236 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



The various forms of the carrot have probably their prototypes in nature but as yet 

 the evidence is a little deficient. We may suspect the general resemblance of the Altringham 

 to the Japanese variety, already mentioned, to be somewhat more than accidental and 

 to signify the original introduction of this variety from Japan. We have, in the attempts 

 at amelioration, noted the appearance of forms of types similar to those under cultivation. 

 The presiunptive evidence is in favor of the view that all cultivated types are removes 

 from nature, not new originations by man ; yet the proof is not as decisive as could be wished.' 



D. gingidium Linn. 



Europe and north Africa. This is the gingidium of the ancients, according to Sprengel. 

 " There is,' saith Galen, great increase of gingidium in Syria, and it is eaten. . . . 

 Diascorides doth also write the same: this pote herbe, (saith he) is eaten raw, sodden, 

 and preserved with great good to the stomacke."' 



Debregeasia edulis Wedd. Urticaceae. 



Japan. The plant is called janatsi-itsigo or toon itsigo. Its berries are edible.* 



Decaisnea insignis Hook. f. & Thoms. Berberideae. 



Himalayas. The fruit is of a pale yellow color and is full of a white, juicy pulp that 

 is very sweet and pleasant; the fruit is eagerly sought after by the Lepchas.* 



Dendrobium speciosum Sm. Orchideae. rock-lily. 



Australia. This orchid, fotmd growing upon rocks, has large pseudo-bulbs, the size 

 of cuciunbers, which are said to be eaten by the natives.* 



Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Am. Gramineae. 



Himalayas. This stately bamboo is called poo by the Lepchas and wak by the 

 Mechis in Sikkim. The young shoots are boiled and eaten.' 



Desmoncus prunifer Poepp. Palmae. 

 Peru. The acid-sweet fruit is edible.* 



Detarium senegalense J. F. Gmel. Leguminosae. dattock. 



Tropical Africa. The fruits are about the size of an apricot. Underneath the thin 

 outer covering there is a quantity of green, farinaceous, edible pulp intermi.xed with 

 stringy fibres that proceed from the inner and bony covering which encloses the single 

 seed. There are two varieties; one bitter, the other sweet. The latter is sold in the 

 markets and is prized by the negroes.' 



' Proc. Soc. Prom. Agr. Set. 68. 1886. 



' Sprengel Hist. 1 : 1 64. 1 8 1 7. 



Gerarde, J. Herb. 2nd Ed. 1042. 1633 or 1636. 



'Mueller, F. Sel. Ph. 150. 1891. 



Hooker, J. D. Illustr. Himal. Ph. Plate X. 1855. 



Smith, J. Dom. Bot. 1%^. 1871. 



'Brandis, D. Forest Fl. syo. 1876; 



' Seemann, B. Pop. Hist, of Palms 188. 1856. 



Black, A. A. Treoi. So/. 1:396. 1870. 



