From: Wild edible plants traditionally collected and used in southern Yemen
Botanical Data: Plant species name (Plant family), Voucher numbers | Local name of species in (Citation area) | Life form/season | Edible part: Consumed modes; taste; (Number of citations, n = 250) | Similar use in other countries [References]* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acacia gerrardii Benth (Fabaceae), SA 83 | Tree: Taleh (1e), Gum: Samaq (1e) | Tree/dry | Gum: chewed and eaten or drink fresh; gum dries as globules from on the stems, it dries while inside is still liquid. It is broken to drink the liquid gum; mucilage; (40) | Uganda [14] |
Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile (Fabaceae), SA 89 | Tree: Qaradh (1a-1e,2a-2c,3), Gum: Samaq (1a, 3), Samaa, Sumaa (1b,1c,1d) | Tree/dry | Gum: chewed and eaten fresh; same as above mucilage; (150) | Sudan [15] |
Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. (Fabaceae), SA 85 | Qutad (1b,1c,1d), Gum: Samaa (1b,1c,1d) | Tree/dry | Gum: chewed and eaten fresh; Same as above mucilage; (60) | Africa [10] |
Aloe lanata T.A.McCoy & Lavranos (Xanthorrhoeaceae), SA 64 | Shrub: Anded (2), Flower: Alhab (2) | Shrub/dry | Flower: fresh cooked with bread or reis; sweet; (40) | - |
Amaranthus blitum L (Amaranthaceae) SA 70 | Ladah (1b-1d), Annass (1c,1d), Gana (1e, 3a), Dhadah (1e,4) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: fresh cooked boiled with little salts; eaten with or without bread mild sweet (160) | Ethiopia [16] Himalaya [17] Pakistan [3] |
Amaranthus graecizans L. (Amaranthaceae) SA 71 | Dhadah (1a,1e,4), Ladah (1b), Annass (1b,1c), Gana (1e,3a) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: fresh, cooked boiled wilt little salts; eaten with or without bread; mild sweet; (160) | Oman [9] |
Amaranthus spinosus L. (Amaranthaceae) SA 72 | Dhadah (1a,4) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: fresh, cooked boiled with little salts; eaten with or without bread; mild sweet (50) | Himalaya [17] Angola [18] Libya [19] |
Anisotes trisulcus (Forssk.) Nees (Acanthaceae) SA 51 | Mudhadh (1,3), Sheri (2a), Masis (2b) | Shrub/rainy | Flower nectar: fresh suck and drink the nectar of the stigma; sweet (120) | - |
Apteranthes tuberculata (N.E. Br.) Meve & Liede (Apocynaceae) SA 40 | Khusmaa (1a,2b) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: cut and eaten fresh; bitter (90) | Pakistan [20] |
Boerhavia elegans Choisy (Nyctaginaceae) SA 30 | Hidwan (4) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: eaten fresh with or without bread; bitter; (50) | Iran [21] |
Caralluma subulata (Forssk.) Decne. (Apocynaceae) SA 42 | Shawrer (2a,2c) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: cut and eaten fresh; bitter; (30) | Namibia [22] |
Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. (Apocynaceae), SA 95 | Alat-khalah (1b,1c,1d), Roob (5) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: cut and eaten fresh; mild sour (70) | Oman [9] |
 |  |  | Root (tuber); eaten fresh; sweet (50) |  |
Cissus rotundifolia Vahl (Vitaceae), SA 21 | Alfaq (1a,1b,1c), Alfaq (2a), Alfaq (3b, 3c) Hadel (2a,2b), | Climber/all year | Young leaf: fresh boiled cooked with salt; eaten with or without bread or reis mild sour; (165) | Yemen [23] |
Cleome gynandra L. (Cleomaceae), SA 22 | Raab (1b,1c) | Shrub/rainy | Leaf: cooked by boiling with salts, mostly in mixture with Cissus rotundifolia leaf; bitter; (60) | Ethiopia [4] |
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (Cucurbitaceae), SA 25 | Maqd, (1a,1e,2c), Mad (1b,1c,1d) | Climber/rainy | Fruit: eaten fresh ripe; mild sweet (60) | Himalaya [17] Ethiopia [4] Saudi Arabia [24] |
Corchorus tridens L. (Malvaceae), SA 26 | Weakeh (1b), Legen (1b,1c), Quddah (2b) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: fresh cooked; mild bitter (80) | South Africa [25] |
Corchorus trilocularis L. (Malvaceae), SA 27 | Legen, Weakeh (1) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: fresh cooked; mild bitter (60) | Ethiopia [26] |
