Saccharum edule is a species of sugarcane, that is a grass in the genusSaccharum with a fibrous stalk that is rich in sugar. It is cultivated in tropical climates in southeastern Asia. It has many common names which include duruka, tebu telor, Fiji asparagus, dule (Fiji), pitpit (Melanesia) and naviso.
The young, unopened flower heads of Saccharum edule is eaten raw, steamed, or toasted, and prepared in various ways in Southeastern Asia, including Fiji and certain island communities of Indonesia.[1][2]
Saccharum edule is a perennial plant that grows in vigorous clumps that grow to a height of 1.5 to 4 metres (4 ft 11 in to 13 ft 1 in).[2] Although the plant resembles sugarcane from a distance, the stem is much narrower and the leaves thinner and more flexible. The large flower panicles do not open but remain inside their leaf sheaths forming a dense mass.[3]Saccharum edule is part of the Saccharum officinarumspecies complex and its genome has been investigated.[4]
Distribution
Saccharum edule originated in Southeastern Asia and is also grown on various Pacific Islands at heights ranging from sea level to high altitudes. It needs a growing temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F) and an annual rainfall of 1,500 to 3,000 millimetres (59 to 118 in).[2][1]
Uses
The unopened flower heads of Saccharum edule are gathered and used as a vegetable, it's eaten either raw or cooked.[2][1] In Fiji, a number of different varieties occur and some grow wild along the riverbank. Children enjoy gathering, roasting and eating the flower heads of the early season red duruka, and later the different varieties of white duruka as they mature in rotation. The flower heads are widely sold in local markets for use as a vegetable. A purple duruka which flowers twice a year has been introduced and become popular and it is proposed that a canning operation be set up to sell this as "Fijian asparagus".[3] The plant is also used for erosion control.[3]
In Papua New Guinea pitpit is eaten cooked in coconut milk.
References
^ abcDahlia; et al. (2009). "Consumer Preference for Indigenous Vegetables" (PDF). World Agroforestry Centre.
^ abcd"Saccharum edule". Ecocrop. Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
^ abcWaqaniu-Roger, Alanieta (1986). "Some observations on duruka, Saccharum edule, in Viti Levu, Fiji". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 95 (4): 475–478.
saccharum, edule, species, sugarcane, that, grass, genus, saccharum, with, fibrous, stalk, that, rich, sugar, cultivated, tropical, climates, southeastern, asia, many, common, names, which, include, duruka, tebu, telor, fiji, asparagus, dule, fiji, pitpit, mel. Saccharum edule is a species of sugarcane that is a grass in the genus Saccharum with a fibrous stalk that is rich in sugar It is cultivated in tropical climates in southeastern Asia It has many common names which include duruka tebu telor Fiji asparagus dule Fiji pitpit Melanesia and naviso Saccharum eduleSaccharum edule at a market in Luwuk Banggai Central SulawesiScientific classificationKingdom Plantae unranked Angiosperms unranked Monocots unranked CommelinidsOrder PoalesFamily PoaceaeGenus SaccharumSpecies S eduleBinomial nameSaccharum eduleThe young unopened flower heads of Saccharum edule is eaten raw steamed or toasted and prepared in various ways in Southeastern Asia including Fiji and certain island communities of Indonesia 1 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Uses 4 ReferencesDescription EditSaccharum edule is a perennial plant that grows in vigorous clumps that grow to a height of 1 5 to 4 metres 4 ft 11 in to 13 ft 1 in 2 Although the plant resembles sugarcane from a distance the stem is much narrower and the leaves thinner and more flexible The large flower panicles do not open but remain inside their leaf sheaths forming a dense mass 3 Saccharum edule is part of the Saccharum officinarum species complex and its genome has been investigated 4 Distribution EditSaccharum edule originated in Southeastern Asia and is also grown on various Pacific Islands at heights ranging from sea level to high altitudes It needs a growing temperature of 20 C 68 F to 30 C 86 F and an annual rainfall of 1 500 to 3 000 millimetres 59 to 118 in 2 1 Uses EditThe unopened flower heads of Saccharum edule are gathered and used as a vegetable it s eaten either raw or cooked 2 1 In Fiji a number of different varieties occur and some grow wild along the riverbank Children enjoy gathering roasting and eating the flower heads of the early season red duruka and later the different varieties of white duruka as they mature in rotation The flower heads are widely sold in local markets for use as a vegetable A purple duruka which flowers twice a year has been introduced and become popular and it is proposed that a canning operation be set up to sell this as Fijian asparagus 3 The plant is also used for erosion control 3 In Papua New Guinea pitpit is eaten cooked in coconut milk References Edit a b c Dahlia et al 2009 Consumer Preference for Indigenous Vegetables PDF World Agroforestry Centre a b c d Saccharum edule Ecocrop Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN Retrieved 2018 05 07 a b c Waqaniu Roger Alanieta 1986 Some observations on duruka Saccharum edule in Viti Levu Fiji Journal of the Polynesian Society 95 4 475 478 Saccharum edule Vegetable cane UniProt Consortium 2012 Retrieved 2012 09 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saccharum edule amp oldid 1091589982, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
