An organism of the vegetable kingdom suitable by nature for use as a food, especially by human beings. Not all parts of any given plant are edible but all parts of edible plants have been known to figure as raw or cooked food: leaves, roots, tubers, stems, seeds, buds, fruits, and flowers. The most commonly edible parts of plants are FRUIT, usually sweet, fleshy, and succulent. Most edible plants are commonly cultivated for their nutritional value and are referred to as VEGETABLES.
    

concept

Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi): fruiting stem. Watercolour by B. Bird.

Pummelo or Pamplemousse (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.): flowering and fruiting branch with numbered fruit segment and flower section. Chromolithograph by P. Depannemaeker, c. 1885, after B. Hoola van Nooten.

Plum (Prunus species): fruiting branch with sectioned fruit. Coloured aquatint by P. Fumagalli after D. Del Pino, 1822.

Elephant apple (Limonia acidissima L.): branch with flowers and fruit, leaf and seeds and cross-section of fruit.

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum): leaves and fruits. Pen drawing, partially coloured.

The useful plants of west tropical Africa / H. M. Burkill.

Wild carrot (Daucus carota L.): flowering stem with separate root and floral segments. Coloured engraving after F. von Scheidl, 1776.

Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa): flowering stem and separate roots. Partially coloured lithograph by F. Waller, c. 1863, after C. Gower.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): entire flowering plant with separate floral segments. Coloured engraving after F. von Scheidl, 1776.

Banana (Musa coccinea Andr.): fruiting shoot with leaf and numbered sections of flowers. Chromolithograph by P. Depannemaeker, c.1885, after B. Hoola van Nooten.

Plants, Edible

Images

Catalogue

The useful plants of west tropical Africa / H. M. Burkill.

Wild carrot (Daucus carota L.): flowering stem with separate root and floral segments. Coloured engraving after F. von Scheidl, 1776.

Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa): flowering stem and separate roots. Partially coloured lithograph by F. Waller, c. 1863, after C. Gower.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): entire flowering plant with separate floral segments. Coloured engraving after F. von Scheidl, 1776.

Banana (Musa coccinea Andr.): fruiting shoot with leaf and numbered sections of flowers. Chromolithograph by P. Depannemaeker, c.1885, after B. Hoola van Nooten.