FAMILY ACERACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use1 |
Acer buergerianum |
Trident maple |
East China |
Bonsai |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Acer campestre |
Common or field maple |
Europe |
Ornamental |
C |
Acer nigrum |
Black maple |
East North America |
Syrup (sap) |
C |
Acer palmatum |
Japanese maple |
Japan |
Bonsai |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Acer platanoides |
Norway maple |
Europe |
Ornamental |
C |
Acer rubrum |
Red maple |
East North America |
Dye (bark) |
T |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Acer saccharum |
Sugar maple |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
|
Syrup (sap) |
C |
Acer saccharinum |
Silver maple |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C |
1 C - Commercially important at regional or international level, L - Commercially important in individual countries or portions of countries, T - Traditional, historic use or in current use by tribal cultures. A - Agricultural crop.
FAMILY AQUIFOLIACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Ilex aquifolia |
Holly |
Europe |
Decorative greenery |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Ilex opaca |
American holly |
East United States |
Decorative greenery |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Ilex paraguariensis |
Yerba maté |
North Argentina |
Herbal tea |
L |
|
|
South Brazil |
|
|
|
|
Paraguay |
|
|
Ilex vomitoria |
Yaupon |
Southeast United States, Mexico |
Ceremonial |
T |
FAMILY ANACARDIACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Pistacia kinjac |
Pistachio |
Afghanistan |
Edible nuts |
L |
|
|
Pakistan |
|
|
Pistacia terebinthus |
|
Mediterranean |
Edible nuts |
L |
|
|
|
Tannin (galls) |
T |
|
|
|
Turpentine |
T |
Pistacia texana |
Texas Pistachio |
Texas, United States, Central Mexico |
Edible nut |
L |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
Pistacia vera |
Pistachio |
|
Edible nut |
A |
|
|
|
Mordant (fruit husks) |
T |
|
|
|
Tannin (fruit husks) |
L |
FAMILY BETULACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Alnus glutinosa |
Black alder |
Europe |
Tannin (bark) |
T |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
|
|
Siberia |
|
|
Alnus rugosa |
Speckled alder |
North America |
Tannin (bark) |
T |
Alnus tenufolia |
Mountain alder |
North America |
Dye (bark) |
T |
Alnus spp. |
|
|
Honey |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Betula alba |
European birch |
Europe |
Essential oil (bark) |
L |
|
|
|
Tannin (bark) |
T |
|
|
|
Syrup (sap) |
L |
Betula lenta |
Sweet birch |
East United States |
Essential oil (twigs and bark) |
L |
|
|
|
Birch beer (sap) |
L |
Betula nigra |
River birch |
Southeast North America |
Bonsai |
C |
|
|
North North America |
Syrup (sap), |
|
Betula papyrifera |
Paper birch |
|
Ornamental |
L |
|
|
|
Canoes, shelters, etc., (bark) |
C |
Betula pendula |
Weeping birch |
Europe |
Ornamental |
T |
|
|
|
Bonasi |
C |
Carpinus betulus |
European hornbeam |
Europe |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
Carpinus laxifolia |
|
Korea |
Bonsai |
C |
Carpinus japonica |
Japanese hornbeam |
Japan |
Bonsai |
C |
Corylus avellana |
European hazel |
Europe |
Edible nut (cultivated) |
C, A |
|
|
|
Edible and industrial nut oil |
C |
Corylus maxima |
Turkish filbert |
Near East |
Edible nut (cultivated) |
C |
|
|
|
Edible and industrial nut oil |
C |
Ostrya virginiana |
American hop hornbeam |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C |
FAMILY CORNACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Cornus florida |
Flowering dogwood |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C |
Cornus mas |
Cornelian cherry |
South Europe |
Fruit added to wines and liqueurs |
L |
Cornus sanguiensis |
Dogwood |
South Europe |
Fruit added to wines and liqueurs |
L |
Cornus stolonifera |
Red-osier dogwood |
North America |
Ornamental |
C |
FAMILY EBENACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Diospyros khaki |
Japanese persimmon |
Japan |
Edible fruit |
A |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Diospyros virginiana |
Common persimmon |
Southeast United States |
Edible fruit |
L |
