Barbados plant dictionary

ackee

Melicoccus bijugatus; Ovoid green fruit that grows in bunches on trees up to 30m high. The fruit typically ripen during the summer. The fruit is relat

aloes

Aloe vera. Valued for use in herbal medicine, as a purgative or washout, and for cosmetic and skin care purposes.

breadfruit

Tree and fruit native to the Pacific Islands and Malaysia that was brought to the West Indies in the 18th century. The fruit is large with a rough gre

calabash

A gourd that is used for utilitarian purposes, and not for food. The skin or shell of the large green fruit hardens to become wood-like when dry. The

cerasee

A variety of bitter melon plant (Momordica charantia). A vine bearing a small bumpy skinned yellow or orange fruit. The leaves are used to make a bitt

cowitch

Any of several species of stinging nettle plants. Contact with human skin causes great discomfort.

dasheen

The edible leaves of the taro plant.

dungs

Ziziphus Mauritania; A small round berry about 3/4 inches in diameter. The fruit is green and turns yellow as it ripens. Ripe fruit may occasionally d

dunk

Ziziphus Mauritania; A small round berry about 3/4 inches in diameter. The fruit is green and turns yellow as it ripens. Ripe fruit may occasionally d

eddoe

Taro - plant used primarily for its edible root and leaves.

fat pork

Fruit of the Chrysobalanus icaco,which is a shrub or bushy tree, rarely 10 metres tall. In late summer it bears fruit in clusters, that of the coastal

fig

A banana variety known for small sweet fruit.

ganja

Marijuana; Cannabis

golden apple

The bael (Aegle marmelos) is a hard shelled fruit about the size of a grapefruit that is used for food and medicinal purposes.The fruit contains hairy

gooseberry

The tree and fruit of Phyllanthus acidus. The intermediate sized tree produces small, flattened, multi-lobed, berries with a high acid content. The ta

jamoon

Fruit, the size of an olive and purple in color. It can be eaten raw and is used to make refreshing drinks. It can also be eaten with sugar. It stains

mammee apple

Round fruit between 5 and 9 inches in diameter. The fruit has rough brown skin and contains a single large seed. The flesh of unripe fruit is hard and

mangustine

Ziziphus Mauritania; A small round berry about 3/4 inches in diameter. The fruit is green and turns yellow as it ripens. Ripe fruit may occasionally d

nigger pepper

A small, but hot chili pepper used for cooking. The peppers range in colour from green to red. The pepper is native to Barbados where it grows wild.

noni

Morinda citrifolia otherwise known as 'Noni'. Foul smelling and bitter tasting fruit that commonly grows on small trees close to the sea. The fruit is

papaw

A torpedo, oval, or pear shaped fruit. The fruit bears on a large leafed tree up to 10m tall. When green, it is cooked as if a vegetable. The flesh co

pear

Avocado. Edible pear shaped or round fruit with an egg shaped seed. The flesh is green on the outside and turns yellow closer to the seed.

sea grape

A small green fruit resembling grapes both in individual appearance, and the fact that it grows in bunches. Some fruit become tinged with red or purpl

sorrel

Roselle (hibiscus sabdariffa) is a member of the hibiscus, okra and cotton family. This annual herb grows erect and is sparsely branched. The stems ar

soursop

The edible fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree native to Mexico, Cuba, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South

star plum

A round fruit about the size of a tennis ball. It has a glossy leathery skin that is either green, purple, or some combination of the two colours. Ins

sugar apple

An edible round, ovoid, or cone shaped fruit around 6-10 cm in diameter, with a lumpy skin. The skin colour changes from bright green to a pale whitis

surasee

A variety of bitter melon plant (Momordica charantia). A vine bearing a small bumpy skinned yellow or orange fruit. The leaves are used to make a bitt