Wild Food Plants of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia is an introduction to the wide variety of edible food plants available on the islands of the South Pacific and throughout Southeast Asia. Arranged by part of the plant used, the manual identifies and illustrates (with detailed line drawings and a number of b/w photos) nearly 150 commonly eaten plants of the region, along with basic preparation and safety instructions. Included are chapters on: Edible Ferns, Herbs, Palms, Grasses, Tubers, Fruits and Seeds; and common poisonous plants and plants used to stupefy fish.

Wild Food Plants of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia is an introduction to nearly 150 species of edible food plants. Arranged by part of the plant used, the manual identifies and illustrates (with detailed line drawings and a number of b/w photos) commonly eaten plants of the region, along with basic preparation and safety instructions.

Describes the information available, from both traditional medical texts and recent scientific studies, for 102 medicinal plants used in the South Pacific Islands. Plants from this part of the world represent an especially diverse flora and include several species currently undergoing scientific investigation. Common traditional uses include the treatment of minor injuries, childhood ailments, and complications of pregnancy. Plants described in the book are also used as emetics and as ointments and dressings applied to surface wounds or used to treat skin problems. Addressed to ethnobotanists, phytochemists, and pharmacologists, the book aims to document traditional clinical uses and bring these to the attention of the international scientific community, while also preserving knowledge about the distinctive indigenous practices in these island communities. Full-color photographs are included to facilitate identification of plants and plant parts used for medicinal purposes. Each plant is described according to a common format, which includes information on scientific name, local names, English name, a description of the plant and its habitat and distribution, and a summary of what is known about its chemical constituents, biological activity, and traditional uses. Close to 500 references to the traditional and scientific literature are included. The book concludes with a detailed index of local names used in these islands.

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