FAMILY ERICACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Arbutus unendo |
Strawberry tree |
Mediterranean |
Jellies, wines, liqueurs |
L |
Oxydendrum arboreum |
Sourwood |
East United States |
Honey |
L |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
FAMILY EUPHORBIACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Aleurites fordii |
Tung |
Central-west China |
Tung oil (seeds) |
A |
Aleurites montana |
Tung |
Southwest China |
Tung oil (seeds) |
L |
FAMILY FAGACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Fagus grandifolia |
American beech |
East North America |
Edible nut |
T |
|
|
|
Dye (bark) |
T |
Fagus sieboldii |
|
Japan |
Bonsai |
C |
Fagus sylvatica |
European beech |
Europe |
Nut oil |
L |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
|
Bonsai |
C |
Castanea crenata |
Japanese chestnut |
Japan |
Edible nut |
A |
|
|
|
Dye (nut hull, bark) |
T |
Castanea dentata |
American chestnut |
East North America |
Edible nut |
T2 |
|
|
|
Tannin (bark) |
T2 |
Castanea henryi |
|
China |
Edible nut (small) |
L |
|
|
Japan |
Edible nut |
|
Castanea mollisima |
Chinese chestnut |
China |
Edible nut |
A |
Castanea ozarkensis |
Ozark chinkapin |
South-central United States |
Edible nut |
L |
Castanea pumila |
Allegheny chinkapin |
East United States |
Edible nut |
L |
Castanea sativa |
European chestnut |
Mediterranean Europe |
Edible nut |
A |
|
|
Near East |
Honey |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
|
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Castanopsis/Chrysolepis spp.3 |
Golden chinkapin (USA) |
Asia, Western North America |
Edible nut |
L, T |
Lithocarpus densiflorus |
Tan oak |
California, Oregon, |
Edible nut (acorn) |
T |
|
|
USA |
Tannin (bark) |
T |
Lithocarpus fenestra |
Kala chakma |
India |
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Nothofagus alpina |
Rauli |
Argentina, Chile |
Edible nut |
T |
Nothofagus glauca |
Hualo |
Argentina, Chile |
Edible nut |
T |
Quercus spp. |
Oak |
|
Dye (bark) |
T4 |
|
|
|
Edible nut (acorn) |
L,T5 |
|
|
|
Tannin (bark) |
L,T |
Quercus aegilops |
Valonea oak |
Mediterranean Europe |
Tannin (galls) |
T |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
Quercus coccifera |
Kerm or holly oak |
Mediterranean Europe |
Dye (kermes scale) |
T |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
Quercus coccinea |
Scarlet oak |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C |
Quercus floribunda |
Kilonj |
India |
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Quercus ilex |
Holm oak |
Mediterranean Europe |
Tannin (bark, galls) |
L, T |
|
|
Near East |
Dye (kermes scale) |
T |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Quercus infectoria |
Lusitania oak |
Mediterranean Europe Near East |
Tannin (bark, galls) |
T |
Quercus lamellosa |
Bujrat |
India |
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Quercus leucotrichophora |
Gray or ban oak |
India |
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Quercus palustris |
Pin oak |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C |
Quercus pendiculata |
Common oak |
Europe |
Tannin (galls) |
T |
Quercus rubra |
Northern red oak |
E NA |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
|
Dye |
T |
|
|
|
Tannin (bark) |
T |
Quercus semicarpifolia |
Kharshu oak |
India |
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Quercus suber |
Cork oak |
West Mediterranean |
Cork (bark) |
C |
|
|
|
Tannin (bark) |
C |
Quercus velutina |
Black oak |
East North America |
Quercitron dye (bark) |
T |
Quercus virginiana |
Live oak |
Southeast United States |
Ornamental |
T |
2 Destroyed by Asian chestnut blight.
3 See table 8.5 for detail.
4 See Table 6.3 for detail.
5 See Table 8.1 for detail.
FAMILY HAMAMELIDACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Liquidambar formosiana |
|
Southeast China |
Styrax (resin) |
L |
Liquidambar orientalis |
Liquidambar |
Mediterranean Europe |
Styrax (resin) |
C |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
Liquidambar styraciflua |
Sweet gum |
East United States |
Styrax (resin) |
C |
|
|
Mexico, Honduras |
Ornamental |
C |
FAMILY HIPPOCASTANACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Aesculus hippocastanum |
