Traditional Food Plants in Sri Lanka Traditional Food Plants in Sri Lanka PDF
Preview Traditional Food Plants in Sri Lanka Traditional Food Plants in Sri Lanka
T r a d i t i o n al F o od P l a n ts T r a d i t i o n al F o od P l a n ts in S ri L a n ka in S ri L a n ka Udaya Rajapaksha Out of a large number of edible plants explored since the beginning of civilization, only about 150 species have so far been considerably exploited. According to the FAO, only nine crops - wheat, rice, maize, barely, sorghum/millet, potato, sweet potato/yam, sugar cane and soyabean - are being exploited to provide human almost three quarters of human energy dietary energy - provided by the plant kingdom. The wealth of crop varieties built over thousands of years is being, lost at an alarming rate. In thecurrent scenario of ever increasing population pressureand fast depletion of natural resources, continued dependence on a few selected crops has become risky because failure of one or another crop can end with a disaster when no replacement crops are available. In this context, a large number of traditional food plants can be successfully used tf ensure food security and better nutrition in rural mass in the developing countries since they are locally available, tasty and nutritious but rather cheap compared to socially accepted fo<xl varieties. This monograph fulfills a long • felt need for a resource book on traditional food plants. It compiles useful information on 152 traditional food plants useful for academics, researchers, agriculturists, policy makers, teachers, students and the general public who are interested in the subject or involved in the promotion and utilization of traditional food plants. ISBN 955-612-031 -9 Cover Design Karunasrii Wjiesnigha romftnieo Samayawardhona HECTOR KOBBEKADUWA AGRARIAN RESEARCH & TRAINING INSTITUTE Traditional Food Plants in Sri Lanka Udaya Rajapaksha M.Sc. Agric, Ph.D. (Moscow) Research Study : 100 April 1998 Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute P.O. BOX 1522 Colombo 7 Sri Lanka. 3 . j5 ISBN 955 - 612 - 031 To plan for a year, sow rice; to plan for ten years, plant trees; to plan for hundred years, educate people - A Proverb FOREWORD In the current scenario of ever increasing population pressure and fast depletion of natural resources, continued dependence on a few selected major crops under modern agriculture have become risky. Real food security relies on the diversity of food plants since the failure of one or another major crop can end in a disaster when the food base is narrow and no replacement crops are available. But, our ancestors knew about the ecosystem in which they lived and practiced ways of ensuring the sustainable utilization of the natural resources. Not only did they use a large amount of plant species, but also developed a large number of varieties with qualitative and quantitative traits and adaptive to the different climatic conditions and resistant to pest and diseases. They knew how to prepare meals deliciously and nutritionally and store safely the rest of the food for future consumption. They had the knowledge to destroy the toxic compounds of some foods during the preparation. They also identified some food varieties that are not eaten together since they may be harmful to the humans. They knew food varieties which were good for various ages of the life and physical conditions. This knowledge and skills related to traditional food plants, agriculture, food preparation post-harvest technology and nutrition are rapidly disappearing. Therefore traditional food plants and indigenous knowledge should be taken care of by adopting sustainable agricultural systems in order to ensure food security and improve the nutritional status of the population. It is also important that traditional food plants and indigenous knowledge to be protected as they are valuable resources which will decide the fate of future agriculture. