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Mukia maderaspatana -
Wild cucurbit
This climbing annual herb has medicinal properties and it is used in the ayurvedic tradition. It is said to relieve fever, cough, dysphoea, vertigo and abdominal disorders. Crushed seeds are applied externally to relieve body-aches and the fruits have been prescribed for piles and tuberculosis.
Country: LKA
Copyright: Bioversity International/Anura Wijesekara
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Oryza nivara - Indian wild rice
Oryza nivara, a wild progenitor of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa), is endemic to South and South East Asia. It is one of the five known diploid ‘A’ genome wild species of rice and a large number of accessions of this species are available in gene bank collections. This wild rice is found growing in swampy areas, at edge of ponds and tanks, in ditches and in or around rice fields.
Country: LKA
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Cinnamomum capparu-coronde - Camphor cinnamon
Closely related to true cinnamon, “camphor cinnamon” is one of seven wild cinnamon species endemic to Sri Lanka. As the local name suggests, it has a distinctive, clove-like aroma due to the high amounts of Eugenol contained in the leaves and bark. The compound also confers medicinal properties to the plant, which is used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments including toothache, bronchitis and rheumatism. Growing primarily in lowland rainforests on slopes and hilly areas between 90 and 1100m a.s.l, this CWR is now threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and over-exploitation. It is listed as Endangered (EN) in the red list of Sri Lanka, and as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened species of 1998. A domestication program has been set up by the Sri Lankan component of the CWR project to protect the species, which currently survives in few isolated populations in the wild.
Country: LKA
Copyright: D.M.H. Champika Kumarathilake
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Rubus megalococcus - Hard blackberry
Known locally as”hard blackberry”, R. megalococcus is a wild blackberry native to the Andean region of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. It grows at an altitude of around 3,000 to 4,000m, in humid to very humid mountain forests. As the name suggests, the shrub produces very hard, dark-red to black fruits, about 2cm in length and 1.5cm wide. The fruits are edible and are a favourite with local communities, especially children. Because of their hardness the fruits are very durable, providing a useful breeding trait for commercial varieties. In Bolivia, the species is listed as Near Threatened (NT), with an estimated distribution area of 33,884 km2, a figure which is fast declining due to land use change, as pasture-land is converted to agriculture. Other major threats are represented by the pathogens Gerwasia mayorii and G. tenella.
Country: BOL
Author: Saul Job Altamirano Azurduy, CBG-BOLV
Copyright: VMABCC-Bioversity, 2009
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Aegilops columnaris - Wild wheat
A drought-resistant wild wheat, common to Syria and Turkey. Also known as Triticum columnare.
Country: ARM
Copyright: A. Melikyan - Armenian Agrarian University
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Allium pskemense B. Fedtsch.
Native to central Asia, Allium pskemense B. Fedtsch. is a wild perennial related to the common onion. A rare and protected plant, it is listed as ‘Endangered’ in the Red List Book of Threatened species of Uzbekistan, its distribution in the wild being restricted to the Tien-Shan mountains of southern Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Renowned for its curative properties and due to its widespread use in traditional cooking and medicine, the plant has been severely over-harvested, although there are reports of it being occasionally planted in home gardens. In Uzbekistan the species is currently being used for research on breeding and systematics of the genus Allium, and to a lesser extent for screening for pest and disease resistance, having shown resistance to onion rust Puccinia allii.
Country: UZB
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Annona foetida Mart.
Related to the Cherimoya family, the species' most noteworthy characteristic is its unpleasant smell, reflected in the Latin name “foetida”, meaning smelly. Present throughout the Amazon region, in Bolivia the species occurs in forested swamps, in only five locations. Occupying an area between 1.668 and 2.000 km2 in Bolivia, the species is currently listed as Vulnerable (VU) in the Red List book of CWR of Bolivia, but, threatened by uncontrolled deforestation, it could soon become endangered. Given its status, urgent conservation actions are required to record existing populations and to assess their conservation status in situ. At the same time, complementary ex situ conservation actions should be undertaken. Although there are no known uses for this species, its importance lies in its genetic potential, given that it grows in poor, heavily-inundated soils.
