon Scientific name: Diospyros kaki L. f.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Ebenaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 12 m high which loses its leaves each<br />
year. The branches tend to hang over and they have a dense<br />
covering of leaves. Leaves are long and pointed (10 x 6 cm).<br />
The leaves are dark green and shiny on top and lighter under.<br />
Young leaves are pale green and old leaves turn yellow or red<br />
before they fall. Male and female flowers are normally on<br />
separate tree. Therefore pollinator trees often help. Sometimes<br />
male and female flowers occur on the same tree. Fruit are 7 cm<br />
across, with flattened ends and orange with a thin skin. It can<br />
have a few large seeds inside or be seedless. Pollination and<br />
seeding influence flavour and fruit ripeness. There are many<br />
varieties.<br />
Distribution: It suits cooler Mediterranean type climates. It<br />
does best in well drained soils. They can stand some<br />
waterlogging. In the tropics it needs to grow in highland areas<br />
with a distinctly seasonal climate.<br />
Dormant trees can tolerate freezing temperatures. They have only a short (100 hours) chilling<br />
requirement. They will not tolerate acid soils. A pH of 6.5 to 7.5 is preferred. Branches tend to<br />
be brittle and damaged by strong winds. In Nepal it grows to about 1200 m altitude. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 8-10.<br />
Cultivation: They are grown from seeds. Seeds often germinate poorly. Trees grow slowly.<br />
Budded or grafted trees can be used. Trees can be pruned and shaped either along a wall or as a<br />
hedge. Pruning when trees are young to develop a strong framework of branches is important.<br />
Adequate moisture is needed during the year. Trees can grow and produce with minimal<br />
fertiliser.<br />
Production: Fruiting is seasonal. Often trees bear large crops one year and small ones the next<br />
year. This can be evened out by thinning out some of the fruit is the high yielding years. Fruit<br />
should be cut from the branches cutting the stalk near the fruit. Fruit are often ripened by putting<br />
near other ripening fruit like banana. Fruit must be handled carefully to avoid bruising. Fruit<br />
can be stored in a refrigerator for one month.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten raw or can be cooked. It needs to be fully ripe and soft. Freezing fruit<br />
overnight can improve sweetness. Fruit can be stored frozen.<br />
Fruit are used for wine and vinegar.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit raw 80.3 293 0.58 0.2 217x 7.5 0.1<br />
Fruit dry 23.0 1146 1.38 0.7 56 0 0.4<br />
Diseases:<br />
Insects:<br />
Ichnaspis longirostris (Sign.) Diaspididae (HEM) Black thread scale<br />
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM)<br />
Importance: This tree has been introduced and tried in a few highland areas of Papua New<br />
Guinea but so far has not grown or fruited well.
508<br />
Names<br />
English: Velvet apple Scientific name: Diospyros blancoi A.DC<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Diospyros discolor Willd. nom. illeg.<br />
Diospyros philippensis (Desr.) Burke<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Ebenaceae<br />
Description: A large tree. It can grow to 20 m<br />
or more high. Often it is only a small tree. It<br />
is a spreading tree with drooping branches.<br />
The leaves are smooth but covered with fine<br />
soft hairs. They are 7.5-22.5 cm long by 2.5-<br />
7.5 cm wide. The leaves are dark green on the<br />
top surface and copper coloured underneath.<br />
Flowers are in small clusters of 2-3 together in<br />
the axils of leaves. Both male and female<br />
flowers occur. These are on separate trees.<br />
The flowers are cream and have a slight scent.<br />
The fruit are round and 5-8 cm across.<br />
The fruit colour is pink to brown. It can be dark red or purple. The fruit have short silky hairs<br />
and have the sepals still attached. The flesh is white and sweet but has a cheesy unpleasant<br />
smell. The fruit are like a flat persimmon but have a velvety appearance. Often fruit contain<br />
many large seeds. Seedless fruit also occur.<br />
Distribution: A tropical and subtropical plant. Mature trees can withstand light frost for short<br />
times. Young trees do not tolerate low temperatures. It is better to have trees in sheltered places<br />
protected from cold winds. Slightly acid, moist and free draining soils are best. It can grow in<br />
sun or light shade. It cannot tolerate salt. <strong>Plants</strong> grow naturally in the Philippines. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 9-12. It has become established wild in the bush in the Gazelle Peninsula of<br />
Papua New Guinea. It grows from sea level to 200m altitude in Taiwan.<br />
Cultivation: They are cultivated for the fruit popularly known as mabalo. <strong>Plants</strong> are normally<br />
grown from seed. A spacing of 5 m is needed. Trees should be left unattended prior to<br />
flowering.<br />
Production: A slow growing tree. It may take three years for seedling trees to be large enough to<br />
transplant. Fruiting is not normally seasonal. Fruit ripening takes 2-4 months from flowering.<br />
Use: The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten raw when ripe. The fruit is eaten fresh or made into<br />
jellies or juice. The hairs and skin are removed.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: At present only of minor importance in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
It is better suited to Papua New Guinea than the Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki).<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
509<br />
Names<br />
English: Tulican, Scrub Ebony Scientific name: Diospyros hebecarpa Cunn. ex Benth.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Ebenaceae<br />
Description: A small tree. It grows 7-10 m high and<br />
spreads 3-6 m wide. The wood is soft and yellow. The<br />
tree has a dark compact crown. The branches are<br />
slender and greyish-green. The young shoots have<br />
short hairs. The leaves hang in a lax fashion on the<br />
tree. The leaves are simple, entire and alternate. They<br />
are oval and the tip comes to a point while the base is<br />
tapered. The leaves are dark green and dull above but<br />
lighter and more shiny underneath. The leaves are 5-9<br />
cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The male and female flowers<br />
are separate. The fruit are 1.5-2.5 cm across and round.<br />
They are covered with short hairs. The seeds are<br />
flattened and there are about 8 seeds in a fruit.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows naturally in<br />
mixed secondary forest.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed which must be sown fresh.<br />
Production: It is slow growing especially when young. It needs well drained acid soil. It<br />
probably does best with light shade. In Australia flowering is in October.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 82.8 264 0.2 1.2 105 98<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
510<br />
Names<br />
English: Longan Scientific name: Dimocarpus longan Lour.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Euphoria longana Lam.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sapindaceae<br />
Description: A tree up to 12-40 m high with a low trunk<br />
and spreading branches. The tree has a rounded crown. It<br />
keeps its leaves throughout the year. The trunk can be 80<br />
cm across. There can be buttresses 2 m tall. The bark is<br />
corky. The twigs have 5 faint grooves. The leaves are 3-<br />
45 cm long by 1.8-20 cm wide. The leaves have petioles<br />
and six to nine leaflets. Leaflets are up to 12 cm long.<br />
Young leaflets are often red before turning green. The<br />
flowers occur in upright clusters. These are 8-40 cm long.<br />
They are produced on new growth. The flowers are small<br />
and reddish-brown. A progression of male, female and<br />
hermaphrodite flowers occur.<br />
Flowers are pollinated by insects. The fruit is similar to a litchi and about 2.5 cm across. They<br />
are yellow-brown when mature and with a pebbly surface. They occur in clusters of 10 to 80.<br />
The flesh or aril is white and sweet. The seed is small, round and brownish-black.<br />
Distribution: It will grow in poorer soils and colder conditions than a litchi. It can stand frost<br />
and needs a period of cool temperature to fruit well. So they suit a subtropical to warm<br />
temperate climate, but will also grow in the lowland tropics. The chilling requirement is less<br />
than litchi which means it will fruit in more tropical areas. They can tolerate wind but drying<br />
winds at flowering affect fruit set. Excessive rainfall during flowering reduces fruit set. It suits<br />
monsoonal regions with a distinct wet and dry season. They can tolerate flooding for a few days.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Seedlings do not produce true to type and take up to 20 years to fruit. So air<br />
layered or grafted plants are used and these fruit in 3-4 years. For air layering, mature shoots<br />
about 2-3 cm across are chosen which do not have active vegetative growth. A ring is cut<br />
around the twig 50 cm from the tip removing the bark and soft wood. A plastic sleeve is put<br />
over the twig and tied below the cut ring. Then peat moss or rooting mix is filled into the sleeve<br />
and this is tied off above the ring. When roots have formed the twig is cut off and planted.<br />
Cuttings and budding can also be used. Spacing needs to be 5-8 m apart. Deep rooting needs to<br />
be encouraged by good site preparation. This stops trees being blown over. Wind protection is<br />
essential. Although flowers need to be cross pollinated, this can be done between flowers on the<br />
same tree as flowers develop at different times. Very little pruning should be done. Fruit need<br />
to ripen on the tree. They do not ripen further after harvest.<br />
Production: Seedlings grow slowly at first, but then grow more rapidly. Up to 40 to 55 kg of<br />
fruit per tree are possible. Fruit can be stored for 6 weeks at 5°C when covered. Trees can live<br />
for 400 years.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten raw or cooked.<br />
They can be dried and stored or preserved canned in syrup.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 82.0 255 1.3 1.2 84 0.1<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: Rare in Papua New Guinea but common in Indonesia.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
511<br />
Names<br />
English: Elephant apple Scientific name: Dillenia indica (R. Br. ex DC.) Martelli<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dilleniaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree with a short trunk. It<br />
grows to 10-15-30 m high and spreads to 4-10 m<br />
across. The bark is rough. It has a dense round crown.<br />
The branches are straggling and droop at the end. The<br />
leaves are at the ends of branches. The leaves are<br />
deeply ribbed. They have teeth around the edge. The<br />
leaves are bright dark green. They are 15-25 cm long<br />
and 5-10 cm wide, but can be twice that size. The<br />
leaves have a bold pattern of sunken veins. The leaf<br />
stalk is 2-5 cm long. The flower buds are large and<br />
round and look like fruit. The flowers are large and<br />
white and 20 cm across. They are cup shaped. The<br />
flowers are produced in the upper leaf axils.<br />
The flower sepals thicken and cover the fruit to make a round green fruit up to 12 cm across.<br />
The seeds are kidney shaped with hairy edges. They are embedded in a glutinous pulp.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It prefers rich moist soils. It needs a protected partly shaded<br />
position. It is drought and frost tender. They need a temperature above 15°C to grow. It grows<br />
in moist evergreen forest. In Papua New Guinea it is an introduced species and grows in coastal<br />
areas below about 600 m altitude. In Yunnan in China it grows between 600-1100 m altitude. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally grown from seed. They can be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit can be used for jellies, curries and drinks. It is the fleshy sepals around the fruit<br />
that are eaten. The fruit can be eaten raw. They can be made into jam.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit 84.5 2.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees are only occasionally seen in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and they<br />
are rarely used for food.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
512<br />
Names<br />
English: Red beach, Golden Guinea Tree Scientific name: Dillenia alata<br />
(R.Br.ex DC.) Martelli<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Dilleniaceae<br />
Description: A small to medium sized tree. It<br />
grows to 10-18 m high and spreads to 4-10 m<br />
across. The trunk is smoothly round. It has a<br />
dense rounded evergreen crown. The bark is<br />
loose and flaky. It is reddish brown and bright<br />
in colour. The leaves are smooth and<br />
produced one after another along the stem.<br />
They are often grouped into rings around the<br />
stem. They are a rich glossy green. They are<br />
broadly oval with a lobe at the base. The leaf<br />
blade is 13-25 cm long by 8-12 cm wide.<br />
The veins show up clearly and they are raised underneath the leaf. The tip of the leaf is rounded.<br />
The leaf stalk has prominent wings and is 5.5 cm long. The flowers are bright yellow. They<br />
have 5 petals and 5 spreading lobes. The flowers are 5-8 cm across. There are usually 2-4<br />
flowers together in a cluster at the end of a branch. The fruit is smooth, open, flat and fleshy.<br />
They are 4-4.5 cm across. There are 6-8 segments. These open out in a spreading fashion. The<br />
fruit are pinkish red when ripe. The fruit contain small brown seeds in a white seed layer. The<br />
seed are 5 mm across.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in dense coastal monsoon forest near freshwater streams. It needs<br />
adequate moisture and a well drained soil. It suits a humid place. A tropical plant. It is drought<br />
and frost tender. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from fresh seeds. It can also be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production: It is a fast growing tree. In Australia flowering is in October to January and fruit<br />
occur in October to November. (September to February).<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten raw especially by children.<br />
The white fleshy part of the fruit (aril) can be eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Seeds<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A very occasional plant in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
513<br />
Names<br />
English: Akee Scientific name: Blighia sapida Koenig<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sapindaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree up to 9-13-20 m<br />
tall. It spreads to 3 m across. The stem is erect and<br />
branching. It has a spreading, open-textured crown.<br />
The leaves are dark green with 6, 8 or 10 curved<br />
leaflets. The flowers are greenish white in branched<br />
flowers stalks, in the axils of leaves. They extend<br />
upwards. The fruit is about 9 cm long and red when<br />
ripe. The fruit has five segments. It is roughly pear<br />
shaped. The fruit opens naturally when ripe and<br />
usually has 3 black seeds inside. These are covered<br />
with yellowish flesh called an aril. The aril is edible.<br />
The pink tissue is toxic. Unripe fruit are toxic.<br />
Distribution: It is native to tropical West Africa. It<br />
suits the humid tropics. It needs 2,000 mm of rain per<br />
year. It does best in moist, well composted soils in a<br />
sheltered, sunny position. It is drought and frost tender.<br />
It can grow in the subtropics and survive with<br />
temperatures near freezing. It suits hardiness zones 10-<br />
12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown by seeds or cuttings.<br />
Production: It often bears two crops per year. It starts to produce after 4 years. Trees can keep<br />
producing for 50 years.<br />
Use: The fleshy white aril around the seeds is edible after the fruit opens naturally. It is often<br />
cooked by boiling in salt water. It looks like scrambled eggs after cooking.<br />
Caution: The seeds are poisonous. The unripe aril is inedible. The pink tissue between the aril<br />
and seed is poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Fruit 57.6 753 8.75 5.5 0 78<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is an introduced crop not widely grown and rarely used.<br />
The fruit is popular in Jamaica. It is part of their national dish.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
514<br />
Names<br />
English: Black currant tree Scientific name: Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertn.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Euphorbiaceae<br />
Description: A stout and erect tree. It grows 3-8 m tall<br />
and spreads 2-4 m across. The trunk is covered with<br />
chalky yellowish brown bark. It is rough and mottled.<br />
The timber is light coloured and hard. The young<br />
branches and new leaves have woolly hairs. The tree<br />
loses its leaves during the dry season. The leaves are 3-<br />
7.5 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are broadly oval<br />
with a blunt tip. The leaves are thinly textured and<br />
shiny on the upper surface but paler underneath. The<br />
leaves are numerous. The flowers are numerous and<br />
densely clustered. Male and female flowers occur on<br />
separate trees. The male flower spikes are 2.5-5 cm<br />
long and the female flowers are on short thick stalks at<br />
the ends of branches. The individual flowers are very<br />
small and about 1-2 mm long. The fruit are small, oval<br />
and fleshy. They are 0.4-0.6 cm long and purple when<br />
ripe. The fruit are edible.<br />
Distribution: They are common at low and medium altitudes throughout the islands of the<br />
Philippines. It grows to 120 m altitude in Malaysia. In Australia they grow in the north in open<br />
vine forest.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or cuttings.<br />
Production: Fruit are available September to December in Australia.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw when ripe. They are sour. They can be used for jam. The fruit are<br />
also used with meat and fish dishes.<br />
The leaves are used as acid flavouring in food.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
71.9 450 1.4 2.5 0.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rust Fungus Crossopsora antidesma-dioicae (Racib) Arth. & Cumm.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.
