430 STURTEV ant's NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 



P. pusilla Gaertn. 



East Indies and south China. The shining, black berry has a sweet, mealy pulp.' 



P. reclinata Jacq. 



Tropical and south Africa. The seeds are frequently drawn into use as a substitute 

 for coffee.* This species is said by Williams ' to yield in western Africa a wine; the fruits 

 are said to be much relished by the negro tribes. 



P. sylvestris Roxb. wild date. 



East Indies. In India, the juice is fermented or boiled down into sugar and molasses. 

 A large portion of the sugar made in Bengal, on the Coromandel coast and in Guzerat 

 comes from this source.* The fruit is of a very inferior character.' The sap is drunk 

 in India, either fresh or fermented, and is called tart.* 



Phragmites communis Trin. Gramineae. bennels. reed. 



Cosmopolitan. In 1751-68, Father Baegert ' says he saw the natives of the Cali- 

 fomian peninsula " eat the roots of the common reed, just as they were taken out of the 

 water." Durand and Hilgard ' state that this is the grass from which the Indians of 

 Tejon Valley extract their sugar, and it is elsewhere stated that the gum which exudes 

 from the stalks is collected by the Indians and gathered into balls to be eaten at pleasure. 

 The gum is a sweet, manna-like substance. 



Phiynium capitatum Willd. Scitamineae. 



Tropical eastern Asia. Lovu^eiro observed this plant in Annam and tropical China, 

 its leaves wrapped around articles of food previous to boiling to impart color and grateful 

 flavor.' 



Phyllanthus acidissimus Muell. Euphorbiaceae. 



Philippine Islands, Cochin China and .China. The plant furnishes an edible fruit.'" 



P. distichus Muell. otaheite gooseberry. 



East Indies, tropical Asia and Madagascar. The fruits, in size like those of a goose- 

 berry, are green, three or four-furrowed and somewhat acid and cooling. Firminger '^ 

 says it is of a sotir, sorrel-like flavor, xmfit to be eaten raw but making a delicious stew. 

 It is commonly used by the natives for pickling and is sold in the bazaars. 



MueUer, F. Sel. Pis. 163. 1876. 



' Ibid. 



' Williams, B. S. Choice Stove, Greenhouse Pis. 32. 1876. 



* Brandis, D. Forest Fl. 555. 1874. 



* Firminger, T. A. C. Card. Ind. 172. 1874. 



* Treai. Bo'. 2:1125. 1876. 



' Smithsonian Inst. Rpt. 364. 1864. 



* Pacific R. R. Rpt. %:-i^. 1856. 



* Pickering, C. Chron. Hist. Pis. 537. 1879. 



'" Unger, F. V. S. Pa!. Off. Rpt. 337. 1859. (Cicca racemosa) 

 " Firminger, T. A. C. Card. Ind. i8S. 1874. (Emblica distichus) 