Country: BOL
Author: Saul Job Altamirano Azurduy, CBG-BOLV
Copyright: VMABCC-Bioversity, 2009
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Mormordica dioica - Teasle Gourd
Teasle Gourd is found throughout India from Himalayas to Ceylon, up to an altitude of 1,500 m. The plant has edible fruits, which are used as vegetables and the whole plant is used for treatment of a number of different diseases, like eye diseases, poisoning and fever. Juice of the root is stimulant, astringent and antiseptic and fruits, leaves and tuberous roots are used in India as a folk remedy for diabetes. A recent study shows that Mormordica dioica fruits possess potential anti-diabetic activity.
Country: LKA
Copyright: Bandanarayake Ayurvedic Research Institute
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Aegilops cylindrica - Jointed goatgrass
Jointed Goatgrass is native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. The species have been spread to many parts of the world and is today considered a problem weed in United States and Australia. Jointed goatgrass is genetically related to winter wheat, a common crop of the Northern Hemisphere, and is found to be a big problem in many crop fields. However, its germplasm can be used in winter wheat to improve its tolerance to environmental stresses, diseases and insects
Country: ARM
Copyright: Armenian State Agrarian Uni./A. Meliqyan
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Coccinia grandis - Ivy gourd
The Ivy gourd is a perennial tropical vine that can grow up to 3m. Its young leaves and stem tops are cooked and eaten as a potherb or added to soups, whereas the young and tender green fruits can be consumed raw in salads or cooked and added to curries. Ripe fruits, which can measure up to 5cm in length, are also eaten. The Ivy gourd is also renowned for its medicinal properties, used to cure a number of ailments. Juice extracts from the roots and leaves are used for treating diabetes, whereas stem and leaf extracts are used for eye and skin treatment respectively.
Country: LKA
Copyright: Bandaranayake Ayurvedic Research Centre
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Papaver dubium -
Long-headed Poppy
City: Alnarp Country: SWE
Copyright: Dag Terje Filip Endresen
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Syzygium paniculatum - Magenta lilly pilly, fruit
Magenta lilly pilly, also known as magneta cherry, is a bushy rainforest tree endemic to New South Wales, the most populous state of Australia. The species is locally well known to have edible and tasty fruits with a pleasantly sour apple like flavor. The magneta lilly pilly is threatened in its natural habitat from fragmentation resulting from development, invasion of native plant communities and high frequency fires. It is by some considered to be a potential weed in areas where it is cultivated and has spread into uncultivated areas.
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Macadamia integrifolia - Macadamia nut
Macadamia, with origin in the rainforests of eastern Australia, have been appreciated by indigenous inhabitants for thousands of years. Up until today it is the only major commercial food crop native to Australia. The hardy evergreen macadamia, troubled by few pests and tolerates moderate frost, has suffered from loss of available habitat through clearing of lowland rainforest for agriculture and urban development.
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Musa acuminata - Dwarf Cavendish Banana
Dwarf Cavendish banana, a relative to the commercially grown and very appreciated Cavendish banana, was once a popular commercial variety. This cultivar is a naturally occurring dwarf mutant of taller members of the Cavendish family.
Country: MDG
Copyright: Annie Lane
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Pelargonium rodneyanum - Magenta Storksbill
Magenta Storksbill is naturally occurring in fragmented populations in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. This plant worthy of widespread cultivation, is popular among native plant enthusiasts but is not seen much in more general gardens.
Country: AUS
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney /Kim Hamilton
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Pyrus caucasica - Caucasian pear
Caucasian pear, a wild pear species endemic to the Caucasus, occurs everywhere in the woodlands, in mountainous and flat areas with sufficient moisture and often along river valleys. This melliferous tree is a progenitor of many pear varieties and the fruits are edible.
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Abelmoscus
Country: LKA
Copyright: Annie Lane
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Vigna platyloba
The species is a pyrophytic plant found in open Miombo-Isoberlinia woodland. It belongs to the same genus as cow-pea and bambara, but to a very distant section from those of these two crops.
