> herent toxins other than a bitter coating that is easily washed off.
> The bitter coating, I'm assuming, was to genetically discourage eating
> by mammals. If that's the case would it be excluded from the paleo
> diet?
>

More likely to exclude insects. Mammals are a vector for seed dispersal
for many plants. Mammals eat the seeds, but many pass through
undigested and end up somewhere else on the ground, surrounded by
fertilizer.

It is a South American plant, so not in anyone's ancestral diet except
SA Natives. Some people exclude these foods too.

Some questions to use to determine paleo status:

Is it edible raw? Can it be eaten with minimal processing? Was it
actually part of your ancestors' diets?