Árbók Háskóla Íslands - 02.01.1955, Page 68

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The values shown in table 3 are taken as representative values
for Icelandic potatoes. On the whole these values are somewhat
lower than commonly recorded for potatoes grown in other
countries. This may, partly at least, be explained by the Icelandic
potatoes having a slightly higher water content than generally
found elsewhere.
SwedeSj turnips, carrots. The results of the examination of
swedes (50 samples) and turnips (15 samples) are shown in fig. 5.
Apparently swedes keep their vitamin C content on storing much
better than do potatoes. The average for 34 samples taken in
Sept.-November was 39.1, practically the same as the average
for all the 50 samples (39.0 mg).
For turnips the average value was 25 mg and for carrots (17
samples) 4.3 mg/100 g.
Green vegetábles. The values for cauliflower, cabbage and
kale are shown in tables 4—6, and those for several other vege-
tables in table 7. The results, showing the well known great varia-
bility of the vitamin C content in single samples of the same
species, are in general quite comparable to the values found in
other countries.
MisceTlaneous plants. Table 8. In former times Iceland moss
/cetraria islandica), archangélica officirudis and rhodymenia pal-
mata were to some extent used as foodstuffs in Iceland. The Ice-
land moss was dried and often used as substitute for cereals or
mixed with cereals. Apparently it has no value as C vitamin
source. The roots of archangelica were sometimes stored for
winter use. As a source of vitamin C they are probably com-
parable to potatoes. It appears that in rhodymenia palmata con-
siderable amounts of the vitamin may be retained after drying.
Scurvy grass, the leaves of taraxacum, and some other plants
were used as remedy for scurvy.
Berries. Table 9. The determination of ascorbic acid in
whortleberries (vaccinium myrtillus) and especially in crow-
berries (empetrum nigrum) was made difficult by the inter-
ference of non-specific reducing substances, and probably the
values given for these berries are rather too high. Two samples