515<br />
Names<br />
English: Wild Currant Scientific name: Antidesma erostre F. Muell. ex Benth.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Euphorbiaceae<br />
Description: A small tree which grows 3-6 m tall. The<br />
tree has a stiff habit. Trees can grow to 20 m tall. It<br />
spreads to 2-4 m across. The bark is pale brown. The<br />
leaves are oblong or sword shaped and 5-10 cm long by<br />
2-3 cm wide. Leaves are simple and shiny on both<br />
surfaces. They are smooth and without hairs and are<br />
drawn out into a long point. They have a slender leaf<br />
stalk. The female flower bunch has stalks of flowers<br />
around a common axis. The bunches are 2-4 cm long.<br />
They are slender and produced in the axils of leaves or<br />
at the ends of branches. The fruit is about 5 mm across<br />
and 7 mm long. The fruit are oval, flattened and red.<br />
The fruit are acid and edible. There is one seed about 7<br />
mm long by 5 mm across.<br />
Distribution: It is a plant for the tropics and subtropics. It grows in coastal and highland areas<br />
in north east Queensland in Australia. It needs a sunny position and well drained soils.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or cuttings. Fresh seeds should be used.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> may be slow growing. Fruit are available March to November. (September<br />
to December).<br />
Use: The fruit can be used for desserts or jam.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
516<br />
Names<br />
English: Chinese laurel Scientific name: Antidesma bunius (L.)Spreng.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Euphorbiaceae<br />
Description: A small bushy tree. It can be up to 15<br />
metres high. The leaves tend to be long and narrow and<br />
shiny. They are dark green. They are pointed at the tip<br />
and more rounded at the base. The leaves are 10-15 cm<br />
long by 5-7 cm wide. The male and female flowers are<br />
separate, on separate trees. Female flowers producing<br />
fruit are on the ends of branches. A spike of dark<br />
reddish black berries is produced. The berries are about<br />
1 cm across and have one seed inside. They hang in a<br />
large cluster.<br />
Distribution: It can probably grow up to 1000 m<br />
altitude in the tropics. It can stand light frost. They can<br />
grow on a variety of soils. They are common and<br />
widely distributed in open places and secondary forest<br />
throughout the Philippines.<br />
It can tolerate salt. It suits the humid tropical lowlands. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It grows from seeds. These can be planted, but trees also grow naturally from seed.<br />
Trees can be produced by budding, grafting or from cuttings. Aerial layering can also be used.<br />
Spacing should be about 12 to 14 metres between trees. Some male trees need to be present for<br />
cross pollination. When female trees produce fruit without male trees, the seed from these fruit<br />
normally will not germinate.<br />
Production: Seedling trees fruit 4-5 years after planting. The fruiting season lasts a couple of<br />
months.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten raw when ripe or cooked.<br />
They are acid so are often better as jam, jellies and wine.<br />
Because the fruit is high in pectin it makes good jams and jellies.<br />
The young leaves are eaten with rice.<br />
Caution: The bark is poisonous.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
81.7 281 0.7 31 69<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: The fruit are sold in markets. This in only a minor edible fruit of lowland tropical<br />
areas. It is important in Indonesia and occasional in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
517<br />
Names<br />
English: Chinese gooseberry, Kiwifruit Scientific name: Actinidia chinensis Planch<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Actinidiaceae<br />
Description: A hardy climbing shrub that loses all its<br />
leaves at one time. It climbs up to 10 m by twining<br />
around its support. The leaves are heart shaped and up<br />
to 20 cm long. Male and female flowers are on separate<br />
plants. The flowers have a sweet scent. The fruit is up<br />
to 8 cm long and 3 cm across and mostly covered with<br />
fine hairs. The inside flesh is green. This plant is the<br />
parent of Kiwifruit which are now listed as Actinidia<br />
deliciosa.<br />
Distribution: Young shoots and fruit are damaged by<br />
frost. <strong>Plants</strong> have fruited at 1000 m altitude in<br />
equatorial regions. It grows naturally in China in<br />
thickets and oak forests on slopes or in ravines between<br />
200-2300 metres altitude. It cannot tolerate wet soils.<br />
It needs shelter from wind and frost. It has a winter<br />
chilling requirement of 500-800 hours below 7°C.<br />
Fruit are smaller in shade.. It suits hardiness zones 7-<br />
10.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from seeds or cuttings but often plants of known quality and sex<br />
are grafted on. It needs a support to climb over. It needs regular pruning because fruit develop<br />
on the current year's growth. <strong>Plants</strong> or grafted branches of both sexes are needed. Male and<br />
female plants must be grown if seed is required. <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. Fresh seed<br />
germinates in 2 - 3 months at 10°C and stored seed can take longer. Seedlings should be<br />
transplanted out when 30 cm tall and after the last frosts. (Most seedlings are male.)<br />
Production: Healthy plants can remain productive for 60 years.<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten fresh. It can also be used in preserves and cooking.<br />
The leaves can be eaten cooked as an emergency food.<br />
The fruit is also made into jams and jellies.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
83.1 255 1.0 0.4 18 98 0.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Oribius spp. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevils<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It has been introduced to Papua New Guinea on a trial basis.
518<br />
Names<br />
English: Broad leafed lillypilly Scientific name: Acmena hemilampra var. hemilampra<br />
(F. Muell. ex Bailey) Merrill & Perry<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Eugenia hemilampra<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree. It grows to 20 m tall<br />
and spreads to 5 m wide. The stout stem has buttresses.<br />
The bark is grey. It has a dense bushy crown. The<br />
young shoots are dark red. The leaves are dark green<br />
and like an ellipse. They have a blunt tip. The top side<br />
of the leaf is glossy, while the underside is dull. There<br />
are very few oil glands visible. (These leaf<br />
characteristics help distinguish it from Acmena smithii.)<br />
The leaves are 4-12 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The<br />
edge of the leaf often curves backwards. The flowers<br />
are small and white and with a fluffy appearance. They<br />
occur on branched flower stems near the ends of<br />
branches. The fruit are pale bluish purple berries.<br />
They are 1-2 cm across. They are globular in shape.<br />
The fruit stalks are round in cross section. The flesh is<br />
edible.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical and subtropical tree. It occurs naturally in New South Wales and<br />
Queensland in Australia. It also occurs in Papua New Guinea. It prefers a coastal rainforest<br />
position with a well composted soil. It is drought and frost tender although established trees can<br />
survive moderate frosts. It needs watering during dry periods and probably benefits from<br />
fertiliser. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from fresh seed. Seeds germinate slowly. It can be grown by tip<br />
cuttings 10 cm long and taken when growth is slowest.<br />
Production: Fruit ripen May to August. (January to September). Large fruited forms can be<br />
selected.<br />
Use: The fruit are eaten. It makes a good jam.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit 75.9 1.6 1.5 0.5<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is used as a food in Australia, but it is not known if it is used for food in Papua<br />
New Guinea.
519<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Aceratium oppositifolium D.C.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Elaeocarpus edulis Teysm & Binn.<br />
Tok ples: Belimbing hutan Plant family: Elaeocarpaceae<br />
Description: A small tree 3-6 m tall but it can grow up<br />
to 15 m tall. The tree is very variable in form. It has<br />
branches which are slender, long and brown. Young<br />
branches have hairs. Leaves are simple and produced<br />
opposite one another. The leaves are sword shape but<br />
slightly curved in the middle and tapering to the tip. It<br />
has a sharp tip. The edges of the leaves are wavy. The<br />
leaves have a toothed edge and are green and shiny<br />
above but with a bluish green covering underneath.<br />
The leaf blade is 6 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The leaf<br />
stalk is 4 mm long. Flowers are yellow. Fruit are<br />
bright red, fleshy and juicy. The fruit is 3-5 angled, one<br />
seeded and about 3 cm long by 2 cm wide. The fruit<br />
stalk is 1 cm long. The seed is 3 sided.<br />
Distribution: It thrives in shady places. It grows from sea level up to 300-800 m in the tropics.<br />
It is common on wet soils. It occurs in mountain forest.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit is eaten. It is acid so is used for jellies or pickles.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A minor wild edible fruit.<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
520<br />
Names<br />
English: Pineapple guava, Feijoa Scientific name: Acca sellowiana (Berg)Burret<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Feijoa sellowiana (O. Berg) O. Berg.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myrtaceae<br />
Description: A small spreading tree. It can grow to 3-5<br />
m tall and spread to 5 m wide. The bark is pale grey.<br />
The branches are swollen at the nodes. The stems are<br />
thin, flexible and with white felted shoots. The leaves<br />
are 5-8 cm long with shiny bluish green on the upper<br />
surface and silver grey underneath. They are thick and<br />
leathery. The flowers are 2-3 cm across and purple and<br />
white. They are borne in one or two pairs at the base of<br />
the current years growth. The fruit is oblong and dull<br />
green with several small seeds inside. Fruit are 2-9 cm<br />
long. They can be round or pear shaped. The flesh is<br />
creamy white. The petals of the flowers are edible.<br />
The fruit is edible. There are usually 20-40 small seeds<br />
inside the fruit.<br />
Distribution: It suits cool places and can tolerate temperatures below freezing when the plant is<br />
in its dormant stage. It needs good drainage but can grow on fairly poor soils. Feijoas prefer<br />
cool winters and moderate summers (26°-32°C), and are generally adapted to areas where<br />
temperatures stay above -9°C. They need 50 hours of chilling for good flower production. Fruit<br />
taste better in cooler than warmer climate. <strong>Plants</strong> can tolerate seaside locations. It does best in<br />
warm and subtropical zones. They are not well suited to tropical regions. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from seed and transplanted. Seedling trees are not always true<br />
to type. Seed is extracted by squeezing fruit into water and letting it ferment for 4 days. Seeds<br />
are then strained out and dried. Seed can be stored dry for 12 months. Seeds germinate in 3<br />
weeks. Grafting or cuttings can also be used with some difficulty. Young wood cuttings will<br />
root in 2 months with bottom heat and mist. Layering can also be used. Some kinds need to<br />
have cross pollination to produce fruit. It does not need any special pruning, although lateral<br />
branches can be removed to avoid overcrowding. A spacing of 2 metres is recommended.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> grow slowly. Trees start to fruit after 3-4 years. Fruit needs to be stored for<br />
a week or more after it falls from the tree, to become fully ripe. Birds and bees pollinate the<br />
flowers. Poor fruit bearing is normally the result of poor pollination. Fruit ripen in 4-7 months.<br />
Mature fruit can be stored in a refrigerator for about one week. Fruit can be stored at 3-5°C for<br />
2-3 months. Dipping fruit in lemon juice after peeling stops the fruit turning brown.<br />
Use: The fruit are used raw or cooked. They can be used for jellies and sauces.<br />
The flower petals can be eaten raw.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit<br />
Flower<br />
86.6 205 1.2 0.1 0 20 0.04<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: Trees have been tried in a few highland areas in Papua New Guinea but so far have<br />
not established or produced well.
