31 8 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



I. sisyrinchium Linn. Spanish nut. 



Mediterranean, the Orient and Afghanistan. This species has been in cultivation 

 in England since the time of Gerarde, who calls it Spanish nut and says that it is " eaten 

 at the tables of rich and delicious persons in sallads or otherwise." It is a native of the 

 Mediterranean region.' 



I. tectorum Maxim, wall iris. 



Japan. This species is grown in Japan and is used for the same purpose as /. ensata. 



Irvingia barteri Hook. f. Simarubeae. bread tree. 



A tree of tropical Africa, called dika. Burton* says the fruit forms the one sauce 

 of the Fans and is called ndika. The kernels are extracted from the stones and roasted 

 like coffee, pounded and poured into a mould. This cheese is scraped and added to boil- 

 ing meat and vegetables. It forms a pleasant relish for the tasteless plantain. The French 

 export it to adulterate chocolate. The fruit is much used, says Masters,^ at Sierra Leone. 



Isatis indigotica Fortune. Cruciferae. woad. 

 China. The leaves are used for food.* 



Jacquinia caracasena H. B. & K. Myrsineae. 



Venezuela. The berry is edible. The seeds are imbedded in a sweet, fleshy pulp, 

 according to Don.' 



Jasminum paniculatum Roxb. Oleaceae. jasmine. 



China. This is the sieu-hing-hwa of China. The flowers are used for scenting tea.* 



J. sambac Ait. Arabian jasmjne. 



Tropical Asia; called mo-le-hwa in China. The flowers are used for scenting tea.^ 



Jatropha urens Linn. Eupkorbiaceae. spurge nettle, tread-softly. 



Southern United States. This plant is called by the negroes tread-softly on account 

 of its stinging hairs. The tuberous roots are said to be eatable like those of the cassava.' 



Jessenia polycarpa Karst. Palmae. 



Brazil. A palm of New Granada. The fruit is about the size of a pigeon's egg, 

 violet colored, having a thin, oily, eatable flesh surrotmding a fibrous husk which encloses 

 a single, homy seed.' 



Jubaea spectabilis H. B. & K. Palmae. coquito palm, little cokernut. 



A palm of Chile cultivated in South America. The sap of this tree is boiled to the 



' Britten, J. Treas. Bot. 2:1352. 1876. 



' Burton Anthrop. Rev. Journ. 1:50. 1863. 



' Masters, M. T. Treas. Bot. 2:717. 1870. (Mangifera gabonetisis) 



* Bretschneider, E. Bot. Sin. 51. 1882. 



s Don, G. Hist. Dichl. Pis. 4:24. 1838. 



'Fortune, R. Resid. Chinese 201. 1857. 



' Ibid. 



' Black, A. A. Treos. Bo<. 1:303. 1870. {Cnidoscolus stimtUosus) 



Smith, A. Treas. Bot. 2:637. 1870. 



