404 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



in some places. The roots are eaten in Viti. Seemann ' says they are of a dirty white 

 color when cooked and have a slightly starchy, insipid flavor. 



P. tuberosus Spreng. potato bean. 



West Indies. The plant has large, tuberous roots, which, as well as the seeds, serve 

 as food.* It is called yalai by the people of New Caledonia, and the roots are roasted 

 and eaten.* 



Paederia foetida Linn. Rubiaceae. 



East Indies, Malay and Hindustan. This is a long, cylindrical plant, which gives 

 off a most offensive odor when bruised. The leaves, boiled and made into soup, are con- 

 sidered wholesome and suitable for the sick and convalescent, as Dutt * writes. 



Paeonia albiflora Pall. Ranunculaceae. paeony. 



Northern Asia. This species is to be seen in ornamental gardens. The roots are 

 used as food in Mongolia, being boiled and eaten by the Tartars, who also powder the 

 seeds to mix with their tea. 



Panax fruticosum Linn. Araliaceae. Panax. 



Tropical Asia, Malay and Polynesia. This aromatic plant is much cultivated in the 

 Island of Temate by the natives for food and for medicine. The boiled leaves are eaten 

 as greens.* 



Pancratium maritimum Linn. Amaryllideae. sea daffodil. 



Europe. This plant is said to have properties resembling those of the squill. The 

 bulbs were shown among food specimens at the International Exhibition of 1862.* 



Pandanus leram Jones. Pandaneae. 



Nicobar Islands. In the Nicobar Islands, the immense fruit cones consist of several 

 single, wedge-shaped fruits, which, when raw, are uneatable, but, boiled in water and 

 subjected to pressure, they give out a sort of mealy mass. This is the melori of the 

 Portuguese and the larohm of the natives. It is also occasionally used with the fleshy 

 interior of the ripe fruit and forms the daily bread of the islanders. The flavor of the 

 mass thus prepared strongly resembles that of apple marmalade and is by no means 

 impalatable to Europeans. 



P. odoratissimus Linn. f. breadfruit, pandang. screw pine. 



The terminal bud is eaten under the name of cabbage; the tender white base of the 

 leaves is also eaten raw or boiled, during famines.' Kotzebur * says it constitutes the chief 



> Seemann, B. Fl. Viii. 63. 1865-73. 



Unger, F. U. S. Pat. Off. Rpf. 311. 1859. {Dolichos tuberosus) 



' Labillardi^re Voy. Recherche Perouse 2:217. 1799. 



' Dutt, U. C. Mat. Med. Hindus 178. 1877. 



' Rumphius Herb. Ambon. 4:78. 1741-1755. 



'Bjt. Soc. Edinb.S: 163. 1866. 



' Royle, J. F. lUustr. Bat. Himal. 1:408. 1839. 



Hooker, W.J. Bo/. Jl/tic. 1:309. 1830. \' 