521<br />
Herbs, Spices and<br />
flavourings
522<br />
English name Tok Pisin Scientific name Page<br />
Marjoram Origanum marjorana 523<br />
Oregano Origanum vulgare 524<br />
Sweet basil Ocimum basilicum 525<br />
Spearmint Mentha spicata 526<br />
Lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus 527<br />
Dill Anethum graveolens 528<br />
Cacao Kakao Theobroma cacao 529<br />
Chilli, Bird’s eye chilli Sili Capsicum frutescens 530<br />
Asian pennywort Centella asiatica 531<br />
Perilla Perilla frutescens 532<br />
Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum 533<br />
Native cardamon Golgol, Gorgor Hornstedtia scottiana 534<br />
Turmeric Curcuma domestica 535<br />
Coriander Coriandrum sativum 536<br />
Resurrection lily Kaempferia galanga 537<br />
Lemon balm Melissa officinalis 538<br />
Nutmeg & mace Myristica fragrans 539<br />
Queensland nutmeg Myristica insipida 540<br />
Myristica schleinitzii 541<br />
Tamarind Tamarindus indica 542<br />
Myristica womersleyi 543<br />
Betel pepper Daka Piper betle 544<br />
Pepper Piper nigrum 545<br />
Thyme Thymus vulgaris 546<br />
Vanilla Vanilla planifolia 547<br />
Ginger Zingiber officinale 548<br />
Wild ginger Zingiber zerumbet 550
523<br />
Names<br />
English: Marjoram Scientific name: Origanum marjorana L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Marjorana hortensis Moench<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Lamiaceae<br />
Description: An annual bushy plant up to 40-60 cm<br />
high. It can keep growing from year to year. It has a<br />
strong smell. It has small grey green leaves on tough<br />
woody stems. The leaves are oval and entire. They are<br />
2.5 cm long. It has knotted flower heads with white,<br />
pink or purple flowers.<br />
Distribution: It is suited to highland areas in the<br />
tropics. It is sensitive to frost. It needs a sunny<br />
position. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are mostly grown from seeds.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The sweet spicy leaves are used to flavour meat dishes.<br />
Leaves are used to tea.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves dry 7.6 1136 12.7 82.7 807 51.4 3.6<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only an occasional food plant in Papua New Guinea.
524<br />
Names<br />
English: Oregano Scientific name: Origanum vulgare L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Lamiaceae<br />
Description: A creeping plant. It is a leafy bush with<br />
creeping roots. It grows to about 1 m high. It has small<br />
dark green leaves and red-brown stems. The leaves are<br />
1-3 cm long by 0.5-1.5 cm wide. They are broadly<br />
oval. It has purple or pink flowers. They occur in 4<br />
sided spikes. It has a smell like thyme.<br />
Distribution: It can be grown from seed, cuttings or<br />
division of established plants. In China it grows<br />
between 500 and 3600 m altitude. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 5-9.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves and flowers are used to flavour food.<br />
The leaves and seeds are pickled.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves dry<br />
Seeds<br />
7.2 1280 11.0 44.0 690 50.0 4.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only an occasional food plant in Papua New Guinea.
525<br />
Names<br />
English: Sweet basil Scientific name: Ocimum basilicum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Ocimum americanum Jascq.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Lamiaceae<br />
Description: An erect branched woody shrub. The<br />
branches are without hairs and smooth. The leaves are<br />
without hair and oblong with a more narrow tip and<br />
blunt base. The base of the stems is tinged red. The<br />
leaf stalk is 1.5 cm long. The leaf blade is 2.5-5 cm<br />
long by 1-2.5 cm wide. The flowers are somewhat<br />
purplish with very short stalks. The small nuts are oval<br />
and slightly flattened. They are smooth. <strong>Plants</strong> vary a<br />
lot and several varieties have been selected. They can<br />
have licorice, cinnamon or lemon flavours and vary in<br />
size.<br />
Distribution: Found at low and medium altitudes<br />
throughout the Islands of the Philippines. It suits both<br />
the lowlands and the highlands in the tropics. It cannot<br />
stand frost. It suits warm and hot climates. It needs<br />
some shade in tropical areas. It needs protection from<br />
wind. It needs rich moist well drained soil. Soil should<br />
be at 25°-30°C for seed to germinate. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from seed. Seed should be sown 2-3 mm deep and covered with a light<br />
sand or soil. Seed germinate within 3-5 days. Seedlings are thinned out to 20 cm apart.<br />
Seedlings can be transplanted. If top shoots are picked off, a more bushy plant is produced and<br />
flowering is delayed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The seeds are soaked in water and eaten.<br />
The leaves are used raw or boiled to flavour foods.<br />
It yields an oil used in flavouring. It flavours sauces, pickles, meats and confectionary.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 91.0 113 2.5 3.2 386 18.0 0.9<br />
Seed 6.4 1051 14.4 42.0 938 61.2 5.8<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Only a minor plant in Papua New Guinea.
526<br />
Names<br />
English: Spearmint Scientific name: Mentha spicata L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Lamiaceae<br />
Description: A creeping leafy herb with numerous long<br />
runners. It has underground stems. It grows to 50 cm<br />
high. The leaves have a strong smell. The plant tends<br />
to be stiff and upright with long narrow pointed leaves.<br />
The leaves have short stalks. The leaves are 2-3.5 cm<br />
long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. They have teeth long the<br />
edge. It has pink flowers at the top. They occur in a<br />
ring of many flowers and small brown seeds.<br />
Distribution: In the tropics it mainly occurs in the<br />
highlands. It suits damp ground. In Nepal it grows to<br />
about 2500 m altitude. It grows in moist, open places.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 3-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are easily grown by using runners or rooted cuttings. They can be grown<br />
from seed.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The leaves are used for flavouring food.<br />
They are also pickled.<br />
The essential oil is used for flavouring.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves 85.6 184 3.3 11.9 405 13.3 1.1<br />
Leaves dry 11.3 1192 19.9 87.5 1058 0 2.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Homona coffearia Nietn. Tortricidae (LEP) Coffee leaf roller<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rust Fungus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it can fairly commonly be seen near highland villages and<br />
gardens.
527<br />
Names<br />
English: Lemon grass Scientific name: Cymbopogon citratus (Nees)Stapf.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae<br />
Description: A coarse clumpy grass about 1 m<br />
high. It forms dense tufts and clumps. The<br />
stem and hollow and cane like. The leaves<br />
have a rough edge and are about 1 m long by 1<br />
cm wide. They curve over. They are pale<br />
blue-green. It very rarely produces flowers.<br />
When flowers are produced they are in a loose<br />
branched panicle. These are 5 cm long. It has<br />
a lemon smell when crushed.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical and subtropical<br />
plant. It occurs in coastal areas and up to at<br />
least 1400 m altitude.<br />
It is a good plant for borders and erosion control. They are frost tender. It needs a temperature<br />
above 10°C to grow. It needs good drainage. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from portions of the clump. A spacing of about 1 m between clumps is<br />
needed. <strong>Plants</strong> can be easily grown by putting the stem end of a shoot in water until roots form<br />
then planting out.<br />
Production: It can be cut 4-8 months after planting and then every 3-4 months. Harvesting can<br />
continue to 3-4 years.<br />
Use: It is mostly used as a flavouring in lemon grass tea and stews. The leaves can be dried and<br />
stored for use in tea.<br />
The very young fleshy white bases of the shoots are used in Asian cooking. The outer layers are<br />
peeled off.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Shoots<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Rust Fungus Puccinia nakanishikii Diet<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Common and popular in many areas of Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
528<br />
Names<br />
English: Dill Scientific name: Anethum graveolens L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Peucedanum graveolens (L.)Hiern.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae<br />
Description: A fine leafy herb up to about 1 m tall. It<br />
can spread 50 cm across. It is an annual plant<br />
regrowing each year from seeds. The root is long and<br />
wiry. The stems of the plant are smooth, dark green<br />
and with pale stripes. They are finely grooved and<br />
hollow. The leaves are bluish-green and fern like.<br />
They can be 35 cm long. The leaves are twice divided<br />
and have a sheath wrapping around the stem at the<br />
base. The small leaflets are like threads. Flowers are<br />
yellow and in flat compound arrangements where<br />
flowers are on stalks coming from one point. These<br />
flower arrangements can be 9 cm across. The fruit are<br />
oval one seeded dry ribbed fruits. <strong>Plants</strong> have an<br />
aniseed scent. The fruit are 1.5 times as long as wide.<br />
Distribution: It is a temperate plant. It is suited to shady places but does best in sunny positions.<br />
It is easily damaged by wind. It is frost resistant but drought tender. It needs moist, well<br />
drained, humus rich soil. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. They are not easily transplanted. Seed are therefore<br />
best sown where they are to grow. Seed should be 1 cm deep and with 25 cm between plants.<br />
(Dill and fennel can cross pollinate.)<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> are fast growing. The leaves can be cut for use at any time, but they are at<br />
their best just before flowering. <strong>Plants</strong> can be cut 6 weeks after planting. Seeds are harvested<br />
when the plants are mature and have finished flowering and the fruits are fully formed.<br />
Harvesting during the cool of morning or evening avoids seeds being shattered and lost.<br />
Use: The seeds are used to flavour foods. They are added to pickles.<br />
The young leaves can be eaten. They have an aniseed flavour and are used in soups, salads,<br />
sauces, and with vegetables.<br />
It is one of the main ingredients in curry powder.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Seeds<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Diseases:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Insects:<br />
Phytometra orichalcaea (F.) Noctuidae (LEP) Larvae of a moth<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is sold in markets. In Papua New Guinea not yet widely grown or used.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
529<br />
Names<br />
English: Cacao Scientific name: Theobroma cacao L.<br />
Tok pisin: Kakao Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Sterculiaceae/ Malvaceae<br />
Description: A small evergreen tree. It grows to 15 m<br />
tall. Often it is pruned to be only 6 m tall. The trunk is<br />
straight for about 90-159 cm above the ground then a<br />
fan arrangement of branches develops. The leaves are<br />
large and simple. They are in a spiral arrangement<br />
around the branch. They are 17-30 cm long and hang<br />
down. They are red brown when young. The leaves<br />
are wider towards the pointed tip. The leaves are thin<br />
but leathery with prominent veins. The flowers are on<br />
short shoots like cushions on the trunk and woody<br />
branches. The flowers are small, yellow-white and<br />
about 1 cm across. A ribbed pod develops. The pods<br />
are large about 15-20 cm long by 10 cm across. They<br />
are green when young but become yellow or red. The<br />
pods have rows of seeds. There are 20-50 oval seeds.<br />
These are white at first then become red-brown as they<br />
ripen. There is a sweet pulp surrounding the seeds.<br />
Distribution: It is native from Mexico to Central America. A tropical plant. It grows in<br />
lowland areas with a rainfall around 2,000 mm annually. It can grow in areas with rainfall<br />
between 1,200 and 7,000 mm. <strong>Plants</strong> do best in acid or neutral soil which is well drained. It has<br />
a long tap root which will not develop on rocky or hard soil. Cocoa does not do well on windy<br />
sites where there are sudden fluctuations of humidity. Shade trees help provide these conditions.<br />
It needs temperatures above 20°C. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. Seed can be sown in pots in a nursery then<br />
transplanted or can be sown directly. Seedlings need shade. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown from<br />
cuttings. Cuttings from side branches are used. Cuttings are normally raised in a nursery. Seeds<br />
should be removed from the pod and dried but should not be stored for more than 3 months.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> should be spaced 3 m apart. <strong>Plants</strong> can be pruned. Flowers are pollinated by insects.<br />
Production: Some seedling varieties produce within 3-5 years. They continue to produce for 50<br />
years. Fruits mature after 6 months. Seeds are fermented for 1 week and the temperature should<br />
not go above 50°C but once the temperature has come down to 35°C they can be sun dried.<br />
During drying the moisture content reduces from 50-60% to 6% over about one week.<br />
Use: The seeds are eaten. The seeds are also processed and used for chocolate. The seeds are<br />
fermented for 6 days to remove the flesh then washed and dried.<br />
The pulp in the pod is edible when ripe.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value:<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seeds<br />
Pulp<br />
3.6 1908 12.0 3.6 15 3<br />
Insects: See other publications<br />
Diseases: See other publications<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: An important cash crop in Papua New Guinea but rarely used as food.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
530<br />
Names<br />
English: Chilli, Bird's eye chillies Scientific name: Capsicum frutescens L.<br />
Tok pisin: Sili Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae<br />
