Species List

Following is a list of plant species I work with. The list is mostly comprised of multi-use species from tropical climates around the world, although plants from other eco-regions are also included. The list is ordered alphabetically by family, followed by the Latin name, then common name(s). The list is not complete, there are entries not yet linked and I am constantly adding species. I do not yet have photos and entries for some but most should have either an image or text or both. Eventually I will create additional indices with alternative organization (by common name, by family, by use, by geographical region of origin, etc.)

The search bar is also a useful way to navigate this site, especially if you’re looking for something general, such as “fruit”, or “ethnobotany”, or “tropical flora”, etc.

A

Acanthaceae, Justicia betonica

Alternathera sissoo, Samba Lettuce, Sissoo

Amanitaceae, Amanita muscaria, Fly Agaric

Amaranthaceae, Celosia argentea

Anacardiaceae, Anacardium occidentale, Cashew, Maranon

Anacardiaceae, Mangifera indica., Mango

Anonaceae, Anona muricata, Guanabana, Soursop

Anonaceae, Anona spraguei

Anonaceae, Anona squamosa, Sugar Apple

Anonaceae, Rollinia deliciosa (mucosa), Biriba

Anonaceae, Stelechocarpus burahol, Kepel Fruit, Burahol

Apocynaceae, Carissa carandas

Apocynaceae, Carissa macrocarpa, Natal Plum

Apocynaceae, Thevitia ahouai, Huevo de Gato

Apocynaceae, Plumeria spp., Frangipani, Plumeria

Apocynaceae, Tabernamontana, Bola de Mono

Apocynaceae, Thevetia peruviana, Yellow Oleander, Camalonga, Be Still

Araceae, Dieffenbachia seguine, Spotted Dumb Cane

Aristolochiaceae, Aristolochia spp., Dutchman’s Pipe

Araucariaceae, Araucaria cunninghamiana, Moreton Bay Pine

Arecaceae, Copernicia fallensis

Arecaceae, Mauritia flexuosa, Moriche Palm

Arecaceae, Raphia farinifera, Mwaale (Swahili), Raphia Palm

Arecaceae, Scnippia concolor, Silver Pimento Palm

B

Bauhinia spp. Orchid Tree

Bignoniaceae, Mansoa alliaceae, Garlic Vine, Wild Garlic, Ajo Sacha

Bixaceae, Bixa orellana, Achiote, Annatto

Bombaceae (Malvaceae), Adansonia digitata, Baobab

Bombaceae, Bombacopsis glabra, Saba Nut

Bombaceae, Bombax barrigon, Barrigon

Bombaceae, Matissia cordata, Chupa-Chupa, Zapote

Bombaceae, Pachira aquatica, Guinea Chestnut

Bromaliaceae, Ananas comosus, Pineapple, Pina

Burseraceae, Canarium commune, Canari, Java Almond

Burseraceae, Canarium ovatum, Pilinut

Buxaceae, Simmondsia chinensis, Goatnut, Jojoba

C

Cactaceae, Selenicereus megalanthus, Yellow Pitahaya, Dragon Fruit

Caricaceae, Carica papaya, Papaya

Cesalpinaceae, Tamarindus indica, Tamarind(o)

Chenopodiacea, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Wormseed, Paico

