Abstract
Field observations revealed the consumption of several parts of the vegetable ivory (“tagua”) palm not previously reported to be eaten by humans or animals. The whole male inflorescence provides cattle with a fodder nutritionally similar to ryegrass, while the flower clusters provide humans with 102 Kcal/100 g, about four times the caloric density of cauliflower or broccoli. The central mesocarp is similar in composition and caloric density to other fruits and is a comparatively rich source of calcium (116 mg/100 g), potassium (841 mg/100 g), and zinc (1.3 mg/100 g). The interior mesocarp, with 22% fat, is a high caloric density (288 Kcal/100 g) fodder for chickens and is rich in linoleic acid (21%). The immature endosperm, eaten as a snack, is of negligible importance in human nutrition.
Résumé
Se observo en el campo el consumo, por los seres humanos o los animales, de variaspartes de la palma “tagua” (marftl vegetal), que no habia sido reportado previamente en la literatura. La Jloresencia masculina entera proporciona al ganado una golosina de valor nutritional parecido al raygras, mientras los grupos deflores proporcionan 102 Kcal/100 g a los seres humanos, es decir, cuatro veces la densidad calorica de la coliflor o del brocoli. La pane central del mesocarpio, en su composition y densidad calorica, es parecida a otras frutas, y relativamente rica en el calcio (116 mg/100 g), potasio (841 mg/100 g) y zinc (1.3 mg/100 g). La parte interior del mesocarpio, con el 22% de materia grasa, brinda a las gallinas unforraje rico tanto en calorias (288 Kcal/100 g) como en su contenido de dcido linoleico (21%). El endospermo inmaduro, sin un aporte nutritional importante, se consume por la gente mas como golosina.
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Koziol, M.J., Pedersen, H.B. Phytelephas aequatorialis (arecaceae) in human and animal nutrition. Econ Bot 47, 401–407 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02907355
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02907355