Description: It is a shrubby perennial plant about 1 m<br />
tall. The leaves are smaller than round capsicums or<br />
bell peppers. Two or more flowers occur together in<br />
the axils of leaves. They have small pointed fruit about<br />
1-2 cm long and they are red when ripe. They have a<br />
very hot taste when eaten or touched on the lips.<br />
Distribution: The plants grow from sea level up to<br />
about 1800 m altitude in the equatorial tropics. They<br />
can't stand water-logging or frost. They are tolerant to<br />
high temperatures and a wide range of rainfall.<br />
Very high rainfall leads to poor fruit set and rotting of fruit. Soil needs to be well drained and<br />
preferably fertile with adequate organic material. Light loamy soils rich in lime are best. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: The seeds are dried in the sun. They are small. For large scale plantings, 1.8-2.3<br />
kg per ha of seed are needed. Seed is best sown in nurseries and the seedlings transplanted when<br />
they have 4-5 leaves. (After 3-4 weeks). They can be transplanted at about 0.8 m spacing.<br />
Pruning out the tops can increase branching. This is often done 10 days before transplanting.<br />
Excessive nitrogen can reduce fruit setting.<br />
Production: The first picking of fruit can occur 3 months after planting and continue about<br />
every two weeks. <strong>Plants</strong> continue to be harvested for about 4-5 years before replanting. For<br />
dried chillies, the fruit are dried in the sun for 3-15 days. The fresh weight is reduced by about<br />
two thirds during drying. Yields of dry chillies can be from 300 kg to 2500 kg per hectare<br />
depending on growing conditions, irrigation etc.<br />
Use: The leaves are eaten cooked. The fruit can be used in very small quantities to spice food.<br />
The small red fruit are very hot to eat due to a chemical called capsaicin. They are therefore<br />
used to add spice and flavour to other foods.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit<br />
A<br />
µg<br />
proVit<br />
C<br />
mg<br />
Leaves<br />
Fruit spice 74.0 395 4.1 2.9 7140 121<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Chillies are a common and popular leafy green in lowland areas in Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
531<br />
Names<br />
English: Asian pennywort Scientific name: Centella asiatica (L.)Urban<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae<br />
Description: A slender perennial plant with creeping<br />
stems which root at the nodes. It grows to 10 cm high<br />
and spreads to 50 cm across. The stems are creeping<br />
and form roots at the nodes. Groups of leaves develop<br />
in clumps at the nodes. Leaves are round or heart<br />
shaped with a wavy edge. The edge has teeth or<br />
indentations along it. The leaves can be 8 cm across,<br />
when grown in shady places. The leaves have 7-9<br />
forked veins. The leaf stalks are 6-15 cm long. The<br />
stems and flowers are dull red or pink. The flowers are<br />
small and occur in small clusters. The fruit is round but<br />
flattened. It is very small and 2 mm across.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It is a ground cover plant in old gardens, in light rainforest. It<br />
grows best in sunny, moist, fertile places. In Papua New Guinea it grows mostly up to about 500<br />
m altitude but will probably grow up to 2500 m. It is drought and frost tender. In Nepal it grows<br />
to about 2800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: New plants can be produced by seeds or by runners. Mostly plants grow and<br />
spread naturally. Cuttings or runners are the easiest way to grow the plants.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The whole plant is eaten raw or cooked.<br />
The plant is also used for medicine.<br />
The leaves are made into tea.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves 89.3 143 3.2 3.1 37<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A minor edible green only occasionally eaten in a few coastal areas in Papua New<br />
Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
532<br />
Names<br />
English: Perilla Scientific name: Perilla frutescens (L.)Britt<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Lamiaceae<br />
Description: An erect herb. It regrows each<br />
year. It grows from 30 cm to 2 m tall. <strong>Plants</strong><br />
can be green or purple. The leaf stalk is 3-5<br />
cm long. The leaves are oval and 4.5-10 cm<br />
long by 2.8-10 cm wide. It is toothed along<br />
the edge. Leaves are hairy on both surfaces.<br />
The flowers are white. They are in equal<br />
stalked flower clusters either in the axils of<br />
leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit is a<br />
1-seeded nutlet.<br />
Distribution: <strong>Plants</strong> are frost tender. In Nepal<br />
they grow between 600-2400 m altitude. It<br />
needs rich, well-drained soil and full sun. It<br />
suits hardiness zone 8-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed. The seed need to be cooled to 5°C for 3 days before<br />
planting. Seed need light to germinate. <strong>Plants</strong> should be spaced about 30 cm apart.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The young leaves, flowers and seeds are eaten. They can be dried and used later. They are<br />
also used for flavouring.<br />
The young cotyledons are sprouted and eaten.<br />
The roasted seeds are pickled.<br />
The seed oil is used as an ingredient in cooking.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
Seeds<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A recently introduced plant and probably only used in small amounts.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
533<br />
Names<br />
English: Cardamom Scientific name: Elettaria cardamomum (L.)Maton<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Zingiberaceae<br />
Description: A ginger like plant. It keeps growing from year to year.<br />
It grows to 3 m high and spreads to 1 m across. It has a clump of<br />
leafy aerial stems and then thick fleshy underground stems. The<br />
leaves are long and can be 1 m x 30 cm. They are dark green and<br />
alternate. The leaves are paler and softly hairy underneath. The<br />
flowers are green and white and produced on a branched flower stalk<br />
near the ground. The flowers have a violet tip. Seed capsules with<br />
several wrinkled seeds develop. The capsule has 3 cells. They are<br />
pale green and have a sweet smell.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to about<br />
1200 m altitude in the tropics. It prefers warm, rich, moist soils. It<br />
needs a protected and partly shaded position. It is drought and frost<br />
tender. Seed need a temperature between 19 and 24°C to grow.<br />
<strong>Plants</strong> need a temperature above 10°C. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed. It is normally grown under the shade of the<br />
primary rainforest. Seeds are slow to germinate. It can be grown from slips of plants.<br />
Production: The capsules are harvested when they are almost ripe but before they turn yellow.<br />
They are then dried in a warmed and ventilated shed.<br />
Use: The seeds are used as a flavouring. They are used in biscuits and cakes. It is also used in<br />
curries and added to coffee.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds 8.3 1303 10.8 14.0 0 21.0 7.5<br />
Diseases:<br />
Insects:<br />
Abroma sp. Cicadidae (HOM)<br />
Actinus imperialis Fauvel Staphylinidae (COL)<br />
Aphodius lividus Olivier Scarabaeidae (COL)<br />
Calliphara dimidiata Dallas Scutelleridae (HET)<br />
Chauliognathus papuanus Bourgeois Cantharidae (COL)<br />
Cladophorus ornatus Waterhouse Lycidae (COL)<br />
Cyphagogus splendens Kleine Brenthidae (COL)<br />
Ganae pulchella Pascoe Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Glenea papuensis Gahan Cerambycidae (COL)<br />
Glyptoporopterus sharpi Faust Curculionidae (COL)<br />
Leiochrinus fulvicollis Westw. Tenebrionidae (COL)<br />
Menesesiella weylandi occulta Rehn. Pyrgomorphidae (ORTH)<br />
Onthophagus iris Sharp Copridae (COL)<br />
Ragwelellus horvathi Poppius Miridae (HEM) Cardamom mirid<br />
Rhyparida sovria Gress. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Stenoxyphus aurantiacus Karasch. Pyrgomorphidae (ORTH)<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is being grown commercially in some lowland areas of Papua New Guinea.
534<br />
Names<br />
English: Native cardamon Scientific name: Hornstedtia scottiana (F.Muell) Retz.<br />
Tok pisin: Golgol, Gorgor Synonyms: Elettaria scottiana F.Muell.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Zingiberaceae<br />
Description: A perennial ginger family plant. The<br />
stalks reach up to 1.5-4 m high and have a swollen<br />
base. The leaves occur one after another in two rows<br />
along the main stem. The leaf blade is 60 cm long and<br />
12 cm wide. The edges of the leaves are softly hairy.<br />
The leaf sheath on the stem is about 13 cm long. The<br />
leaves are shiny and smooth on top and dull<br />
underneath. The midrib has a dent inwards on the top<br />
surface and the veins go off at 30° angles. The flower<br />
is a cone like structure up to 12 cm high at the base of<br />
the plant. The flower grows without a stalk and near<br />
ground level. The flowers are white and the flower has<br />
overlapping bracts. The outside of the lower bracts is<br />
red. The seeds are 2 mm across and they are grouped<br />
inside casings of the cone. The red bracts hide these<br />
casings. The pulp around the seeds is edible.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. A rainforest species. It is common in the lowland rainforest<br />
in the tropics. It is very frost tender.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from seed or by division of the rhizome.<br />
Production: The flower can be broken off the underground stem or rhizome and the seeds and<br />
sap are sweet and cardamom like.<br />
Use: The seeds are edible.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Fruit 42.0 912 4.0<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A common plant in lowland regions and occasionally sucked for the sweet sap.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
535<br />
Names<br />
English: Turmeric Scientific name: Curcuma domestica Val<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Curcuma longa Koenig non L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Zingiberaceae<br />
Description: A herb in the ginger family which continues<br />
growing from year to year. For harvesting it is grown as<br />
an annual crop. It grows up to 1 m high and spreads to 50<br />
cm across. The stem is erect. Under the ground it has<br />
bright orange fattened stem or rhizome. These have a<br />
sweet smell. The main fattened part is about 5-8 cm long<br />
by 1-5 cm across. It has thinner branches off it. These are<br />
thickened with secondary tubers. The leaves are in a<br />
cluster and have leaf stalks that clasp the stem. The leaves<br />
are sword shaped and have long leaf stalks. Leaves are<br />
long, flat and bright green. The flowers are dull yellow.<br />
They occur in clusters of 3-5. Normally the cultivated<br />
turmeric is a sterile triploid plant that does not bear fruit.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It is widespread in<br />
coastal areas up to 1000 m altitude in the Philippines. It<br />
needs a hot moist climate and a well drained soil. The soil<br />
needs to be loose for good rhizomes. <strong>Plants</strong> can grow in<br />
the shade but the yield is lower. <strong>Plants</strong> are drought and<br />
frost tender. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally grown from pieces of the rhizome. Pieces with one or two<br />
buds are used. Larger side tubers are best. They are planted 6-8 cm deep. The distance between<br />
plants needs to be 30-40 cm. They can also be grown from seed where these occur. The roots<br />
are harvested as the leaves start to die back.<br />
Production: Leaves appear above ground in about 4 weeks. The crop is harvested in about 9-10<br />
months when the lower leaves turn yellow. When the roots are harvested they are put in boiling<br />
water for an hour. This assists drying and avoids sprouting. They are then dried in the sun. The<br />
outer layer is removed by rubbing.<br />
Use: The orange coloured rhizome is used as seasoning especially in curry. They are also used<br />
for food colouring. They can be used fresh or boiled and dried.<br />
The young shoots are also eaten.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Rhizome dry<br />
Shoots<br />
11.4 1481 7.8 41.4 0 25.9 4.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: An important spice in rice eating cultures. It is rarely used as food in Papua New<br />
Guinea although some is grown commercially. It is used to dye “bilums”.
536<br />
Names<br />
English: Coriander Scientific name: Coriandrum sativum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae<br />
Description: An annual herb up to 70 cm high. It spreads<br />
to 50 cm across. It has a fleshy taproot. The stem is erect<br />
and finely grooved. The leaves are compound, and<br />
divided along their length. The lower leaves have lobes,<br />
while the upper leaves are finely divided. The leaves are<br />
bright green, and glossy. Flowers are pink to white. They<br />
occur in flat arrangements, with stalks coming from the<br />
same point. The plant has an unpleasant smell until the<br />
fruit ripens. The fruit are pale brown. The fruit have lines<br />
along them. Some lines are wavy and some are straight.<br />
Distribution: A Mediterranean plant. Sometimes it does<br />
not set seed in the lowland tropics. It grows up to about<br />
2200 m altitude in the tropics. It prefers light to medium,<br />
well-drained soils. It suits an open sunny position. It is<br />
drought and frost tender. In Nepal it grows to 3000 m<br />
altitude. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from seed.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> mature after about 3 months. It is important to dry the fruit before use, to get<br />
rid of an unpleasant smell.<br />
Use: The dried fruit are used in curry and flavourings.<br />
The young plants and leaves are used in soups, sauces and as flavourings.<br />
The root is also crushed and used as a seasoning.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Seeds 11.0 1218 14.0 18.0 300 21 4.7<br />
Leaves 92.8 84 2.4 2.0 613 11 0.5<br />
Leaves dry<br />
Root<br />
7.3 1167 21.9 42.5 585 567 4.7<br />
Insects:<br />
Phytometra orichalcaea (F.) Noctuidae (LEP) Larvae of a moth<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: One of the world's most commonly used herbs and spices. It is probably not grown<br />
or used a lot in Papua New Guinea.
