Lythraceae FAMILY
Cuphea calophylla
Cuphea calophylla
Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Botanical Description
Cuphea calophylla is a usually erect, evergreen perennial plant with rigid, much-branched stems that usually become more or less woody and persist; the plant can grow up to 35cm tall[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Habitat & Origin
Origintropical
Native RangeS. America - Argentina to Ecuador; C. America - Panama to Mexico
HabitatPastures, thickets and forests; at elevations from 1,100 - 2,200 metres in Costa Rica[ 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. ]