Crepis rueppellii Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae), SA 12 | Kaanan (1c,1d,3), Hamham (5) | Herb/rainy | Root excluding coat: eaten fresh; sweet (50) | Oman [9] |
Cynanchum vanlessenii (Lavranos) Goyder (Apocynaceae), SA 44 | Qalab (1a) | Shrub/rainy | Flower: eaten fresh; mild sweet; (5) | - |
Cynanchum viminale (L.) L. (Apocynaceae), SA 41 | Arnaq (1b,1c,1d), Khal (1c), Radhaa (2a,2c), Bidar (3) | Shrub/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; mild sour (150) | Oman [9] South Africa [27] |
Cynanchum viminale subsp. stipitaceum (Forssk.) Meve & Liede (Apocynaceae), SA 60 | Radhaa (2a,2c), Milab (3) | Shrub/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; Sour (30) | - |
Cynanchum viminale subsp. suberosum (Meve & Liede) Goyder (Apocynaceae), SA 43 | Zab-Imbaeer (1b,1c,1d,1e) | Shrub/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; sour (65) | Oman [9] |
Desmidorchis awdelianus (Deflers) Meve & Liede (Apocynaceae), SA 45 | Uruz (1b,1c), Kuaaur, (1b,1c,1d,1e,3d), Muqrer, (2a,2b), Kuaath (3f) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; mild bitter; (80) | - |
Desmidorchis flavus (N. E. Br.) Meve & Liede (Apocynaceae), SA 46 | Uruz (1b,1c,1d), Dhaba, Dhagohom (5) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; mild bitter; (85) | Oman [28] |
Desmidorchis lavrani (Rauh & Wertel) Meve & Liede (Apocynaceae), SA 47 | Uruz (1b,1c,1d), Obar (1b,1c,1d,2a,3e) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; mild bitter; (60) | - |
Ficus ingens (Mig.) Mig. (Moraceae), SA 09 | Dharef (3) | Tree/all year | Fruit: eaten fresh ripe; mild sour; (30) | Uganda [29] |
Ficus palmata Forssk. (Moraceae), SA 10 | Tree: Areen (1a), Fruit: Balas (1a,2a,b) | Tree/all year | Fruit: eaten fresh ripe; mild sour (120) | Ethiopia [4] Pakistan [3] Saudi Arabia [30] |
Ficus sycomorus L. (Moraceae), SA 11 | Saqam (1,2), Suqmi (2a,2b), Saqum (3) | Tree/all year | Fruit excocarp: eaten fresh ripe; sweet; (20) | Ethiopia [4] Sudan [31] Palestine [32] |
Ficus vasta Forssk. (Moraceae), SA 13 | Tauluq (1,2), Tauluq (3) Tiq (5) | Tree/all year | Fruit excocarp: eaten fresh ripe; sour; (15) | Ethiopia [4] |
Gladiolus candidus (Rendle) Goldblatt (Iridaceae), SA 14 | Bedhah (5) | Herb/dry | Corm: stir-fried cooked; sweet (20) | Oman [9] |
Glossonema varians (Stocks) Benth. ex Hook.f. (Apocynaceae), SA 15 | Qumredh (1c), Kobash (1d) | Herb/rainy | Fruit: Fresh unripe eaten; very sweet; (10) | Oman [9] |
Grewia erythraea Schweinf (Malvaceae), SA 80 | Shrub: Schohudt (1b,1c,1d,1e), Fruit: Hunqass (1b,1c,1d,1e) | Shrub/ all year | Fruit (ripe, red): eaten fresh; sweet (50) | Soqotra [6] Oman [9] Angola [18] Ethiopia [16] |
Grewia mollis Juss. (Malvaceae), SA 81 | Nashem (2a) | Shrub/ all year | Young fruit: eaten fresh; Sweet; (20) | Ethiopia [33] |
Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori (Malvaceae), SA 59 | Schohudt (1a,1b,1c,1d,1e), Khedar (2a) | Shrub/ all year | Young fruit: eaten fresh; sweet; (60) | Ethiopia [16] Sudan [31] |
Hydnora abyssinica A.Br. (Aristolochiaceae), SA 03 | Nabeekh (1b), Trateef (1c,1e), Fateekh (1c,3a,3b), Twacheen, Kuaarer, Twhoot (2b), Ftookh (3c), Imlokh (5) | Herb/rainy | Fleshy Flower: eaten fresh or stir-fried cooked; fresh: astringent; mild sour, aroma; cooked: mild sweet; (160) | Yemen [34] Uganda [29] |
Lactuca serriola L. (Asteraceae), SA 04 | Lessan- imthawr (1b,1c,1e) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: eaten fresh without or with bread; mild bitter; (60) | Turkey [35] Libya [19] |
Launaea intybacea (Jacq.) Beauverd (Asteraceae), SA 05 | Hawa (1a), Lessan- imthawr (1b,1c,1e), Hawa (2a), Lessan-albaqarah (4) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: eaten fresh without or with bread; mild bitter (60) | Ethiopia [11] |
Launaea procumbens (Roxb.) Ramayya & Rajagopal (Asteraceae), SA 06 | Hawa (1a,2a) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: eaten fresh without or with bread; mild bitter; (20) | Ethiopia [4] |
Lavandula pubescens Decne. (Lamiaceae), SA 07 | Feheh (2b) | Shrub/dry | Leaf: eaten fresh with bread; mild bitter, aromatic; (20) | – |