537<br />
Names<br />
English: Resurrection lily Scientific name: Kaempferia galanga L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Zingiberaceae<br />
Description: A slow growing perennial herb. It grows<br />
15 cm high. The rhizome has tuberous roots. They are<br />
fleshy. The rhizome is much branched crowded,<br />
tuberous and aromatic. The rhizomes are pale green or<br />
greenish white inside. The leaves have a mild smell<br />
like liquorice. It usually has two leaves pressed flat<br />
against the soil. The leaves are broadly oval. They are<br />
7-20 cm long by 3-17 cm wide. They are green but<br />
often have a red upper edge. The flowers occur at the<br />
end of the shoot. The flower bracts can be 4 cm long<br />
and 1 cm wide. Each bract surrounds one flower. The<br />
flowers have a 4.5-5 cm long corolla tube and narrow<br />
lobes. Flowers are 2.5 cm long and are white. There<br />
are 2 varieties described based on the size of the leaves.<br />
Distribution: It grows in open areas in S China.<br />
Cultivation: It is grown from tuber cuttings.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The rhizomes and leaves are eaten as a condiment. The rhizomes are dried and pounded.<br />
They are used in fish curries and also served as a raw vegetable.<br />
They are used to flavour rice.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Rhizome<br />
Leaves 91.1 97 2.5 11<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is widely cultivated in SE Asia. It is sold in markets. It is probably not widely<br />
used in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
538<br />
Names<br />
English: Lemon balm Scientific name: Melissa officinalis L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Lamiaceae<br />
Description: A vigorous herb up to 0.5-1.2 m high. It<br />
spreads to 30-45 cm wide. <strong>Plants</strong> keep growing from<br />
year to year. The stems are erect, square shaped,<br />
branching and hairy. The leaves are produced opposite<br />
one another and are oval. The leaves are wrinkled and<br />
toothed at the edge. They are 7 cm long. The leaves<br />
have a lemon smell when crushed. The leaf stalk is<br />
long. The flowers are small and whitish yellow. These<br />
are produced on long loose clusters. The flowers are in<br />
the axils of leaves. The fruit is made up of 4 oval<br />
nutlets.<br />
Distribution: It does best on light, well-drained soils.<br />
It needs an open sunny position but can grow in light<br />
shade. It can tolerate drought and frost. It benefits<br />
from well composted soil. It grows in Europe up to 60°<br />
north. In the tropics it is grown in mountainous<br />
regions. It suits plant hardiness zones 5-9.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from seeds or division of the root. Seed are slow to start growing.<br />
It can also be grown by tip cuttings which are put into water to form roots. The flowers should<br />
be picked off. <strong>Plants</strong> can be cut back to near ground level and allowed to regrow.<br />
Production: It is best used fresh.<br />
Use: The lemon flavoured leaves are used for drinks or flavouring foods and is used either raw<br />
or cooked.<br />
It is also used to flavour liqueurs.<br />
It is added to meat and vegetable dishes.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Leaves<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it occurs in some highland gardens.<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
539<br />
Names<br />
English: Nutmeg and mace Scientific name: Myristica fragrans Houtt.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Myristica officinalis L. f.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myristicaceae<br />
Description: An evergreen tree. It grows up to 10-23 m<br />
tall. The bark is light brown. Leaves are simple,<br />
pointed and dark green on top. They are pale green<br />
underneath. They are 12 cm long. Male and female<br />
flowers are separate but often on the same tree. Fruit<br />
occur on female and bisexual trees. The flowers are<br />
small and yellow and 1 cm across. They do not have<br />
petals. The sepals are cup shaped and 2-3 lobed. The<br />
fruit are round, about 5-6 cm across and yellow when<br />
ripe. When the fruit is ripe it splits into two halves. All<br />
parts of the tree when bruised have a smell of nutmeg.<br />
The seed is used as nutmeg while the red seed coat is<br />
dried and ground to produce mace.<br />
Distribution: It is native to Maluku in Indonesia.<br />
Tropical. It suits tropical humid places and needs a<br />
fertile well drained soil. It grows in lowland areas and<br />
needs protection from wind. It cannot tolerate drought.<br />
It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: Trees are normally grown from seed. Seeds are slow growing. They can take 30<br />
months to germinate. <strong>Plants</strong> can also be grown by cuttings and grafting. A spacing of 9 m apart<br />
is suitable. A ratio of a male tree to 10 female trees is used. Extra male trees are removed.<br />
Production: Seeds take 3 months to germinate. Trees begin producing after 5-7 years. Trees<br />
can keep producing for 40 years. The mace is peeled away from the nutmeg and dried. When<br />
the nutmeg is dry it rattles.<br />
Use: The seed is used for the spice called nutmeg.<br />
The red layer (aril) around the seed produces the spice called mace.<br />
The outer shell of the fruit is sliced, cooked and crystallised to make a candy. It is also used for<br />
pickles.<br />
Caution: The oil in the seed contains a poisonous drug called myristicin.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion (These would be poisonous in large amounts)<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Aril - mace 8.2 1989 6.7 11.9 80 21.0 2.3<br />
Nut - nutmeg<br />
Fruit<br />
6.23 2196 36.3 3.0 10 3.0 2.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Occasional trees have been planted in Papua New Guinea.
540<br />
Names<br />
English: Queensland Nutmeg Scientific name: Myristica insipida R. Br.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Myristica muelleri<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myristicaceae<br />
Description: A large spreading tree. It grows 10-20 m<br />
high. The branches spread out horizontally. The bark<br />
is tight, rough and grey-brown. The leaves are alternate<br />
and smooth. They are leathery and oval. They are 10-<br />
21 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. They are dark and glossy<br />
green on top. Underneath the leaf is paler and the<br />
midrib is raised. The tip is pointed and the leaf stalk is<br />
short and thick. The trees are separately male and<br />
female. The male flowers are small and cream. They<br />
occur in clusters in the axils of leaves. Female flowers<br />
are in smaller clusters. The fruit is oblong and smooth.<br />
The skin is thick and leathery. They are about 3-4 cm<br />
long by 1.5-2 cm wide. They are a dull yellow when<br />
ripe. They enclose a single large seed wrapped in a<br />
bright red, thread like aril.<br />
Distribution: Tropical. It grows in coastal areas on<br />
sand dunes. They can be in lowland forest near<br />
permanent water. It needs good drainage.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> can be grown from fresh seed. They can also be grown from cuttings.<br />
Production: It is slow growing. In Australia, plants flower from February to March and fruit<br />
from September to December.<br />
Use: The seeds can be used as a nutmeg substitute.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Seeds 48.5 1250 4.3 100<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance:<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
541<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Myristica schleinitzii Engl.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Uskeke Plant family: Myristicaceae<br />
Description: A medium sized tree. It grows to 15 m<br />
tall. Sometimes it has stilt roots. The twigs are slender<br />
and smooth. The leaf is oval and 8-32 cm long by 5-12<br />
cm wide. The base of the leaf if often rounded or heart<br />
shaped. The midrib and veins are sunken in the top<br />
surface of the leaf and raised underneath the leaf. The<br />
leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. The male and female flowers<br />
are separate on the same tree. The male flower cluster<br />
is 5-7 cm long. The female flower cluster has fewer<br />
and shorter branches than the male. The fruit are oval<br />
and 3.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are yellow. The<br />
base of the fruit is narrowed into a false stalk 3-4 mm<br />
long. The fruit stalk is slender and 2-2.5 cm long. The<br />
seed is 3 cm long by 1 cm wide. It is covered with a<br />
red aril. It is divided irregularly.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. It grows naturally near<br />
the coast. It is often growing on coral rocks.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The fruit have been recorded as being used as a spice.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Importance: A minor food in Papua New Guinea.<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
542<br />
Names<br />
English: Tamarind Scientific name: Tamarindus indica L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Tamarindus officinalis Hook<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae/Caesalpinoideae<br />
Description: A large spreading tree up to 24 m tall. It has a<br />
broad dense evergreen crown. In dry areas the tree can lose<br />
its leaves. The trunk can be 1 m across. The bark is rough<br />
and grey with a checkered pattern. The leaves are carried one<br />
after another along the branch. The whole leaf is 6-12 cm<br />
long and it is divided into 10-17 pairs of leaflets. These are<br />
oblong and without stalks. The whole leaf has a leaf stalk<br />
about 15 cm long. The leaflets are 1-2.5 cm long and 4 9 mm<br />
wide. They are a dull dark green and with a rounded tip. The<br />
flowers are pale yellow with brown markings. The flowers<br />
are about 2.5 cm across and hang on long many flowered<br />
stalks. The fruit is an oblong thin skinned fleshy capsule.<br />
The brown seeds are inside this long rough surfaced, sausagelike<br />
fruit. This pod is 6-8 cm long and about 2 cm wide and<br />
contracted between the seeds. The pod cracks when mature.<br />
It is a legume. The pulp is date like and reddish brown. The<br />
seeds are shiny and hard. The pulp of the pods is edible.<br />
Distribution: A tropical plant. The tree is cultivated in a number of coastal towns in the tropics<br />
as a street tree. It is probably best grown below 800 m altitude in the tropics. It is drought<br />
resistant. It cannot stand waterlogging. It does well on coastal dunes above high water level. It<br />
suits semi-arid areas. It must be in frost free locations. In Nepal it grows up to about 1200 m<br />
altitude. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown by seeds or cuttings. It is best to sow seedlings in pots then<br />
transplant them but seed can be sown direct. There are about 1400 seeds per kg. Seed should be<br />
soaked in hot water or the seed coat nicked before sowing. Seed can be stored for 2 years if kept<br />
dry, cool and away from insects. Trees can be topped or cut back and allowed to regrow.<br />
Nothing grows under the trees due to the acidity of the leaves.<br />
Production: It grows very slowly. Trees are long lived. Fruiting is seasonal. The season tends<br />
to be April to June. It is about 8-9 months from flowering to ripe fruit.<br />
Use: The pulp of the fruit is edible. It is also used for drinks.<br />
The seeds are also edible, cooked. They can be roasted and ground into flour. The outer skin is<br />
removed. The young leaves, flowers and young pods are also edible. They are eaten in curries.<br />
They are used to make dishes acid. They are used in sauces and chutneys.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Fruit pulp<br />
Seeds<br />
Pods<br />
Leaves<br />
Flowers<br />
38.7 995 2.3 1.1 20 3 0.7<br />
Insects: Diseases: Pests:<br />
Importance: The fruit are sold in markets. In Papua New Guinea only occasionally seen and at<br />
present little used.
543<br />
Names<br />
English: Scientific name: Myristica womersleyi J. Sinclair<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Myristicaceae<br />
Description: A tree. It grows up to 27 m tall. It has a<br />
rusty covering on the twigs. The leaves are oblong and<br />
14-20 cm long by 6-9 cm wide. They have brown hairs<br />
underneath. The leaf stalk is 1.3 cm long. The fruit is<br />
round and 6-9 cm across. It has brown hairs. The seed<br />
is round and 5 cm across. It has a strong smell.<br />
Distribution: It grows in Papua New Guinea between<br />
800-2300 m altitude.<br />
Cultivation:<br />
Production:<br />
Use:<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Importance: The nut has possible uses as a spice.<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
544<br />
Names<br />
English: Betel pepper Scientific name: Piper betle L.<br />
Tok pisin: Daka Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Piperaceae<br />
Description: A woody vine which attaches to trees by<br />
roots at the nodes on the main vine. The stems are 2.5-<br />
5 mm thick. The leaf stalk is 2-5 cm long. It has a fine<br />
powdery covering. The leaves can be 7-15 cm long and<br />
5-11 cm wide. The leaves are papery or slightly<br />
leathery. The flowers are separately male and female.<br />
Male spikes are thinner and longer than female. The<br />
spikes droop. The fruit is composed of fused parts<br />
making a compound fruit.<br />
Distribution: It occurs in the lowlands and up to about<br />
700 m altitude. It needs a reasonably good rainfall. It<br />
suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from cuttings of the main vine. It also grows wild. It needs stakes<br />
or a tree to climb. Fruiting branches can be increased by pruning.<br />
Production: <strong>Plants</strong> can last for 10-12 years.<br />
Use: It is used as a masticatory with betel nut. The leaves and /or fruit are used.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value:<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Fruit<br />
Leaves<br />
Insects:<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
A diffuse black spot Fungus Myrothecium roridum Tode ex Fr.<br />
Mosaic Possibly due to a virus<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: A common and important condiment in the lowlands of Papua New Guinea and the<br />
SE Asian region.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
545<br />
Names<br />
English: Pepper Scientific name: Piper nigrum L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Piperaceae<br />
Description: A climbing, green, leafy vine. It is woody.<br />
The nodes are enlarged. The plant has roots on the<br />
main stem which attach to tree trunks. The vines can<br />
be 8-10 m long. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. The leaf<br />
blade is oval and 10-15 cm long by 5-9 cm wide. It is<br />
thick and leathery. The base is rounded and it tapers to<br />
a short tip. The flowers are usually of one sex but<br />
many flowers occur together. The spikes are opposite<br />
the leaves. The spikes are 3-3.5 cm long by 0.8 mm<br />
wide. They can be 10 cm long. It has clusters of<br />
berries on the side branches. The berries are red when<br />
ripe. They are 3-4 mm across.<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea<br />
level up to at least 1100 m altitude in equatorial places.<br />
It suits areas with a temperature between 24° and 26°C.<br />
It cannot tolerate frost. It likes high humidity and shade. It does best with a rainfall between<br />
1200 and 2500 mm per year. It has been planted in commercial stands in a few coastal areas of<br />
Papua New Guinea. It originally came from the tropics of India. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are normally grown from cuttings of the main (rooted) vine. Pruning of the<br />
tips can increase branch formation on which berries are produced. It needs a support to climb.<br />
Production: Berries dried with the skin give white pepper. Berries where the skin is soaked off<br />
produce black pepper. To do these they are soaked in water for a few days. <strong>Plants</strong> produce in<br />
the third year. They can continue producing for 20 years. Flowering normally follows rain.<br />
Fruit ripen after 3-4 months.<br />
Use: The berries are used as a spice.<br />
The dried fruit are used as pepper. Black pepper is dried with the skin on and white pepper has<br />
the skin soaked off and removed before drying. Immature green berries are sold in brine or<br />
dried.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Seeds white 11.4 1238 10.4 14.3 0 21.0 1.1<br />
Seeds black 10.5 1067 11.0 28.9 19 21.0 1.4<br />
Insects:<br />
Antestiopsis semiviridis (Walker) Pentatomidae (HEM) Variegated bugs<br />
Nesocypselas piperica (HEM) Pepper bug<br />
Valanga sp. Acrididae (ORTH) Grasshopper<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf blotch Fungus Colletotrichum piperis Petch<br />
Algal spot Algae Cephaleuros virescens Kunze<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea it is becoming of some importance as a cash crop but is little<br />
used locally as a spice.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
546<br />
Names<br />
English: Thyme Scientific name: Thymus vulgaris L.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Lamiaceae<br />
Description: A low shrub. It grows to 20 cm tall and<br />
spreads to 30 cm across. It forms a bushy cushion. It<br />
keeps growing from year to year. It is an evergreen<br />
with woody grey roots. The branches are square in<br />
cross section and hairy. The leaves are very small and<br />
greenish grey. They do not have leaf stalks and are<br />
produced opposite one another. The leaves are 0.6-1.5<br />
cm long. The edges of the leaves curl backwards and<br />
the underside of the leaves is very hairy. The flowers<br />
are pale mauve or purple. They form tubes with two<br />
lips. The flowers occur in rings towards the end of the<br />
branches. The plant has a sweet smell.<br />
Distribution: A Mediterranean plant. It does best in<br />
dry arid places. <strong>Plants</strong> are occasional in the highlands<br />
in the tropics. They grow up to 2600 m altitude. It will<br />
grow on most soils and in most locations. It is resistant<br />
to drought and frost. They need sun. It suits plant<br />
hardiness zones 7-10.<br />
Cultivation: It can be grown from seeds or by cuttings or by dividing up an established plant.<br />
Cutting tips off plants often will encourage a bushy growth.<br />
Production: The leaves are used as a seasoning and dried and stored. They are dried in the<br />
shade with warmth and low humidity.<br />
Use: The leaves and flowers are used as a seasoning to flavour foods.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg<br />
Leaves fresh 65.1 423 5.6 17.5 475 160.0 1.8<br />
Leaves dry 7.8 1156 9.1 123.6 380 50.0 6.2<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It occurs in some highland gardens but is not yet widely used.
