Edible Fruits of the World would seem to be indicative of an ambitious project if we would hope to list the entire range of edible fruits that Nature has provided for us throughout our wonderful planet.

Most of these edible fruits have been discovered and utilised by indigenous populations but there are others yet to be discovered.

Commercial and local markets offer a range of delicious fruits in all countries but perhaps the greatest variety will be found in tropical and subtropical conditions where climate is condusive to cultivation or harvesting from the wild.

We are offering information on a limited selection.

LATANIA

This genus has three species all solitary in habit and considered ornamental.

L. loddigesii Blue Latan Palm grows tall to over 8m with stiff fan leaves covered with white woolly material and a dense crown. Fruits are purplish/black at maturity. It is a widely cultivated ornamental.

L. lontaroides Red Latan Palm is a very large palm with swollen base. Attraction as an ornamental lies in the leaves that are reddish coloured as are the veins in older leaves.

LEPIDORRHACHIS

L. mooreana Named after Charles Moore, first Superintendent of Sydney Botanic Gardens.  Little Mountain Palm is its common name. It is a monotypic genus found only on Lord Howe Island on upper mountain slopes. It is short and heavy in its features and therefore not considered greatly attractive as an ornamental palm.

LICUALA

This genus has over 100 solitary and clustered species, all shade lovers.

L. glabra reaches 2m in height and a crown of spreading leaves and produces dull orange fruit.  Found in Malaysia and valued elsewhere as an ornamental.

L. grandis Ruffled Fan Palm from the New Hebrides is a spectacular ornamental with neat habit, large circular, pleated leaves with notched margins and produces small pea sized scarlet fruits.

L. lauterbachii  from New Guinea is a tropical ornamental with red fruits.

L. longipes is spectacular and unusual in form, being without a trunk. It is native to tropical India and Malaysia.

L. orbicularis from Borneo is a very beautiful trunkless palm with undivided, orbicular stiff leaves. It has a great potential as an ornamental and no doubt will be exploited for this purpose.

L. paludosa Native to Malaysia it is a small palm with 1m solitary trunk. Leaves are similar to L. spinosa Suitable for a small palm in cultivation.

L. peltata subsp. sumarwongii  is a magnificent clumping palm with extra large fan leaves. Found  in India and Burma where leaves are made into hats.

L. ramsayi Named after P. Ramsay, its original collector in N.E. Queensland. Fan Palm is a slow growing shade plant of great ornamental value. In its natural habitat near Mission Beach a Licuala Forest is open to tourists as part of the Forestry service. There the trees reach heights of 30m, creating canopies. Their singularly beautiful fans are almost circular.

L. rumphii from the Celebes is a slow growing clustering species. Leaves have thorny petioles.

L. spinosa  Spiny Licuala Palm, from India and Malaysia grows to 4m. They are ideal for seaside plantings and are attractive as an ornamentals with colourful brilliant scarlet fruit. As with all licualas, strong winds tend to make leaves assume ragged appearance.

LINOSPADIX

This genus from Australia and New Guinea has 11 species of slender palms found in both   solitary and clumping form.

L. aeguisegmentosa is a small clumping palm found in N.E. Queensland.

L. microcarya N.E. Queensland is a small clumping palm with slender trunks and suckers.

L. minor also from Queensland is another small clumping palm to about 1m with orange fruits maturing red.

L. monostachya syn Bacularia monostachya Walking Stick Palm is a small single stemmed palm growing to several metres with red fruits. The palm was once used to make walking sticks but valued now as an ideal indoor plant.

L. palmeriana Named after Edward Palmer this clumping palm found in N.E Queensland grows to only 1m or little more and is confined to the Mt. Bellenden Ker region. The leaves have two lobes forming a V shape.  Its fruits are small and red.

LIVISTONA

Named after Patrick Murray of Livistone, or Livingstone, these 28 species have world-wide distribution.

L. alfredii Named after Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh in the 19^th century.The species commonly called  Millstream Palm grows to 7m in northern Western Australia where it was once valued by aborigines who ate the “cabbage” as a food source.  This palm is a fan type found near the well known Millstream Spring.

L. australis is the large Australian Fan Palm, or Cabbage Tree Palm. Splendid specimens are to be found cultivated in botanical gardens throughout Australia. It also provided aborigines

with a food source as well as providing them with timber and fibrous material.

