Taro (Colcasia Esculenta)
•3 varieties present in Living Machine (Purple, Violet stemmed, Green)
•Taro is the oldest cultivated crop in the world, having been grown in parts of
tropical and subtropical Asia for more than 10,000 years.
•The ancient irrigation systems for terraced rice paddies were originally
constructed for taro. Rice may have first come to notice as a weed in the
flooded taro patches.
•Because of taro’s long history of cultivation its origin is hard to determine, it
most likely originated in Eastern India.
•According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, 6.57 million tons of taro
are produced worldwide each year on 2.66 million acres (1square km of Taro
can feed 5000 people for one year).
•Taro also has medicinal value; the fresh leaves are used in Africa to soothe
wounds, sores and boils. The juice from the stalks is used in Indonesia against
snake bites. Taro has also been known to stop bleeding, even in the case of an
arterial hemorrhage
Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)
•2 varieties present in the Eco Machine (Calla Lily & Giant Calla Lily)
•Native to South Africa, it is one of the most widely cultivated aroids because of its
economic value as a cut flower.
•The Calla lilies’ leaves are also used to soothe wounds, sores, boils and burns.
•In South Africa green and yellow dyes are extracted from the arum lily (another
name for the Calla lily, because it is a member of the Arum or Aroid family) for use
as fabric dyes.
Giant Arrow Leaf (Alocasia Odora)
•Alocasia Odora is an elephant ear Aroid and grows a treelike stem of 2 meters or
more, and produces a sweet scent.
•It is used in India as a local medicine to treat asthma and lung cancer.
• The part used to cure asthma and lung cancer is the stem. It is cut into slices which
are cooked together with pork fat. This soup is then taken 3 times a day.
Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)
•Angel’s trumpet is in the solanceacea family which is closely related to the morning
glory family
•Brugmansia has been a source for steroid alkaloids in medicine and has also been
used widely as a hallucinogen.
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
•Water hyacinth is often considered
the world’s most serious aquatic weed,
attempts to eradicate its floating mats
from reservoir’s, lakes and irrigation
canals has resulted in considerable
annual expenditure for many nations.
•Water hyacinth is used as fodder for
animals
•It is also used widely for treating
polluted waters
Canna (Canna sp.)
•Two varieties found in the Eco Machine (Canna ‘Ra’ & Canna ‘Indica’)
•C. Indica is edible and originated as a crop more than 4,500 years ago in the Northern Andes.
•The tubers are grown as a food crop in the pacific parts of Asia and Australia and go by the
names, “purple arrowroot” and “Queensland arrowroot”
•In Andean South America the tubers yield a fine starch used in baking. The shoots and leaves
are used for their medicinal properties, the leaves are also used to wrap food for cooking.
Giant Reed (Arundo Donax)
•2 varieties found in the Eco Machine ( Variegated and Un-variegated)
•Giant reed is a large plant that might be found growing as a dense stand in water, topped
by large feathery, plume-like inflorescences.
• Giant reed is a source of reeds for musical instruments and industrial cellulose.
Umbrella Plant (Cyperus alternifolius)
•C. Alternifolius, is a sedge sometimes grown as an ornamental, and has become
naturalized in wet places within the United States.
•Like some other Cyperus species, this one has relatively long narrow pointed
spikelets that have 2 rows of tan overlapping scales.
Egyptian Paper Reed/Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus)
•C. Papyrus is native to the Nile Valley and Central Africa.
•It was one of the first plants used in paper making.
•The original ‘Earth Charter’ document was printed on papyrus harvested from the
South Burlington Eco Machine (www.earthcharter.org).
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
•Is a member of the zingiberaceae family which have ethereal oils in their cells and
therefore include many important spice plants of the old world
•E. Cadamomum yields the spice cardamom, which contains cineole, a chemical
which is reputed to relieve laryngitis
Butterfly Ginger (Hedychium spp.)
•2 species found in the Eco Machine (Yellow and white butterfly ginger)
•Hedychium coronarium, also called the Butterfly Lily, can relieve aches and pains,
and is used to fight against rheumatism and tumors.
•It is commonly cultivated in the Amazon but originates from India, and has spread
throughout the tropics.
