'Caribe' (Cnidoscolus angustidens Torr.), a promising oilseed geophyte from north-west Mexico

The reproductive phenology of 'caribe' (Cnidoscolus angustidens Torr.) and the oil quality and content of its seeds were studied to provide informatio n for possible cultivation. Caribe is a perennial herb, widely distributed in the Cape Region of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Seeds of caribe are cons idered edible by older inhabitants, yet despite these local testimonies the ir potential uses are unknown. We believe caribe has the potential to becom e a successful crop in semi-arid and arid regions. Seeds were found to cont ain 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(-1) per season, with the possib ility of increasing it through plant breeding and agronomic practices. (C) 1999 Academic Press.