Characteristics of Chthamalia pedunculata Decne. follicles: an endemic, and possibly endangered, Valle del Matlatzinco-, Central Mexico, plant species
摘要
In the Matlatzinco Valley, Central Mexico, several neglected plant species are used by locals as food. Present work focused on the presence of talayote (Chthamalia pedunculata Decne. (Apocynaceae Juss.)) plants and the determination of some characteristics of its edible follicles. In the 2024 and 2025 harvest seasons, follicles from wild populations growing at four sites, namely, Atlacomulco, Temoaya, Toluca, and Zinacantepec, were collected. For those fruits, the fresh weight, length, equatorial diameter, peel firmness, chlorophyll content in the peel, and total soluble solids content in the flesh were determined. It was determined the dry matter content of the whole follicle, and thereafter dividing the fruit in peel, flesh and seeds. The collected fruit weighed between 1 and 50 g; as the fruit weight increased, the fruit length and equatorial diameter did. The content of total soluble solids was not related to fruit size, as most of the fruits presented values between 6 and 10°Brix. In the peel, the firmness and chlorophyll content were greater in the larger fruit. The dry matter for complete follicles was approximately 15% of the fresh weight; however, for mature seeds, the dry matter was nearly 25%. The higher content of chlorophyll was between 40 and 50 µg g−1 peel fresh weight. Owing to their softness and fruit sweetness, follicles weighing less than 25 g are highly palatable. During visits to sites where Chthamalia pedunculata inhabits, flora and fauna were observed, some of which are also endemic to the high central valleys of Mexico.