482 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



tholin ' says that in Norway acorns are used to fiimish a bread. During a famine in 

 France, in 1709, acorns were resorted to for sustenance.* In China, the fruits of several 

 species of oak are used as food for man, and a kind of curd is sometimes made from the 

 grotmd meal.' Oak bark is pounded by the Digger Indians of California * and used as 

 food in times of famine. 



Q. phellos Linn, willow oak. 



Eastern States of North America. The acorns are edible." 



Q. prinus Linn, chestnut oak. 



Northeastern America. The fruit is sweet and abundant.* 



Q. robur Linn, black oak. truffle oak. 



Europe and western Asia. Varieties are mentioned by Tenore ' as bearing edible 

 acorns. This species yields a manna-like exudation in Kurdistan.' Hanbvu-y ' says 

 a saccharine substartce called diarbekei manna, is found upon the leaves of the dwarf oaks 

 about Smyrna, from which it is collected by the peasants, who use it instead of butter 

 in cooking their food. The taste is saccharine and agreeable. 



Q. suber Linn, cork oak. 



South Europe and northern Africa. Bosc alleges that its acorns may be eaten in 

 cases of necessity, especially when roasted. This species was distributed from the Patent 

 Office in iSss." 



Q, undulata Torr. rocky mountain scrub oak. 

 California. The acorns are sweet and edible." 



Q. virginiana Mill, live oak. 



Eastern North America. Eastern Indians consumed large quantities of the acorns 

 and also obtained from them a sweet oil much used in cookery." 



Rajania brasiliensis Griseb. Dioscoreaceae. 

 South Brazil. The plant has edible roots." 



Randia dumetorum Lam. Ruhiaceae. 



Old World tropics and India. The unripe fruit is bruised, povmded and used to 

 poison fish ; when ripe it is roasted and eaten." 



'Pavy.F. W. Food, Diet. 264. 1875. 



Ibid. 



Smith, P. P. Contrib. Mat. Med. China 4. 1871. 



Brewer, Prof. Letter to Dr. Sturtevant. Oct. 20, 1879. 

 'Mueller, F. Sel. Pis. 407. 1891. 



Emerson, G. B. Trees, Shrubs Mass. 1:155. 1875. (Q. castanea) 

 ' Hooker, W. J. London Journ. Bot. 2:182. 1840. 



Masters, M. T. Treoi. Bo/. 2:951. 1870. 



Hanbury, D. Sci. Papers 2S7. 1876. 

 > U. S. Pat. Off. Rpl. XIX. 1855. 

 " Brewer afnd Watson Bot. Cal. 2:96. 1880. 

 " Havard, V. Torr. Bot. Club Bui. 22: 1 19. 1895. 

 "Mueller,?. Sel. Pis. 154. 1891. {Dioscorea brasiliensis) 

 " Brandis, D. Forest Fl. 273. 1876. 



