EDIBLE LEAVES AND SHOOTS 521 



From the nightshade family, many of which are poisonous 

 plants, we get several large edible fruits (true berries, though 

 they are not popularly so called), the ground cherry, or straw- 

 berry tomato (Physalis), the pepper (Capsicum), 1 the egg plant, 

 and the tomato. 



The gourd family furnishes all the melons, cucumbers, 

 squashes, and pumpkins. 



496. Edible leaves and shoots. Only a few of the articles of 

 diet under this head have much commercial importance or form 

 a notable part of the subsistence of people in any portion of the 

 country. 



From the lily family we get asparagus ; from the pigweed 

 family, spinach ; from the mustard family, water cress, cabbage, 

 cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts ; from the parsley family, celery ; 

 and from the Composite, lettuce and globe artichokes (Cynara). 



497. Edible bulbs, rootstocks, tubers, and roots. As is else- 

 where explained (Sec. 66), reserve material is often stored in 

 underground portions of the plant body. The number of vege- 

 tables derived from these is not very large, but they constitute 

 a considerable part of the food of people, especially in temperate 

 and cold climates. 



From the lily family onions are obtained, from the yam 

 family yams, from the pigweed family beets, from the mustard 

 family turnips and radishes, from the parsley family carrots 

 and parsnips, from the morning-glory family sweet potatoes, 

 from the nightshade family potatoes, and from the Composite 

 salsify and Jerusalem artichokes (Helianihus). 



498. Starch and sugar from stems and roots. Sago is the 

 purified starchy pith of small palms, natives of Siam and of 

 some of the Malayan Islands. A portion of the supply also 

 comes from West Indian cycads (Sec. 346). 



Tapioca is a starchy substance obtained from the grated roots 

 of plants of the spurge family (Euplwrbiacece), cultivated in 

 tropical America and the West Indies. 



1 This is not a pulpy fruit. 



