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Useful Tropical Plants

Omphalea triandra

L.

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Omphalandria frondosa (Juss. ex Baill.) Kuntze

Omphalandria triandra (L.) Kuntze

Omphalea frondosa Juss. ex Baill.

Omphalea laevigata Desf.

Omphalea nucifera Sw.

Omphalea trinitatis Pax & K.Hoffm.

Common Name: Jamaica Cob Nut

Omphalea triandra
Leaves of a plant growing at Kew Gardens, London
Photograph by: Carstor
GNU Free Documentation License
Omphalea triandra Omphalea triandra

General Information

Omphalea triandra is a tree growing up to 15 metres tall[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
].
The plant is sometimes cultivated, especially in Jamaica, for its edible, oil-rich seed[
63
Title
Nuts.
Publication
 
Author
Howes. F. N.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
].

Known Hazards

Although the family Euphorbiaceae contains a very high percentage of poisonous plants, the seeds of this and several other species in the genus Omphalea are an exception to the rule, with several of them being considered wholesome and being eaten by humans. Some caution should be employed, however, since there are often warnings about how they should be eaten. Some reports, for example, say that the embryo of this species needs to be removed in order to remove a deleterious principal[
63
Title
Nuts.
Publication
 
Author
Howes. F. N.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
,
975
Title
Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
Publication
 
Author
J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
 
Year
1886
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].

Botanical References


Range

West Indies - Jamaica, Haiti.

Habitat

Wet or moderately wet woodlands on limestone, also occasionally found at higher elevations on shale[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitTree
Height15.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland tropical areas, occasionally also found at elevations up to 1,200 metres[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
].

Plants can be coppiced[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[
63
Title
Nuts.
Publication
 
Author
Howes. F. N.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
,
975
Title
Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
Publication
 
Author
J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
 
Year
1886
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
]. Looking somewhat like a cob nut, the wholesome seed has a selicately sweet flavour[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
63
Title
Nuts.
Publication
 
Author
Howes. F. N.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
]. When roasted it is equal, if not superior, to any chestnut[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
]. The embryo needs to be removed because it contains a deleterious principle[
63
Title
Nuts.
Publication
 
Author
Howes. F. N.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
].

A sweet, fine flavoured oil can be extracted from the seed[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
63
Title
Nuts.
Publication
 
Author
Howes. F. N.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The latex is a possible source of rubber, though it is hard to gather[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].

The seeds are known as Ouabé and are used to make popular necklaces[
975
Title
Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
Publication
 
Author
J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
 
Year
1886
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].

The seeds yield about 62% of an excellent oil that can be used for machine lubrication[
975
Title
Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
Publication
 
Author
J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
 
Year
1886
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Omphalea+triandra>

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