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to see that our right to these genetic resources, traditional food plants is protected in international trade agreements. Therefore it is important to explore the potential of the traditional food plants and document all invaluable information for the future generation. In the context of increasing attention paid to the traditional food plants, Dr. Udaya Rajapaksha a Senior Researcher attached to the HARTI on whom the task of researching and compiling a monograph was entrusted has taken pains to compile this resource book I believe the monograph is valuable and informative and carries timely and forward looking significance. S.G. Samarasinghe, Ph.D Director - HARTI. PREFACE Considering the importance of low input agriculture and biological diversity for sustainable development, traditional food plants earn global attention in agricultural and food production programmes. Attempts are being made to identify, evaluate, conserve and use the traditional food plant species in a meaningful way all over the world. In this context, there is a longlasting necessity of a resource book on traditional food plants with their various characteristics and the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute has undertaken the task of compiling a book on the above subject. I believe that I have been privileged to coordinate and carry out this task in a useful way. I wish to record my sincere thanks to following personalities who directly and inderctly helped to accomplish this task. Words can't express my deep sense of gratitude to Mr D.G.P. Seneviratne, former Director of Agrarian Research and Training Institute ( Now Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute) for his untiring help, deep interest in the subject and meticulous guidance right through the course of the project. I recall with special thanks how he first sowed the interest of this research in me. I am thankful to Dr. S.G. Samarasinghe, Director, Hector Kobbekeduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, for providing all facilities to carry out the project, stimulating my interest in traditional plants and constant encouragement. I deeply acknowledge the assistance rendered by my research assistants Mr. T.N. Kumara, Mr. M. Nagahawatta, Mr. A. Rathnasiri, Mrs. Kshanika Mendis and Miss. A. Shantha Dayaseeli. My special thanks are due to Mr. Upali Dhanasekara, Mr. Lai Jayarathne and Mrs. Ranjani Edirisinghe, National Herbarium, Royal Botanic Garden, Peradeniya and Dr. Upali Pilapitiya, Director Bandaranayake Memorial Aurveda Research Institute, Nawinna for his assistance during the course of the study. My colleagues, Messers L.P. Rupasena, T.A. Dharmaratne, Ananda Samarakoon, R.L.N. Jayatissa, J.K.M.D. Chandrasiri, K.K. Kumara, Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, Dr. Dhanawardana Gamage and Messers L. Jayakody, D.M. Kuruwita, Thilakaratne Bandara, Sunil Karunaratne, Ranjith Dissanayake and Dr. Danister Perera deserve special thanks for their assistance in collecting much needed specimens, information and words of encouragement . My indebtedness for the extra-ordinary support rendered by rural farmers and other grassroot informants on various aspects of the study. Particular mention must be made of the suggestions and valuable comments made by Prof. M. Karunanayake and Dr.A.A.M Jayasuriya in the course of their review of this edition. The assistance provided by Mr. K.A.S. Dayananda, Head, Publication Unit, HARTI is gratefully acknowledged. My sincere thanks are also due to Mr. Palitha Gunaratne for his help to scan the line drawings of this book. I thank Mr. Siriwardena and his printing staff for their speedy and dedicated work. It is my pleasure to express appreciation of act of kindness by Mr. Wilfred Ranasinghe and Mr. M.S. Sri Gowri Sanker for providing editorial assistance often at the cost of personal convenience. Finally I thank Mrs. Kaman Karunaratne and Mrs. Pushpika Ranaweera for speedy type setting. Udaya Rajapaksha CONTENTS I Foreward V II Preface VII III Introduction 1 IV Anthology of selected species of traditional food plants 15 Family Botanical Name ACANTHACEAE Asteracantha longifolia AIZOACEAE Trianthema decandra AIZOACEAE Trianthema portulacastrum AMARANTHACEAE Aerva lanata