Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
(prophyll); occasionally, prophyll subtending and enclosing rachilla, bearing 1 pistillate, sometimes
(0-) 3 staminate flowers and empty scales. Secondary inflorescences panicles are often modified to
corymbs, pseudoumbel, cyme (anthela), raceme, spike, or capitulum (head), rarely single spike, usu-
ally subtended by foliaceous or, less frequently, glumaceous bracts; secondary inflorescences some-
times simulating spikelets. Flowers are hypogynous, bisexual in most genera; perianth is absent or
with (1-) 3-6 (-30) bristles or scales, usually falling off with fruit; stamens usually (1-) 3, rarely
more, usually distinct; anthers are basifixed; pistils are 1, 2-3 (-4)-carpellate, fused, locule 1; style
is undivided or branches 2-3 (-4); stigma sometimes is papillate. Fruits are achenes, usually trigo-
nous or biconvex; pericarps are thin (except in Scleria).
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Habitat and Distribution —
Tiger nut is a perennial tuber or nut found in the wild and culti-
vated in drier parts of the continent. It has been cultivated since the fourth millennium BC in Egypt
and for several centuries in other parts of North Africa and southern Europe. The plant can grow in
light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay) soils and prefers acid, neutral, and basic (alkaline)
soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist or wet soil.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The spherical underground tubers, with their sweet nutty flavor, are con-
sumed fresh, dried, and in roasted forms. Fresh tubers are also soaked in water and processed to yield
a refreshing milk-like beverage in northern Nigeria and Namibia. In Spain, the nutritional drink is
called
Horchata de chufa
. It is fermented in many parts of West Africa to produce an alcoholic drink.
The oil, which is rich in oleic (65.55%), palmitic (16.32%), and linoleic (12.13%) acids, is produced
commercially in the Valencia region of Spain as a substitute for olive oil, a nutraceutical agent, and a
major ingredient for high-quality cosmetics. According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia,
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tiger
nuts have excellent nutritional qualities, with a fat composition similar to olives and a rich mineral con-
tent, especially phosphorus and potassium. Since the oil has a predominance of UFAs (82%) against
only 18 saturated fatty acids, it is useful as a dietary supplement for people with high cholesterol. It can
also be used to replace milk in the diet of people intolerant to lactose to a certain extent. Its ethnomedi-
cal use is for the treatment of stomach and bowel disorders and inflammatory diseases.
Constituents —
Tiger nut contains carbohydrates, flavonoids, minerals, phytosterols, tocoph-
erols, tocotrienols, and various nutrients. The oil is composed of 7 major TAG (triacylglycerol)
classes, with C54:3 (29.00%) and C52:2 (27.82%) dominating. Oleoyl chain primarily occupies both
sn-1/3 (52.68%) and sn-2 (77.62%) positions in the tiger nut oil. It has a total tocol content of 120.10
μg/g, dominated by α-tocopherol (86.73 μg/g) and β-tocopherol (33.37 μg/g). The total 4-desmethyl-
sterol content is 986 μg/g, dominated by β-sitosterol (517.25 μg/g) and stigmasterol (225.25 μg/g).
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Pharmacological Studies —
Most of the biological studies on tiger nut have been on its nutri-
tional properties. The rhizomes are used for chewing; in preparing the white, jelly-like, tiger nut
milk recommended as a substitute for dairy milk; and in therapeutic diets for diabetes, hypercho-
lesterolemia, and chronic indigestion. Because of its high content of vitamin E, it helps slow the
aging of body cells. In cosmetics preparations, it improves the elasticity of the skin and reduces skin
wrinkles.
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The related
Cyperus rotundus
has been evaluated for its antibacterial, anti-inflamma-
tory, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities with positive results.
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CYTISUS SCOPARIUS
Botanical Name —
Cytisus scoparius
( L.) Li n k
Synonyms —
Sarothanmus scoparius
(L.) Koch.,
S. vulgaris
Wim.,
Spartium scorpariium
Family —
Leguminosae
Common Names —
Broom, Scotch broom. Irish broom, broom tops, besom, scorparium, and
several other names
Description —
Cytisus
is a tall deciduous shrub with ridged stems. The leaves are yellow, with
three obviate leaflets at the base and single sessile and lanceolate leaves at the top. The upper parts
