STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 4I 



stems sometimes grow to an immense size and can be preserved for a considerable time, 

 hence they are of great importance in jail dietary when fresh vegetables become scarce 

 in the bazar or jail-garden.' For its esculent stems and small, pendulous tubers of its 

 root, it is cultivated in Bengal and is eaten by people of all ranks in their curries. In 

 the Polynetian islands its large tuberous roots are eaten.* Wilkes' says the natives of 

 the Kingsmill group of islands cultivate this species with great care. The root is said 

 to grow to a very large size. 



A. macrorhiza Schott. ape. taro. 



Tropics of Asia, Australia and the islands of the Pacific. The root is eaten in India, 

 after being cooked, but it is inferior to that of A. esculentum.* The roots are also eaten 

 in tropical America as well as by the people of New Caledonia, who cultivate it.^ It fur- 

 nishes the roasting eddas ' of Jamaica and the tayoea of Brazil.' It is the taro of New 

 Holland, the roots of which, when roasted, afford a staple aliment to the natives.* Wilkes ' 

 states that this plant is the ape of the Tahitians and is cultivated as a vegetable. 



Aloe sp. Liliaceae. aloe. 



The Banians of the African coast, according to Grant,'" cut the leaves of an aloe 

 into small pieces, soak them in lime-juice, put them in the sim, and a pickle is thus formed. 



Alpinia galanga Willd. Sdtamineae. galangal. galingale. 



Tropical eastern Asia. The root is used in place of ginger in Russia and in some 

 other countries for flavoring a liquor called nastoika. By the Tartars, it is taken with 

 tea." In Cochin China the fresh root is used to season fish and for other economic 

 purposes.'* 



A. globosa Horan. 



China. The large, round China cardamons are supposed to be produced by this 

 species." The Mongol conquerors of China set great store on this fruit as a spice.'* 



A. striata Hort. amomum. cardamom. 



East Indies. This is probably the antomon of Dioscorides. It is found in Sumatra, 

 Java and other East Indian islands as far as Burma and produces the round cardamoms 

 of commerce. 



' EHitt, U. C. Mat. Med. Hindus 253. 1877. 



Seemann, B. Fl. Viii. 286. 1865-1873. 



Wilkes, C. U.S. Explor. Exped.%:i. 1845. 



<Ainslie, W. 3/a/. /ni. 2:463. 1826. 



' LaBillardi^e Voy. Recherche Perouse 2:236. 1799. 



Hughes, G. Nat. Hist. Barb. 227. 1750. 



' Schomburgkh Hist. Barb. 587. 1848. 



Hooker, W.J. Bot. Misc. 1:25^, 261. 1830. (Caladium glycyrrhiza) 



Wilkes, C. U. S. Explor. Exped. 2:51. 1845. 

 > Speke, J. H. Joitrn. Disc. Source Nile 583. 1864. 

 " Fluckiger and Hanbury PAarm. 641. 1879. 

 Pickering, C. Chron. Hist. Pis. syo. 1879. 

 " Masters, M. T. Treas. Bot. 1:52. 1870. {Amnmum globosum) 

 "Smith, P.P. Contrib. Mat. Med. China li. iS-t. 



