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Famine Foods
Compiled by Robert Freedman

MORACEAE

Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg. (syn. Sitodium altile, Parkinson [URTICACEAE] ?) Kapingamarangi: dried fruit eaten. Vernacular name: Breadfruit. Ref. CURREY.

Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Hert. ex Vent. China: fruit and flowers eaten. Chemical composition (leaves, dried): 17% calcium carbonate. It is reported that prolonged ingestion of the fruit will weaken the skeletal structure. Vernacular name: Paper Mulberry. Ref. READ.

Cudrania triloba, Hance. (syn. Cudrania tricuspidata [Carr] Bureau.) China: fruits eaten fresh. Leaves also eaten (manner not reported). Vernacular names: Tea Tree, Silkworm Thorn. Ref. READ, UPHOF.

Ficus abuitfolia, (Miq.) Miq. Nigeria (Kano State, northern): fruit, some leaves, aerial roots eaten. Vernacular names - Hausa: Yandi. Ref. MORTIMORE.

Ficus Bengalensis, L. India (Bombay Presidency, Madras Presidency): ripe fruit eaten. ( Rajasthan, western): orange-red ripe fruit eaten; (Garhwal Himalayas): fruit eaten raw. Vernacular names - Bombay Presidency: Vad ("universally" [sic]); Panch Mahals district:Vadla. Rajasthan (western): Bargad, Bar. Tamil: Alamarum. Telugu: Marri. Ref. GAMMIE, GUPTA; GUPTA & KANODIA, SAXENA; SHANKARNARAYAN & SAXENA, SHORTT.

Ficus capensis, Thunb. Kenya (Mbeere division, Embu district): fruit eaten in gruel. Nigeria (Kano State, northern): fruits, some leaves, aerial roots eaten. Vernacular names - Kikuyu: mu -Kuyu. Hausa: Uwar yara. Ref. MORTIMORE; RILEY & BROKENSHA.

Ficus cunea, Buch.-Ham. India (Garhwal Himalayas): fruit eaten raw. Ref. GUPTA.

Ficus dammaropsis, Diels. New Guinea: fruit eaten. Vernacular name: Highland Breadfruit. Ref. CURREY.

Ficus glomerata, Hort. ex Miq.; Roxb. (syn. Ficus racemosa, Wall. India (Bombay Presidency): fruit eaten; unripe fruit dried and ground into flour for bread [mixed with] bajri (millet) and jowari flour; (Rajasthan, western): green fruit used as vegetable; ripe fruit eaten as such; (Madras Presidency): ripe fruit eaten. Vernacular names - Bombay Presidency: Ambar ("universally"[sic]); Surat district, Bardoli: Umerda; Panch Mahals district: Guler. Rajsthan (western): Pipal. Tamil: Attee marum. Telugu: Maydi. Ref. GAMMIE; GUPTA & KANODIA, SAXENA; SHANKARNARAYAN & SAXENA, SHORTT, WATT.

Ficus gnaphalocarpa (Miq.) Steud. ex A. Rich. As for Ficus capensis (q.v.) Ref. RILEY & BROKENSHA.

Ficus infectoria, Willd. India (Garhwal Himalayas): young shoots eaten in curry for scurvy. Ref. GUPTA.

Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. Kenya (Mbeere division, Embu district): fruit and leaves eaten. Nigeria (Kano State, northern): fruit eaten. Vernacular name - Kikuyu: mu -Karenju. Hausa: Shirinya. Kanuri: Kazu, Ja-Ja.Ref. RILEY & BROKENSHA, MORTIMORE.

Ficus macrophylla, Roxb. India (Garhwal Himalayas): young shoots eaten in curry for scurvy. Ref. GUPTA.

Ficus palmata, Forsk. India (Garhwal Himalayas): fruit eaten raw. Ref. GUPTA.

Ficus platyphylla, Del. Nigeria (Kano State, northern): unspecified part(s) of plant eaten. Vernular names - Hausa: Gamji. Kanuri: Ngabara. Ref. MORTIMORE.

Ficus polita, Vahl. Nigeria (Kano State, northern): fruit and young l Leaves eaten. Vernacular names - Hausa: Durumi. Kanuri: Rita. Ref. MORTIMORE.

Ficus religiosa, Decne. ex Miq.; Forsk.; L. India (Madras Presidency; Rajasthan, western): ripe fruit eaten; (Garhwal Himalayas): fruit eaten raw. Vernacular names - Tamil: Arasa marum. Telugu: Ray, Raghie. Rajasthan (western): Pipal. Ref. GUPTA; SHANKARNARAYAN & SAXENA, SHORTT.

Ficus sycomorus, L. As for Ficus capensis. Ref. RILEY & BROKENSHA.

Ficus virgata, Roxb. India (Garhwal Himalayas): young shoots eaten in curry for scurvy. Ref. GUPTA.

Morus alba, L. China: flowers, leaves and fruit eaten.Bark can be roasted and ground into an edible flour. Manchuria (eastern forests): leaves and fruit eaten. Chemical composition (leaves): Ash = 10% (very rich in lime). Small amount of Vitamin C. Much carbohydrate. Also contains tannin, carotene, fat, and nitrogenous matter. Vernacular name: Mulberry. Ref. BARANOV, READ, UPHOF.

Morus serata, Roxb. India (Garhwal Himalayas): fruit eaten raw. Ref. GUPTA.


Last update Thursday, March 5, 1998 by aw