Food Plants of the World: Illustrated Guide to Edible Plants | Botanical Reference for Gardeners, Chefs & Nature Enthusiasts

I recently went on the Spring 2009 Voyage of the Semester at Sea program, and found this book during the trip. It was really helpful in supplementing information we were given in pre-port lectures, by guides and locals, and in diplomatic briefings, because it includes some of the most commonly found food plants of a wide variety of countries around the world. It was nice to figure out what I had been eating at each of the ports we visited, and to look up things I might like to try at future ports in advance. I was able to find more information on the !Nara plant I saw and learned about in the Namib Desert in the nutrition tables located in the back of the book, and what I learned gave me cultural insights into the country: a plant so rich in nutrients, among so many other valuable natural resources in such a seemingly barren place would explain the Namibian people's love for their land. Additionally, this book offers interesting and important information to anyone interested in botany and anthropology. Each plant profile has detailed pictures that often depict the foliage and growth habit of the species along with its edible parts and related species. And the descriptions include a history of the plant: where it originated and which culture developed it (if it was not naturally occurring)/cultivated it the most, as well as how it is currently used and how it contributes to the economy of the country it inhabits. Finally, of course, this book is great for people interested in nutrition; the vitamins, minerals, nutrients, properties, and calorie contents are provided for almost every plant in the book, and the whole vague line between pulses, nuts, and grains is explained. The South African nationality of the author is evident in the book, because a good number of the plants listed are found in the Cape Province Region; his soft spot for his homeland gives us an interesting glimpse into its food culture, adding further interest to this publication.