Combretaceae, Quisqualis indica, Rangoon Creeper

Compositae, Tagetes lucida, Tzitziqui, Spanish Tarragon, Mexican Marigold

Condiment Leaves of Southeast Asia

Convulvulaceae, Ipomoea alba, Moonflower

Convulvulaceae, Ipomoea batatas, Sweet Potato, Camote

Cookerina tricholoma

Crassulaceae, Kalanchoe pinnata, Air Plant, Immortal, Hoja de Aire

Curcubitaceae, Luffa Cylindrica, Luffa Gourd

Curcubitaceae, Momordica charantia, Bitter Melon

Cydista aequinoctialis, Garlic Vine

D

Dilleniaceae, Dillenia indica, Elephant Apple, Hondapara

Dioscoraceae, Dioscorea mexicana, Tortoise vine

Dioscoraceae, Dioscorea bulbifera, Air potato, Potato Yam

E

Ebenaceae, Diospyros blancoi, Mabolo, Velvet Apple

Euphorbiaceae, Cnidoscolus chayamansa, Chaya

Euphorbiaceae, Hevea brasiliensis, Para Rubber Tree, Jebe

Euphorbiaceae, Manihot esculenta, Cassava, Manioc, Yuca, Mandioca

Euphorbiaceae, Phyllanthus niruri, Stonebreaker, Chanca Piedra

Euphorbiaceae, Plukenetia conophora, Sacha inchi

Euphorbiaceae, Ricinus communis, Castor Bean, Higuerilla

Euphorbiaceae, Sauropus androgynous, Katuk

Euphorbiaceae, Synadenium grantii, African Milk Bush

F

Fabaceae, Cajanus cajan, Guandu, Pigeon Pea

Fabaceae, Ceratonia siliqua, Carob, St. John’s Bread

Fabaceae, Eperua falcata, Bootlace tree

Fabaceae, Erythrophleum suaveolens, Ordeal Tree

Fabaceae, Lablab purpureus, Lablab

Fabaceae, Mora oleifera

Fermented Organic Compost

G

Geastrum fimbriatum, Sessile, Earth Star Fungus

Gutiferaceae, Garcinia mangostana, Mangosteen

Gutiferaceae, Mamey americana, Mamey apple

H

I

J

K

L

Lamiaceae, Lippia alba, Pampa Oregano, Lippia

Lamiaceae, Ocimum micranthum, Wild Basil, Pichana Albaca

Lamiaceae, Plectranthus amboinicus, Indian Borage, French Thyme

Lamiaceae, Pogostemnon cablin, Patchuli

Lauraceae, Cinnamomum verum (zeylanicum), Canela

Lauraceae, Persea americana, Avocado, multiple varieties

Lecythidaceae, Gustavia superba, Membrillo, Paco

Lecythidaceae, Lecythis zabucajo, Sapucaia Nut

Lecythidaceae, Lecythis spp., Mini Brazil Nut

Leguminosae, Acacia kirkii

Leguminosae, Albizia cori, Ober (Luo)

Liliaceae, Urginea maritima, Seasquill

M

Malpighiaceae, Aleurites molucana, Candlenut, Kukui Nut, Indian Walnut

Malpighiaceae, Banisteriopsis caapi, Ayahuasca, Yaje, Vine of the Soul

Malpighiaceae, Bunchosia argenta, Peanutbutter Fruit

Malvaceae, Gossypium hirsutum, Cotton, Algodon

Malvaceae, Hibiscus (Abelmoshus) esculentus, Okra

Malvaceae, Hibiscus acetosella, Cranberry Hibiscus

Malvaceae, Hibiscus cannabinus, Kenaf

Malvaceae, Hibiscus sabdariffa

Malvaceae, Bele Spinach

Meliaceae, Azadirachta indica, Neem

Moraceae, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Jackfruit

Moraceae, Artocarpus lakoocha, Monkey Jack, Emerald Jack, Lakoocha

Moringaceae, Moringa oleifera, Horseraddish Tree, Drumstick Tree

Moringaceae, Moringa stenopetala, African Moringa

Musaceae, Musa spp., Dwarf Pink Banana

Musaceae, Ensete ventricosum, Wild Banana, Enset

Myristicaceae, Myristica fragrans, Nutmeg

Myrtaceae, Eugenia stipitada, Araza

Mytaceae, Eugenia uniflora, Suriname Cherry

Myrtaceae, Eugenia victoriana, Sundrop

Myrtaceae, Myrciaria cauliflora, Jaboticaba

Myrtaceae, Myrciaria glazioviana, Yellow Jaboticaba, Cabelluda

Myrtaceae, Myrciaria vexator, Blue Grape, Giant Jaboticaba, False Jaboticaba

Myrtaceae, Psidium cattlelanum, Strawberry Guava, Cattley Guava

Myrtaceae, Psidium friederichaestahlianum, Cas

Myrtaceae, Psidium guajava, “Kumagai”

