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Jengkol (Archidendron pauciflorum)

Jengkol ( Archidendron pauciflorum ) is a plant species in the Fabaceae family. It is a medium-sized tree that can reach a height of up to 25 meters, characterized by sympodial branching. Its compound leaves are oblong, arranged in opposite pairs, with entire margins, pointed tips, and rounded bases; they measure 10–20 cm in length, with young leaves appearing purplish-red. The individual leaflets are ovoid, 5–7 cm long and 3–4 cm wide, with petioles (leaf stalks) measuring 0.1–1 cm. The fruit consists of flat, spirally twisted pods that are dark purple in color. Each cluster contains 4–9 pods, with a flesh thickness of 0.37–1.80 cm and an individual pod weight ranging from 5.30 to 23.60 grams. The seeds are covered by a thin, glossy brown seed coat. This coat contains a purplish sap that leaves stains on clothing that are difficult to remove. As the seeds mature, they turn yellow, eventually becoming red or brown when fully ripe. The seeds can be consumed fresh or processed. While na...

Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei)

Ashitaba ( Angelica keiskei ) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. It grows to a height of 50–120 cm and features green foliage and white flowers arranged in large, umbrella-shaped clusters (umbels). Its leaves are pinnately divided. The plant is cold-hardy, with an optimal temperature range of 12–22°C. It is widely cultivated in gardens, flower pots, and home yards due to its ease of care and rapid growth rate. If a leaf is harvested in the morning, a new shoot often emerges overnight, becoming visible by the following morning. The stalks, leaves, and taproots are used in various culinary applications and products, such as soba, tempura, shōchū , tea, ice cream, and pasta. The plant is claimed to possess cytotoxic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial properties; however, these effects have not yet been confirmed in vivo . TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida ...

Sesame (Sesamum indicum)

Sesame ( Sesamum indicum ) is a plant species in the Pedaliaceae family. It is an annual herb that typically grows to a height of 50–100 cm (though it can reach 2–3 meters). The leaves are arranged oppositely with entire (smooth) margins; those at the base are broadly lanceolate—up to 5 cm wide—while the leaves on the flowering stems are narrower, measuring about 1 cm in width. The flowers are tubular, 2.5–3 cm long, and range in color from white to pink or purple. S. indicum produces a capsule-like fruit, usually covered in fine hairs, measuring 2–3 cm in length and 0.6–1.2 cm in width; each capsule contains four chambers (locules). The seeds are ovate and slightly flattened, tending to be thinner near the hilum than at the opposite end. They may be white or black, measure 3–4 mm in size, and have a weight of approximately 0.203 grams per 100 seeds. The plant possesses a taproot with numerous lateral roots that often form a symbiosis with VA (vesicular-arbuscular) mycorrhizae. This ...