TROPICAL & SUBTROPICAL PERENNIAL VEGETABLES

Compiled by Eric Toensmeier for ECHO Conference 2011

TREES
Genus Species Common Name Origin Part Used Region Humidity
Leaves,
Adansonia digitata baobab Africa Lowlands Mesic to arid
fruit, nuts
Artocarpus altilis breadfruit Pacific Fruit Lowlands Humid
Low, high,
Bambusa spp. bamboos Asia Shoots Humid to mesic
subtropics
Lowlands,
Dendrocalamus spp. bamboos Asia Shoots Humid to mesic
subtropics
Tuber &
Ensete ventricosum enset Africa trunk Highlands Mesic to semi-arid
starch
Erythrina edulis chachafruto Andes Beans Highlands Mesic to semi-arid
Leucaena esculenta guaje Mesoamerica Beans Lowlands Mesic to semi-arid
Lowlands,
Moringa oleifera moringa India Leaf, pods Humid to semi-arid
subtropics
Lowlands,
Moringa stenopetala moringa East Africa Leaf, pods subtropics Humid to semi-arid

Leaves Low, high,

Morus alba white mulberry Asia Humid to semi-arid
cooked subtropics
Low, high,
Musa acuminata banana, plantain Asia, Africa Fruit Humid to semi-arid
subtropics

SHRUBS
Genus Species Common Name Origin Part Used Region Humidity
Leaves
Abelmoschus manihot edible hibiscus Pacific Low tropics Humid to mesic
cooked
Low, high
Cajanus cajan pigeon pea South Asia Beans Humid to arid
subtropics
Carica papaya papaya Americas Fruit Low, subtropics Humid to mesic
Leaves Low, high
Cnidoscolus chayamansa chaya Mesoamerica Humid to arid
cooked subtropics
Leaves Low, high,
Crotolaria longirostrata chipilin Mesoamerica Humid to semi-arid
cooked subtropics
cranberry Leaves raw
Hibiscus acetosella Africa Low, subtropics Humid to semi-arid
hibiscus or cooked
Roots,
cassava, yucca, Low, high,
Manihot esculenta South America leaves Humid to arid
manioc subtropics
cooked
Low, high,
Opuntia ficus-indica nopale cactus Mesoamerica Pads Humid to arid
subtropics
Leaves raw Lowlands,
Sauropus androgynous katuk Asia Humid to mesic
or cooked subtropics

VINES
Genus Species Common Name Origin Part Used Region Humidity
Leaves raw Lowlands,
Basella alba Malabar spinach Asia Humid to semi-arid
or cooked subtropics
Fruit, leaves Lowlands,
Coccinia grandis ivy gourd Asia raw or highlands, Humid to mesic
cooked subtropics
Aerial &
Low, high,
Diocorea bulbifera air potato Asia & Africa mother Humid to mesic
subtropics
tubers
Lowlands,
Dioscorea alata white yam Asia Tubers Humid to mesic
subtropics
Low, high,
Lablab purpureus lablab bean* Africa Beans Humid to semi-arid
subtropics
Highlands,
Phaseolus coccinneus runner bean Mesoamerica Beans Humid to semi-arid
subtropics
Low, high,
Phaseolus lunatus lima bean Americas Beans Mesic to semi-arid
subtropics
Beans, Low, high,
Psophocarpus tetragonobolus winged bean Asia Humid to mesic
leaves, subtropics
 flowers,
tubers
Fruit,
cooked Low, high,
Sechium edule chayote Mesoamerica Humid to semi-arid
leaves, subtropics
tubers
Haitian basket Leaves
Trichostigma octandrum Americas Lowlands Humid to mesic
vine cooked
Tropaeolum tuberosum mashua Andes Tubers Highlands Humid to mesic
Tubers,
Ullucus tuberosus ulluco Andes highlands Humid to mesic
leaves
* Some lablab varieties (typically cover crop forms) are toxic.

