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Uses, nutritional composition, and ecogeography of four species ofPsophocarpus (fabaceae, phaseoleae) in Zaire

Emploi, composition alimentaire et écogéographie de quatre espèces dePsophocarpus (Fabaceae, Phaseoleae) au Zaire

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Abstract

In Zaire the distribution of four of the wild species in the genusPsophocarpus ranges from humid, evergreen, Guinea-Congolian rainforests to high altitude woodlands, dry semi-deciduous forests, and savanna. Material ofPsophocarpus scandens, P. grandiflorus, P. lancifolius, P. lecomtei, andP. lancifolius (yellow-seeded form) were collected from wild and naturalized populations in Zaire. Various organs ofP. scandens, P. grandiflorus, andP. lancifolius are used as food sources, medicinals, and as sources of tannins.Psophocarpus lancifolius andP. lecomtei have reportedly been used as a food source and fish poison, respectively. The various organs were analyzed for carbohydrate, lipid, N, S, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Al, Mn, B, Cu, and Zn. In their own right, these species have potential for wider use as food sources and genetic material for improvement breeding with the cultivated winged bean, Local names, phenological notes, presence of pests and diseases, and ecogeographical information are presented.

Résumé

Au Zaïre la distribution de quatre espèces sauvages du genrePsophocarpus va des forêts tropicales humides et chaudes des plaines de la Guinée-Congo aux bois de haute altitude, aux forêts sèches d’arbres caducs et à la savane. Des éléments dePsophocarpus scandens, P. grandiflorus, P. lancifolius, P. lecomtei, etP. lancifolius (à semence jaune) ont été récoltés dans la population de la brousse et des villes au Zaïre. Divers organes deP. scandens, P. grandiflorus, et deP. lancifolius sont source de nourriture, de remèdes médicinaux et de tannins. Il a été rapporté que lePsophocarpus lancifolius et leP. lecomtei sont à la fois source de nourriture et de poison de poisson. Les divers organes ont été analysés pour leur teneur en lipids, glucides, N (proteines), S. P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Al, Mn, B, Cu, et Zn. Chacune de ces espèces pourrait devenir source de nourriture et élément génétique pour améliorer la reproduction du pois carré africain cultivé. Les noms locaux, des notes phénologiques, les problèmes dûs aux insectes nuisibles et aux maladies, et des renseignements écogéographiques sont aussi présentés ici.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, California

    Daniel Harder

  2. Department de Biochimie, Centre Regional d’Etudes Nucleaires de Kinshasa (CREN-K), B.P. 868, Kinshasa XI, Zaïre

    Onyembe Pene Mbutu Lolema & Musasa Tshisand

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  1. Daniel Harder
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  2. Onyembe Pene Mbutu Lolema
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  3. Musasa Tshisand
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Harder, D., Lolema, O.P.M. & Tshisand, M. Uses, nutritional composition, and ecogeography of four species ofPsophocarpus (fabaceae, phaseoleae) in Zaire. Econ Bot 44, 391–409 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03183924

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