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Useful Tropical Plants

Cuphea epilobiifolia

Koehne

Lythraceae

+ Synonyms

Parsonsia epilobiifolia (Koehne) Standl.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Cuphea epilobiifolia is an erect, much-branched, evergreen perennial plant with stems that can become more or less woody and persist; it can grow 40 - 200cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

369
Title
Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C.
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year
1938
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.

Range

S. America - Peru, Venezuela; C. America - Panama to Costa Rica

Habitat

Margins of streams, rocks in streams and wet forest; at elevations up to 1,300 metres.

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsInsects, Humming birds
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Species in this genus generally prefer a position in full sun, but are tolerant of partial shade. They generally grow best in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
The seed of Cuphea species is generally a good source of medium length fatty acids, which have a range of industrial and cosmetic applications and can also be used in foods[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
]. Several species are being trialled as seed oil crops in temperate zone countries, though they are unlikely to become a commercial crop in the tropics simply because it is so much easier to grow oil crops such as palm oil (Elaeis species) and coconut (Cocos nucifera).

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An aqueous infusion of the fresh aerial parts is taken orally for the treatment of rheumatism[
1209
Title
A comprehensive review of Cuphea (Lythraceae)
Publication
Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences 2(3):847-855 · July 2011
Author
Mohamed R Elgindi; Nahla Ayoub; Rola Milad and Reham Hassan
Publisher
 
Year
2011
ISBN
0975-8585
Description
Gives information on the traditional medicinal uses of various cuphea species, and also a review of modern research and the compounds the plants contain.
].

Other Uses

The seed contains around 67.9% lauric acid[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].
We have no further specific information for this species but, although rather small, the seed of Cuphea species is generally a good source of medium length fatty acids[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].
Industrial oils made from these fatty acids have a range of uses, including as a defoaming agent; a booster for soaps and detergents; and in health and beauty products[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
]. They can also be used in foods, mostly as vegetable shortenings.

Propagation

Seed - can be sown in situ[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Germination usually takes a few weeks because of the hard seed coat.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-10. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cuphea+epilobiifolia>

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