CHEMICAL STUDIES ON OILSEEDS OF FOREST ORIGIN

Abstract

Results of analysis carried out on 31 forestry species have shown that oil contents of seeds of Abies pindrow, Picea smithiana, Pinus roxburghii, Prinsepia utilis. Shima wallichii and Viburnum cylindricum range from 18.77 to 28.76% and hence may be considered as good for their commercial exploitation provided sufficient quantities of these seeds can be made available at reasonable rates. Seeds of Adenanthera microsperma and Albizia process are hard. Hence special type of decorticators are required for separating the kernels. Seeds of Lannea coromordelica and Michelia champaca contain low percentages of kernels the oil contents of which are good. The seeds of other species cannot be considered as oil seeds.