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Magnolias

©2006 Clove Garden

• Arrowhead - Sagittaria
• Ginkgo
• Jujube
• Kiwi Fruit
• Mangosteen
• Pineapple
• Pomegranet
• Nettles
• Poppy

Arrowhead - [kuwai (Japanese), ci gu (China), Sagittaria sagittifolia (Asian)] - [Duck Poatao, Indian Potato, Broadleaf Arrowhead, Wapato Sagittaria latifolia (North American)]

The Asian species of this acquatic plant is seasonably available in Asian markets in Los Angeles and elsewhere. The tubers can be eaten raw or cooked. They are bland and starchy much like potato but when cooked are somewhat crunchier than potato. The photo specimens were 2-1/4 inches diameter and weighed 3 ounces each. They do not keep well even refrigerated so should be cooked within a couple of days.

Boiled arrowhead tubers figure prominently in both Chinese and Japanese New Years celebrations. They can also be sliced and deep fried like potato chips.

The North American version is not sold commercially. It was at one time eaten by the North American Indians but today is eaten mainly by beavers, porcupines and muskrats.

Drumstick Tree - [Horseradish Tree, Malunggay (Philippines), Sajina (India) Moringa oleifera]
These have been moved to Brassicales.

Ginkgo - [Ginkgo biloba]
The Ginkgo tree has been with us for at least 270 million years and was widespread in the Jurassic an Cretaceous periods. While very enduring it is not a flowering tree and evolved very slowly if at all. It was displaced by the flowering magnolia and it's rapidly evolving offspring until only a minor population remained in China. It has now been planted worldwide as a popular decorative, but only male trees because the fruit contains butanoic acid which smells like very rancid butter. In China female trees are widely cultivated for the seeds, sold here as "White Nut" in Asian groceries.

Dietary supplements made from extract of ginkgo leaves are thought to improve memory but this is controversial. The suplements are approved for treatment of tinnitus (tintinitis - ringing in the ears) in Germany. I took them for that purpose when I contracted that problem from a certain brand of Australian wine, but I'm not sure if they helped or the problem went away on its own. What is known is that ginkgo improves circulation in small blood vesels and reduces clotting and contains strong antioxidants.

The seeds are used in a number of Asian dishes and highly esteemed there, but should not be eaten by themselves in quantity over a long period of time because they cause poisoning by MPN (4-methoxypyridoxine). In the quantities called for by recipes and with the frequency such recipes are likely to be used they are perfectly safe.

Ginseng - [Panax quinquefolius (American), Panax ginseng (Korean)]
These have been moved to Parsley & Aralias.

Jujube - [Red Date, Chinese Date, Annab (Persia (dried)), Taejuja (Korea), Ziziphus zizyphus]

Jujube fruit trees were first domesticated in India about 11,0000 years ago. Their natural range is uncertain because of long cultivation but may have extended from Syria to southern China. They belong to the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae), a fairly large family but one yielding very few edibles.

The fruit is initially green but turns red when fully ripe and eventually shrivels. It is very light, almost foam like, moderately sweet. and apple-like in flavor. The photo shows fresh (top), dried (left) and candied (right). Fresh are about 1.7 inches long, 1.6 inches diameter and weigh just over 1 ounce.

Fresh and candied jujubes are eaten as snacks. Dried they are a flavoring ingredient for soups and stews. In China dried jujubes (hong zao) may be smoked (hei zao) and will then be black instead of red. Jujubes are also used for teas and beverages. Jujube teas are reputed to be a good treatment for colds and sore throat. Details and Cooking.

Kiwi Fruit - [Chinese Gooseberry, Yangtao, Actinidia deliciosa (standard Kiwi), Actinidia arguta (Hardy Kiwi, Baby Kiwi), Actinidia chinensis (Golden Kiwi)]

Native to northern China, this berry was taken to California in 1904 and New Zealand in 1906. Originally known as the Chinese Goosberry. The name "Kiwi" was selected as a marketing name when New Zealand growers started promoting the product ("Chinese" was considered not good during the Cold War). Italy is now the leading producer with New Zealand second and the two account for 75% of world production. A. deliciosa is now very common in the U.S. and the tiny A. arguta is gaining a market here as growers crank up production (yupies will pay more for "baby" anything). The yellow fleshed A. chinensis is still very seldom seen here.

Kiwi has soft green flesh with a taste that has been described as a mix of strawberry, banana, and pineapple. The seeds are edible and always eaten but fussy people peel the fuzzy skin. I don't bother - and get the advantage of the skin's high antioxidant content as a bonus.

Mangosteen - [Garcinia mangostana]

The Mangosteen is a rather picky tropical tree which only grows well in a few locations in Southeast Asia and Central Africa, though a few are grown in Hawaii. The photo specimens are previously frozen because it's illegal to import whole fresh fruit into the U.S. without heavy fumigation or deep freezing. A fresh mangosteen would look better with the pulpy fruit segments whiter and completely filling the shell.

