Boerhavia diffusa – Famine Foods

Boerhavia diffusa

Synonym(s):
Boerhavia diffusa

Uses

India (Deccan): herb [sic] eaten. Madhya Pradesh: the Gond and Sahariya tribes eat the bark and leaves. Australia (New South Wales): roots roasted and eaten.

Additional Information

Name Authority:
Engelm. & A. Gray.; L.; Sw.
Vernaculars:
Rajasthan (western): Sata, Santi. Madhya Pradesh (Hindi dialect): Punarnava
Misc:
Chemical composition (root): Sand (dry sample) = 0.34%; (fresh sample) = 0.17%. Silica (dry sample) = 0.22%; (fresh sample) = 0.11%. Calcium (dry sample) = 1.246%, (fresh sample) = 0.623%. Magnesium (dry sample) = 0.344%, (fresh sample) = 0.172%. Phosphorus (dry sample = 0.155^%, (fresh sample) = 0.077%. Potassium (dry sample) = 2.89%, (fresh sample) = 1.440%. Ca: 8.03. Fe: 345. Cu: 6. Mn: 20 (in ppm on dry P basis). Moisture = 50. Fibre (crude, dry sample) = 9.6%, (fresh sample) = 4.8%. Ether extract (dry sample) = 1.62%, (fresh sample) = 0.91%. Protein (crude, dry sample) = 9.1%, (fresh sample) = 4.56%. Ash (dry sample) = 8.42%, (fresh sample) = 4.21%. Carbohydrate (dry sample) = 71.2%, (fresh sample) = 35.6%. Albuminous nitrogen (dry sample) = 1.02%, (fresh sample) = 0.51%. Amido nitrogen (dry sample) = 0.44%; fresh sample) = 0.22%. Fuel value [calories] (dry sample) = 29.0, (fresh sample) = 58.0. Soil type favored by plant: sandy and alluvial plains. See also Jain & TIwari

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