Nutritional Freshwater Life
70
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% DM)
Moisture
54.50
Ash
1.40
Crude fat
2.70
Crude protein
0.087
Crude fiber
0.70
CHO a
40.61
Energy b
731.75
a Carbohydrate.
b kJ/100 g sample.
Minerals (mg/100 g)
Na
185.15
P
209.13
Ca
132.02
Mg
45.90
Fe
81.85
Cu
10.06
Zn
5.46
P
54.00
Source: Data from Alinnor and
Akalezi (2010).
Commelina benghalensis (L.)
Order: Commelinales
Family: Commelinaceae
Common name: Benghal dayflower,
tropical spiderwort.
Distribution: Perennial herb native to
tropical Asia and Africa, Hawaii, the
West Indies, and both coasts of North
America; Alabama, California, Georgia.
Habitat: Wet locations.
Description: The stem of this annual,
perennial species is ascending, can
extend more than 1 m, and is capable of
rooting from nodes. The oval leaf blades
are 3–7 cm long by 1–4 cm wide. Leaves
often have reddish hairs toward the tip.
This plant produces both aerial and
underground flowers. Aboveground
flowers are lilac to blue and very small
(3–5 mm per petal). Belowground flowers are white and very small. The roots
and tubers of this species are used as a
food source (FAO).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition of Shoot (% DM)
Fat
CHO a
Protein
1.0
5.0
9.4
a Carbohydrate.
Minerals (% DM)
P
N2
K
Na
0.82 1.50 0.34 0.02
Source: Data from Jain
et al. (2011).