h m i n a r a y a n a * The seeds of Quamoclit coccinea, Ipomma horsfalliae, Argyria aggregata, Merremia pentaphylla (Convolvulaceae), Indigofera hirsuta, Dalbergia mlanarylon and Bauhinia vahlii (Leguminosae) as well as the oils extracted therefrom were analysed for physico-chemical characteristics and composition. The oil content was appreciable in 9: coccinea (22.6 O h ) , I. horsfalliae (19.8 O/o),A. aggregata (13.5 "h) and D . mlanoxylon (13.8 %) seeds. The protein content was high (21.8-26.9')h) in all except in M.pentaphylla and B. vahlii seeds. The iodine values ranged from 87.6 to 132.8. The content of unsaponifiable matter was low in all the oils. The predominant fatty acid was linoleic (34.3-59.7 oh), the othermajoracidsbeingpalmitic(14.4-23.8Vo) andoleic(6.5-22.lO/n).Significant quantities of stearic and longerchain saturated acids were also present.
I n t r o d u c t i o n
Many plants of forest origin yield seeds with a potential for providing newer sources of oils and proteins. With this in view, seeds of the following seven species were collected from the forests of Karnataka State, India, and examined for the first time except for one, for characteristics and composition.
Quamoclit coccinea, Moench, syn., Ipomea coccinea Linn. (Convolvulaceae), is a shrub la with weak stems. It has ovate, chordate, acute leaves and lax cymes of crimson flowers. The fruit is a capsule containing four shining, brownish-black seeds.
Ipomea horsflliae, Hook (Convolvulaceae) is a glabrous twiner with deeply divided palmate leaves and bell-shaped, rose-coloured flowers Ib. The fruit is an ovoid,papery capsule bearing four glabrous black seeds.
A rgyria aggregata (Roxb.) Choisy, syn., Lettsomia aggregata Roxb. (Convolvulaceae) is alarge climbing shrub with ovate, chordate leaves and small tubular-campanulate pink flowers Ic. The fruit is smooth berry, 0.3 inch in diameteq red when ripe and contains greyish-black seeds.
Merremia pentaphylla, Hallier (Convolvulaceae), is a twining annual herb and bears white, bell-shaped flowers Id. The fruit is an ovoid papery, glabrous capsule bearing four greyish-black seeds.
Indigofera hirsuta, Linn. (Leguminosae) is an erect, 2-4 ft high herb It is an important pasture and yields a forage of good quality. The fruit is a pod, 0.75 inch long, densely clothed with soft hair and contains 6-8 cubical seeds.
Dalbergia melanoxylon, Guill and Per. (Leguminosae) is a small tree, 15-20 ft high with branches armed with stout spines 2b. The fruit is a pod, 1-2.5 inches long, mostly containing one brown, kidney shaped seed, but rarely two seeds.
Bauhinia vahlii, Wight and Am. (Leguminosae) is agigantic climber2c. The fruit is a flat woody pod, 9-12 inches long and about 2 inches wide, containing 6-10 oblong, ellipsoid, compressed, dark brown seeds. The bark yields excellent strong fibre (60%) used for making ropes. The seeds are eaten raw or fried which, when ripe, taste like cashew nuts.