Country: TZA
Copyright: Bioversity International/
S. Padulosi
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Alpinia caerulea - Native ginger
Native ginger, also called blue berry ginger, is found in coastal rainforests in eastern Australia. The plant is partially edible; the berries has a pleasant sour flavor and the ginger flavored root tips and centers of new shoots can be used as a ginger substitute in various dishes.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Arachis
Country: BOL
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Diploglottis campbellii -
Small-leaved Tamarind
Small-leaved Tamarind, a rare and threatened rainforest tree, is found in small numbers on a few sites on the north coastline of New South Wales, Australia. The fruit is edible, has a piquant flavor and can be used in sauces and preserves. An increased planting of Small-leaved Tamarind has made fruits available for food and will hopefully add to the genetic diversity.
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Passiflora - Passion flower
Country: BOL
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Syzygium australe - Brush cherry
Brush cherry or scrub cherry is common in the coastal and highland rainforests of eastern Australia. The species has edible fruits with a pleasant sour flavor and a crisp, refreshing texture. The fruits are often made into jams and jellies, but can also be eaten fresh. Brush cherry is commonly cultivated in gardens, mostly as shorter, shrub-like cultivars, and is especially popular in hedges.
Country: AUS
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney /Kim Hamilton
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Elaeocarpus grandis - Blue Marble Tree
The blue marble tree, also known as blue fig or blue quandong, is a fast growing, large, spreading, distinctive, rainforest tree native to Australia. It bears bitter edible fruits that look like blue marbles and taste a little like dates. The fruits are attracting birds and the seeds are used in jewelry.
City: Sydney Country: AUS
Author: Kim Hamilton
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney
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Rainforest Fruits
City: Sydney Country: AUS
Author: Kim Hamilton
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney
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Syzygium paniculatum - Magenta lilly pilly
Magenta lilly pilly, also known as magneta cherry, is a bushy rainforest tree endemic to New South Wales, the most populous state of Australia. The species is locally well known to have edible and tasty fruits with a pleasantly sour apple like flavor. The magneta lilly pilly is threatened in its natural habitat from fragmentation resulting from development, invasion of native plant communities and high frequency fires. It is by some considered to be a potential weed in areas where it is cultivated and has spread into uncultivated areas.
City: Sydney Country: AUS
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney /Kim Hamilton
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Macadamia integrifolia - Macademia nut
Macadamia, with origin in the rainforests of eastern Australia, have been appreciated by indigenous inhabitants for thousands of years. Up until today it is the only major commercial food crop native to Australia. The hardy evergreen macadamia, troubled by few pests and tolerates moderate frost, has suffered from loss of available habitat through clearing of lowland rainforest for agriculture and urban development.
City: Sydney Country: AUS
Author: Kim Hamilton
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney
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Pelargonium australe - Austral Storksbill
Mostly grows along the coast in sand dunes and on sea cliffs.
Country: AUS
Author: Kim Hamilton
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney
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Juglans regia - Walnut
Walnuts, native to the Old World, have been harvested for thousands of years in many cultures; Alexander the Great brought the species to Europe from Iran and Central Asia and English colonists introduced it to the Americas by the 17th century. Today the largest, nearly pure walnut forests are found in Kyrgyzstan. The species is used in a range of different contexts. The seed is a popular food, as is the walnut oil. Almost all parts of the tree are used for dyeing fabric and wood and leaves and green fruit coats are also used in medicine.
Country: UZB
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Cryptocarya laevigata -Glossy Laurel
Glossy Laurel is a shrub growing in the rainforest understorey on fertile soils in eastern Australia. The attractive red fruits, glossy leaves and small size make it suitable as an ornamental tree.
City: Mount Annan Country: AUS
Copyright: Botani Gardens Trust, Sydney /Kim Hamilton
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Pyrus caucasica - Caucasian pear
Caucasian pear, a wild pear species endemic to the Caucasus, occurs everywhere in the woodlands, in mountainous and flat areas with sufficient moisture and often along river valleys. This melliferous tree is a progenitor of many pear varieties and the fruits are edible.
