Latin Name: Ipomea batatas

Family: Convolvucea

Other Names: Batata

Culinary use

Sweet potato is a tuber with great nutritional values used in traditional cooking. It must be eaten cooked because it contains starch to be digested properly. Sweet potatoes can be boiled, baked, grilled or microwaved and served as a side dish.

Medicinal use

It is valuable medicinal plant having anti-cancer, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

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Latin Name: Manihot esculenta

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Other names: Yuca, Manioc, Cassava tapioca

Culinary use

Cassava is one of the most important cultivated tropical food crops. Its tuberous roots are high in carbohydrates and are eaten cooked in a variety of dishes. They are also fried as chips and processed into a flour called tapioca. The young leaves can be eaten cooked as a spinach-like vegetable. The roots and leaves are toxic when raw and need to be cooked before eating. 

Medicinal use

Cassava is believed to have antifungal, antiviral, mutagenic, and antibacterial properties. It has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health problems, including diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and indigestion.

SOURCES

Plants of the World Online

Useful Tropical Plants

The post Cassava first appeared on Mangrove Society Nonprofit.

Latin Name/Nombre Latino: Curcuma longa

Culinary use

Used in teas and as a spice in dishes. Turn the dish yellow.

Medicinal use

Helps the immune system, good to have in teas when sick.

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Latin Name/Nombre Latino: Zingiber officinale

Family: Zingiberaceae

Other names: Canton, cooking stem

Culinary use

Can be eaten raw, chopped or grated. Can be put into sauces, salad dressings. Can be candied or used as a snack. Can be used as a condiment. You can even brew it and drink it fresh.

Medicinal use

Helps with colds, nausea, arthritis, migraines and hypertension.

SOURCES

Plants of the World Online

Useful Tropical Plants

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Latin name/nombre latino: Cymbopogon citratus

Family: Poaceae

Other names: Cochin grass, Malabar grass, silky heads, Fever grass

Origin: India

CULINARY USE

Used in teas, beverages, soups, and other dishes. Basil portions of the leafy shoots used as flavorings in soups, sauces, and curries. Popular in Southeast Asia, commonly used in Thai and Vietnamese dishes. Leaves are commonly used in teas.

MEDICINAL USE

Bitter, aromatic, cooling herb that increases perspiration and relieves spasms. Essential oil from the plant is used as antifungal and antibacterial. Plant is used as a tea for digestive problems, where it relaxes the muscles of the stomach and gut, relieving cramping pains and flatulence.

SOURCES

Plants of the World Online

Useful Tropical Plants

The post Lemongrass first appeared on Mangrove Society Nonprofit.