origin. Those contributions from Middle and South America are superior to other "The greatest service which can continents, for example from Africa be rendered to any country, (Briicher 1969, 1977). is to add a new useful plant If we compare Eurasia with the American to its culture". continent, we notice a fundamental differ Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, Third President of the USA ence as far as the origin of our cultivated plants and domestic animals is concerned. This book is the result of living and explor Whilst almost all useful animals have been ing over several decades in tropical latitudes domesticated in the "Old World", a consid on three continents, foremost in the neo erable amount of essential food plants and tropics. It presents various critical aspects of industrial crops originated in the "New endangered species and natural resources of World". This successful event would have Latin America, where the biotic equilibrium been unthinkable without the active inter is menaced as never before by the imprudent vention of man. In this case, the reward for actions of one single species, Homo "sapiens". notable breeding abilities goes to Amerindi The destruction of natural habitats, espe an tribes in Meso- and South America cially the tropical forests between the rivers (Hoehne 1937, Sauer 1959, MacNeish 1964, Parana, Bermejo, Paraguay, Mamore, Ma Parodi 1966, Schwanitz 1967, Ucko and deira, Ucayali, Amazonas, Orinoco and Rio Dimbleby 1969, Reed 1977 and Korber Magdalena progresses at the catastrophic Grohne 1988).

Inhalt
I. Carbohydrates from Roots and Tubers.- A. Major Tuberous Plants.- B. Minor Tuberous, Rhizomatic and Aroid Plants.- II. Farinaceous Plants.- 1. Amaranthus spp..- 2. Bromus mango.- 3. Chenopodium spp..- 4. Zea mays.- III. Protein Plants.- 1. Canavalia spp..- 2. Lupinus mutabilis.- 3. Pachyrrhizus spp..- 4. Phaseolus spp..- IV. Oil Plants.- 1. Arachis hypogaea.- 2. Bertholletia excelsa.- 3. Eschweilera odorata.- 4. Caryocar spp..- 5. Caryodendron orinocense.- 6. Cucurbita foetidissima.- 7. Fevillea cordifolia.- 8. Helianthus annuus.- 9. Jatropha curcas.- 10. Lecythis elliptica.- 11. Licania sclerophylla.- 12. Madia sativa.- 13. Monopterix uacu.- 14. Sapindus saponaria.- 15. Simmondsia chinensis.- 16. Virola sebifera.- V. Palms.- 1. Acrocomia spp..- 2. Astrocaryum spp..- 3. Attalea spp..- 4. Bactris gasipaes.- 5. Elaeis oleifera.- 6. Heart of Palms (Palmitos).- 7. Jessenia bataua.- 8. Mauritia flexuosa.- 9. Oenocarpus spp..- 10. Orbignya martiana.- 11. Copernicia cerifera.- VI. Industrially Used Plants.- 1. Agave spp..- 2. Fourcraea spp..- 3. Castilla elastica.- 4. Ceiba pentandra.- 5. Crescentia cujete.- 6. Gossypium spp..- 7. Hevea brasiliensis.- 8. Manihot glazovii.- 9. Manilkara achras.- 10. Parthenium argentatum.- VII. Aromatics, Narcotics, Stimulants, Spices.- 1. Bixa orellana.- 2. Capsicum spp..- 3. Cephaelis ipecacuana.- 4. Cinchona spp..- 5. Colubrina reclinata.- 6. Dipterix odorata.- 7. Erythroxylon spp..- 8. Ilex paraguariensis.- 9. Nicotiana spp..- 10. Paullinia spp..- 11. Pimenta dioica.- 12. Stevia rebaudiana.- 13. Theobroma cacao.- 14. Vanilla spp..- VIII. Some Neotropical Timber.- 1. Araucaria angustifolia.- 2. Mangrove spp..- 3. Ochroma pyramidalis.- 4. Pinus spp..- 5. Swietenia macrophylla.- 6. Bambusoideae.- IX. Tropical Pasture Plants.- A. ForageGrasses.- B. Forage Legumes.- X. Aromatic and Fleshy Fruits.- A. Fruit Trees.- B. Fruits from Herbs and Bushes.