- Telfairia
Taxobox
image_width = 250px
name = "Telfairia"
regnum =Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Cucurbitales
familia =Cucurbitaceae
genus = "Telfairia"
genus_authority = Hook.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = 3 - See text."Telfairia" is a small genus of flowering plants in the squash family which are native to Africa. They include "
Telfairia occidentalis ", the fluted pumpkin, which is an important vegetable inNigeria and other African nations. It is also known as the oyster nut, a common name it shares with its relative "Telfairia pedata ". These are woody and herbaceous dioeciousvines which bear squashlike fruits that contain large, nutritious oily seeds. The third species is "Telfairia batesii " which is very rare and not cultivated.These vines grow quickly to lengths of 30 meters or more, using
tendril s to scale trees. "T. pedata" is grown as anornamental plant for its attractive foliage. The seeds of "T. occidentalis" and "T. pedata" are over 25% protein and 55% oil, making them a good source of nutrition. They are used as a traditional food source for nursing mothers, the seed flour is fermented to makebaby food , the leaves and shoots, especially of "T. occidentalis", are eaten as vegetables. [Ajayi, S. A., et al. [http://www.bioversityinternational.org/Publications/1277/PDF/Conservation_status.pdf Conservation status of "Telfairia" spp. in sub-Saharan Africa] . bioversityinternational.org]One recent concern has been the impact of
telfairia mosaic virus , which, along with other problems, is a threat to the already low genetic diversity of plants of this genus.Species:
*"Telfairia batesii"
*"Telfairia occidentalis" - fluted pumpkin, oyster nut
*"Telfairia pedata" (syn. "T. africana", "Fevillea pedata", "Joliffia africana") - oyster nut, queen's nut, Zanzibar oil vineThe genus was named for Irish botanist
Charles Telfair .References
External links
* [http://www.aluka.org/action/showCompilationPage?doi=10.5555/AL.AP.COMPILATION.PLANT-NAME-GENUS.TELFAIRIA Aluka Genus Profile]
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