Abstract
Three native species formerly used as food plants by the Indians of western Canada were analyzed for nutritive value. The species were Indian bread-root (Psoralea esculenta Pursh, squaw-root (Perideridia gairdneri(Hook & Arn.) Mathias), and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosusL. var. subcanescensGray. Protein scores, which are estimates of protein quality based on egg protein with a value of 100, were: squaw-root, 81;Jerusalem artichoke, 58;and Indian bread-root, 36. Squaw-root proved to be nutritionally the best among the 3 species and could also be a useful source of vitamins A and C and of potassium. Both squaw-root and Indian bread- root are also valuable sources of food energy,and all 3 plants, especially Indian bread- root, are good sources of lysine and therefore good supplements for cereals.
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Kaldy, M.S., Johnston, A. & Wilson, D.B. Nutritive value of Indian bread-root, squaw-root, and Jerusalem artichoke. Econ Bot 34, 352–357 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858309
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858309