Myrtaceae, Syzygium jambos, Rose Apple

Myrtaceae, Syzygium melaccense, Water Apple

Myrtaceae, Syzygium samarangense, Java Apple

Myrtaceae, Dwarf Jaboticaba

Myrtaceae, Myrciaria floribunda, Rumberry, Guavaberry

N

O

Oleaceae, Olea europaea, Olive

Orchidaceae, Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla

Oxalidaceae, Averrhoa carambola, Starfruit

Oxalidaceae, Averrhoa bilimbi, Bilimbi

P

Palmaceae, Areca catechu, Betel Nut, Paaku, Pinang

Papaveraceae, Papaver somniferum, Opium Poppy

Pasifloraceae, Jamaican Lilikoi

Pasifloraceae, Passiflora edulus, Passion Fruit, Maracuya

Pandanus spp.

Papilonaceae, Crotolaria spp., Sun Hemp

Piperaceae, Peperomia pelucida,

Piperaceae, Piper capensis

Piperaceae, Piper guinense, West African Pepper

Piperaceae, Piper nigrum, Pepper

Piperaceae, Piper umbellatum

Phytolaccaceae, Petiveria alliaceae, Anamu, Mucura

Polygonaceae, Malpighia glabra, Acerola

Portulacaceae, Portulaca oleracea, Purslane, Verdolaga

Poaceae, Cymbopogon citratus, Lemon Grass, Hierba Luisa

Portulacaceae, Talinum fruticosum, Suriname Spinach, Water Leaf, Philippine Spinach, Lagos Bologi

Q

R

Rhamnaceae, Zizyphus mauritiana, Indian Jujube

Rubiaceae, Coffea rustica

Rubiaceae, Coffea arabica

Rubiaceae, Coffea conifera

Rubiaceae, Portlandia grandiflora

Rubiaceae, Psychotria poeppigiana, Hot Lips, Labios de Puta

Rubiaceae, Psychotria viridis, Chacruna

Rubiaceae, Randia Formosa, Blackberry Jam Fruit

Rutaceae, Aegle marmelos, Bael Fruit

Rutaceae, Casimiroa edulis, White Sapote, Mexican Apple

Rutaceae, Citrus hystrix, Kaffir Lime

Rutaceae, Citrus spp., Giant Lemon, no ID

Ruaceae, Feronia limona, Wood Apple

Rutaceae, Murraya koenigii, Curry Tree

Rutaceae, Triphasia tripholia (aurantifolia), Jerusalem lime

S

Sapindaceae, Bligia sapida, Akee, Seso Vegetal

Sapindaceae, Nephelium lappacium, Rambutan, Mamon Chino

Sapindaceae, Nephelium mutabile, Pulasan

Sapotaceae, Manilkara zapota, Chico Sapote

Sapotaceae, Pouteria caimito, Abiu

Sapotaceae, Pouteria campechiana, Eggfruit, Canistel

Sapotaceae, Pouteria sapota, Mamey Sapote

Sapotaceae, Synsepalum dulcificum, Miracle Fruit

Selaginellaceae, Selaginella spp., Spike Moss, Shapumba

Simaroubaceae, Harrisonia abyssinica, Pedo (Luo)

Solanaceae, Brugmansia suaveolens, Toé, Angels Trumpet

Solanaceae, Brunfelsia grandiflora, Chiric Sanango, Fever Tree

Solanaceae, Datura metel, Devil’s Trumpet, Zombie Cucumber

Solanaceae, Datura wrightii, Toloache, Jimson Weed

Solanaceae, Datura spp., Yellow, triple flower

Sterculiaceae, Theobroma cacao, Cacao

Sterculiaceae, Cola acuminata, Colanut

T

Theaceae, Camellia sinensis, Tea

Theophrastaceae, Jaquinia aurantiaca

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Zingiberaceae, Alpina galanga, Galangal

Zingaberaceae, Curcuma longa (domestica), Turmeric, Curcuma

Zingeberaceae, Curcuma spp., White Turmeric

Zingiberaceae, Elittaria cardamomum, Cardamom

Zingiberaceae, Zingaber officinale, Ginger, Genibre

Zingaberaceae, Torch Ginger

Zygophyllaceae, Guaiacum sanctum, Lignum vitae