L. benthamii Fan Palm grows to 16m found in N.T. The cabbage is eaten as aborigines’ food.

L. carinensis is a highly ornamental small palm.

L. chinensis Chinese Fan Palm has pendulous leaves, cream flowers and greyish fruits. It is popularly grown for the nursery trade. Attractive but slow growing ornamental.

L. decipiens Weeping Cabbage Palm or Ribbon Fan Palm is a solitary ornamental specimen to 15m with drooping leaf tips, yellow flowers and black, shiny fruits. Native to Queensland.  L.  drudei Named after Dr.Oscar Drude, a German botanist.  This is a solitary fan palm found from Townsville to Kurramine Beach Queensland. It has a pale trunk, shiny leaves, cream flowers and small black fruit. Considered a hardy and fast growing ornamental.

L. eastonii  Named after W.R. Easton, a contract surveyor in W.A. This is a solitary fan leaved palm to 8m usually found blackened by fires and found in large colonies in the Kimberley region.

L. humilis Sand Palm a solitary dwarf fan leaved palm from the N.T. found near Darwin generally stark appearance because of fire-blackened trunks.

L. inermis is a thin unattractive palm found as a solitary, slender, fan leaved palm to 8m endemic in the N.T.

L. jenkinsiana is a fan palm producing blue/grey fruit in clusters. Native to northern India it provides leaf material for hats and other purposes of the local Assam people of the region.

L. loriphylla is endemic in the Kimberley – little known of this solitary palm.

L. mariae Named after Maria, Duchess of Edinburgh. Called the  Central Australian Cabbage Palm – it is a solitary fan leaved palm with thick trunk, stiff leaves in dense crown, flowers yellow green and black, round fruit. Found in the gorges of Palm Valley and along Finke River. Of scientific interest because of its unique situation some 1000 km from any other palms. Aborigines used to eat the cabbage and the young leaves are also edible.

L. muelleri  Dwarf Fan Palm a solitary palm from northern Queensland – just south of Innisfail to Cape York. It grows to several metres.

L. rigida is a solitary fan leaved palm common on some inland rivers in dense colonies, in Queensland and N.T.

L. robinsoniana from the Philippines is one of the most beautiful ornamental palms in existence. Slender green trunk, pale, annual rings, large bright green fan leaves and yellow fruits. Tips of leaves sharply divided and droop at the tips.

L. rotundifolia Footstool Palm from Indonesia is very attractive in the infantile stages and still ornamental at full maturity.

L. saribus Taraw Palm is a tropical fan palm from S.E. Asia growing to 25m with deeply segmented leaves and orange petioles with large thorns on the margins. Striking as an ornamental with clusters of blue fruit.

L. speciosa from India grows to 18m with slender trunk, leaves folded with stiff segments and coloured green above and bluish underneath. Inflorescence as long as 3m with chocolate brown spathes. Fruits are green ageing to black.

There are many varieties of as yet undescribed Livistonia species being discovered throughout the Australian continent.

LODOICEA

There is only one species in this genus, noted for its huge fruit and the largest seed produced in Nature.

L. maldivica  Coco-de-Mer or Double Coconut is of the Fan palm type, with slender trunk. The palm takes 20 years to achieve maturity and another 20 years to fruit. Male and female plants are needed to produce fruit. Fruits are the largest of any palm – 5 to a stem and each weighing up to 44lbs. The seed is huge, taking up the whole inside of the fruit, and resembles two coconuts joined. The seed is looked upon as having magical properties and certainly is famous as an aphrodisiac in the country of its origin.  Native to only two islands in the Seychelles.

LYTOCARYUM

L. insigne from Brazil is a beautiful small palm in cultivation

L. weddellianum  Baby Cocos, Feather Palm offers a dainty tub specimen and is very popular as an ornamental.

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  Livistona robinsoniana

There are about 12 species in this genus, one of the most poisonous being found in Asia and Australia.

Abrus precatorius (Abrus, Jequirity, Indian Liquorice, Crab’s Eye, Rosary Bean) is a slender vine with attractive leaves and mauve pea flowers. It is sometimes grown in warm and tropical areas as an ornamental.  The leaves are said to have a liquorice type flavour and are used in Jamaica to flavour tea. However both the roots and the seeds are toxic.  The latter are bright red with a black “eye” and if cracked open can prove fatal if swallowed.

They were once used as a homicidal poison in the Orient, particularly in India.  Among the aborigines of Australia it was used as a contraceptive as well as to induce abortion, often with fatal results.

