Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ethnobotany ofTelfairia occidentalis (cucurbitaceae) among Igbos of Nigeria

  • Published:
Economic Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), an important cucurbitaceous leaf and seed vegetable, is indigenous to the west tropical rainforest area from Bendel to Cross Rivers states of Nigeria (c. longitude 7°–8° E and latitude 5°–6° N). Though endemic to southeastern Nigeria, Telfairia is of local ethnobotanical importance in the folklore and the dietary and cropping systems of Igbos and their neighbours. There is no reported definitive ethnobotanical study relating to this cucurbit.Telfairia has long been important in the internal food trade of Igbos. Like other leaf vegetables, it is of low commerical value, but can in some cases provide an appreciable cash income to small farm families. Its leaves, succulent shoots, and seed kernels constitute the usual ingredients that are popular and regularly consumed in Igbo soups. Soups made of leaf vegetables are essential for consumption of starchy pastes of yam, cassava, or cocoyam, which are frequently consumed in the humid areas of Nigeria. Many good attributes account for the increasing importance of this chief vegetable among 30–35 million people in Nigeria.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Achebe, C. 1958. Things fall apart. Heinemann, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akoroda, M. O. 1986. Seed dessication and recalcitrance inTelfairia occidentalis. Seed Sci. & Technol. 14:327–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akubue, P. I., A. Kar, and F. N. Nnachetta. 1980. Toxicity of extracts of roots and leaves ofTelfairia occidentalis. PI. Med. 38:339–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkill, H. M. 1985. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • Floyd, B. 1969. Eastern Nigeria: a geographical review. Macmillan, London.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ifemesia, C. 1979. Traditional humane living among the Igbo: an historical perspective. Fourth Dimension, Enugu, Nigeria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isichei, E. 1976. A history of the Igbo people. Macmillan, London.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Keay, R. W. J., ed. 1954.Telfairia. Pages 210-211in Flora of West Tropical Africa. Crown Agents for Overseas Governments Administrations, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Longe, O. G., G. O. Farinu, and B. L. Fetuga. 1983. Nutritional value of fluted pumpkin. J. Agric. FoodChem. 31:989–992.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, W. B. 1955. Farming practice, settlement pattern and population density in south-eastern Nigeria. Geogr. J. 121:320–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okafor, J. C. 1979. Edible indigenous woody plants in the rural economy of the Nigerian forest zone. Pages 262-300in D. U. U. Okali, ed., The Nigerian rainforest ecosystem. Man and the Biosphere National Committee. Fed. Min. Sci. & Techn., Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okigbo, B. N. 1977. Neglected plants of horticultural and nutritional importance in traditional farming systems of tropical Africa. Acta Hort. 53:131–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1980. Plants and food in Igbo culture and civilization (1980 Ahiajoku Lecture). Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Owerri, Nigeria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, D., ed. 1871. Flora of Tropical Africa. Vol 2. L. Reeve, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyolu, C. 1978. Relatively unknown vegetable: fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis). Proc. 1st Ann. Conf. Hort. Soc. Nigeria. NIHORT, Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poppleton, W. J. 1939. The Oyster nut-Telfairia pedata. E. African Agric. J. 15:114–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purseglove, J. W. 1965. The spread of tropical crops. Pages 375–389in H. G. Baker and G. L. Stebbins, eds., The genetics of colonizing species. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sai, F. 1965. Nutritional value of West African fruits and vegetables. Pages 5–14in H. D. Tindall, Fruits and vegetables in West Africa. Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stebbins, G. L. 1950. Variation and evolution in plants. Columbia Univ. Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talbot, P. A. 1967. Tribes of the Niger Delta. Frank Cass, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and H. Mulhall. 1962. The physical anthropology of Southern Nigeria, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uchendu, V. C. 1965. The Igbo of Southeast Nigeria. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ukwu, U. I. 1969. Markets in Igboland. Pages 113–254in B. W. Hodder and U. I. Ukwu, Markets in West Africa. Ibadan Univ. Press, Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, J. 1985. Compound farming systems of southeastern Nigeria (Interim Report). Socio-Economic Unit, 11TA, Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Breeding Laboratory, Agronomy Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

    M. O. Akoroda

Authors
  1. M. O. Akoroda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Akoroda, M.O. Ethnobotany ofTelfairia occidentalis (cucurbitaceae) among Igbos of Nigeria. Econ Bot 44, 29–39 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861064

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861064

Keywords

Search

Navigation