Nordic Journal of Botany
Review
Grubben, G. J. H. & Denton, 0. A. (eds) 2004. Plant
resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. - PROTA
Foundation, Wageningen, NetherlandsiBakhuys h b -
lishers, Leiden, Netherlands/ CTA, Wageningen,
Netherlands. 668 pp. ISBN 90-5782-147-8 (book
only).
Seventy four scientists have contributed to this volume which
is the second to appear in the new series of PROTA. Most of
the scientists have contributed with only a few species, while
a few , such as C. H. Bosch and P. C. M. Jansen have dealt
with quite a number of species of tropical African vegetables,
that are cultivated and or wild.
As is the case for many plant species also vegetable
species may have more uses. The baobab (Adansonia
digitata L.), which is used as a leafy vegetable, has for
instance several secondary uses, e. g. edible h i t , oils from
the seeds, branches and leaves for forage, bark for fibre, and
bark and fruit for medicine. Because the use as vegetable is
the primary one the baobab is treated is this volume. In the
PROTA series species, that have the primary use as vegetable
but also have other primary uses shall be fully described in
the other commodity groups. Cassava (Manihot esculenta
Crank) is also important as leafy vegetable, but as its primary
use is the starchy root it is going to be treated in PROTA 8:
Carbohydrates.
In order to avoid the long lists of countries of distribution
a map is included for each of the major species if the
information on the distribution has been sufficient to allow
that. Due to different culinary traditions, climatic and market
conditions in different parts of tropical Africa, the availability
and relative importance of vegetables in the urban markets
vary. The leaf cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is for instance
rarely seen in Nigerian markets whereas it is frequenly sold
in Kenya, the bird pepper (Capsicum annuum) is very
popular in Nigeria unlike what is the case in Kenya.
Vegetable is defined as “succulent plant parts consumed as
side dish with a starchy staple food”. A simple definition, but
as mentioned by the editors, the dedlineation of a commodity
298
is sometimes arbitrary, e. g . commodity groups spices and
condiments. Such problems of delineation are inherent in
works, such as the PROSEA and PROTA, which deal with
commodities. An alternative strategy could be to use the
approach of Burkill, H. M. 1985-2000 The useful plants of
West Tropical Africa, that has recently been completed at The
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and which gives an excellent
overview of the properties of the species in that region under
one single heading - the species. As the latter work does not
work commodity-wise, that and PROTA supplement each
other in a good way.
In the present volume more than 1 10 important vegetable
species are dealt with. In addition accounts on about 170
vegetable species of minor importance are included. The
entries for the important vegetable species include: Scientific
name, Protologue, Synonyms, Family, (and family acc.to the
Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) Chromosome number,
Vernacular names, Origin and geographic distribution;
Production and international trade, Properties, Description,
Other botanical information, Ecology, Propagation and
planting, Management, Diseases and pests, Harvesting, Yield,
Handling after harvest, Genetic resources, Breeding;
Prospects, Major references, Other references, Sources of
illustration, and Author(s). A line drawing and map of
Tropical Africa with distribution is included for each of the
major species. The volume is concluded by lists of Vegetables
with other primary use; Literature (84 1/2 pages); Index of
scientific plant names, and Index of vernacular plant names;
Information on PROTA and CTA (the Technical Centre for
Agricultural and Rural Cooperation), and a map of Africa.
The present volume is an eye-opener regarding the
diversity and uses of tropical African vegetables and it
provides excellent encyclopedic knowledge on the species. It
provides a testimony on the may services, that the African
agricultural systems provide for the population and gives us
neatly ordered and consistent information. The editors and
authors are commended for this excellent volume, which
ought to be found on the book shelves of every institution
dealing with tropical botany, nutrition, health and
agriculture. Further information on ww.prota.org.
Ivan Nielsen
Nord. J. Bot. 23(3)