Because of the great attraction of these bright little seeds they are widely valued for ornamental purposes and made into necklaces and bracelets but their bright colour attracts infants who are easily tempted to put them in their mouths.

The seeds contain abrin, a glycoprotein similar to ricin and is a substance which is extremely toxic. It is possible for the seed to pass through the gastro-intestinal system without poisoning the subject if the seed has not been crushed.  If the seed has been bitten, even half of the kernel can prove fatal if swallowed.

Symptoms include gastro-intestinal irritation and sometimes rectal bleeding.

            This plant is dangerously poisonous.

Tradition educated us all to utilize and safely apply plants in our lives. In addition to knowing to beware of the toxic ones and to consume the edible ones with safety, there are many plants that local or traditional customs of culture or religion observe as of particular sacred quality and influence.

In a brief appraisal only a few of the many Asian plants that are held sacred for many reasons, only a few can be here mentioned that possess powers and properties beyond any obvious aesthetic or nutritional appeal.

Jasmine flowers Jasminum officinale are an essential aesthetic addition to personal toilet, and to celebration of the moon at times of festival.

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Lotus Nelumbo nucifera is adored by philosophers, artists and religious devotee, particularly of the Buddhist faith.

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Magnolia is considered a feminine flower related to the Moon deity and its perfume highly valued.

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Mango Mangifera in its hundreds of different fruit forms and varieties is enjoyed and is thought to be symbolic of the fecundity and creative power of Nature and its offerings to human kind in the form of vegetative plant material.

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Banana – all of the Musa spp allow physical sustenance and spiritual energies to blend and reverence is offered in a thanksgiving attitude for such a food.

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Narcissus tazetta – Sacred flower associated with saying farewell to the dying. This has tended to be retained in western attitudes also.

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Bael Tree Aegle marmelos – is in India sacred to the Lord Shiva to whom leaves are offered  for 14 days at certain times of the year.

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Tulsi, Tulasi Ocimum Sanctum is sacred to Lord Shiva is used out of respect for a mystic tradition over more than 5000 years. Its influence is believed to purify the whole psyche – mind, emotions and body. The Tulsi beads are traditionally worn by saints,  mystics, and by yogis.

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Bodhi Tree,  Pippala Tree Ficus religiosa  represents great nature – and is revered for the shade and shelter provided for man and beast. It is particularly associated with the Buddha and his teachings as it is with his Enlightenment

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 Sensitive Plant . Biophytum sensitivum  There are several species of plant commonly called Sensitive plants. This one is sacred in India. It is universally considered an illustration of the fact that plants are sentient organisms and have spiritual life as do all natural creatures.

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There are several plants that bear the common name of Artichoke with little relation to one another when judged botanically, nutritionally or even by their flavour. These are the

Globe Artichoke Cynara scolymus, Jerusalem Artichoke Helianthus tuberosus and Chinese Artichoke Stachys affinis syn S. tubifera

GLOBE ARTICHOKE – Cynara scolymus known as Italian Artichoke or Mediterranean Artichoke  It is a thistle type of plant and a larger version of its cousin the cardoon, that was so popular back in Roman times but was more spiky.

It is a large, vigorous plant to over a metre tall. Known in ancient times by the Greeks and Romans but their popularity decreased to later find favour later when the notorious Catherine de Medici introduced them into France in the 15-16C. Legend has it they are aphrodisiac in their properties could have influenced this return to popularity!

It is the maturing flower bud that attracts food lovers who have made it a necessary part of Spanish, Italian and French cuisine and is becoming more popular in kitchens all over the world. In spite of its cultivation centred in Europe, the cool foggy climate in Monterey County California is ideal in climate and very productive. It is now sometimes regarded as the ‘artichoke capital of the world’.

There are two flower head forms – the conical and the globular. Variations in colour include light green to purplish tones. The head is prepared by snapping off the stem and drawing out the fibres from the heart. The edible parts are the fleshy base of the outer scales, the central soft heart and the bottom of the artichoke itself. Lemon juice prevents blackening discolouration for any cut.

Some varieties produce spineless flower buds providing small artichokes that are eaten raw when very young. They are also useful as battered delicacies. Otherwise they are famed in cooking recipes. The most delicious to some tastes are the stuffed form with breadcrumbs, cheese,  olive oil, sesame seed and herbs as basis.

