This book continues as volume 4 of a multi-compendium on Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants. It covers edible fruits/seeds used fresh, cooked or processed into other food products, or used as vegetables, spices, stimulants, edible oils and beverages. It encompasses Fagaceae, Grossulariaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Myrsinaceae, Olacaceae, Oleaceae, Orchidaceae, Oxalidaceae, Pandanaceae, Passifloraceae, Pedaliaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Pinaceae, Piperaceae, Rosaceae and Rutaceae. The edible species dealt with in this work include to a larger extent lesser-known, wild and underutilized crops and also common and widely grown crops. To help in identification of the plant, edible parts and food products more than 400 coloured illustrations are included.

As in the preceeding two volumes, topics covered include: taxonomy (botanical name and synonyms); common English and vernacular names; origin and distribution; agro-ecological requirements; edible plant parts and uses; plant botany; nutritive, medicinal and pharmacological properties with up-to-date research findings; traditional medicinal uses; other non-edible uses; and selected/cited references for further reading. This volume has separate indices for scientific and common names; and separate scientific and medical glossaries.

From the reviews:

“This remarkable book devotes over 800 pages to plant families whose names begin with the first three letters of the Latin alphabet starting with Actinidaceae (kiwi fruit) and ending with Cycadaceae (cycads). … The author summarizes antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities of the plants, along with reports of antivenin, radioprotective, and antiaging properties, some of which are cited in preliminary studies only. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; informed general readers.” (S. Hammer, Choice, Vol. 49 (11), July, 2012)

Edible Medicinal and Non-medicinal Plants is a comprehensive and scientifically up-to-date work covering more than a thousand species of plants in a multi-compendium format. The aim is to create awareness and interest in the rich and diverse array of such plants.

The edible species dealt with in this work include to a larger extent lesser-known, wild and underutilized crops and also common and widely grown crops that are consumed as fruits, vegetables, culinary herbs, pulses, cereals, spices and condiments, root crops, beverages, mushrooms, edible oils and stimulants.

All relevant available and up-to-date information collated are provided in a comprehensive referenced format accompanied by copious coloured images to assist in the identification of the edible plant and plant parts.

Topics covered include: taxonomy (botanical name and synonyms); common English and vernacular names; origin and distribution; agro-ecological requirements; edible plant part and uses; plant botany; nutritive and medicinal/pharmacological properties, traditional medicinal uses and up-to-date research findings; other non-edible uses; and selected/cited references for further reading.

Each volume covers about a hundred edible species arranged according to botanical families, and species in alphabetical order. Each volume has a separate index for scientific and common names and separate scientific and medical glossaries Thefirst few volumes focus on edible fruit crops used as food followed by those used as vegetables.

Volume 1 covers edible fruits in the families: Actinidiaceae, Adoxaceae, Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, Araceae, Arecaceae, Averrhoaceae, Betulaceae, Bignoniaceae, Bixaceae, Bombacaceae, Bromeliaceae, Burseraceae, Cactaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caricaceae, Cuppressaceae and Cycadaceae.