AMARANTHACEAE Alternanthera sessilis AMARANTHACEAE Amaranthus paniculatus AMARANTHACEAE Amaranthus polygonolides AMARANTHACEAE Amaranthus spinosus AMARANTHACEAE Amaranthus viridis ANACARDIACEAE Anacardium occidentale ANACARDIACEAE Mangifera indica ANACARDIACEAE Mangifera zeylanica ANACARDIACEAE Spondias pinnata ANNONACEAE Annona muricata ANNONACEAE Annona reticulata ANNONACEAE Annona squamosa APOCYNACEAE Carissa carandas APOCYNACEAE Carissa spinarum ARACEAE Alocasia indica ARACEAE Alocasia macrorrhiza ARACEAE Amorphophallus campanulatus ARACEAE Colocasia esculenta ARACEAE Lasia spinosa ASCLEPIADACEAE Dregea volubilis ASCLEPIADACEAE Hemidesmus indicus BASELLACEAE Basella alba BOMBACACEAE Durio zibethinus BROMELIACEAE Ananas comosus CARICACEAE Carica papaya CLUSIACEAE Garcinia cambogia CLUSIACEAE Garcinia mangostana CLUSIACEAE Garcinia terpnovhylla CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea aquatica CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea batatas CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea obscura CRUCIFERAE Brassica alba CRUCIFERAE Brassica integrifolia CRUCIFERAE Brassica nigra CUCURBIT ACEAE Benincasa hispida CUCURBIT ACEAE Colocynthis citrullus CUCURBITACEAE Cucumis melo var conomon CUCURBIT ACEAE Cucumis sativus CUCURBITACEAE Cucurbita maxima CUCURBITACEAE Lagenaria siceraria CUCURBITACEAE Luffa acutangula CUCURBITACEAE Luffa cylindrica CUCURBITACEAE Momordica charantia CUCURBITACEAE Momordica dioica CUCURBITACEAE Trichosanthes anguina CYCADACEAE Cycas circinalis DIOSCOREACEAE Dioscorea alata DIOSCOREACEAE Dioscorea bulbifera DIOSCOREACEAE Dioscorea esculenta DIOSCOREACEAE Dioscorea pentaphylla DIOSCOREACEAE Dioscorea spicata DIPTEROCARPCEAE Shorea megistophylla DIPTEROCARPCEAE Vateria copallifera EBENACEAE Diospyros malabarica ELAEOCARPACEAE Elaeocarpus serratus EUPHORBIACEAE Antidesma bunius EUPHORBIACEAE Baccaurea metleyana EUPHORBIACEAE Drypetes sepiaria EUPHORBIACEAE Manihot esculentus EUPHORBIACEAE Phyllanthus emblica FABACEAE Arachis hypogaea FABACEAE Cassia auriculata FABACEAE Cassia occidentalis FABACEAE Cassia tora FABACEAE Cynometra cauliflora FABACEAE Dialium ovoideum FABACEAE Dolichos biflorus FABACEAE Phaseolus mungo FABACEAE Phaseolus aureus FABACEAE Psophocarpus tetragonolobus FABACEAE Sesbania grandiflora FABACEAE Tamarindus indica FABACEAE Vigna catiang FABACEAE Vigna marina FLACOURTIACEAE Flacourtia cataphracta FLACOURTIACEAE Flacourtia ramontchi LAMIACEAE Solemostemon rohindifolus LAURACEAE Cinnamomum zeylanicum LAURACEAE Neolitsea cassia LILIACEAE Allium ascalonicum LILIACEAE Allium sativum LILIACEAE Asparagus racemosus MALVCEAE Hibiscus esculentus MARANTACEAE Maranta arundinacea MORACEAE Artocarpus altilis 9 MORACEAE Artocarpus heterophyllus MORACEAE Artocarpus nobilis MORACEAE Ficus racemosa MORINGACEAE Moringa oleifera MUSACEAE Musa sapientum MYRTACEAE Eugenia caryophyllata MYRTACEAE Psidium guajava MYRTACEAE Syzygium aqueum MYRTACEAE Syzygium caryophyllatum MYRTACEAE Syzygium cumini MYRTACEAE Syzygium jombos MYRTACEAE Syzygium malaccensis NYMPHAEACEAE Nelumbo nucifera NYMPHAEACEAE Nymphaea lotus OXALIDACEAE Averrhoa bilimbi OXALID ACEAE Averrhoa carambola OXALIDACEAE Oxalis corniculata PALMAE Borassus flabellifer PALMAE Caryota urens PALMAE Cocus nucifera PALMAE Corypha umbraculifera PALMAE Nypa fruticans PALMAE Phoenix zeylanica PEDALIACEAE Sesamum indicum PIPERACEAE Piper nigrum POACEAE Eleusine coracana POACEAE Oryza sativa POACEAE Panicum miliaceum POACEAE Paspalum scrobiculatum POACEAE Saccharum officinarum POACEAE Setaria italica POACEAE Zea mays PUNICACEAE Punica granatum RHAMNACEAE Zizyphus mauritania RUTACEAE Aegle marmelos RUTACEAE Citrus aurantifolia RUTACEAE Citrus aurantium RUTACEAE Citrus medica RUTACEAE Citrus sinensis RUTACEAE Feronia limonia RUTACEAE Murraya koenigii SAPINDACEAE Cardiospermum microcarpum SAPINDACEAE Euphoria longan SAPINDACEAE Nephelium lappaceum SAPINDACEAE Schleichera oleosa SAPOTACEAE Chrysophyllum roxburgii SAPOTACEAE Madhuca longifolia SAPOTACEAE Manilkara hexandra SAPOTACEAE Manilkara zapota
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