Attractively served, they offer a challenge to those feasting on the scales . The tasty stuffing provides reward for scraping the base of each scale with ones teeth. Some prefer to dip each scale in a sauce or dip preparation. Only the young buds are served as a food as the flower once opened becomes inedible.

The practice of reducing the number of buds per plant yields the tiniest buds that are appreciated in a different way from the large marketed specimens. Particularly the spiny artichoke offers many small buds that can be consumed whole.

Claimed one of the most potent of modern health foods in cleansing the liver and tall bladder so leaving the aphrodisiac properties to retreat to legend.

The dried flowers are used in Spain for curdling milk and also in special cheeses.

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JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE– Helianthus tuberosus is a perennial usually cultivated as an annual in warm temperate climates as for its annual root crop of edible roots. Although the tubers are eaten, young leaves can also be used as a spinach.

Its common name is more frequently Jerusalem Artichoke but also as American Artichoke, Girasole, Root Artichoke or Sunchoke. Although the popular name continues it should most rightfully be called the American Artichoke, being a plant native to eastern North America where it was a traditional part of Indian diet. The name Jerusalem artichoke developed when Tobias Venner in 1622 caused the misnomer to be adopted. In North America they are preferred to be called American Artichokes.

There are several opinions as to its first introduction to the European world.  Some believe Walter Raleigh’s expedition in 1585 claimed its discovery. Later in 1605  it was said to have been first observed and sampled by Westerners in 1605 who led an expedition in Massachusetts.

In 1635 King Henry IV directed  the establishment of a colony on the St Lawrence River in Canada, then known as New France. Here the value of the root as a food was confirmed by the leader, Champlain who cultivated them inside the stockade at Fort Quebec. The samples sent to France came to be called pommes de Canada. The plants grew wild and proved an easy food supply then and since, with a reputation maintained as one of the easiest plants to grow.

Samples of the Jerusalem Artichokes were successfully grown in Holland and then introduced to England with moderate popularity.

Jerusalem Artichokes were known in Australia with Ernst B. Heyne listing them in his 1882 seed catalogue, as good stock food.

Throughout Europe during the harsh times of the Second World War, so many of the roots were consumed as a valued source of food that by 1945 people had become tired of them and neglected their cultivation. Others include them amongst their favourite foods.

The roots were sometimes ground into flour. Its absence of starch makes it a target food for those wishing to reduce carbohydrate. They are a good food for diabetics, low in starch and calories , containing vitamin C, calcium, sulphur, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine and inulin but have no caloric value.

After a good scrubbing the roots are steamed, boiled, baked or pickled or even first boiled and then fried. Lemon juice is added to the water when cooking to whiten the roots and a famous White Soup or Palestine Soup is a dish relished by some served with parmesan cheese , onions and herbs. In preparing to eat raw in salads lemon juice is applied to cuts to avoid discolouration.

The plant is of the sunflower family, growing tall to over a metre with yellow terminal flowers. The stems and leaves die back in autumn and are cut back after a few weeks. Then roots are harvested in domestic gardens as required through the following period into spring, when the next crop is propagated.

Saving seeds from the dried flowers will yield an interesting and diverse number of varieties. The most valued for the householder are those that are smoother with less knobby form – the prized one marketed as ‘White Mammoth’ or in Australia “Large White.”

Jerusalem Artichokes are experiencing a revival in popularity and so encouraging increasingly of interest to commercial farmers. Not only are plants disease-free but root production is reported at 15 tons to the acre compared with about 3 tons to acre with potatoes.

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CHINESE ARTICHOKE   Stachys affinis, S. tubifera

The plant grows in cool temperate conditions but is also adaptable to tropical highlands. It is known in China as Gan lu, Kan lu, Kon loh and in Japan as Japanese Artichoke.

North China grows these small yellow or white edible tubers that are found also in Japan and Korea.

The flavour is said to have little resemblance to the Globe artichoke but more likened to salsify.

Shrubby plants grow to 60 cm with a small mauve flower and stems and foliage similar to mint. Tubers are to 5 cm long segmented into spiral type corms.

First sent to France in 1882 , Still found in cultivation in villages of Burgundy and the Loire into Belgium. Into England about 1890 as a novelty but not popular.

In New Zealand they are grown in market gardens around Wellington. Their crisp tubers like water chestnuts have a mild nutty flavour. Usually cooked and served with butter or sauce. Raw they tend to taste radish-like.