547<br />
Names<br />
English: Vanilla Scientific name: Vanilla planifolia Andrews<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Vanilla fragrans (Salisb.)Ames<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Orchidaceae<br />
Description: A climbing orchid. The vine is fleshy and climbs by<br />
means of roots. It can climb to 10-15 m high. It is 1-2 cm across<br />
and flexible but easily broken. There are 5-15 cm between nodes.<br />
It is often trained to a lower height to allow easier pollination and<br />
harvesting. Aerial roots arise from the stem opposite the leaves.<br />
These are white and 2 mm across. They attach to supports. It has<br />
long pointed fleshy leaves. They have almost no stalk and can be<br />
8-25 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The tip of the leaf is pointed and the<br />
base is rounded. The flowers are greenish yellow and large and<br />
waxy. They occur in groups of up to 30 in the axils of the leaves.<br />
The fruit is a long fleshy pod with small black seeds inside.<br />
Distribution: It needs a warm moist climate. The best temperature<br />
is between 21°-32°C with an average around 27°C. It will grow up<br />
to at least 1300 m altitude. It does best with an evenly distributed<br />
rainfall of 2,000-5,000 mm per year. Ideally it should have 2 drier<br />
months to allow the flowers to develop. Light shade is necessary.<br />
It needs a well drained location and lots of humus and organic matter to grow in. It suits<br />
hardiness zones 11-12.<br />
Cultivation: <strong>Plants</strong> are grown from cuttings in a layer of rotting plant material and forest debris.<br />
It needs a pole to climb and should have light shade. When the vine extends along a branch it is<br />
pulled down to promote flowering. The flowers need to be hand pollinated in the early morning.<br />
It is most successful on a sunny morning following rain. Using a small match sized stick the<br />
pollen is removed by squeexing the flower then putting the pollen onto the sticky stigma.<br />
Flowering tends to be seasonal and occur once per year during the drier months. If fertile crosspollinated<br />
seed is required, it is necessary to cross pollinate the plants. (In Mexico small bees in<br />
the genus Melapona naturally pollinate vanilla)<br />
Production: Fertilised flowers produce pods in 6 weeks. The pods are ready for harvest about 9<br />
months after pollination. This is indicated by the pods turning slightly yellow at the end. The<br />
beans are partly dried and allowed to sweat to increase flavour. They are normally sweated for<br />
2-3 weeks then dried. They become dark brown in colour.<br />
Use: The pods are used to flavour foods. The flavour is extracted in alcohol.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein<br />
part<br />
Pods<br />
% KJ g<br />
Insects:<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Diseases:<br />
Shoot blight Fungus Gloeosporium sp.<br />
Rot of cuttings Fungus Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.<br />
Leaf spot<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: It is grown commercially in a few lowland areas of Papua New Guinea. It is also<br />
commercial in some other tropical countries.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
548<br />
Names<br />
English: Ginger Scientific name: Zingiber officinale Rosc.<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms:<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Zingiberaceae<br />
Description: A perennial herb with swollen<br />
underground stems. It can grow 30-100 cm tall. The<br />
underground stem or rhizome branches and is<br />
horizontal near the soil surface. It is about 1.5-2.5 cm<br />
thick. Inside the rhizome is yellow and it is covered<br />
with scales forming a circle around it. The leaves are<br />
long (30 cm) and narrow (4 cm). Each leafy shoot<br />
usually has 8-12 leaves in two vertical lines on opposite<br />
sides of them. The leaf blade narrows evenly to the leaf<br />
tip. The flower is a cone 6 cm long on a stalk up to 30<br />
cm long. (Flowers are not produced in all locations.)<br />
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It is mainly grown<br />
from sea level up to 1900 m altitude in the tropics but<br />
will grow at higher places. It needs a loose fertile soil.<br />
It does best with plenty of humus. It requires a rainfall<br />
of 1500 mm or more per year. It does best where there<br />
is a short dry season and a good hot temperature. It<br />
cannot stand waterlogging. In Nepal it grows to about<br />
2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.<br />
Cultivation: A portion of the rhizome is planted 5-7 cm below the surface of the soil.<br />
Sometimes light shade is used but it can be grown without shade.<br />
Production: It takes 12 months to mature. It is harvested several times. The young shoots are<br />
cut when about 7.5 cm high.<br />
Use: The underground rhizome is eaten.<br />
The young shoots are spicy and can be eaten.<br />
The rhizome can be dried and powdered.<br />
Oil of ginger is used as a flavouring.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value: Per 100 g edible portion<br />
Edible<br />
part<br />
Moisture<br />
%<br />
Energy<br />
KJ<br />
Protein<br />
g<br />
Calcium<br />
mg<br />
Iron<br />
mg<br />
proVit A<br />
µg<br />
proVit C<br />
mg<br />
Rhizome<br />
Rhiz dry 9.4 1452 9.1 11.5 15 7.0 4.7<br />
Shoots<br />
Insects:<br />
Aspidiella hartii (Cockerell) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Dichocrocis sp. nr. punctiferalis Guenee Pyralidae (LEP) Peach yellow moth<br />
Dindymus pyrochrous Boisd. Pyrrhocoridae (HEM)<br />
Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Henosepilachna haemorrhoea (Biel) Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Henosepilachna signatipennis Boisd. Coccinellidae (COL) Leaf eating ladybird<br />
Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) Margarodidae (HEM) Soft scale<br />
Lema variator Gres. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Lema wauensis Gres. Chrysomelidae (COL)<br />
Meijerella inaequalis Becker Chloropidae (DIPT)<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
549<br />
Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq. Aphididae (HEM) Banana aphid<br />
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) Diaspididae (HEM) Armoured scale<br />
Planococcus pacificus Cox Pseudococcidae (HEM) Mealy bug<br />
Ragwelellus horvathi Poppius Miridae (HEM) Cardamom mirid<br />
Thressa punctifera de Meijere Chloropidae (DIPT)<br />
Diseases:<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Pyricularia zingiberi<br />
Leaf spot Fungus Phaeodactylium alpiniae<br />
Leaf blotch Fungi Curvularia sp.<br />
And Glomerella cingulata (Stonem)Spauld & Schr.<br />
& Bacteria Corynebacterium sp.<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: Common in most areas of Papua New Guinea and eaten in quantity as a vegetable<br />
and as a spice. In some places it cannot be eaten by women.
550<br />
Names<br />
English: Wild ginger Scientific name: Zingiber zerumbet (L.)Roscoe ex Smith<br />
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Amomum zerumbet L.<br />
Tok ples: Plant family: Zingiberaceae<br />
Description: An upright clumpy plant up to 0.4-1 m<br />
high. The rhizome is thick and yellow. The stems are<br />
stout. The leaves do not have a leaf stalk. Leaves are<br />
broadly sword shaped. The base is narrowed. They<br />
taper to the tip. The leaves are shorter and fatter than<br />
true ginger. They are 15-40 cm long by 3-8 cm wide.<br />
The flower cone is also longer and thinner than true<br />
ginger. The flower comes from the rhizome and is<br />
cone shaped and 6-15 cm long by 3.5-5 cm wide. The<br />
stalk is 10-30 cm long. The sheaths are scale like. The<br />
bracts are green when young and red when old. The<br />
fruit is a capsule which is 0.8-1.2 cm across. The seeds<br />
are black.<br />
Distribution: It grows in tropical Asia. It occurs in<br />
coastal areas in the Philippines. It is most common in<br />
damp open forest. It suits seasonally moist and dry<br />
climates. It needs a fertile, organically-rich, welldrained<br />
soil. It grows in S China. It suits hardiness<br />
zones 8-12.<br />
Cultivation: It mostly grows wild in regrowth forest.<br />
Production:<br />
Use: The rhizome and leaves are eaten aa flavouring in cooking.<br />
They are also used in medicine and magic.<br />
<strong>Food</strong> Value:<br />
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C<br />
part<br />
Rhizome<br />
% KJ g mg mg µg mg<br />
Leaves 19<br />
Insects:<br />
Diseases:<br />
Pests:<br />
Importance: In Papua New Guinea this is a quite common plant but only a minor food plant.<br />
Zinc<br />
mg
Index of scientific name<br />
551<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Abelmoschus esculentus 247<br />
Abelmoschus manihot 94<br />
Acca sellowiana 520<br />
Aceratium oppositifolium 519<br />
Acmena hemilampra var. hemilampra 518<br />
Acrostichum aureum 147<br />
Acrostichum speciosum 149<br />
Actinidia chinensis 517<br />
Aleurites moluccana 347<br />
Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum 244<br />
Allium cepa var. aggregatum 241<br />
Allium cepa var. cepa 240<br />
Allium sativum 243<br />
Allium schoenoprasum 242<br />
Allium tuberosum 245<br />
Alocasia macrorrhiza 17<br />
Amaranthus caudatus 88<br />
Amaranthus cruentus 87<br />
Amaranthus dubius 90<br />
Amaranthus interruptus 92<br />
Amaranthus lividus 91<br />
Amaranthus spinosus 93<br />
Amaranthus tricolor 85<br />
Amaranthus viridus 89<br />
Amorphophallus paeonifolius var. campanulatus 19<br />
Anacardium occidentale 351<br />
Ananas comosus 374<br />
Anethum graveolens 528<br />
Angiopteris evecta 152<br />
Annona cherimola 386<br />
Annona cherimola x A squamosa 387<br />
Annona muricata 389<br />
Annona reticulata 391<br />
Annona squamosa 392<br />
Antidesma bunius 516<br />
Antidesma erostre 515<br />
Antidesma ghaesembilla 514<br />
Apium graveolens var dulce 246<br />
Arachis hypogea 51<br />
Areca catechu 172<br />
Areca guppyana 175<br />
Areca jobiensis 176<br />
Areca macrocalyx 174<br />
Arenga microcarpa 177<br />
Artocarpus altilis 308<br />
Artocarpus heterophyllus 311<br />
Artocarpus vrieseanus 313<br />
Asparagus officinalis 248<br />
Asplenium affine 153
552<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Asplenium nidus 154<br />
Averrhoa bilimbi 405<br />
Averrhoa carambola 403<br />
Baccaurea papuana 419<br />
Bactris gasipaes 178<br />
Bambusa forbesii 269<br />
Bambusa vulgaris 268<br />
Barringtonia edulis 304<br />
