Edible wild plants of Southern Africa : Data on the nutrient contents of over 300 species

Abstract

Transporting fresh material, with as little deterioration as possible from the field to the laboratory is always a problem. This is especially the case with soft fruits which are easily bruised and leaves which quickly lose moisture. Fruits are not easily bruised; tubers, corms, bulbs and roots present no problems. The underground edible parts must be cleaned thoroughly with a brush under tap water, to remove all traces of sand and soil, and finally washed with distilled water. It is a good precaution to wash fruit and leaves also with distilled water before processing, to remove traces of dust and soil particles.