24 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



Actiiudia callosa Lindl. Ternstroemiaceae. kokuwa. 



Japan and Manchuria. This vine is common in all the valleys of Yesso and extends 

 to central Nippon. It is vigorous in growth and fruits abundantly. The fruit is an oblong, 

 greenish berry about one inch in length; the pulp is of uniform texture, seeds minute and 

 skin thin. When fully ripe it possesses a very delicate flavor.' 



A. polygama Franch. & Sav. 



Northern Japan. This is somewhat less desirable than A. callosa, as it fruits less 

 abundantly and the vine is not so rich in foliage.* 



Adansonia digitata Linn. "Malvaceae, baobab, cork tree, monkeybread. sour 

 GOURD. - 



East Indies. This tree has been found in Senegal and Abyssinia, as well as on the 

 west coast of Africa, extending to Angola and thence across the country to Lake Ngami. 

 It is cultivated in many of the warm parts of the world. Mollien,' in his Travels, states 

 that to the negroes, the Baobab is perhaps the most valuable of vegetables. Its leaves 

 are used for leaven and its bark for cordage and thread. In Senegal, the negroes use 

 the pounded bark and the leaves as we do pepper and salt. Hooker* says the leaves 

 are eaten with other food and are considered cooling and useful in restraining excessive 

 perspiration. The fruit is much used by the natives of Sierra Leone. It contains a 

 farinaceous pulp full of seeds, which tastes like gingerbread and has a pleasant acid flavor.' 

 Brandis * says it is used for preparing an acid beverage. Monteiro ' says the leaves are 

 good to eat boiled as a vegetable and the seeds are, in Angola, pounded and made into 

 meal for food in times of scarcity; the substance in which they are imbedded is also edible 

 but strongly and agreeably acid. 



The earliest description of the Baobab is by Cadamosto, 1454, who found at the mouth 

 of the Senegal, trunks whose circumference he estimated at 112 feet. Perrottet says 

 he has seen these trees 32 feet in diameter and only 70 to 85 feet high. 



A. gregorii F. Muell. cream of tartar tree, sour gourd. 



Northern Australia. The pulp of its fruit has an agreeable, acid taste Hke cream 

 of tartar and is peculiarly refreshing in the sultry climates where the tree is found.' 



Adenanthera abrosperma F. Muell. Leguminosae. 



Australia. The seeds are roasted in the coals and the kernels are eaten.' 



A. pavonia Linn, barbadoes pride, coral pea. red sandalwood. 



One of the largest trees of tropical eastern Asia. The seeds are eaten by the common 



Penhallow, D. P. Amer. Nat. 16:120. 1882. (A. arguta) 

 'Ibid. 



Drury, H. Vsejul Pis. Ind. 15. 1858. 



Ibid. 



'Sabine, J. Trans Hort. Soc. Land. s:444. 1824. 



Brandis, D. Forest Fl. 30. 1874. 



' Montoro, J. J. Angola, River Congo 1:128. 1875. 



Black, A. A. Treas. Boi. 1:18. 1870. 



Palmer, E. Journ. Roy. Sac. New So. Wales 17:94. 1884. 



