Edible Plant Species

Buchanania lancifolia Roxb. Anacardiaceae. CHEEROJEE-OIL PLANT.
East Indies and Burma.
The tender, unripe fruit is eaten by the natives in their curries.

B. latifolia Roxb.
Tropical India and Burma.
The fruit, says Brandis, has a pleasant, sweetish, sub-acid flavor and is an important article of food of the hill tribes of central India. The kernel of the seed tastes somewhat like the pistachio nut and is used largely in native sweetmeats. Drury says these kernels are a general substitute for almonds among the natives and are much esteemed in confectionery or are roasted and eaten with milk.

Bumelia lanuginosa Pers. Sapotaceae. FALSE BUCKTHORN.
North America.
This is a low bush of southern United States which, according to Nuttall, bears an edible fruit as large as a small date.

B. reclinata Vent. WESTERN BUCKTHORN.
Southwestern United States.
In California, Torrey says the fruit is sweet and edible and nearly three-quarters of an inch long.

Bunias erucago Linn. Cruciferae.
Mediterranean countries.
In Italy, Unger says this species serves as a salad for the poor.

B. orientalis Linn. HILL MUSTARD. TURKISH ROCKET.
Eastern Europe and Asia Minor.
This plant is called dikaia retka on the Lower Volga. Its stems are eaten raw. This rocket was cultivated in 1739 by Philip Miller in the Botanic Garden of Chelsea and was first introduced into field culture in England as a forage plant, by Arthur Young. The young leaves are recommended by Vilmorin either as a salad or boiled.

Bupleurum falcatum Linn. Umbelliferae. HARE'S EAR.
Europe, Orient, Northern Asia and Himalayan region.
The leaves are used for food in China and Japan.

B. octoradiatum Bunge.
Northern China.
In China, the tender shoots of this apparently foreign plant are edible.

B. rotundifolium Linn. THOROUGH WAX.
Europe, Caucasus region and Persia.
"Hippocrates hath commended it in meats for salads and potherbs."

Burasaia madagascariensis DC. Menispermaceae.
Madagascar.
This plant has edible fruit.

Bursera gummifera Linn. Burseraceae. AMERICAN GUM TREE. INDIAN BIRCH.
American tropics.
An infusion of the leaves is occasionally used as a domestic substitute for tea.

B. icicariba Baill.
Brazil.
The tree is said to have edible, aromatic fruit. It yields the elemi of Brazil.

B. javanica Baill.
Java.
This plant is the tingulong of the Javanese, who eat the leaves and fruit.

Butomus umbellatus Linn. Alismaceae (Butomaceae). FLOWERING RUSH. GRASSY RUSH. WATER GLADIOLUS.
Europe and adjoining Asia.
Unger says, in Norway, the rhizomes serve as material for a bread. Johns says, in the north of Asia, the root is roasted and eaten. Lindley says the rhizomes are acrid and bitter, as well as the seeds but are eaten among the savages. In France, it is grown in flower gardens as an aquatic.

Butyrospermum parkii Kotschy. Sapotaceae. BUTTER TREE. SHEA TREE.
Tropical west Africa.
Shea, or galam, butter is obtained from the kernel of the fruit and serves the natives as a substitute for butter. This butter is highly commended by Park. The tree is called meepampa in equatorial Africa.

Buxus sempervirens Linn. Euphorbiaceae (Buxaceae). BOX.
Europe, Orient and temperate Asia.
In France and some other parts of the continent, the leaves of the box have been. used as a substitute for hops in beer, but Johnson says they cannot be wholesome and would probably prove very injurious.