Telfairia
Encyclopedia
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 in Nigeria
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 dioecious
vines 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 an ornamental 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 make baby food
, the leaves and shoots, especially of T. occidentalis, are eaten as vegetables.
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:
The genus was named for Irish naturalist Charles Telfair
(1778–1833).
Cucurbitaceae
The plant family Cucurbitaceae consists of various squashes, melons, and gourds, including crops such as cucumber, pumpkins, luffas, and watermelons...
which are native to Africa. They include Telfairia occidentalis
Telfairia occidentalis
Telfairia occidentalis is a tropical vine grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and for its edible seeds. Common names for the plant include Fluted gourd, Fluted pumpkin, and Ugu....
, the fluted pumpkin, which is an important vegetable in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and other African nations. It is also known as the oyster nut, a common name it shares with its relative Telfairia pedata
Telfairia pedata
Telfairia pedata, commonly known as oysternut , queen's nut, Zanzibar oilvine , is a dioecious African liana which can grow up to 30 meters long, having purple-pink fringed flowers, and very large , many-seeded, drooping, ellipsoid berries which can weigh up to15...
. These are woody and herbaceous dioecious
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
vines 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
Tendril
In botany, a tendril is a specialized stem, leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape that is used by climbing plants for support, attachment and cellular invasion by parasitic plants, generally by twining around suitable hosts. They do not have a lamina or blade, but they can photosynthesize...
s to scale trees. T. pedata is grown as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
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
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
, the seed flour is fermented to make baby food
Baby food
Baby food is any food, other than breastmilk or infant formula, that is made specifically for infants, roughly between the ages of four to six months to 2 years. The food comes in multiple varieties and tastes, can be produced by many manufacturers, or may be table food that the rest of the family...
, the leaves and shoots, especially of T. occidentalis, are eaten as vegetables.
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.Synonym (taxonomy)In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
T. africana, Fevillea pedata, Joliffia africana) - oyster nut, queen's nut, Zanzibar oil vine
The genus was named for Irish naturalist Charles Telfair
Charles Telfair
Charles Telfair was an Irish botanist.-Early life and career:Telfair was the son of a Belfast schoolmaster. He studied chemistry under Joseph Black and later qualified as a medical doctor. In 1797 he joined the Royal Navy and was soon appointed as ship's surgeon, visiting Mauritius and Réunion...
(1778–1833).