THE SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE ASCORBIC ACID CONTENT OF EDIBLE WILD PLANTS COMMONLY FOUND IN NEW BRUNSWICK

Abstract

The ascorbic acid content in the leaves of 10 wild plants that grow in New Brunswick was determined at approximately two-week intervals from June to September. 'Free' and 'total' dehydroascorbic acid were measured, using the method of Roe. The total ascorbic acid is highest in young green leaves. After the plants have flowered the ascorbic acid decreases. It becomes almost negligible when the leaves have wilted and turned brown. 'Free' dehydroascorbic acid was present in all 10 plants in small quantity. It fluctuated from time to time but remained fairly constant for all the plants during the period of investigation, and was independent of the 'total' value for that plant. The values for ascorbic acid have been measured for ripe strawberries, for fiddleheads, and for several common vegetables over the same summer months. They have been tabulated for comparison with the values of ascorbic acid of the 10 wild plants.