Barringtonia niedenzuana 306<br />
Barringtonia novae-hibernae 307<br />
Barringtonia procera 305<br />
Basella alba 121<br />
Benincasa hispida 223<br />
Beta vulgaris 271<br />
Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla 117<br />
Blechnum orientale 157<br />
Blighia sapida 513<br />
Borassus flabellifer 180<br />
Borassus heineana 181<br />
Botrychium australe 158<br />
Brassica juncea 237<br />
Brassica napus var. napobrassica 235<br />
Brassica oleracea var. albiflora 234<br />
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis 231<br />
Brassica oleracea var. capitata 227<br />
Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera 229<br />
Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes 230<br />
Brassica oleracea var. italica 232<br />
Brassica rapa 233<br />
Brassica rapa var. chinensis 228<br />
Brassica rapa var. glabra 236<br />
Burckella obovata 376<br />
Cajanus cajan 61<br />
Calamus hollrungii 182<br />
Calamus warburgii 198<br />
Callipteris prolifera 159<br />
Canarium acutifolium 303<br />
Canarium australianum var.glabrum 302<br />
Canarium decumanum 301<br />
Canarium indicum 293<br />
Canarium kaniense 295<br />
Canarium lamii 300<br />
Canarium salomonense 296<br />
Canarium schlechteri 299<br />
Canarium sp. 298<br />
Canarium vitiense 297<br />
Canavalia ensiformis 70<br />
Canavalia gladiata 71<br />
Canna edulis 39<br />
Capsicum annuum var. annuum 249<br />
Capsicum frutescens 530
553<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Carica papaya 371<br />
Carica pubescens 373<br />
Carya illinoinensis 356<br />
Caryota rumphiana var. papuana 183<br />
Castanea sativa 353<br />
Castanopsis acuminatissima 346<br />
Castanospermum australe 355<br />
Centella asiatica 531<br />
Ceratopteris thalictroides 160<br />
Cicer arietinum 82<br />
Cichorium endivia subsp. endivia 266<br />
Cichorium intybus 267<br />
Citrullus lanatus 377<br />
Citrus aurantifolia 408<br />
Citrus aurantium 415<br />
Citrus grandis 407<br />
Citrus hystrix 414<br />
Citrus limon 411<br />
Citrus medica 412<br />
Citrus paradisi 409<br />
Citrus reticulata 413<br />
Citrus sinensis 410<br />
Cleome gynandra 129<br />
Clymenia polyandra 416<br />
Cocos nucifera 169<br />
Coix lachryma-jobi 282<br />
Colocasia esculenta 12<br />
Commelina cyanea 123<br />
Commelina diffusa 124<br />
Coriandrum sativum 536<br />
Corylus avellana 357<br />
Corynocarpus cribbianus 418<br />
Corypha utan 184<br />
Cucumis melo 219<br />
Cucumis sativus 216<br />
Cucurbita maxima 214<br />
Cucurbita moschata 213<br />
Cucurbita pepo 218<br />
Curcuma domestica 535<br />
Cyamopsis tetragonolobus 81<br />
Cyathea angiensis 138<br />
Cyathea contaminans 139<br />
Cyathea hornei 140<br />
Cyathea lunulata 141<br />
Cyathea rubiginosa 142<br />
Cyclosorus interruptus 143<br />
Cymbopogon citratus 527<br />
Cynara scolymus 259<br />
Cyphomandra betacea 420<br />
Cyrtosperma merkusii 16<br />
Daucus carota 255
554<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Deeringia amaranthoides 128<br />
Dendrocalamus asper 263<br />
Dendrocalamus giganteus 264<br />
Dicliptera papuana 125<br />
Dillenia alata 512<br />
Dillenia indica 511<br />
Dimocarpus longan 510<br />
Dioscorea alata 23<br />
Dioscorea bulbifera 28<br />
Dioscorea esculenta 26<br />
Dioscorea hispida 31<br />
Dioscorea nummularia 25<br />
Dioscorea pentaphylla 30<br />
Dioscorea rotundata 32<br />
Diospyros blancoi 508<br />
Diospyros hebecarpa 509<br />
Diospyros kaki 507<br />
Diplazium asperum 137<br />
Diplazium cordifolium 136<br />
Diplazium esculentum 135<br />
Diplocyclos palmatus 132<br />
Dracontomelon dao 423<br />
Drynaria quercifolia 161<br />
Dryopteris sparsa 162<br />
Durio zibethinus 464<br />
Elaeis guineensis 185<br />
Elaeocarpus angustifolius 343<br />
Elaeocarpus arnhemicus 344<br />
Elaeocarpus bancrofti 342<br />
Elaeocarpus culminicola 345<br />
Elaeocarpus polydactylus 339<br />
Elaeocarpus pullenii 341<br />
Elaeocarpus womersleyi 340<br />
Elettaria cardamomum 533<br />
Eleusine indica 281<br />
Eriobotrya japonica 472<br />
Erythrina variegata 126<br />
Erythrina variegata var. orientalis 127<br />
Eugenia reinwardtiana 425<br />
Eugenia uniflora 424<br />
Fagopyrum esculentum 270<br />
Ficus carica 506<br />
Ficus copiosa 101<br />
Ficus dammaropsis 104<br />
Ficus hispida 105<br />
Ficus pungens 103<br />
Ficus tinctoria 106<br />
Ficus wassa 102<br />
Finschia chloroxantha 330<br />
Finschia ferruginiflora 331<br />
Finschia rufa 331
555<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Flacourtia indica 438<br />
Flacourtia inermis 439<br />
Flacourtia jangomas 440<br />
Flacourtia rukam 441<br />
Fortunella margarita 505<br />
Fragaria vesca 448<br />
Fragaria x ananassa 449<br />
Garcinia dulcis 471<br />
Garcinia eugeniaefolia 470<br />
Garcinia mangostana 466<br />
Garcinia riparia 469<br />
Garcinia warrenii 468<br />
Garuga floribunda 504<br />
Glycine max 63<br />
Gnetum gnemon 96<br />
Gronophyllum chaunostachys 187<br />
Gulubia cylindrocarpa 188<br />
Helianthus annuus 272<br />
Helianthus tuberosus 40<br />
Helminthostachys zeylanica 163<br />
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 122<br />
Hibiscus sabdariffa 503<br />
Hornstedtia scottiana 534<br />
Horsfieldia australiana 338<br />
Horsfieldia sylvestris 478<br />
Inocarpus fagifer 334<br />
Ipomoea aquatica 107<br />
Ipomoea batatas 9<br />
Ipomoea macrantha 11<br />
Juglans regia 358<br />
Kaempferia galanga 537<br />
Lablab purpureus 56<br />
Lactuca sativa 256<br />
Lagenaria siceraria 220<br />
Lansium domesticum 502<br />
Leucaena leucocephala 120<br />
Linospadix minor 189<br />
Litchi chinensis 500<br />
Livistona benthamii 190<br />
Livistona muelleri 191<br />
Luffa acutangula 221<br />
Luffa cylindrica 222<br />
Lycopersicon esculentum 253<br />
Lygodium microphyllum 164<br />
Macadamia ternifolia 332<br />
Macadamia tetraphylla 333<br />
Maesa edulis 501<br />
Mangifera altissima 477<br />
Mangifera foetida 476<br />
Mangifera indica 473<br />
Mangifera minor 475
556<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Manihot esculenta 33<br />
Manilkara zapota 498<br />
Marattia sp. 165<br />
Medicago sativa 265<br />
Melissa officinalis 538<br />
Mentha spicata 526<br />
Metroxylon sagu 46<br />
Metroxylon salomonense 48<br />
Microcitrus garrawayae 494<br />
Microsorum linguaeforme 151<br />
Microsorum scolopendria 155<br />
Momordica charantia 224<br />
Momordica cochinchinensis 226<br />
Monstera deliciosa 493<br />
Morinda citrifolia 492<br />
Moringa oleifera 119<br />
Morus alba 490<br />
Morus nigra 491<br />
Mucuna albertissi 79<br />
Mucuna pruriens 77<br />
Mucuna pruriens var utilis 78<br />
Muntingia calabura 488<br />
Musa ingens 497<br />
Musa maclayi 496<br />
Musa sp (A &/or B genome) cv. 44<br />
Myristica fragrans 539<br />
Myristica hollrungii 479<br />
Myristica insipida 540<br />
Myristica schleinitzii 541<br />
Myristica womersleyi 543<br />
Nasturtium schlechteri 113<br />
Nastus elatus 262<br />
Nelumbo nucifera 285<br />
Nephelium lappaceum 486<br />
Nephrolepis biserrata 148<br />
Nephrolepis hirsutula 150<br />
Normanbya normanbyi 192<br />
Nymphaea gigantea 286<br />
Nymphaea lotus var. pubescens 287<br />
Nymphaea macrosperma 288<br />
Nymphaea nouchali 289<br />
Nymphaea violacea 290<br />
Nypa fruticans 336<br />
Ocimum basilicum 525<br />
Oenanthe javanica 98<br />
Olea europaea 495<br />
Omphalea queenslandiae 337<br />
Ophioglossum reticulatum 156<br />
Origanum marjorana 523<br />
Origanum vulgare 524<br />
Ormocarpum orientale 112
557<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Oryza rufipogon 278<br />
Oryza sativa 275<br />
Oxalis tuberosa 41<br />
Pachyrrhizus erosus 38<br />
Pandanus antaresensis 318<br />
Pandanus brosimos 317<br />
Pandanus conoideus 379<br />
Pandanus dubius 320<br />
Pandanus englerianus 381<br />
Pandanus jiulianettii 315<br />
Pandanus krauelianus 382<br />
Pandanus lamekotensis 383<br />
Pandanus lauterbachii 384<br />
Pandanus odoratissimus 354<br />
Pandanus tectorius 319<br />
Pangium edule 359<br />
Parartocarpus venenosus 457<br />
Parinari nonda 483<br />
Passiflora edulis 450<br />
Passiflora foetida 455<br />
Passiflora laurifolia 453<br />
Passiflora ligularis 454<br />
Passiflora quandrangularis 456<br />
Passiflora tripartita var. mollisima 452<br />
Pastinaca sativa 261<br />
Perilla frutescens 532<br />
Persea americana var. americana 395<br />
Petroselinum crispum 260<br />
Phaseolus coccineus subsp. coccineus 76<br />
Phaseolus lunatus 65<br />
Phaseolus vulgaris 66<br />
Phoenix dactylifera 193<br />
Physalis angulata 458<br />
Physalis minima 459<br />
Piper betle 544<br />
Piper nigrum 545<br />
Pistacia vera 360<br />
Pisum sativum 68<br />
Pneumatopteris sogerensis 146<br />
Polyscias fruticosa 109<br />
Polyscias macgillivrayi 111<br />
Polyscias scutellaria 110<br />
Polyscias verticillata 108<br />
Pometia pinnata 394<br />
Portulaca oleracea 130<br />
Pouteria campechiana 460<br />
Pouteria maclayana 461<br />
Prunus dulcis var. amygdalus 361<br />
Prunus persica 462<br />
Prunus sp. 463<br />
Psidium cattleianum 399
558<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Psidium guajava 397<br />
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus 53<br />
Ptychosperma elegans 194<br />
Ptychosperma macarthurii 195<br />
Pueraria lobata var. lobata 37<br />
Punica granatum 489<br />
Raphanus sativus 239<br />
Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus 238<br />
Ravenala madagascariensis 196<br />
Rheum rhaponticum 487<br />
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum 114<br />
Roystonea regia 197<br />
Rubus archboldianus 447<br />
Rubus fraxinifolius 442<br />
Rubus lasiocarpus 443<br />
Rubus moluccanus 444<br />
Rubus parvifolius 445<br />
Rubus rosifolius 446<br />
Rungia klossii 99<br />
Saccharum edule 201<br />
Saccharum officinarum 369<br />
Salacca zalacca 482<br />
Sandoricum koetjape 484<br />
Sauropus androgynus 118<br />
Sechium edule 211<br />
Setaria palmifolia 203<br />
Sloanea tieghemii 365<br />
Solanum melongena 251<br />
Solanum nigrum 100<br />
Solanum quitoense 422<br />
Solanum torvum 252<br />
Solanum tuberosum 35<br />
Sorghum bicolor 279<br />
Spinacia oleracea L. 131<br />
Spondias cytherea 400<br />
Spondias philippensis 402<br />
Stenochlaena milnei 145<br />
Stenochlaena palustris 144<br />
Sterculia foetida 362<br />
Sterculia quadrifida 363<br />
Sterculia schumanniana 364<br />
Symphytum officinale 115<br />
Syzygium aqueum 426<br />
Syzygium branderhorstii 431<br />
Syzygium fibrosum 433<br />
Syzygium forte subsp. forte 434<br />
Syzygium jambos 429<br />
Syzygium javanicum 428<br />
Syzygium malaccense 427<br />
