Field Guide 1942

There have been a few of these plant guides written on Flora through the years. This guide was commissioned by the US government by Capt. Godshall with technical help by W.R. Lindsay & M. F. Ward of the "Canal Zone experimental gardens". Much of the information described in recent posts is in this field guide intended for US soldiers who wandered off the reservation. I do not think this book was released in large scale and is by far the best I have seen with plates and what is edible and what is not-wallet size leather book for the field. There are plates of the "elephant ear" Alocasia Macrohiza, not recommended because of the Oxalate Crystals but I have seen Nicas using this plant for food these days. Also the "Guanabana" and the "Guanabano", which is smaller with a velvet skin and is good for the water contained within. This research was started before Pearl Harbor and the plates are detailed illustrations without a profit motive here. Even not cooking Breadfruit or Yucca can make you sick. Some of the plants are flat out deadly.

Interesting that this subject has come up as I have just seen the movie, "Into the Wild", which I recommend as well as the soundtrack which was done by Eddie Vedder.

"Edible, Poisonous & Medicinal Fruits of Central America This pamphlet consists of two parts. The first part contains information about the fourteen most common fruits in Central America. The second part contains data that should enable you to identify thirty other fairly common fruits that grow in the American tropics. Before eating any wild fruit, be sure that you know what you're eating. It will only take a few seconds to check the fruit with data in this booklet. Compare the fruit with the sketch. THen read the text to be sure you have identified it corectly and that you know how to prepare the fruit for eating, if it cannot be eaten raw. Study the most common fruits now - - before you're lost in the jungle. A few minutes study now may save your life later..."