MEDIUM TO LARGE HERBS

Genus Species Common Name Origin Part Used Region Humidity
Scallions, Low, high,
Allium fistulosum Welsh onion Asia Humid to semi-arid
leaves subtropics
Leaves, Low, high,
Allium tuberosum garlic chives Asia Humid to semi-arid
flowerbuds subtropics
Lowlands,
Alocasia macrorrhiza bore Oceania Tubers Humid to mesic
highlands
Arracacia xanthorhiza arracacha Andes Tubers highlands Humid to mesic
tree collards,
Brassica oleracea Europe Leaves Highlands Humid to semi-arid
colocha
Low, high,
Canna edulis achira Andes Tubers, shoots Humid to semi-arid
subtropics
Tubers, leaves
Low, high,
Colocasia esculenta taro, malanga Asia & stems of Humid to mesic
subtropics
some vars.
Gynura crepioides Okinawa spinach Asia Leaves Lowlands Humid to mesic
Oxalis tuberosa oca Andes Tubers Highlands Humid to semi-arid
Low, high,
Smallianthus sonchifolia yacon Andes Tubers Humid to semi-arid
subtropics
Tubers, leaves Lowlands,
Xanthosoma sagittifolium cocoyam, taioba South America Humid to mesic
& stems of subtropics
 some vars.

GROUNDCOVERS
Genus Species Common Name Origin Part Used Region Humidity
Alternanthera sissoo Samba lettuce South America Leaves Lowlands Humid to mesic
Tubers, leaves Low, high,
Ipomoea batatas Sweet potato South America Humid to semi-arid
cooked subtropics
Highlands,
Oenanthe javanica Water celery Asia Leaves Humid to mesic
subtropics
New Zealand Highlands,
Tetragonia tetragonioides Pacific Leaves Humid to semi-arid
spinach subtropics

AQUATIC SPECIES
Genus Species Common Name Origin Part Used Region Humidity
Low,
Eleaocharis dulcis Water chestnut Asia Tubers Aquatic
subtropics
Lowlands,
Ipomoea aquatica Water spinach Asia Leaves Aquatic
subtropics
Low, high,
Nasturtium officinale Watercress Eurasia Leaves Aquatic
subtropics
Low, high,
Nelumbo nucifera Water lotus Asia Tubers, nuts Aquatic
subtropics
Low,
Neptunia oleracea Water mimosa Asia Leaves Aquatic
subtropics
Highlands,
Oenanthe javanica Water celery Asia Leaves Aquatic
subtropics
Low, high,
Sagittaria graminea Arrowhead Asia Tubers Aquatic
subtropics
Books & Websites
Botanica de los Cultivos Tropicales. Jorge Leon, 2000.
ECHO Seed Bank Catalog. http://www.echonet.org/content/SeedBank
Edible Water Gardens. Nick Romanowski 2009.
Food Plants International www.foodplantsinternational.com
Fruits of Warm Climates. Julia Morton 1987.
Lost Crops of Africa Volume 2: Vegetables. National Research Council 2006.
Lost Crops of the Incas. National Research Council 1989.
Perennial Vegetables. Eric Toensmeier 2007.
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia 8: Vegetables. PROSEA 1993.
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia 9: Plants Yielding Non-Seed Carbohydrates. PROSEA 1996.
Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Database. www.prota4u.org
Tropical Legumes: Resources for the Future. National Research Council 1979.
World Agroforestry Center Agroforestree Database.
http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/resources/databases/agroforestree

Seed & Plant Sources

Agrohaitai www.agrohaitai.com
B&T World Seed Service http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/
Earthcare Enterprises www.earthcare.com.au
ECHO Seed Bank & Nursery http://www.echonet.org/content/SeedBank
Global Breadfruit www.globalbreadfruit.com
Las Canadas www.bosquedeniebla.com.mx
Lilypons Water Gardens www.lilypons.com
Moore Water Gardens www.moorewatergardens.com
Pond Plants and More www.pondplantsandmore.com