Wild food plants are not only used by hunting societies, but also by agricultural societies because of their rich contribution to culinary and cultural SB939 as well as for food security and nutrition (Cotton, 1996; Price, 2003). In the Galle-Unawatuna area, the reason for cooking the tender leaves of A. aureum is that they believe it is healthy, natural (no chemicals and fertilizers involved), enjoyable (it gives coolness to body during summer) and nutritious; whereas the beverage prepared from S. caseolaris is healthy as well as tasty. Jayatissa et al. (2006) developed a novel method for using the pulp of S. caseolaris in making fruit drink and ice creams that has been patented in Sri Lanka. However, due to technical difficulties, the commercialized (in collaboration with Small Fishers Federation of Lanka - SFFL) product of S. caseolaris juice ( Fig. 4B) is temporarily unavailable in the local markets (L.P. Jayatissa, personal communication). The non-commercialized version, however, remains available and is prepared by order at the University of Ruhuna (pers. obs.).
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