Lycianthes moziniana oaxacana

Description

Lycianthes moziniana is an agrestic (weedy) perennial encouraged by traditional farmers for its edible,sweet-tasting fruits.This species is endemic to the Mexican highland plateau and Oaxaca where the ethnotaxonomic and ethnohistoric data reflect a long-standing relationship with human populations.Today,the fruits of this plant are used for domestic consumption,small-scale commercialization,and ceremonial purposes.To ensure the production of fruits,traditional farmers afford the plants a special management which has evolutionary repercussions.Recently,modern agricultural practices have placed this species in danger of extinction.Preliminary chemical analyses and yield data suggest thatL.moziniana is particularly well-suited for development as a “new” crop for Mexico.