The small tubers require an open tilth and do not do well in clay. But are left to produce for about 3-4 years  and attractive offering as a tub or patio vegetable.

White tubers tend to turn yellowish when exposed to light and best left in ground until required.

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Additional interest in Western Countries -

CHRISTMAS TIME

Generally associated with Christmas in Australia also -

Christmas Bells Blandfordia grandiflora

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Eastern Australia -  Christmas Bush –  Ceratopetalum gummiferum

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 Western Australia – Christmas Tree Nuytsia floribunda

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New Zealand – Christmas Tree Metrosideros excelsa

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Poinsettia – Euphorbia pulcherrima – potted gifts

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Mistletoe – Viscum album and various native species such as those in Amyema genus

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EASTER TIME

Crown of Thorns – Euphorbia milli

HEDYSCEPE

H. canterburyana Umbrella Palm, Big Mountain Palm a solitary feather leaved palm to 10m with strangely stiff curved leaves and silvery green crownshaft. It is found only on Lord Howe Island, preferring temperate climate.

HETEROSPATHE

This has 32 solitary species from Indonesia and the Philippines.

H. elata is the Sagisi Palm to 25m with feathery arching leaves. Fruits white to red. Fast growing and recommended as an ornamental in the tropics.

H. humilis from New Guinea is an ornamental dwarf clumping palm with thin canes and originates in rainforests.

H. minor from the Solomon Island has slender trunk and feathery leaves with dark stalk.

H. negrosensis from the Philippines grows to 5m – tropical

H. woodfordiana is an ornamental slender palm with red new leaves which mature to green with brown trunk to 4m, pink flowers and red fruit.

HOWEA

Named after Lord Howe Island’s two native species were found there. Both are slender, solitary palms.

H. belmoreana Kentia Palm, Curly Palm  or Sentry Palm grows on higher elevation brownish fruits. Leaves curve downwards, with no crownshaft.

H. forsteriana Kentia Palms or Thatch Palm with reddish brown fruits. Very popular in cultivation as a potted plant, being very hardy. Found on the northern slopes of Mount Lidgbird. This palm also has no crownshaft. This palm has had exceptional success all over the world as a potted palm for indoor decoration, particularly in Europe, no doubt a large factor being its hardiness to survive many climatic conditions.

HYDRIASTELE

There are 8 in the genus found only in Australia and New Guinea.

H. beccariana is a slender palm, solitary and very attractive in tropical settings.

H. microspadix  grows in tall clumps- white flowers, red fruits.

H. rostrata is a clumping palm from New Guinea suiting only hot, wet tropical areas.

H. wendlandiana is a tall slender clumping palm found in Queensland as far south as Tully and also in the N.T. An attractive palm for cultivation, showy when in bright red fruit. Not popularly cultivated, but it is suitable as an ornamental.

HYOPHORBE

Five species only – often rather ugly in form because of exaggerated features and habits.

H. indica from Mascarene Island grows to 15m’ with twisted trunk without bulge. The

H. lagenicaulis  Bottle Palm from Mascarene Islands swells at its base earning its name as bottle palm. Many consider it the most attractive in this genus, being finer than the others with orange to black fruits.

H. verschaffeltii Spindle Palm from Mascarene Islands swells to its trunk centre, leaving thinner top and bottom – hence its name. The crownshaft bulges with stiff leaves and species. It is also expanded at its base, giving rise to horn like growths and inflorescences producing red to black fruits. This palm is almost extinct now.

HYPHAENE

This genus has 10 confirmed, solitary or clustered palm species. They are found in Africa and also as far eastward as India.  Some believe there are over 40 existent species. There is some confusion re the naming of these palms and further work is needed for clear identification.

H. natalensis Ilala Palm with compound fan leaves and yellow pear shaped fruits. Suited to temperate climate and tropics.

H. petersiana is the Elala Palm from southern Africa.  It has rough trunk, fan leaves and yellow flowers with yellow pear shaped fruits.

H. ternifolia has a suckering trunk and blue/green fan leaves. Often referred to as “Doum Palms”

H. thebaica  Doum Palm or Gingerbread Palm from Africa. Orange pear shaped fruits with mealy Edible flesh supposed to taste like gingerbread. The shoots from the seed are Edible and starchy.  This palm has a branching habit – rare amongst palm species.

JOHANNESTEIJSMANNIA

J. altifrons from Sumatra has large undivided leaves – ornamental value and thatching material by the locals.  Also known as the Litter Collecting Palm. It is a small plant with huge leaves.