Horse chestnut |
Europe |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
Aesculus octandra |
Yellow buckeye |
Eastern United States |
Edible nuts2 |
T |
2 Contain poisonous glucosides and require leaching before use.
FAMILY JUGLANDACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Carya spp. |
Hickory |
Asia, North America |
Edible nut |
A, L, T |
Juglans alianthifolia |
|
China, Japan |
Edible nut |
L |
Juglans australia |
|
Argentina |
Edible nut |
L |
|
|
South Bolivia |
|
|
Juglans boliviana |
|
Bolivia |
Edible nut |
L |
|
|
Peru |
Edible nut |
C |
Juglans californica |
California walnut |
California, USA |
Edible nut |
L |
Juglans cathayensis |
|
Central China |
Edible nut |
L |
Juglans cinerea |
Butternut |
East North America |
Dye (nut hulls) |
T |
|
|
|
Edible nut |
T |
Juglans duclouxiana |
|
Asia |
Edible nut |
L |
Juglans hindsii |
North California walnut |
North California |
Edible nut |
C |
Juglans kamoniana |
|
West Himalaya |
Edible nut |
|
Juglans major |
Arizona walnut |
Arizona |
Edible nut |
L |
|
|
North Mexico |
|
|
Juglans mandchuriana |
|
North China |
Edible nut |
L |
Juglans microcarpa |
Little walnut |
Central-southwest |
Edible nut |
L |
|
|
United States |
|
|
|
|
Ecuador |
Dye (nut hulls) |
L |
Juglans neotropica |
|
Peru |
Edible nut |
L |
|
|
|
|
L |
Juglans nigra |
Black walnut |
Eastern North America |
Industrial products from nut hulls |
C |
|
|
|
Edible nut |
C |
|
|
|
Dye (nut hulls and bark) |
T |
|
|
|
Edible nut |
|
Juglans regia |
English or Persian walnut |
Europe, Near East |
Dye |
A |
|
|
|
Edible nut |
T |
Pterocarya spp. |
Wingnuts |
Asia, Near East |
|
L |
FAMILY LAURACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Laurus nobilis |
Laurel |
Mediterranean |
Decorative greenery |
C |
|
|
|
Flavouring, foliage |
C |
Sassafras albidum |
Sassafras |
East United States |
Flavouring (foliage) |
L |
Umbellularia californica |
Myrtlewood |
California, Oregon |
Flavouring (foliage) |
L |
|
|
|
Honey |
C |
FAMILY LEGUMINOSAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Cercis canadensis |
Redbud |
East United States |
Ornamental |
C |
Cercis siliquastrum |
Judas tree |
Mediterranean Europe |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
Gleditsia caspica |
Caspian locust |
Near East |
Soap (pods) |
L |
Gleditsia japonica |
Japanese locust |
Japan |
Soap (pods) |
L |
Gleditsia macracantha |
|
China |
Soap (pods) |
L |
|
|
|
Tannin (pods) |
L |
Gleditsia triacanthos |
Honey locust |
East United States |
Beer (pods) |
T |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Prosopis chilensis |
Algarrobo |
North Chile |
Fodder (pods) |
L |
|
|
|
Honey |
L |
Prosopis cineraria |
|
India |
Edible pods |
C |
Prosopis glandulosa |
Honey mesquite |
Southwest United States |
Edible pods |
T |
|
|
North Mexico |
Honey |
L |
|
|
|
Jelly, flour (pods) |
L |
|
|
|
Honey |
|
Prosopis pubescens |
Screwbean mesquite |
Southwest United States |
Jelly, flour |
L |
|
|
North Mexico |
|
L |
|
|
North Chile |
Fodder (pods) |
L |
Prosopis tamarugo |
Tamarugo |
|
Honey |
L |
Robinia pseudoacacia |
Black locust |
East United States |
Honey |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
FAMILY MAGNOLIACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Liriodendron tulipifera |
Yellow poplar |
East United States |
Honey |
L |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Magnolia acuminata |
Cucumber tree |
East United States |
Ornamental |
C |
Magnolia grandiflora |
Evergreen magnolia |
Southeast United States |
Ornamental |
C |
FAMILY MORACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Maclura pomifera |
Osage-orange |
South-central United States |
Dye (root bark) |
T |
Morus alba |
White mulberry |
Asia |
Bonsai |
C |
|
|
|
Food for silkworms (foliage) |
C |
Morus issai |
|
Asia |
Bonsai |
C |
Morus rubra |
Red mulberry |
East North America |
Edible fruit |
L |
FAMILY MYRTACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Eucalyptus spp. |
