OILSEED PLANTS
The most valuable oilseed plant is the arugula (wild rocket). This biennial plant reaches up to 50 cm in height, has bright yellow flowers, and feathery, divided basal leaves. The seeds of arugula contain fatty oil. During the war years, this oil was extracted privately. Currently, oil from arugula is unfortunately almost not produced, although it is tasty and fragrant.
Arugula grows in fields, meadows, near irrigation ditches, and streams throughout all regions of Kyrgyzstan. It is even considered a weed, as it significantly contaminates fields in the Tien Shan region. Its flowers are nectar-rich, which beekeepers take advantage of.
Various species of almonds (Bukhara, spiny, Petunnikova, and others) also contain fatty oil in their seeds.
Almonds grow as shrubs in southern Kyrgyzstan in the Chatkal and Fergana ranges. However, oil from almonds is hardly ever extracted, and when it is, it is in small quantities and only for medical and perfumery needs.
More widely, fatty oil in Kyrgyzstan is extracted from cultivated plants — sunflower, cotton, and corn.
Among wild species, fatty oils are found in walnuts (up to 71%), but their fruits are mainly used for making chocolate, halva, candies, dessert treats, and very rarely for obtaining nut oil.
Among other oilseed plants, the pistachio can be noted. Its seeds contain up to 57% fatty oils.
Fatty oils are also present in the seeds of ornamental plants such as ailanthus, catalpa, and false acacia (Robinia). These plants are often found in cities and towns of the republic — in street plantings, squares, and parks.
Fatty oils are found in the seeds of melons — pumpkin, melon, and watermelon. However, oil is practically not extracted from them.
Among wild plants, interesting oils are found in nutmeg sage. It grows in steppes and contains up to 31% fatty oil in its seeds. However, its oil is only suitable for technical purposes. Nutmeg sage oil is used to make excellent linseed oil. This oil is even considered a substitute for valuable tung oil. In Kyrgyzstan, sage is used as a medicinal plant.
Kochi katran seeds also contain up to 30% edible fatty oil. However, in Kyrgyzstan, oil is not extracted from it.
It seems that wild oilseed plants should be used more widely. Especially those that are used for greening settlements — false acacia, catalpa, and ailanthus. These plants produce many seeds, and their fruits even contaminate urban plantings. By collecting their fruits and seeds, it is possible to achieve a double benefit — cleaning urban plantings of dried fruits and obtaining valuable fatty oil.