JUBAEA

Only one species is known.

J. chilensis Chilean Wine Palm or Coquito Palm endangered because of its exploitation in making wine and palm honey. The feature apart from a fine crown is a strangely even, thick trunk. Once known as J. spectabilis. A similar palm genus with multiple trunks is Jubaeopsis.

JUBAEOPSIS

J. caffra Kaffir Palm from South Africa with clustered trunks to 6m. Fruits resemble coconuts but are only 4 cm in size.

KENTIOPSIS

One solitary species from New Caledonia is endangered because of its natural environment on the land needed for cultivation.

K. oliviformis has a ringed trunk, grows to 8m with a light green crownshaft, feathery leaves which droop. Fruits are olive-like.

CHRISTIAN

The Easter Lily, Madonna Lily  Lilium candidum is directly related to the religious ceremony of sacrifice and the Supreme Sacrifice of the Saviour and the purity of the Madonna.

Lilium formosum has a white form considered equally important to decorate churches in times of ceremonial. Sometimes  called the November Lily.

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Christmas Rose – Helleborus orientalis spp

Several species are easily grown and popularly known by its appearance around Christmas time . There are attractive hybrids that offer more in horticulture than H. viridis. However, note that all plants are toxic and care  should be used in handling.

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PASSIONFLOWER – Passiflora caerulea

The flowers in all species of passionflower share similar form but the clear numerical patterns of this species are a clear symbol of the main features of the Christian teachings regarding the spiritual Passion of the Christ.

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CYMBIDIUM ORCHID

The flower of all Cymbidiums and the modern hybrids hold a reminder of the sacred quality of motherhood in the central pattern likened to a Madonna and child. They offer a pleasant interest in representing the special quality of  maternal care in differing colours and ways that remind us of the universality of gentle motherhood throughout the world.

Seed that was trapped under Siberian ice and sediment for more than 30,000 years has been retrieved and resurrected by Russian scientists and nurtured to flowering.  The method used in this successful experiment offers hope for revival of other species.

The rescued plant’s botanical name is Silene stenophylla with white five petals and is thought to be capable of producing viable seed.  Its modern counterpart species is still to be found growing in N.E. Siberia says Svetlana Yashina of the Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, leader of the project. Others species in the genus are commonly known as Campion.

For botanists and plant lovers and for those who care about maintaining our earth’s precious species, the news is exciting.

The viability of some ancient grains retrieved from Egyptian tombs has already been demonstrated  and there are reports of similar work by others but it seems this  example has the honour of having greatest longevity and certainly earns its place as a most adaptable plant species!

Animal fodder – traditional fodder crops are well established in the methods of feeding animals in the different countries and conditions where local authorities encourage specific fodder crops in addition to information about the suitability or otherwise of local weeds, grasses or foliage. Both green forage and dried plant material are generally used in balance. In practical husbandry knowledge of toxic plants is as important as that of the nutritional fodders to avoid poisoning. Many grasses, grains, foliage of shrubs and trees and even bark and certain fruits feature in the food of animals – each having specific needs and aversions.

Aesthetic enjoyment – ornamental plants offer a wide range for our selection and delight according to their particular seasonal availability, as well as our personal taste and appreciation.  Home cultivation of ornamentals is extremely popular. In addition the public parks and botanic gardens offer cultivated plants with different colours, forms and varieties that complement familiar beauties of one’s own garden. To be in close proximity to plants whether in the domestic garden or in the wilderness offers us beauty, vitality and peace that becomes a refuge or tonic for the soul.

Ammunition – in past centuries before high industrialization was able to forge all our needs, plant material was resorted to.  Shot was once made from the canna lilies, seeds before ammunition was created in the shot towers by dropping metal from a height. Understandably, although he seeds of the canna plant may be hard they cannot compare with modern ammunition.

Anaesthetics – plants have been used throughout history in an effort to relieve pain and to allow essential surgical operations of the times. The Egyptians and other ancients are known to have used poppy seeds (opium), mandrake, hemp, cannabis and strong wines in preference to cruder methods that required knocking a patient unconscious. Alcohol would seem to have been the use in ancient Mesopotamia and other countries used also aconitum, angelica, datura, jasmine root, juniper, coca and henbane. However no application of plants can compare with the modern science of anaesthesia as we benefit by today.