City: Yerevan Country: ARM
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Tetragonia tetragonioides - Warrigal Greens
Warrigal greens, also called New Zealand spinach, was used as a spinach substitute in the early years of European settlement in Australia. The species is found throughout Australia and have been spread to many parts of the world. It was taken to England where it became a popular vegetable in the early 1800s. The leaves contain high level of oxalic acid and need to be prepared before it is eaten.
Country: AUS
Author: Kim Hamilton
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney
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Harpullia pendula - Tulipwood, seedling
Country: AUS
Author: Kim Hamilton
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney
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Diospyros australis - Black Plum
Black Plum, also known as black myrtle, rainforest ebony and yellow persimmon, is often found as an under-storey plant in sub tropical rainforest and dry rainforest. The species is endemic to Australia. It has attractive foliage and edible fruits which could make it appropriate for cultivation.
City: Mount Annan Country: AUS
Author: Kim Hamilton
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney
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Alpinia caerulea - Native Ginger
Native ginger, also called blue berry ginger, is found in coastal rainforests in eastern Australia. The plant is partially edible; the berries has a pleasant sour flavor and the ginger flavored root tips and centers of new shoots can be used as a ginger substitute in various dishes. This individual is growing at Mount Annan Botanic Garden, Sydney, Australia
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Syzygium australe - Brush cherry, fruit
Brush cherry or scrub cherry is common in the coastal and highland rainforests of eastern Australia. The species has edible fruits with a pleasant sour flavor and a crisp, refreshing texture. The fruits are often made into jams and jellies, but can also be eaten fresh. Brush cherry is commonly cultivated in gardens, mostly as shorter, shrub-like cultivars, and is especially popular in hedges.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Melia azederach - White Cedar
White cedar, also called Chinaberry, Persian Lilac, Bead Tree, Lunumidella, Ceylon Cedar, is native to Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. The tree belongs to the mahogany family Meliaceae and is manly used for its timber. It has weedy properties and is considered an invasive species in parts of USA.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Sorbus aucuparia
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Sorbus aucuparia - Rowan
Rowan, also called Mountain ash, is native to most of Europe and parts of northern Asia. The species have multiple uses; the fruit is used in medicine and in sweet foods like candy and jam, and the tree is used for its wood, as seedling stock for fruit-bearing plants and as an ornamental tree.
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Growth of native citrus shootip post cryo (PVS2) - K. Hamilton (2)
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Rainforest fruits and seeds
Staff picking Australian rainforest fruits, including wild citrus. Mount Annan Botanic Garden, Sydney
Country: AUS
Copyright: © Botanic Gardens Trust/Simone Cottrell
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Macadamia integrifolia - Macadamia nut
Macadamia, with origin in the rainforests of eastern Australia, have been appreciated by indigenous inhabitants for thousands of years. Up until today it is the only major commercial food crop native to Australia. The hardy evergreen macadamia, troubled by few pests and tolerates moderate frost, has suffered from loss of available habitat through clearing of lowland rainforest for agriculture and urban development.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Citrus australasica - Finger lime, seed germinating after cryopreservation
Finger lime, formerly known as Microcitrus australasica, has recently undergone botanical revision and has been reunited with the genus Citrus. The edible fruit with a strong citrus flavor is found in a wide range of color variations, including green, yellow, orange, red, purple, black and brown. The pulp is likened to "caviar lime" and can be used for marmalade and pickles. Finger lime fruit was consumed by early non-indigenous settlers who choose to save the trees while clearing for agriculture. Recently, a number of cultivars have become available and the species has also been used in a cross-breeding program to develop disease-resistant citrus rootstocks.
Country: AUS
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Collection of wild leafy vegetables
Country: UZB
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Tetragonia tetragonioides (Warrigal Greens), K. Hamilton
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Macadamia ternifolia - Small-fruited macadamia
Macadamia, with origin in the rainforests of eastern Australia, have been appreciated by indigenous inhabitants for thousands of years. Up until today it is the only major commercial food crop native to Australia. The hardy evergreen macadamia, troubled by few pests and tolerates moderate frost, has suffered from loss of available habitat through clearing of lowland rainforest for agriculture and urban development.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Planchonella australis - Black apple
Black apple is native to Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. This tree was harvested for its timber by colonialists and is today grown for its hard, decorative wood. The fruit is edible, it has a sweet flavor and makes wonderful jam.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Citrus inodora - Large-leaf Australian wild lime
Multiplication of embryogenic callus of Citrus inodora.

