881 articles
Paraserianthes lophantha
Paraserianthes lophantha (crested wattle, plume albizia, stink bean) is the sole species of its mimosoid legume genus, native to SW Australia and Sumatra-Java-Lesser Sundas, with two subspecies, fire-stimulated hard seeds, and invasive status in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
Parinari
Parinari is a pantropical genus of about 40 accepted species of trees and shrubs in Chrysobalanaceae, described by Aublet in 1775, marked by bilocular ovaries and hair-filled stomatal crypts, and known for the African mobola plum (P. curatellifolia).
Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa, the African locust bean or néré, is a Fabaceae savanna tree from Senegal to South Sudan whose fermented seeds (soumbala, dawadawa, iru) are a staple West African condiment; IUCN least concern.
Parnassia
Parnassia, the grass of Parnassus genus, is a group of about 56–61 species of glabrous perennial herbs in Celastraceae, Pan-Himalayan center, solitary white flowers with five nectar-mimicking staminodes.
Passiflora caerulea
Passiflora caerulea, blue passion flower or bluecrown passionflower, is a hardy South American passion vine climber with white flowers and blue-purple coronas, orange ornamental fruit, and wide use in hybrids and as rootstock.
Passiflora incarnata
Passiflora incarnata (purple passionflower, maypop) is a Passifloraceae vine native to central and eastern USA and Bermuda, used traditionally as a sedative; EU-registered for mild stress and sleep, with limited clinical evidence.
Paubrasilia echinata
Paubrasilia echinata (pau-brasil, brazilwood, pernambuco), formerly Caesalpinia echinata, is a critically endangered Fabaceae tree endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Forest coast; its red dye wood named the country and makes violin bows.
Pea shoots
Pea shoots are the young, tender vine tips of garden peas (Pisum sativum), a Hmong-introduced specialty green eaten raw, steamed, or stir-fried; rich in vitamins C, E, A, and potassium, grown in cool 55–65°F weather, and used within one to two days of harvest.
Peach gum
Peach gum (桃胶), the injury-induced exudate of Prunus persica, yields type II arabinogalactan polysaccharides with arabinose and galactose as main sugars; extracted fractions emulsify better than gum arabic.
Peanut
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), groundnut: a Fabaceae legume whose flowers pollinate above ground while pods ripen underground (geocarpy). Fourth-ranked global oilseed; ~50 Mt/year led by China, India, Nigeria; key allergen and aflatoxin risks.
Pear
Pear, Pyrus communis and Asian Pyrus species, a temperate pome fruit from the rose family; world production about 26 million tons, propagated by grafting, self-unfruitful, and menaced chiefly by fire blight (Erwinia amylovora).
Pecan
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis), also called sweet pecan or Illinois nut, a North American hickory tree grown for its edible nut; US produces ~80% of world crop, 284 million lb in 2025, with LDL-lowering trial evidence.
Peganum harmala
Peganum harmala (Syrian rue, harmal) is a perennial Nitrariaceae herb native from the Mediterranean to Mongolia and India, whose seeds' β-carboline alkaloids harmine and harmaline act as reversible MAO-A inhibitors, giving folk-medicinal, psychoactive, and toxic properties.
Pelargonium
Pelargonium (geraniums, stork's-bill genus), a Geraniaceae genus of ca. 280 species mostly from southern Africa, with zygomorphic nectar-spurred flowers, four subgenera, and horticulturally important scented species like P. graveolens.
Pelargonium graveolens
Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium, rose-scented pelargonium) is a strongly aromatic southern African subshrub, Geraniaceae, source of rose geranium essential oil rich in citronellol and geraniol, used in perfumery, food, and traditional medicine.
Peltophorum
Peltophorum (Vogel) Benth., yellow-flowered trees of Fabaceae subfamily Caesalpinioideae, also called Baryxylum; seven accepted species, pantropical, sister to Bussea, used as ornamentals, timber, fodder, and medicine.
Pentadesma butyracea
Pentadesma butyracea (butter tree, tallow tree) is a West and Central African Clusiaceae tree up to 35 m whose seeds yield an edible butter rich in oleic and stearic acids, used in food, cosmetics, and traditional medicine.
Pericopsis elata
Pericopsis elata (afrormosia, African teak, kokrodua) is an endangered Fabaceae timber tree of West and Central African semi-deciduous forest, CITES Appendix II since 1992, traded as logs, sawn wood, and veneer.
Persicaria maculosa
Persicaria maculosa (spotted ladysthumb, redshank, lady's thumb; formerly Polygonum persicaria) is an annual Polygonaceae herb native to temperate Eurasia, a weed of spring crops with dark-blotched leaves and pink flower spikes, used as poison and medicine.
Peyote
Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a spineless mescaline-containing cactus of south Texas and northern Mexico, used ceremonially for over 5,000 years, sacred to the Native American Church, legally exempted for traditional Native American use, and listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Phaseolus coccineus
Phaseolus coccineus, the runner or scarlet runner bean, is a Mesoamerican domesticated climbing legume, third-most important Phaseolus crop, grown for dry seeds and green pods, tolerating cool climates.
Phyllanthaceae
Phyllanthaceae Martinov, the leaf-flower family, is a pantropical family of about 60 genera and 2,000 species in Malpighiales, segregated from Euphorbiaceae sensu lato since APG II (2003), with two ovules per locule, no latex, and Phyllanthus as its largest genus.
Phyllanthus amarus
Phyllanthus amarus (Bhumyamalaki, stone breaker) is a pantropical annual herb, native to the Americas, used in Ayurveda for liver disorders; marker lignans phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin; often confused with P. niruri; Cochrane finds no convincing HBV benefit.
Phyllanthus emblica
Phyllanthus emblica (syn. Emblica officinalis), Indian gooseberry or amla, an Asian Phyllanthaceae tree whose vitamin C-rich fruit is used in Ayurveda and shows lipid-lowering effects in randomized trials.
Piccalilli
Piccalilli: a British pickle relish of onions, cauliflower, and cucumber in a turmeric-yellow mustard sauce, first recorded 1769 as piccalillo; in America the name covers chopped pepper, tomato, or chow-chow-style relishes.
Pigeon pea
Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), also red gram or gungo pea, is a drought-resistant tropical legume shrub domesticated in India from C. cajanifolius, grown on about 6 million ha for protein-rich seeds, fodder, and soil-improving nitrogen fixation.
Pilea peperomioides
Pilea peperomioides (镜面草), the Chinese money plant, is a Urticaceae perennial native to SW Sichuan and W Yunnan, China, brought to Norway in 1946 by missionary Agnar Espergen, propagated by offsets and cuttings, and known for round peltate leaves.
Pistachio
Pistachio, the nut of Pistacia vera, a dioecious wind-pollinated Anacardiaceae tree native to Central Asia and northeast Iran; alternate-bearing crop led by the United States, with mandatory aflatoxin testing and about 3 acre-feet water per acre in California.
Pistacia atlantica
Pistacia atlantica (Atlas pistachio, Mt. Atlas mastic tree, Bétoum) is an Anacardiaceae tree native from the Canary Islands and Mediterranean to the W. Himalaya, drought-tolerant, resin- and gall-producing, IUCN near threatened.
Pistacia lentiscus
Pistacia lentiscus, the mastic tree or lentisk, a Mediterranean Anacardiaceae shrub; source of mastic resin, Chios mastic gum (var. chia), EMA traditional herbal medicine for dyspepsia and minor wounds.