Euphorbiaceae FAMILY

Omphalea diandra

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Although the family Euphorbiaceae contains a very high percentage of poisonous plants, the seeds of this and several other species in the genus Omphalea are an exception to the rule, with several of them being considered wholesome and being eaten by humans. Some caution should be employed, however, since there are often warnings about how they should be eaten. Some reports, for example, say that the seeds taste good, but eating any more than two of them will have a purgative effect[ 348 Title Medicinal Plants of the Guianas Publication Author DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J. Website http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html Publisher Smithsonian Museum Year 0 ISBN Description A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region ]. Another says that the seed is wholesome, but the embryo needs to be removed because it is deleterious[ 2 Title Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Publication Author Hedrick. U. P. Publisher Dover Publications Year 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6 Description Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references. ].

Botanical Description

Omphalea diandra is a vigorous, evergreen climbing plant with the main woody stems 50mm or more in diameter. It can grow up to 30 metres high in the trees, attaching itself by means of tendrils that can be up to 100cm long[ 421 Title Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 54 Publication Author Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 1967 ISBN Description An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. This volume contains parts of the Flora of Panama. ] The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is cultivated for its seed in the Caribbean[ 2 Title Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Publication Author Hedrick. U. P. Publisher Dover Publications Year 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6 Description Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - eastern and northern Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Honduras; Caribbean

HabitatLowland rainforests and swamp forests[ 421 Title Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 54 Publication Author Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 1967 ISBN Description An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. This volume contains parts of the Flora of Panama. ]. Ridge, creek and rainforests[ 422 Title Fruits of the Guianan Flora Publication Author van Roosmalen. M.G.M. Publisher Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands. Year 1985 ISBN 90-9000988-4 Description Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat. ].