Plukenetia volubilis seed
LATIN NAME: Plukenetia volubilis
COMMON NAME: Sacha Inchi
Sacha inchi is a vine with a very big future, and a very long history. The vigorous, twining vine carries the large, heart-shaped leaves and the small, cream flowers, to be followed by the curious, star-shaped, four-lobed capsules that hold the plump, oval, brown seeds with the fine, nutty flavour. The seeds have been a food of the warm regions for a very long time, and they press into a fine, light oil that has found a wide place in the modern kitchens. It is a vine of the deep, rich, well-drained ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The sacha inchi draws a good deal of attention in the plant science for the plump, oval seeds and the fine, light oil they press. The way the seeds carry the good fats and the protein has been studied steadily, and the vine keeps showing up in the work on the oil-seed plants, the protein crops and the climbers of the warm regions. The curious, star-shaped capsules and the vigorous, twining habit have also made it a fine garden plant, and the sacha inchi is a regular subject of the studies of the spurge family and the new oil crops of the tropics.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
The sacha inchi is a quiet goldmine of the warm garden and the oil press. The plump seeds have been a food of the warm regions for a very long time, eaten roasted or ground, and they press into a fine, light oil that is finding a wide place in the modern kitchens and the salads. The vigorous vine covers the trellis and the fence with the big, heart-shaped leaves, and the star-shaped capsules add their own curious interest. It has been written about in the agricultural and the culinary papers for the fine oil and the protein-rich seeds, and it is a fine, generous vine of the deep, rich, well-drained garden.
Sacha inchi is one of the old foods of the warm regions with a very big future, and the plump, oval, brown seeds are eaten roasted or ground, pressing into a fine, light oil of the modern kitchens. The star-shaped, four-lobed capsules are one of the curious sights of the warm garden.
To grow the sacha inchi from seed, sow the plump, round seeds at a depth of one centimetre in pots of moist, free-draining soil, keep them in a warm, bright spot and water gently. The seedlings come through within a couple of weeks and climb fast. With the sun, the warmth and the deep, rich, well-drained ground, the star-shaped capsules will hold their seeds through the warm season.
Plukenetia volubilis
sacha inchi