"Caribe" (Cnidoscolus angustidens Torr.), a promising oilseed geophyte from semiarid norwest Mexico

Abstract

The reproductive phenology of [`]caribe' (Cnidoscolus angustidens Torr.) and the oil quality and content of its seeds were studied to provide information for possible cultivation. Caribe is a perennial herb, widely distributed in the Cape Region of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Seeds of caribe are considered edible by older inhabitants, yet despite these local testimonies their potential uses are unknown. We believe caribe has the potential to become a successful crop in semi-arid and arid regions. Seeds were found to contain 26% edible oil, and a single plant can yield at least 50 g of seeds. A cultivated crop could yield up to 500 kg ha-1per season, with the possibility of increasing it through plant breeding and agronomic practices.