Common Name:

General Information

Cuphea leptopoda is an erect, little-branched, annual plant growing 30 - 100cm tall. The plant is sticky to the touch due to the presence of glandular hairs covering the stem[].
This is one of several species in this genus that have been identified as potential commercial seedcrops in the temperate zone, being grown for their oil which is rich in medium-length fatty acids. It is unlikely to become a useful crop in the tropics because of the abundance of other oil crops such as the coconut (Cocos nucifera).

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central America to southern N. America - Nicaragua to Mexico

Habitat

Disturbed ground, abandoned fields, shores; at elevations up to 1,500 metres.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cuphea leptopoda is a plant of the tropical regions of central N. America, but is said to be suitable for cultivation as an annual in parts of the temperate zone. Continental areas with hot summers, and Mediterranean regions have been specifically mentioned, the most important factors are the length of the growing season and the amount of summer heat required to ripen the crop.
Prefers a position in full sun, but tolerant of light shade. Succeeds in any reasonable, fertile soil[].
Cuphea has only been investigated as a potential commercial crop for a few years, and still has the characteristics of a
wild plant. Those characteristics that differ from cultivated plants are its propensity to seed shatter, its indeterminate flowering nature, and its overall stickiness. If these wild traits can be overcome, Cuphea's chemistry, coupled with the annual and therefore renewable nature of the plant, certainly can make it a new crop.
This species is allogamous (it requires cross-fertilization) and a suitable pollinator for commercial plantings has not been found. It is, therefore, unlikely to be developed as a commercial crop[].

Edible Uses

An oil obtained from the seeds has the potential to be used in foods[]. Solid at room temperature, the oil has a fresh scent and, like coconut oil or palm kernel oil, showed low iodine value of 6.6 and high saponification value of 298. Oxidation stability of the oil was high, and its melting point was 25.8 - 27.2°c. These properties, together with its superior spreadability, make the seed oil potentially applicable as a noncoherent oil in a variety of foods[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

In the US it has been suggested to plant Cuphea in rotation with corn and soybeans every three years. If grown this way Cuphea can help disrupt the life cycle of corn rootworms - pests that account for more pesticide use on US row crops than any other insect. (Corn rootworms can cost up to $1billion per annum in control and yield losses)

Other Uses

The seeds, although small, are a potential commercial crop for their oil. The oil is a good source of medium length fatty acids - these oils are usually obtained from tropical sources such as palm and coconut oils. This species is particularly rich in capric acid (up to 92%)[].
Industrial oils made from these acids are valuable commodities as they have the potential to replace others made from imported palm kernel and coconut oil. Lauric acid is used in foods, mostly as vegetable shortenings, as a defoaming agent and a booster for soaps and detergents.
Medium chain length fatty acids (e.g. Lauric and myristic) are used in detergents and health and beauty products. Statistics show that 71,000 tonnes of lauric acid oils were processed during 1991 in the EC; they originated from Copra (i.e. Coconut) and Palm kernel
Cuphea has been used as an alternative to coconut oil in soaps, detergents and other products

Propagation

Seed - can be sown in situ[]. Germination usually takes a few weeks because of the hard seed coat.

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