DAEMONOROPS

There are over 110 species in this genus, usually found in rainforest understorey in tropics.

D. angustifolia from Malaysia is a vicious climber similar to Calamus sp. Fruits have a thin layer of edible flesh.

D. calicarpa is a dwarf clumping palm from Malaysian and Sumatran rainforests. They have no trunks. Branches come from ground level. Prickly leaves in a rosette.

D. mollis Rattan Palm from the Philippines has canes used in making furniture.

DECKENIA

D. nobilis from the Seychelles is very tall and attractive palm with dark purple fruits. Its edible cabbage is causing it to be reported as now scarce in its native environment.

DICTYOSPERMA

D. album Princess Palm, Hurricane Palm from Mauritius is the only species in the genus. It grows to 8-9 m. All varieties are very attractive, often with reddish juvenile leaves and yellow and red flowers. Fruits are dark in colour, in large clusters. Excellent in coastal plantings and common in cultivation.

D. album var. rubrum is reddish toned in leaf and stem

DYPSIS

This genus of twenty one species is native to Madagascar

D. pinnatifrons has an erect slender trunk to 5m with attractive leaves which curl over and make ornamental pot specimens when small.

ELAEIS

This has two solitary tropical species  – both solitary and feather leaved. They are grown as source of oil used in industry and in foods, wine making, thatching and in building as well as for use as potted palms.

E. guineensis African Oil Palm a feather palm to 9m with a heavy base to the trunk. Fruits red to black -tropical species from Africa – the source of popular Palm Oil of commerce used in manufacture and certain food products is extracted both from the fruit pulp and the kernel of the seed.

E. oleifera syn Corozo oleifera American Oil Palm from Central America has dark orange fruits, spiny trunk and long leaves. Oil extracted from the fruit is inferior to the African species.

EUTERPE

This has 18 or more clustered and solitary species, mainly in Brazil and tropical America.

E. edulis Jucara Palm, Assai Palm from Brazil is cultivated and harvested for its edible ‘cabbages’ or ‘palm hearts’. A drink is made from the fruit.

E. oleracea Assai Palm, Palmito from Brazil is a slender very tall palm which yields an intoxicating drink known as assai. The pulp of the trunk is also eaten in Parana and the crown is harvested under the name of ‘palmito’. The juice from the ripe fruit is used also to flavour ice cream and confection.

GASTROCOCOS

G. crispa  Corojo Palm or Cuban Belly Palm is the only known species . It has a thick woody trunk on a slender base. Defined annual rings, flat spines. The crown has arching fronds. It produces pendulous inflorescences that develop into grape-like fruits.

GAUSSIA

This is a small genus of four species from Cuba and Puerto Rico. Solitary, feather leaved palms without a crownshaft. The trunk is swollen at the base and tapers.  Not seen much in cultivation in Australia.

G. attenuata Llume Palm has a wide base and tapering upwards. The feature is its roots which are prominent on the surface of the soil. Growing to 30m with large orange fruits. Interesting palm but disappointing because of its sparse crown.

G. maya Maya Palm is also tall and more attractive in form than the G. attenuata. Plume feather leaves and green flowers, red fruits.

G. princeps Sierra Palm has exposed roots, feathery leaves and chainlike inflorescence followed by purple/red fruits. It has the appearance of being bottom heavy.

GEONOMA

This genus has 75 species, both solitary and clustered -mainly understorey plants.

G. apetiolata from tropical America is ornamental.

G. interrupta – the leaves are eaten as a food in the Caribbean when the ‘cabbage’ consists of juvenile leaves. It is a slender species with multiple trunks and black fruits.

GRONOPHYLLUM

G. chaunostachys is a tall palm in New Guinea with slender ringed trunk and crownshaft covered with woolly brown hairs. Red fruit occur in dense clusters. Suited for tropical plantings.

G. ramsayi Northern Kentia Palm found in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is a little known and handsome palm growing to about 20m – a solitary feather leaved palm with dark grey trunk and prominent dark rings. Pale yellow crownshaft covered with powdery bloom. It produces white flowers and red fruits.

GULUBIA

This genus has 9 species all solitary in habit and found from the Moluccas to Northern Australia and the Pacific Islands.

G. costata  Tropical, handsome, solitary palm from New Guinea, Indonesia and extending into the north of Australia in monsoonal rainforests, usually in colonies. Cream flowers and large, oval,  maroon fruits.

Arenga undulatifolia