Mosquito Fern (Azolla caroliniana)
•Azolla is a tiny aquatic fern.
•Azolla caroliniana ranges from the eastern U.S., through Central America and
along Eastern South America.
•Some species have been used for centuries in China and Vietnam as a green
manure in flooded rice cultivation. Azolla harbor blue-green algae in a pouch in
one of its fronds that live symbiotically with the fern, these algae fix
atmospheric nitrogen in great quantities and make it available to the
intercropped rice.
•Azolla also plays an important role in many ecosystems as a source of food for
insects,fish,waterfowl,tortoises, rodents and manatees.
Water Pennywort (Hydrocotyle verticillata)
•Water pennyworts are a very common member of the Umbelliferae family. They have
long creeping stems that often form dense mats and have Circular leaves typically about
the size of a half-dollar. Water pennyworts occur in and near ponds, lakes, rivers, and
marshes.
•Pennywort is edible and is said to be effective at relieving the pain of arthritis, as well as
having the ability to cure or alleviate other ailments ranging from varicose veins to
leprosy and nervous disorders.
Water Celery (Oenanthe javanica)
•Water Celery also a member of the Umbelliferae family and has a dense root mass. One
root can grow up to 30cm long in water.
•The roots can be cooked and are considered a delicacy in Japan.
•Young leaves and stems can also be eaten. The leaves are used as a seasoning in soups,
etc. The flavor is reminiscent of carrots or parsley.
•Water celery is a major vegetable in many parts of Asia, the leaves are a rich source of
vitamins and minerals. The seed is also said to be edible
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
•Iris pseudacorusis a wetland plant is used in sewage treatment, it can remove
metals from wastewaters.
•Iris : Greek goddess of the rainbow and messenger to the gods
Pseud : false
Acorus : sweet flag genus of plants
•Iris pseudacorus was brought to Canada and the U.S. as an ornamental plant in
the early 1900s
• It is used as an erosion control plant, and also as a dye and fiber plant
Common/Lesser Duckweed (Lemna minor)
•Small duckweeds are floating plants. They are commonly
found in still or sluggish waters. They often form large
floating mats.
•Each plant has two to several leaves joined at the base. A
single root hangs beneath.
Common Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
•Watercress is a member of the mustard family and is believed to have
originated in Ancient Greece and remains an integral part of
Mediterranean diets.
•“The American Indians used watercress for liver and kidney trouble. It is
rich in iron and other valuable mineral elements and its blood purifying
and system cleansing properties cause it to be used extensively as a blood
purifier.”
•It has also been used as a remedy against anemia, eczema, tuberculosis,
boils, warts and tumors.
•It is sold as a green for salads at many grocery stores
Lizard’s Tail (Saururus cernuus)
•Lizard's-tail is a common immersed plant. It grows into small colonies from
underground runners. The erect plant typically grows to one to two feet tall,
in ditches, swamps, marshes, and other wetlands.
•Lizard's-tail has a bottlebrush spike of white flowers. It is typically six to
eight inches long but can be longer. The flower spike arches above the leaves
of the plant.
Fire Flag (Thalia geniculata)
•Fire flag is a large immersed plant that grows from a thick rhizome. It grows
in ponds, swamps, marshes, and along stream banks.
•Large simple leaves on long stalks are among fire flag's most notable features.
The leaves are broadly lance-shaped, with broadly rounded bases.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichium)
•Fast growing decidious tree, found in moist to wet soils
and can grow in water.
•The resin in its cones is used as an analgesic for wounds.
•The wood is often used for pipes, vats and in other wet
condition applications.
Purple Banana (Musa velutina)
•Originates from North East India.
•It will produce yellow flowers and small velvety pink bananas if given proper
light and warmth.
Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
•The swamp rose mallow can be found throughout most of Southern N. America
(Massachusetts to Michigan, south to Alabama, Georgia and Florida).
•The flowers are hermaphroditic (have both male and female organs) and are
pollinated by insects.
•Hibiscus are often used in the treatment of dysentery, lung ailments and urinary
ailments. An infusion of the dried stalks has been used in the treatment of
inflammation of the bladder.
•Although there are no reports of edibility for this species, most of the plants in this
family have edible leaves and flowers.