Olives   -   [Olea europaea,]

Native to the Mediterranean basin, from Portugal all the way around to Morocco, and as far east as Iran, this highly drought resistant tree has been and remains critical to both cuisine and economy throughout its range. It not only provides edible fruit (not edible right off the tree, but after a little processing) and many of the finest cooking and salad oils available anywhere. but supports an extensive industry. This important tree has a major page devoted to it on this site - Olives.

Osmanthus   -   [Sweet Osmanthus; Guihua (China); kinmokusei (Japan); Osmanthus fragrans]

Native to East Asia, from the Himalayas east across southern China to Taiwan and southern Japan. Dried flowers are mixed with green or black tea to make an aromatic tea similar to how jasmine flowers are used. It is also made into a jam-like sauce that is used to perk up bland porridges, soups and cakes, and used in at least one liquor. Flower colors range from white through yellow to orange.   Photo by Laitr Keiows distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

Jasmine   -   [Arabian Jasmine; Mo Li Hua (China); Full (Arabic); Ful (Turkish); Malila (Thai); Hoa Nhài (Viet); Jasminum sambac]

Native to South and Southeast Asia, this is the variety of jasmine used in China to make jasmine tea. Dried flowers are mixed with green or black tea. The flowers, which have a very strong perfume, open at night and close in the morning.

The leaves of one other jasmine, J. subtriplinerve, are used to make a beverage in Vietnam.   Photo distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.

Ash   -   [Manna Ash, Flowering Ash; Fraxinus ornus]

Ash trees are generally noted for useful wood, not for any culinary use, but one species, native to southern Europe has been, and may still be tapped for its sweet sap. It is also noted for its large display of flowers, inconspicuous in most ash trees.

The photo is not of that species, but one of mine (species not identified), which, unfortunately, has neither showy flowers nor sweet sap, and is noted mainly for the huge number of baby ash trees produced by its single winged seeds.

Lemon Verbena   -   [Lemon Beebush; Aloysia citrodora]

Native to southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, this aromatic plant is used both for teas, and to provide a lemony flavor for fish and chicken dishes, as well as marinades, salads, yogurt and beverages. It is also used as a medicinal plant and has a significant array of antioxidants.

It is not much sold commercially, but It grows easily in the garden. It is not, however, a good decorative because it quickly becomes very rangy with sparsely leaved stems. The photo specimen is still very young and hasn't ranged out yet.

Lantana   -   [Spanish Flag, Shrub Verbena; Lantana camara ]

This shrub, native to the tropical Americas, has become a very popular decorative here in Southern California. In some other areas, particularly Hawaii, Florida and Australia, it has become a troublesome weed. The foliage is toxic to most animals and eaten safely only by Australian swamp wallabys, making the plant difficult to control.

The berries are edible when ripe, when they are a dark metallic purple, but are just mildly sweet, aren't strongly flavored and have big seeds, so they're not something to seek out. I sometimes eat some when I walk down to the Bank of America branch because they are planted as a hedge by the neighboring condos. Leaf extracts are used medicinally, primarily for treating stomach ulcers, and have some anti-bacterial value.

Mexican Oregano   -   [Lippia graveolens]

This shrub, native to the US Southwest, through Mexico and as far south as Nicaragua, is an important culinary herb in the cuisines of Mexico and Central America. It is also used in the US Southwest, but is still a bit difficult to find here in Los Angeles.

Some related herbs, particularly Lippia alba (White Lippia) and Lippia palmeri are similarly used.

Broadleaf Plantain   -   [Plantago major also Plantago media (Hoary Plantain)]

Native to Europe and Central Asia, but naturalized in much of the world, this plantain is the one most used for food. Young leaves are used in salads, green sauces and the like, older leaves are used in stews. They are very nutritious, high in calcium and vitamins A, C and K. The similar Hoary Plantain, native to Central and Western Europe, is used in the same way.   Photo of P. major distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

Sea Plantain   -   [Goose Tongue; Plantago maritima]

This narrow leaf species is native to arctic and temperate zones of Europe and the Americas. It is eaten particularly in the Maritime provinces of Eastern Canada.   Photo by Cwmhiraeth distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

Veronica   -   [American Brooklime, American Speedwell; Veronica americana]

Native to temperate and arctic North America and Asia, this plant grows near streams and in moist bottomlands. It is edible and nutritious, tasting somewhat like watercress. It is also medicinal, used mainly for bronchial congestion. It is sometimes confused with members of the mint family, but its stems are round, while mints have square stems.   Photo by Walter Siegmund distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

Foxglove   -   [Digitalis purpurea]

DON'T EAT THIS! - It'll stop your heart - dead - and meanwhile the other symptoms aren't particularly pleasant. It is one of the most powerful medicinal herbs in the world - all parts of the plant contain cardiac glycoside digitoxin.   Photo by Jensflorian distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.