Debregeasia-Dioon (Sturtevant, 1919)

← Daucus

Sturtevant, Notes on edible plants, 1919 Debregeasia-Dioon (Sturtevant, 1919)

Dioscorea →

Debregeasia edulis Wedd.

Urticaceae.

Japan. The plant is called janatsi-itsigo or toon itsigo. Its berries are edible.

Decaisnea insignis Hook. f. & Thorns.

Berberideae.

Himalayas. The fruit is of a pale yellow color and is full of a white, juicy pulp that is very sweet and pleasant; the fruit is eagerly sought after by the Lepchas.

Dendrobium speciosum Sm.

Orchideae. ROCK-LILY.

Australia. This orchid, found growing upon rocks, has large pseudobulbs, the size of cucumbers, which are said to be eaten by the natives.

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn.

Gramineae.

Himalayas. This stately bamboo is called pao by the Lepchas and wah by the Mechis in Sikkim. The young shoots are boiled and eaten.

Desmoncus prunifer Poepp.

Palmae.

Peru. The acid-sweet fruit is edible.

Detarium senegalense J. F. Gmel.

Leguminosae. DATTOCK.

Tropical Africa. The fruits are about the size of an apricot. Underneath the thin outer covering there is a quantity of green, farinaceous, edible pulp intermixed with stringy fibres that proceed from the inner and bony covering which encloses the single seed. There are two varieties; one bitter, the other sweet. The latter is sold in the markets and is prized by the negroes.

Dialium guineese Willd.

Leguminosae. VELVET TAMARIND.

Tropical Africa. The pod, about the size and form of a filbert, is covered with a black, velvety down, while the farinaceous pulp, which surrounds the seeds, has an agreeably acid taste and is commonly eaten.

Dialium indum Linn.

TAMARIND PLUM.

Java. The plant has a delicious pulp, resembling that of the tamarind but not quite so acid.

Dialium ovoideum Thw.

Ceylon. The fruits are sold in the bazaars. They have an agreeable, acid flavor.

Dicypellium caryophyllatum Nees.

Lauraceae.

Tropical America. The bark furnishes clove cassia. It is called by French colonists bois de rose; in Carib, licari kanah.

Dieffenbachia seguine Schott.

Aroideae. DUMB CANE.

Tropical America. A wholesome starch is prepared from the stem, although the juice of the plant is so excessively acrid as to cause the mouth of any one biting it to swell and thus to prevent articulation for several days.

Digera arvensis Forsk.

Amaranthaceae.

Asia and tropical Africa. A very common, procumbent shrub of India, frequent in cultivated ground. The leaves and tender tops are used by the natives in their curries.

Dillenia indica Linn.

Dilleniaceae.

Tropical Asia. The subacid, mucilaginous fruit, the size of an orange, is eaten in the Eastern Archipelago. The fleshy leaves of the calyx which surrounds the ripe fruit have an agreeable, acid taste and are eaten raw or cooked, or made into sherbets, or serve for jellies in India. They are commonly used in curries. The large amount of fiber they contain is objectionable. This is the chulta of India. In the Philippines, the juice of the fruit serves as vinegar.

Dillenia pentagyna Roxb.

East Indies. The flower-buds and young fruits have a pleasant, acid flavor and are eaten raw or cooked in Oudh and central India. The ripe fruits are also eaten.

Dillenia scabrella Roxb.

SANDPAPER TREE.

Himalayan region. The fleshy leaves of the calyx have a pleasantly acid taste and are used in curries. In Burma, the green fruit is brought to the bazaars and is considered a favorite vegetable.

Dillenia serrata Thunb.

Malay. The fruit is the size of an orange and has a sweetish, acid taste. It is eaten in the Eastern Archipelago.

Dimorphandra mora Benth. & Hook. f.

Leguminosae.

A gigantic timber-tree of British Guiana. The seeds, says Brown, are used by the natives as food, being boiled, grated, and then mixed with cassava meal, giving it a brown color but a pleasant and sweetish taste. The seeds of another species are likewise used.

Dioon edule Lindl.

Cycadaceae.

Mexico. The seeds yield a starch used as arrowroot.