Large-leaf Australian wild lime, or Russel river lime, is a fairly rare citrus species native to the Australian rainforests. It is closely related to ‘conventional’ citrus and the fruit is edible and rich in vitamin C. The variety is unique with 2 spikes next to each leaf axil and flowers that lack fragrance.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Brachychiton populneus - Kurrajong
Kurrajong is a species with multiple uses. It has edible taproots and seeds, which can be used as a coffee substitute and added to bread. The extended trunk can be used as a water storage devise for survival in a warm dry climate and the leaves can serve as emergency fodder for drought affected livestock.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Araucaria bidwillii - Bunya pine
The bunya pine, or simply bunya, native to south-east Queensland is the last surviving Bunya species of the genus Araucaria. The tree was a sacred and highly regarded in Australian Aboriginal culture and the edible and nutritious seeds was an important food resource for the people. The seed is gluten free, making bunya pine flour a substitute for people with gluten intolerance.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Citrus australasica - Finger Lime, fruit
Finger lime, formerly known as Microcitrus australasica, has recently undergone botanical revision and has been reunited with the genus Citrus. The edible fruit with a strong citrus flavor is found in a wide range of color variations, including green, yellow, orange, red, purple, black and brown. The pulp is likened to "caviar lime" and can be used for marmalade and pickles. Finger lime fruit was consumed by early non-indigenous settlers who choose to save the trees while clearing for agriculture. Recently, a number of cultivars have become available and the species has also been used in a cross-breeding program to develop disease-resistant citrus rootstocks.
Copyright: Mount Annan Botanic Garden/K. Hamiton
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Toona ciliata - Australian Red Cedar
Red Cedar (also called Toon, Suren or Indian Mahogany) is found throughout southern Asia from Afghanistan to Papua New Guinea and Australia. The species, a fast growing, majestic tree, highly valued for its easy to work, dark red timber, is one of Australia's few native deciduous trees. It was referred to as "Red Gold" by Australian settlers and heavily exploited during the 19th Century and early 20th Century.
Country: AUS
Copyright: Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney/K. Hamilton
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Malus orientalis -
Oriental wild apple
The Oriental wild apple, native to the Middle East and Central Asia, is occasionally cultivated in the Caucasus and tolerates dry and mildly saline soils. It is a member of the Malus family and an ancestor of a number of apple varieties, including rosemaries, pippins and calvilles.
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Syzygium pseudofastigiatum - Claudie Satinash
Claudie Satinash, a rare rainforest tree found in tropical Queensland, has modest white flowers and clusters of edible white berries.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Szyzgium wilsonii - Powderpuff Lilly Pilly
Powderpuff Lilly Pilly is a small and unusual shrub, endemic to the far north Queensland rainforests. The species, an excellent ornamental plant for gardens, is perhaps one of the most attractive of the "Lilly Pillies" and the flowers can attract wildlife such as birds and honeyeaters.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Davidsonia jerseyana - Davidson's Plum
Davidson's Plum, also known as Mullumbimby Plum, is endemic to a restricted area of northern New South Wales on the east coast of Australia and is considered an endangered species. Both flowers and fruit, superficially resembling the European plum, emerge from the trunk. The fruits have a pleasantly sour taste and the species are cultivated commercially for the use of the fruit in different foods.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Wild pepper
Country: LKA
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Castanospermum australe - Black bean
Black Bean, or Moreton Bay Chestnut, belongs to the Fabaceae family and is the only existing species of Castanospermum. It is native to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and coastal rainforests and beaches of Eastern Australia. The tree is a valuable timber species and its seeds contain alkaloids which are proven to have anti-HIV and anti -cancer properties.
Country: AUS
Copyright: K. Hamilton
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Allium - Wild Onion
Country: ITA
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