446 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



p. maritima Linn, seaside plantain. 



Shores of Europe and of the United States from New Jersey northward. Kalm * 

 says the French boil its leaves in a broth on their sea voyages, or eat them as a salad. It 

 may likewise be pickled like samphire. 



Platonia insignis Mart. Guittiferae. 



Brazil. The fruit, called pacoury-uva in Brazil, is said to be very sweet and delicious, 

 whilst the seeds have the flavor of almonds.' 



Platycrater arguta Sieb. & Zucc. Saxifrageae. tea-oe-heaven. 

 Japan. In Japan, the leaves are used as a tea substitute.* 



Plectranthus tematus Sims. Labiatae. 



Comoro Islands and Madagascar. This perennial plant was carried to the Mauritius 

 and is there cultivated as a potherb. It is called in Madagascar ontime.* 



Plectronia parvifolia Benth. & Hook. f. Rubiaceae. 



Burma and Malay. The leaves of this thorny shrub are largely consimied by the 

 natives in their cvuries. The pulp enclosing the seeds is eaten by the natives but, to the 

 European taste, is not very palatable ' In India, says Ainslie,* the fruit is eaten by the 

 natives, and the leaves are also used as food, being put in curries as seasoners. 



Plegerina odorata Arruda. 



Brazil. This plant produces an oval or oblong drupe, very little smaller than an egg, 

 yellow at ripening, the kernel of which is covered with a sweet, aromatic and nutritious 

 pulp.' 



P. rufa Arruda. 



Brazil. The fruit is an irregular drupe, of which the kernel is covered with a sweet 

 fecula, somewhat aromatic, pleasant and nutritive. It is large enough to satisfy one 

 person. It is sold in the markets of Brazil and by some inhabitants it is now cultivated.* 



P. umbrosissima Arruda. 



Brazil. The sweet fruit is sold in the markets of Pemambuco.* 



Plukenetia comiculata Sm. Euphorbiaceae. 



East Indies and Malay. The leaves are said to be eaten as a vegetable.^* 



' Kalm, P. Trav. No. Amer. 2:345. 1772. 



* Treas. Bot. 2:goi. 1870. 

 'U. S. D. A. Rpt. 199. 1870. 



* Pickering, C. Chron. Hist. Ph. 385. 1879. 



'Wight, R. lUiistr. Ind. Bot. 2:76. 1850. (Canthiunt parviflorum) 

 ' Ainslie, W. Mat. Ind. 2:63. 1826. (Webera tetrandra) 

 ' Koster, H. Trav. Braz. 378. 1817. 



Ibid. 



Martius Mat. Med. Bras. 77. 1854. 

 "Royle, J. F. Jllustr. Bot. Himal. 1:329. 1839. 



