cells containing tiny crystals of calcium
oxalate: and the crystals act like tiny prisms,
refracting light rays in such a way that blue
wavelengths are selectively reflected.
Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds come from
the fruits of the New World native Cucurbita
pepo, are notable for being deep green with
chlorophyll, and for containing no starch, as
much as 50% oil, and 35% protein. Pumpkin
seeds are eaten widely as a snack and in
Mexico are used as a sauce thickener. There
are “naked” varieties that lack the usual
tough, adherent seed coat and are therefore
much easier to work with.
Pumpkin seed oil is a prominent salad oil
in central Europe. The oil, containing mainly
polyunsaturated linoleic and monounsaturated
oleic acids, is intriguingly changeable in
color. Pumpkin seeds contain both yellow-
orange carotenoid pigments, mainly lutein,
and chlorophyll. Oil pressed from raw seeds is