Monolluma hexagona (Lavranos) Meve & Liede (Apocynaceae) SA 52 | Mequrezh (1a, 1e), Uruz (1b,1c) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; mild bitter; (60) | – |
Monolluma quadrangula (Forssk.) Plowes (Apocynaceae), SA 48 | Mequrezh (1a, 1e), Uruz (urzh) (1b,1c,1d,2b), Mulaauzah (2a), Qarnat-adhabia (3a), Hwimadhah (3c), Dhaba, Dhagohom (5) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; mild bitter; (180) | Oman [9] |
Monolluma solenophora (Lavranos) Meve & Liede (Apocynaceae), SA 49 | Khusmaa (1a,2b), Uruz (1b,1c) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; mild bitter; (50) | – |
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae), SA 53 | Tarung (1a), Rangah, Teen (2b) | Shrub/ all year | Fruit: eaten fresh peeled; sweet; (120) | Ethiopia [4] Libya [19] Algeria [36] |
Orbea wissmannii (O. Schwartz) Bruyns var. wissmannii (Apocynaceae), SA 50 | Khusmaa (1a), Uruz (1b,1c,1d) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: eaten fresh; mild bitter; (60) | – |
Plantago major L. (Plantaginaceae), SA 54 | Lessan-imthaur (1b,1c,1d,1e) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: eaten fresh; Bitter; (25) | Spain [37] Libya 19] Lebanon [38] |
Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulacaceae), SA 55 | Dhuras (1a,1b,1c,1d), Sungulah (2a), Qalqalah (2b), Rubidta (4), Hamdhieh (5) | Herb/rainy | Leaf, stem: eaten fresh as salad with bread or without; cooked with Corchorus tridens; mild sour; (180) | Turkey [35] Oman [9] Libya [19] Egypt [39] Palestine [32] Lebanon [38] Morocco [39] Jordan [40] Sudan [41] Saudi Arabia [42] Somalia [43] Iraq [44] |
Portulaca quadrifida L. (Portulacaceae), SA 56 | Dhuras (1d) | Herb/rainy | Leaf, stem: eaten fresh or cooked; mild sour; [49] | Ethiopia [11] |
Raphionacme velutina Schltr. (Apocynaceae), SA 86 | Qurs-bathilan (1b,1c) | Herb/rainy | Root (tuber); eaten fresh; Sweet; (20) | South Africa [27] |
Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth (Asteraceae), SA 85 | Khasoor (2b,2c), Hawa (2b) | Herb/rainy | Leaf, stem: eaten fresh with bread; mild bitter; (20) | - |
Rhytidocaulon macrolobum Lavr. subsp. macrolobum (Apocynaceae), SA 87 | Quarran (1b,1c,1d) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: chewed and eaten fresh; mild bitter; (70) | Tropical Africa [45] |
Rhytidocaulon tortum (N.E. Br.) M.G. Gilbert (Apocynaceae), SA 88 | Quarran (1b,1c,1d) | Herb/rainy | Young stem: chewed and eaten fresh; mild bitter; (70) | Tropical Africa [45] |
Rumex nervosus Vahl (Polygonaceae), SA 16 | Uthrub (1b) | Shrub/ all year | Flower nectar: fresh sucked; mild sweet; (10) | Â |
 | Uthrub (1a,1e) |  | Leaf: chewed and eaten fresh; mild bitter; (50) | – |
Sageretia thea (Osbeck) M.C. Johnst. (Rhamnaceae), SA 89 | Niem (1a) | Shrub/ all year | Fruit: ripe fruit, eaten fresh; sweet; (20) | Oman [28] |
Salvadora persica L. (Salvadoraceae), SA 90 | Shub: Rak (1c), Fruit: Mard (1c) | Shrub/ all year | Fruit: ripe fruit, eaten fresh; sweet; (10) | Oman [9] |
Senna italica Mill. (Fabaceae), SA 91 | Ushruq (2a,3) | Shrub/dry | Fruit: eaten fresh; bitter; (50) | Oman [9] |
Sonchus oleraceus (L.) L (Asteraceae), SA 92 | Lessan- imthawr (1b,1c), Lessan Albuqri (2b), Lessan- athawr (3), Lessan al-baqarah (4) | Herb/rainy | Leaf: eaten fresh without or with bread; mild bitter; (90) | Turkey [35] Egypt [39] Tunisia [46] |
Ziziphus leucodermis (Baker) O. Schwartz (Rhamnaceae), SA 94 | Elb (3), Labdhi, Habedh (4), Dhood (5) | Tree/all year | Fruit: eaten fresh or dried; sweet; (50) | Oman [9] |
Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. (Rhamnaceae), SA 93 | Tree: Elb (1,2,3,4), Dhaood (5), Fruit: Daoom (1,2,3,4), Girem (5) | Tree/all year | Ripe fruit excluding kern: eaten fresh or dried; Sweet; (250) | Soqotra [6] Angola [18] Ethiopia [26] Oman [9] Libya [19] Saudi Arabia [47] Egypt [39] Sudan [31] Palestine [32] Tunisia [48] Morocco [49] |
 | Seed: Agarah (1a,1b,1c,1d), Seed excluding coat: Fersoos, Ferquoos, (1a,1b,1c,1d) |  | Seeds excluding coat: chewed and eaten fresh; Oily; (50) | Ethiopia [4] Sudan [31] |