Lonicera-Lucuma (Sturtevant, 1919)

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Sturtevant, Notes on edible plants, 1919 Lonicera-Lucuma (Sturtevant, 1919)

Luffa-Lycium →

Lonicera angustifolia Wall.

Caprifoliaceae. NARROW-LEAVED HONEYSUCKLE.

Himalayan region. The sweet berry, of the size of a pea, is eaten in India.

Lonicera ciliata Muhl.

PLY HONEYSUCKLE.

Western North America. In Oregon and California, the fruit is much used by the Indians and is considered good by white hunters.

Lonicera involucrata Banks.

Western North America. The fruit is eaten by the Indians of Oregon and Alaska.

Lophophytum sp.?

Balanophoraceae.

Masters says one species is eaten in Bolivia.

Loranthus exocarpi Behr.

Loranthaceae.

Australia. The fruit is an oblong drupe about one-half inch in length. It is sweet and is eaten raw.

Loreya arborescens DC.

Melastomaceae.

Guiana. This species furnishes gooseberry-like fruits of little value, according to Unger.

Lotus edulis Linn.

Leguminosae. BIRD'S-FOOT TREFOIL.

Mediterranean countries. In Crete, the pods aie eaten when young as a string bean by the poorer inhabitants.

Lotus gebelia Vent.

Orient. The pods are eaten as a string bean about Aleppo.

Lotus tetragonolobus Linn.

WINGED PEA.

Mediterranean region. In France, according to Robinson, this pea is cultivated as a vegetable. The pods were formerly employed, says Johns, as an esculent by the poor of Sicily and Spain. The green pods, says Mueller, serve as a substitute for asparagus. This plant is yet in French gardens for use as a string bean but apparently is not in much request. In 1726, Townsend an English seedsman, says, "I put them here, because some people eat em when they are very young; but in my mind they are not good." In 1785, Bryant reports this pea as in disuse except in some of the northern counties of England. Clusius first saw the plant in a druggist's garden, in 1579, called pisum rubrum. In 1588, Camerarius speaks of this pea in his Horticulture under the name pisum rubrum. The winged pea was first seen by J. Bauhin in 1594. Ray describes it in 1686 but gives no indication of cultivation or use. Parkinson, 1629, calls it pisum quadratum and it is mentioned in the second edition of Gerarde, 1638. It is recorded in American Gardens by Burr, 1863.

Lucuma bifera Molina.

Sapotaceae. SAPOTA.

Chile. This tree is cultivated in Chile. It bears twice a year, early in summer and in autumn, but the autumnal fruit alone produces kernels; these are two and have the appearance of chestnuts. The fruit is round and a little sloped. By keeping the fruits some time in straw, they become ameliorated and acquire that pleasant taste which renders them so much esteemed.

Lucuma caimito Roem.

Peru. The tree is cultivated in Peru. This fruit is about three inches long with a soft and agreeable pulp.

Lucuma mammosa Gaertn. f.

MAMMEE. MARMALADE TREE. SAPOTA.

West Indies and South America. In the West Indies, this tree is cultivated for its fruit. The fruit is four or five inches in diameter and is covered with a rough, russet-colored bark; the pulp is dark yellowish, soft, sweet, tasting not unlike a very ripe pear. It makes an excellent marmalade but, eaten raw, has an aperient quality.

Lucuma obovata H. B. & K.

LUCUMA.

Western Peru. The fruit is solid in consistence and so richly flavored that a small quantity suffices. It is sold in the markets at Lima. Garcilasso de la Vega says, "another fruit is called by the Indians of Peru, rucma; by the Spaniards, lucuma. It is a tolerable fruit, not delicate nor pleasant, though sweet rather than sour, and not known to be unwholesome, but it is coarse food. It is about the size and shape of an orange and has a kernel in the center very like a chestnut in color and size but not good to eat, being bitter."

Lucuma serpentaria H. B. & K.

Cuba. This is a doubtful species found in Cuba; the fruit is edible. L. turbinata Molina.

Lucuma turbinata Molina.

Chile. This species is cultivated in Chile. The fruit has the form of a whipping-top. By keeping in straw, it ripens into a much-esteemed fruit.