The New Oxford Book of Food Plants

by Vaughan, J. G.; Geissler, C. A.; Nicholson, B. E.; Dowle, Elizabeth; Rice, Elizabeth

• ISBN13: 9780198505679
• ISBN10: 0198505671
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-09
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book is a revised and updated version of the very popular Oxford Bookof Food Plants which first appeared in 1969. The authors have added plants thathave come into common use since then and have rewritten the text to reflectcurrent knowledge, especially about nutrition. The original full-colourillustrations by Barbara Nicholson are reprinted in full, together with newpaintings especially commissioned for this book. The aim is to provide acomprehensive and enjoyable reference work about the many edible plants we growin our gardens, buy in our shops, and consume cooked or raw, either on their ownor as part of a recipe. All plants are illustrated in colour with emphasis onthe edible parts, while the text entries give reliable information about eachplant, its historical and current uses, and its nutritional value. A delightfuladdition to the library of any cook. gardener, naturalist, and all thoseinterested in healthy eating styles. From reviews of The New Oxford Book ofFood Plants 'Ditch Delia Smith... and tuck into The New Oxford Book of FoodPlants... This is a tastily updated version of the 1969 classic - a concise andwell-illustrated historical, biological, pharmacological, nutritional andculinary guide to eating plants.' New Scientist 'This book not only enables oneto distinguish some of the exotica at the ethnic corner-shop, but like itspredecessor will surely become an indispensible reference work and teaching aid.May it sell by the thousand!' Plant Talk 'Hand-painted full-page illustrationsare just one of the delights of this comprehensive guide to edible plants. ...An appealling, indispensible reference book for everyone who loves to eat, cook,and garden.' Gusto! 'This book is a new, updated, rewritten, enhanced versionof a 1969 original. The illustrations are both handsome and helpful. The text,in its terse way, is a knockout.... It should be everyone's cup of tea (not tomention cocoa, and of course, coffee). The Guardian 'All in all the book iswell written and attractively illustrated - a useful introduction to food plantsand nutrition for the beginning vegetable gardener, neophyte cook, or highschool student.' American Gardener

Author Biography

John Vaughan is Emeritus Professor of Food Sciences at King's College, London. Catherine Geissler is Professor of Nutrition at King's College London.

Table of Contents

Glossary	xii
Introduction	xiv
Grain crops	2	(14)
Sugar crops and sago	16	(6)
Oil crops	22	(8)
Nuts	30	(6)
Exotic water plants	36	(2)
Legumes	38	(14)
Fruits	52	(66)
Beverage crops	118	(4)
Vegetable fruits	122	(16)
Spices and flavourings	138	(10)
Herbs	148	(12)
Salad crops	160	(4)
Leaf vegetables	164	(8)
Stem, inflorescence, and bulb vegetables	172	(8)
Root vegetables	180	(10)
Tropical root crops	190	(4)
Seaweeds	194	(2)
Mushrooms	196	(2)
Wild fold plants	198	(2)
Nutirition and health	200	(14)
Nutrition tables	214	(13)
Recommended reading	227	(2)
Index of plant names	229	(8)
Subject index	237