STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 557 



rhizomes are sometimes collected as a table vegetable. Loudon says these, when grown 

 on rich moist soil, are white, crisp and agreeable to the taste. Johnson ' says the young 

 shoots, though of agreeable taste, are of disagreeable smell but may be eaten as asparagus. 



Stachytarpheta indica Vahl. Verbenaceae. 



Austria. The leaves are sold as Brazilian tea, which Lindley ^ says is a rather poor 

 article. 



*>, 



Staphylea pinnata Linn. Sapindaceae. European bladder nut. 



Eiu-ope; cultivated in shrubberies. Haller ' says the kernels of the fruit taste like 

 those of pistachios and are eaten in Germany by children. 



S. trifolia Linn. American bladder nut. 



Eastern North America. The seeds contain a sweet oil; they are sometimes eaten 

 like pistachios.^ 



Stauntonia hexaphylla Decne. Berberideae. 



Japan. The Japanese eat its roundish, watery berries and use their juice as a remedy 

 for opthalmia.^ 



Stellaria media Cyrill. Caryophylleae. chickweed. starwort. stitch wort. 



Temperate regions. This plant is foimd in every garden as a weed. It forms when 

 boiled, says Johnson,* an excellent green vegetable, much resembling spinach in flavor and 

 is very wholesome. 



Stemona tuberosa Lour. Roxburghiaceae. 



Tropical Asia. The thick, tuberous roots, after a previous preparation with lime- 

 water, are candied with sugar in India and are taken with tea but are said to be insipid.' 



Sterculia alata Roxb. Sterculiaceae. buddha's cocoanct. 



East Indies. The winged seeds of its large fruit are eaten.* 



S. balanghas Linn. 



Tropical eastern Asia. The seeds, when roasted, are nearly as palatable as chestnuts. 

 Riunphius ' says the seeds are considered esculent by the inhabitants of Amboina, who 

 roast them. Unger '" says the nuts are eaten by the natives of the South Sea 

 Islands generally. 



' Johnson, C. P. Useful Pis. Gt. Brit. 207. 1862. 

 ' Lindley, J. Med. Econ. Bot. 222. 1849. (S.jamaicensis) 

 ' Loudon, J. C. Arb. Frut. Brit. 1:494. 1854. 

 <Baillon, H. ffij/. P/j. 5:388. 1878. 

 'Smith, A. Treas. Bot. 2:1093. 1870. 

 Johnson, C. P. Useful Pis. Gt. Brit. 53. 1862. 

 ' Treas. Bot. 2:994. 1870. (Roxburghia) 

 'Pickering, C. Chron. Hist. Pis. 112. 1879. 

 Don, G. Hist. Dichl. Pis. 1:515. 1831. 

 ' Unger, F. U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt. 323. 1859. 