Syzygium samarangensis 435<br />
Syzygium sayeri 430
559<br />
Scientific name Page<br />
Syzygium suborbiculare 436<br />
Syzygium tierneyanum 437<br />
Tacca leontopetaloides 21<br />
Talinum triangulare 116<br />
Tamarindus indica 542<br />
Terminalia calamansanai 325<br />
Terminalia catappa 324<br />
Terminalia copelandii 323<br />
Terminalia impediens 322<br />
Terminalia kaernbachii 321<br />
Terminalia megalocarpa 326<br />
Terminalia microcarpa 327<br />
Terminalia sepicana 328<br />
Terminalia solomonensis 329<br />
Theobroma cacao 529<br />
Thymus vulgaris 546<br />
Trichosanthes cucumerina 208<br />
Trichosanthes pulleana 209<br />
Trichosanthes tricuspidata 210<br />
Triphasia trifolia 417<br />
Triticum aestivum 280<br />
Tropaeolum tuberosum 42<br />
Ullucus tuberosus 43<br />
Vanilla planifolia 547<br />
Vicia faba 80<br />
Vigna mungo 72<br />
Vigna radiata 74<br />
Vigna umbellata 75<br />
Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis 57<br />
Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata 59<br />
Vitis vinifera 480<br />
Xanthosoma sagittifolium 14<br />
Ximenia americana var. america 481<br />
Zea mays 205<br />
Zingiber officinale 548<br />
Zingiber zerumbet 550
560<br />
English name Page<br />
Adder’s tongue 156<br />
Akee 513<br />
Alfalfa, Lucerne 265<br />
Almond 361<br />
Alpine strawberry 448<br />
Angled loofah 221<br />
Anu 42<br />
Arenga palm 177<br />
Argus pheasant tree 423<br />
Arnhem land quandong 344<br />
Asian pennywort 531<br />
Asparagus 248<br />
Atemoya, Custard apple 387<br />
Avocado 395<br />
Bamaga Satinash 437<br />
Banana 44<br />
Banana passionfruit 452<br />
Beach cherry 425<br />
Beetroot 271<br />
Bermuda grass 281<br />
Betel nut 172<br />
Betel pepper 544<br />
Bilimbi, Tree cucumber 405<br />
Bird’s nest fern 154<br />
Bitter gourd 224<br />
Bitter yam 31<br />
Black currant tree 514<br />
Black palm 192<br />
Black raspberry 443<br />
Blackberried nightshade 100<br />
Blue quandong 343<br />
Blue waterlily 290<br />
Bok-choy Celery cabbage 228<br />
Bottle gourd 220<br />
Breadfruit 308<br />
Broad bean 80<br />
Broad leafed lillypilly 518<br />
Broccoli 232<br />
Brussels sprouts 229<br />
Buckwheat 270<br />
Bulb onion 240<br />
Bullock’s heart 391<br />
Bungwall 157<br />
Cabbage 227<br />
Cacao 529<br />
Candle nut 347<br />
Canistel 460<br />
Cape chestnut 338<br />
Capsicum, Bell peppers 249<br />
Carambola 403
561<br />
Cardamom 533<br />
Carrot 255<br />
Cashew 351<br />
Cassava 33<br />
Castanopsis chestnut 346<br />
Cauliflower 231<br />
Celery 246<br />
Ceriman, Monstera 493<br />
Cherimoya 386<br />
Cherry guava 399<br />
Chickpea 82<br />
Chicory, Witloof 267<br />
Chilli, Bird’s eye chilli 530<br />
Chinese amaranth 85<br />
Chinese chives 245<br />
Chinese gooseberry 517<br />
Chinese kale 234<br />
Chinese laurel 516<br />
Chinese radish 238<br />
Chinese taro 14<br />
Chives 242<br />
Choko 211<br />
Citron 412<br />
Claudie River Lawyer vine 198<br />
Climbing maidenhair fern 164<br />
Climbing swamp fern 144<br />
Clymenia 416<br />
Coastal pandanus 319<br />
Coconut 169<br />
Coffee plum 440<br />
Common bamboo 268<br />
Common bean 66<br />
Common comfrey 115<br />
Coral tree 127<br />
Coriander 536<br />
Corn 205<br />
Corypha palm 184<br />
Cowpea 59<br />
Cuban royal palm 197<br />
Cucumber 216<br />
D’Albertis creeper 79<br />
Date palm 193<br />
Dill 528<br />
Drumstick tree 119<br />
Durian 464<br />
Dwarf fan palm 191<br />
Dye fig 106<br />
Egg tree 471<br />
Eggplant 251<br />
Elephant apple 511<br />
Elephant foot yam 19<br />
Endive 266
562<br />
European chestnut 353<br />
European grape 480<br />
Fan palm 190<br />
Fei banana 496<br />
Feijoa, Pineapple guava 520<br />
Fig 506<br />
Finschia nuts 330<br />
Fishtail palm 183<br />
Five leaflet yam 30<br />
Fivrous Satinash 433<br />
Flowering fern 163<br />
Fragrant screwpine 354<br />
Garden strawberry 449<br />
Garlic 243<br />
Garraway lime 494<br />
Garuga 504<br />
Giant bamboo 263<br />
Giant bamboo 264<br />
Giant Creek fern 146<br />
Giant taro 17<br />
Giant waterlily 286<br />
Ginger 548<br />
Globe artichoke 259<br />
Golden apple 400<br />
Golden beach 512<br />
Golden mangrove fern 147<br />
Governor’s plum 438<br />
Grain amaranth 88<br />
Granadilla 456<br />
Grapefruit 409<br />
Greater yam 23<br />
Green amaranth 89<br />
Green gram bean 74<br />
Grey cane palm 195<br />
Guar bean 81<br />
Guava 397<br />
Hairy sword fern 150<br />
Hazel 357<br />
Hibiscus 122<br />
Highlands betel nut 174<br />
Highlands breadfruit 104<br />
Horse mango 476<br />
Indian coral tree 126<br />
Indian mulberry 492<br />
Indian spinach 121<br />
Jack bean 70<br />
Jackfruit 311<br />
Java almond 293<br />
Java apple 428<br />
Java apple 435<br />
Java olive 362<br />
Jerusalem artichoke 40
563<br />
Job’s tears 282<br />
Karuka 315<br />
King fern 152<br />
Kohl Rabi 230<br />
Kudzu 37<br />
Kumquat 505<br />
Lablab bean 56<br />
Ladder fern 148<br />
Langsat 502<br />
Leaf mustard 237<br />
Leek 244<br />
Lemon 411<br />
Lemon balm 538<br />
Lemon grass 527<br />
Lesser yam 26<br />
Lettuce 256<br />
Leucaena 120<br />
Lima bean 65<br />
Lime berry 417<br />
Litchi 500<br />
Lockerbie Satinash 431<br />
Long pitpit 201<br />
Longan 510<br />
Loquat 472<br />
Lotus root 285<br />
Lovo 103<br />
Macadamia 332<br />
Malay apple 427<br />
Mandarin 413<br />
Mango 473<br />
Mangosteen 466<br />
Mangrove fern 149<br />
Mangrove nutmeg 479<br />
Marjoram 523<br />
Marrow 218<br />
Melon, Cantaloupe 219<br />
Melville Island white beech 302<br />
Minor walking stick palm 189<br />
Moluccan bramble 444<br />
Moreton Bay chestnut 355<br />
Mountain pawpaw 373<br />
Mulberry 490<br />
Mung bean 72<br />
Naranjilla 422<br />
Native amaranth 92<br />
Native bamboo 269<br />
Native cardamon 534<br />
Native gooseberry 459<br />
Nonda plum 483<br />
Nummularia yam 25<br />
Nutmeg & mace 539<br />
Nypa 336
564<br />
Oca 41<br />
Oil palm 185<br />
Okra 247<br />
Olive 495<br />
Orange 410<br />
Oregano 524<br />
Pacific lychee 394<br />
Palmyra like palm 181<br />
Palmyra palm 180<br />
Panama berry 488<br />
Panax 109<br />
Pangi 359<br />
Pao nuts 305<br />
Papua white rattan 182<br />
Parsley 260<br />
Parsley fern 158<br />
Parsnip 261<br />
Passionflower 455<br />
Pawpaw 371<br />
Pea 68<br />
Pea eggplant 252<br />
Peach 462<br />
Peach palm 178<br />
Peanut 51<br />
Peanut tree 363<br />
Pecan 356<br />
Pepper 545<br />
Perilla 532<br />
Persian mulberry 491<br />
Persimmon 507<br />
Petsai 236<br />
Pigeon pea 61<br />
Pineapple 374<br />
Pink satinash 430<br />
Pistachio nut 360<br />
Plentiful fig 101<br />
Plum 463<br />
PNG edible bamboo 262<br />
Polynesian arrowroot 21<br />
Polynesian chestnut 334<br />
Pomegranate 489<br />
Pomelo, Pummelo 407<br />
Potato 35<br />
Potato yam 28<br />
Prickly amaranth 93<br />
Pumpkin 213<br />
Pumpkin 214<br />
Purple amaranth 87<br />
Purple passionfruit 450<br />
Purslane 130<br />
Qandong 345<br />
Queensland almond 342
565<br />
Queensland arrowroot 39<br />
Queensland nutmeg 540<br />
Radish 239<br />
Rambutan 486<br />
Red bush apple 436<br />
Red raspberry 442<br />
Resurrection lily 537<br />
Rhubarb 487<br />
Rice 275<br />
Rice bean 75<br />
Rock fern 161<br />
Rose apple 429<br />
Rose-leafed raspberry 446<br />
Rosella 503<br />
Rough shelled madacamia 333<br />
Rukam 441<br />
Rungia 99<br />
Sago 46<br />
Salak 482<br />
Santol 484<br />
Sapodilla 498<br />
Scarlet runner bean 76<br />
Shallots 241<br />
Short pitpit 203<br />
Silver beet 117<br />
Slender amaranth 91<br />
Smooth loofah 222<br />
Snake gourd 208<br />
Solitaire palm 194<br />
Solomon’s sago 48<br />
Sorghum 279<br />
Sour orange 415<br />
Soursop 389<br />
Soybean 63<br />
Spearmint 526<br />
Spider flower 129<br />
Spinach 131<br />
Spinach joint fir 96<br />
Spiny bitter cucumber 226<br />
Spleen amaranth 90<br />
Striped cucumber 132<br />
Sugarcane 369<br />
Sunflower 272<br />
Sunset Hibiscus 94<br />
Surinam cherry 424<br />
Swamp morning glory 107<br />
Swamp taro 16<br />
Swede 235<br />
Sweet basil 525<br />
Sweet granadilla 454<br />
Sweet leaf 118<br />
Sweet potato 9
566<br />
Sweetsop 392<br />
Sword bean 71<br />
Tamarind 542<br />
Tambour 337<br />
Taro 12<br />
Thornless rukam 439<br />
Thyme 546<br />
Tiny waterlily 289<br />
Tomato 253<br />
Tooth-leafed winter cherry 458<br />
Traveller’s palm 196<br />
Tree fern 138<br />
Tree tomato, Tamarillo 420<br />
Tropical almond 324<br />
Tulican 509<br />
Turmeric 535<br />
Turnip 233<br />
Ulucco 43<br />
Vanilla 547<br />
Vegetable fern 135<br />
Velvet apple 508<br />
Velvet bean 77<br />
Velvet bean 78<br />
Walnut 358<br />
Wandering Jew 123<br />
Wandering Jew 124<br />
Warren’s mangosteen 468<br />
Water dropwort 98<br />
Water fern 160<br />
Watercress 114<br />
Waterleaf 116<br />
Watermelon 377<br />
Watery rose apple 426<br />
Wax gourd 223<br />
West Indian Lime 408<br />
Wheat 280<br />
White apple 434<br />
White Guinea yam 32<br />
White sandpaper fig 105<br />
Wild currant 515<br />
Wild ginger 550<br />
Wild karuka 317<br />
Wild lime 414<br />
Wild mango 475<br />
Wild mango 477<br />
Wild olive, Yellow plum 481<br />
Wild rice 278<br />
Winged bean 53<br />
Yam bean 38<br />
Yard long bean 57<br />
Yellow granadilla 453
Tok Pisin name Page<br />
Aibika 94<br />
Aila 334<br />
Anian 240<br />
Apokat 395<br />
Asbin 53<br />
Aupa 85<br />
Banan 44<br />
Bin 66<br />
Botel 220<br />
Brokoli 232<br />
Buai 172<br />
Bukubuk 376<br />
Daka 544<br />
Faiv kona 403<br />
Galip 293<br />
Golgol, Gorgor 534<br />
Hailans kapiak 104<br />
Kakao 529<br />
Kalava 112<br />
Kambibi 174<br />
Kangkong 107<br />
Kapiak 308<br />
Karakap 100<br />
Karuka 315<br />
Kaukau 9<br />
Kaw 548<br />
Kebis 227<br />
Kokonat 169<br />
Kon 205<br />
Kongakonga 132<br />
Kukamba 216<br />
Kumu musong 101<br />
Kumugras 159<br />
Laulau 427<br />
Lovi-lovi 439<br />
Mambu 268<br />
Mambu 262<br />
Mami 26<br />
Marita 379<br />
Mengo 473<br />
Mon 423<br />
Muli 411<br />
Muli 408<br />
Mundroi 418<br />
Okari 321<br />
Painap 374<br />
Pakal 457<br />
Palpal 126<br />
Pamkin 213<br />
Pamkin 214<br />
567
Pao 307<br />
Pao 305<br />
Paragum 17<br />
Peteta 35<br />
Pi 68<br />
Pinat 51<br />
Pitpit 201<br />
Pitpit 203<br />
Popo, Papaia 371<br />
Rais 275<br />
Saksak 46<br />
Saksak 48<br />
Sapasap 389<br />
Sili 530<br />
Singapo 14<br />
Sioko 211<br />
Sis 359<br />
Suga 369<br />
Swit muli 410<br />
Talis 322<br />
Talis 323<br />
Tapiok 33<br />
Taro tru 12<br />
Tometo 253<br />
Ton, Taun 394<br />
Tu-lip 96<br />
Valanguar 108<br />
Vutu kana 304<br />
Wail karuka 317<br />
Wara kebis 114<br />
Yam tru 23<br />
Yam tru 25<br />
568