Common Name:

General Information

Cuphea carthagenensis is an erect to sprawling, more or less annual plant, though it often becomes more or less woody at the base and can persist for more than 12 months. Usually much-branched, it can grow up to 50cm tall[, ].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes cultivated for medicinal use and is also sold in local markets[]. This is one of several species in this genus that have been identified as potential commercial seedcrops, grown for their oil. Although a tropical plant, it is said to be suitable for cultivation in some temperate regions. The plant is often grown as an ornamental, especially in tropical and subtropical climates.
The plant is grown as an ornamental and has often escaped from cultivation - it is classed as a weed in many tropical and subtropical areas and is deemed invasive. In Indonesia, for example, it dominates corn (Zea Mays) plantings and is considered one of the worst ten weeds. On Vanuatu, it is a serious pest of coconut (Cocos nucifera) groves and in pasture. It is also a weed of taro (Colocasia esculenta) in Fiji[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, north to the Guianas and Ecuador; Caribbean; C. America - Panama to southern Mexico

Habitat

Mostly found in moist or wet soil, meadows, thickets, open banks, sandbars along streams, often a weed around dwellings or in waste and cultivated ground; at elevations up to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cuphea carthagenensis 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 light to medium soil texture, which can be free, impeded or seasonally waterlogged. It can grow in acidic, neutral or alkaline soils[].
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 self-fertile[].
Germination in central European climate is slow (14 - 20 days) even in late May after the last frosts, but this is made up for by quick growth and early seed ripening[].
Germination is slowed by the thick seed hull. The first seed is produced six weeks after sowing in the greenhouse[].
This is a very common and variable weedy plant almost throughout Central America except at high elevations[].

Edible Uses

An oil obtained from the seeds has the potential to be used in foods[].

Medicinal

The plant has a wide range of traditional medicinal uses, being known as sete-sangrias. It is most commonly employed in Brazil, but it is also used in other countries, including Nicaragua[].

The leaves and aerial parts of the plant are used traditionally to treat a wide range of disorders. They are said to be anticholesterolemic, cardiac, diuretic, hypotensive, and laxative. They ae used in the treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, circulation problems, anaemia, fever, inflammation, stomach aches, kidney stones, vaginal infection, weakness, worm parasites, diarrhoea, intestinal infection, syphilis and varicose veins[, ]. The astringent plant decoction is taken as a general remedy, and is also used as a remedy for malaria[].

An infusion of the leaves is used to treat colds and chills[].
The stem and leaves are macerated in rum and then rubbed onto sprains[].

Due to its widespread use in traditional medicine it has gained attention for modern clinical uses, particularly for cardiovascular disease. Clinical tests have shown that it is effective in reducing plasma cholesterol, and in eliciting vasodilation. This is likely a result of the species containing quercetin-3-sulfate, which when metabolized to quercetin has a vasodilator effect. Pre-clinical data indicate a potential role in the treatment of hyperlipidemia[]
Tests have shown that extracts of the plant have antiviral activity. The extracts have also shown activity against gram negative and gram-positive bacteria, and has also produced anti-anxiety effects in mice[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Cuphea carthagenensis can tolerate some extreme conditions. In Hawaii, for example, it has been found in strip mined bauxitic soils whilst, in Florida, it has colonized reclaimed phosphate mines[].
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 (81.4%)[].
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, for example, 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 oil has been used as an alternative to coconut oil in soaps, detergents and other products[]

Propagation

Seed - can be sown in situ after the last expected frosts[]. In order to obtain larger plants, extend the growing season and hopefully achieve larger yields of seeds, the seeds can be sown in a greenhouse in early spring at around 21°c. Germination usually takes a few weeks because of the hard seed coat. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out after the last expected frosts[].