Eucalypts |
Australia |
Decorative greenery |
C |
|
|
Papua New Guinea |
Essential oils2 |
C |
|
|
|
Honey |
C |
|
|
|
Liqueur |
L |
Eucalyptus accedens |
Powder bark wandoo |
Australia |
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Eucalyptus astringens |
Brown mallet |
Australia |
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Eucalyptus wandoo |
Wandoo |
Australia |
Tannin (bark) |
L |
Myrtus communis |
Myrtle |
Mediterranean Europe |
Decorative |
T |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
2 See Table 4.2 for detail.
FAMILY NYSSACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Nyssa ogeche |
Ogeechee tupelo |
Florida, Georgia |
Honey |
L |
Nyssa sylvatica |
Black tupelo |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C |
FAMILY OLEACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Fraxinus spp. |
Ash |
Asia |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
Europe |
|
|
|
|
NA |
|
|
Olea europea |
Olive |
Mediterranean |
Edible fruit (cultivated) |
C |
|
|
|
Edible oil (cultivated) |
|
FAMILY PLATANACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Platanus x acerifolia |
London plane |
Hybrid |
Ornamental |
C |
Platanus occidentalis |
American sycamore |
East United States |
Ornamental |
C |
Platanus orientalis |
Oriental plane |
Sourtheast Europe |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
FAMILY RHAMNACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Rhamnus fragula |
Alder buckthorn |
Europe |
Medicinal (bark) |
L |
Rhamnus purshiana |
Cascara buckthorn |
Pacific Coast, NA |
Medicinal (bark) |
C |
FAMILY ROSACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Amalanchier spp. |
Service berry |
Asia |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
Europe |
|
|
|
|
North America |
|
|
Crataegus spp. |
Hawthorn |
Asia |
Edible Fruit |
L |
|
|
Europe |
Ornamental |
C |
|
|
North America |
|
|
Crataegus aestivalis |
Mayhaw |
Southeast United States |
Edible fruit |
L |
Crataegus opaca |
|
|
|
|
Crataegus rufula |
|
|
|
|
Crataegus cuneta |
|
Japan |
Bonsai |
C |
Malus pumila |
Apple |
Europe |
Edible fruit |
A |
|
|
Near East |
|
|
Malus spp. |
Crabapple |
Asia |
Bonsai |
C |
|
|
Near East |
Edible fruit |
L |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Prunus amygladus |
Almond |
Asia |
Edible nut |
A |
Prunus avium |
Sweet cherry |
Asia |
Edible fruit |
A |
|
|
Europe |
|
|
Prunus domestica |
Plum |
Asia |
Edible fruit |
A |
|
|
Europe |
|
|
Prunus persica |
Peach |
Near East |
Edible fruit |
A |
Prunus serullata |
Japanese flowering cherry |
Japan |
Ornamental |
C |
Prunus yedoensis |
Japanese flowering cherry |
Japan |
Ornamental |
C |
Pyrus domestica |
Pear |
|
Edible fruit |
A |
Sorbus americana |
Mountain ash |
East North America |
Bird lime (fruit) |
T |
|
|
|
Edible fruit |
T, L |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Sorbus aucuparia |
Mountain ash, rowan |
Europe |
Herbal medicine (fruit) |
T, L |
Sorbus domestica |
Service tree |
North Africa, Europe |
Edible fruit |
T, L |
FAMILY SALICACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Salix alba |
White willow |
Europe |
Medicine salicylic acid (bark) |
T |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Salix babylonica |
Weeping willow |
Asia |
Ornamental |
C |
Salix spp. |
|
|
Honey |
L |
Populus alba |
White poplar |
|
Ornamental |
C |
Populus nigra Italica |
Lombardy poplar |
|
Ornamental |
C |
FAMILY TILIACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Tilia americana |
American basswood |
Europe |
Honey |
C |
|
|
|
Mats, cordage (bark) |
L |
Tilia cordata |
European linden |
East North America |
Honey |
C |
|
|
|
Mats, cordage (bark) |
L |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Tilia japonica |
|
Japan |
Mats, cordage (bark) |
L |
Tilia tomentosa |
Silver leafed lime |
Europe |
Honey |
C |
Tilia tuan |
|
|
Mats, cordage (bark) |
L |
FAMILY ULMACEAE
Genus and Species |
Common name(s) |
Natural Range |
Principal NWFP |
Type of use |
Celtis australis |
Nettle tree |
Mediterranean |
Bonsai |
C |
Celtis bangeana sinensis |
|
Asia |
Bonsai |
C |
Celtis occidentalis |
Hackberry |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C |
Ulmus americana |
American elm |
East North America |
Ornamental |
C2 |
Ulmus parvifolia |
Chinese elm |
China |
Bonsai |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
Ulmus rubra |
Slippery elm |
East North America |
Medicinal (bark) |
C |
Zelkova |
|
|
Bonsai3 |
C |
|
|
|
Ornamental |
C |
2 Use limited by Dutch elm disease
3 See Table 3.1 for detail.
FAO TECHNICAL PAPERS
NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS
1. Flavours and fragrances of plant origin (1995)
2. Gum naval stores: turpentine and rosin from pine resin (1995)
3. Report of the International Expert Consultation on Non-Wood Forest Products (1995)
4. Natural colourants and dyestuffs (1995)
5. Edible nuts (1995)
6. Gums, resins and latexes of plant origin (1995)
7. Non-wood forest products for rural income and sustainable forestry (1995)
8. Trade restrictions affecting international trade in non-wood forest products (1995)
9. Domestication and commercialization of non-timber forest products in agroforestry systems (1996)
10. Tropical palms (1998)
11. Medicinal plants for forest conservation and health care (1997)
12. Non-wood forest products from conifers (1998)
13. Resource assessment of non-wood forest products Experience and biometric principles (2001)
14. Rattan - Current research issues and prospects for conservation and sustainable development (2002)
15. Non-wood forest products from temperate broad-leaved trees (2002)
The FAO Technical Papers are available through the authorized FAO Sales Agents