Camelina sativa
Encyclopedia : C : CA : CAM : Camelina sativa
Camelina (Camelina sativa), also known as gold-of-pleasure, wild flax, false flax, linseed dodder, German sesame, and Siberian oilseed is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae which includes mustard, cabbage, rapeseed, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts. It is native to the Mediterranean to Central Asian areas, but has been introduced to North America, possibly as a weed in flax.
It is cultivated as an oilseed crop to produce vegetable oil and animal feed. Historically, it has been grown in Europe for centuries. During the Iron age and Bronze age it was an important agricultural crop. From the Roman Empire until the modern harnessing of natural and propane gas and electricity it was the oil of choice - used in oil lamps. It was also a common edible product.
Presently, the crop is being researched due to its exceptionally high levels (up to 45%) of omega-3 fatty acids, which is uncommon in vegetable sources. Over 50% of the fatty acids in cold pressed Camelina oil are polyunsaturated. The major components being alpha-linolenic acid - C18:2 (omega-3-fatty acid, approx 35-40%) and linoleic acid - C18:3 (omega-6 fatty acid, approx 15-20%). The oil is also very rich in many natural antioxidants, such as tocopherols, making this highly stable oil very resistant to oxidation and rancidity. The vitamin E content of Camelina oil is approximately 110mg/100g. It is well suited for use as a cooking oil. It has an almond-like flavor and aroma. It may become more commonly known and become an important food oil for the future.
Because of its certain apparent health benefits and its technical stability Camelina and Camelina oil is being added to the growing list of foods considered as functional foods. Gold of pleasure is also being researched due to its potential for very low requirements for tillage and weed control. This could potentially allow vegetable oil to be produced cheaper than traditional oil crops, which is particularly attractive to biodiesel producers looking for a feedstock cheap enough to allow them to compete with petroleum diesel and gasoline.
References
- http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2005/05/19/news/02biodieselmontana.txt
- D.H. Putnam, J.T. Budin, L.A. Field, and W.M. Breene (1993) [Camelina: A Promising Low-Input Oilseed]. p. 314-322. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.), New crops. Wiley, New York.
- http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi?earl=plant_profile.cgi&symbol=CASA2
- http://www.ienica.net/crops/goldofpleasure.pdf
- http://www.goldofpleasure.com/goldofpleasureoil.htm
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