Irradiation is now being studied as a way to allow fresh fruit to be imported without fear of Asian fruit fly infestation. The tree may grow to 80 feet under the right conditions but will be killed by temperatures above 100°F/38°C or below 40°F/4.5°C kill it and it's very fussy about soil as well.

The fruit is of excellent flavor, sweet and tangy, and is eaten fresh from the shell cut (or more properly broken) as shown in the photo. Segments may or may not include a seed and the seeds are edible after boiling or roasting. The number of petals on the flower end of the fruit will be the same as the number of segments within.

Canned mangosteen is easily available in the U.S. but not considered as good because the flavor is quickly degraded by canning heat.

The purplish fruit has a thin brittle shell and a thick fiberous rind which is very high in pectin. A jelly is made from it after bitter elements have been leached out with salt. The red juice of the rind is a dye that's nearly impossible to remove from fabric. Fruits may be between 1-1/2 and 2-1/2 inches in diameter. A 4.4 ounce 2-1/2 inch fruit yielded 0.7 ounces of edible flesh (28%). Fresh fruit would have a better yield but that would be from higher water content.

Mangosteen rind has long been used in China and Southeast Asia as an herbal medicine and now mangosteen juice (made from rind and pulp) is heavily promoted in the U.S. through sophisticated "Network Marketing" schemes. It sells for over US $1.00/ounce with implications it can relieve everything up to and including cancer. Claims for it's benefits are almost completely unconfirmed and it's extremely unlikely the juice can deliver anything like the benefits implied. It is, however, making a huge amount of money for its perpetrators (M2).

Mauca - [Mauka, Chago, Mirabilis expansa]
This plant has been moved to Carnations.

Nettles - [Shishnu (Nepal); Urtica dioica subsp. gracilis (American) | Urtica dioica subsp. dioica (European) of family Urticaceae of order Rosales]

The Stinging Nettle is the only culinary member of the entire Urticaceae family. While this highly nutritous plant was important to the Native population of North America, it has fallen out of use here except as an ingredient in some herbal teas and hair treatment formulas. It is still eaten frequently in Ireland, and also in parts of Northern and Eastern Europe, as well in Nepal and the neighboring Kumaon division of India. It also has medicinal uses, particularly in treatment of arthritis. Details and Cooking.

Olluco - [Papa lisa (South America); Melloco (Ecuador); Olluco (Peru); Chugua (Colombia); Ruba (Venezuela); Ullucus tuberosus]
This plant has been moved to Carnations.

Papaya - [pawpaw, mamao, lechoza, Carica papaya]
These have been moved to Brassicales.

Pineapple [Ananas comosus]
Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) are a large family of fleshy leaved tropical and subtropical plants all originating from South America (with one genus established on the west central coast of Africa). They are very popular decorative plants and are also important in South America for food and fiber.

The Pineapple is the only bromeliad familiar as food in North America. There are several patented varieties sold in the U.S. and plenty of lawsuits as to who owns what. Taken throughout the tropics by the Spanish and Portuguese, the largest production is now in China and Southeast Asia, though Hawaii and Costa Rica produce most sold fresh in the USA.

South American pineapples are green when ripe but some of the patented varieties, particularly from Hawaii, are green and gold when ripe. Appearance and smell are the indicators of ripeness, not thumping or pulling leaves, and they do not ripen more once picked. Pineapples sold here in Southern Calfiornia are about 4 to 5 pounds. The photo specimen, a 4-1/2 pound fruit, yielded about 2-1/2 pounds (56%) when trimmed and cored. Chopped it's about 7-1/2 ounces per cup.

Poppy [Papaveraceae family]
The poppy of culinary interest is the Opium Poppy, Papaver somniferum the tiny seeds of which are used on baked goods in the U.S. and in curries and other dishes in India. Poppy seed oil is used for cooking in some parts of the world.

In Western cooking, black poppyseeds are presumed. In Indian cooking where they are used both for flavoring and as a thickener the white variety is presumed. Opium is harvested from the same seed pods but by time the seeds are mature there is negligeable opium in the pods - however, avoid poppy seed bagels before a drug test - you can be found positive.

Pictured is P. Eschscholzia californica, the California poppy which is supposed to have a mild opiate effect when the dried sap is smoked but is not supposed to be adictive. I haven't tried it so I can't confirm or deny. Seeds of the California Poppy have been used in cooking but the yield per pod is realtively small.

• O1 - Papaya Info. Purdue University.
• M1 - Mangosteen Info - Purdue University.
• M2 - Mangosteen & Health - Health & Beyond - Dr. Ralph Moss: A Friendly Skeptic Looks at Mangosteen.