SOME EDIBLE GREEN LEAVES OF THE PACIFIC

Use the numbers on this page to identify the leaves in the photograph.

 ENGLISH NAMESCIENTIFIC NAMELOCAL NAMEFOOD VALUEDESCRIPTION OF PLANTPREPARATION METHOD
1.aibika, peleAbelmoschus manihot very goodsmall woody bush; many different kindsEasy Method (no longer than 5 minutes, turn leaves once)
2.amaranth, tropical spinach, Ceylon spinachAmaranthus species very goodplant with stand-up stems and spikes of flowers; many different kindsEasy Method or Stir Frying
3.basella, creeping spinachBasella alba, Basella rubra goodclimbing or bushy plant with pink or white flowersEasy Method (no longer than 5 minutes), Stir Frying or raw in salads
4.breadfruit leavesArtocarpus altilis very goodlarge fruit-bearing treechoose very young leaves, softened over a fire; remove stalk, then cook by Easy Method for 20 minutes
5.cassava leavesManihot esculenta very goodroot-bearing shrubchoose young leaves; cook by Special Method. Do not eat raw
6.chilli leavesCapsicum frutescens very goodsmall fruit-bearing bushEasy Method or Stir Frying
7.Chinese cabbage, pak choiBrassica chinensis gooddark green leaves with light stalksEasy Method, Stir Frying, or raw in salads
8.cowpea leaves*Vigna unguiculata goodclimbing or bushy plant with long pea podsEasy Method or Stir Frying
9.drumstick tree, horse radish treeMoringa oleifera very goodsmall tree with yellowish-white flowers and long podsEasy Method or Stir Frying
10.European cabbageBrassica oleracea (var. capitata) fairsolid round heads of light green leavesEasy Method, Stir Frying or raw in salads
11.fernAthyrium esculentum goodlarge wild fern that grows in wet placesuse top of stalks, split into 4 pieces, then cook by Easy Method
12.gnetum, jointfir spinachGnetum gnemon very goodsmall nut-bearing tree that usually grows in the bushchoose very young leaves, use Easy Method or Stir Frying. Do not eat raw
13.Indian mulberry treeMorinda citrifolia very goodsmall tree with white flowers and bumpy fruitschoose very young leaves and use Easy Method
14.kangkong, swamp cabbageIpomoea aquatica goodtrailing plant that grows in water or on dry landEasy Method, Stir Frying or raw in salads
15.pumpkin leavesCucurbita moschata goodfruit-bearing vinechoose young shoots and leaves, use Easy Method or Stir Frying
16.roselle, red sorrelHibiscus sabdariffa goodsmall bush with woody branchesEasy Method or Stir Frying
17.sweet potato leavesIpomoea batatas goodroot-bearing vineEasy Method or Stir Frying
18.taro leavesColocasia esculenta, Xanthosoma species very goodroot-bearing shrubchoose soft young leaves with pale stalks, use Special Method. Do not eat raw
19.water cressNasturtium officinale, Roripa nasturtium-aquaticum goodtrailing plant that grows in watercollect only from clean water. Easy Method (only 3 minutes, Stir Frying or raw in salads
20.winged bean leavesPsophocarpus tetragonolobus very goodclimbing plant with long four-sided podsEasy Method, Stir Frying or raw in salads
* No photograph is shown
SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION
COMMUNITY EDUCATION TRAINING CENTRE

DATE: July 1984

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