Not all of these crops are commercially viable. Some are considered weeds in many countries. They appear here because of potential uses and existing studies that show promise as livestock feeds and pharmaceutical extracts.
Displaying 21 - 40 of 41 crops.
Displaying 21 - 40 of 41 crops.
| Crop Photo | Description |
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Kochia prostrata [L.] Schrad. (Forage kochia) (Forage kochia, Prostrate Smotherweed, prostrate kochia, prostrate summer-cypress, prostrate summercypress) Forage kochia (Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.), also known as prostrate kochia, or prostrate summer cypress is a long-lived, perennial, semi-evergreen, half-shrub well adapted to the temperate, semiarid and arid regions of central Asia and the western U.S. In these areas it has proven to be a valuable forage plant for sheep, goats, camels, cattle, and horses. |
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Atriplex canescens (Fourwing Saltbush) Saltbush is a vernacular plant name that most often refers to Atriplex, a genus of about 250 plants distributed worldwide from subtropical to subarctic regions. Atriplex species are native to Australia, North and South America, and Eurasia. Many Atriplex species are halophytes and are adapted to dry environments with salty soils. |
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Atriplex halimus (Oldman-Saltbush) (Mediterranean saltbush, Oldman-Saltbush, sea orache, shrubby orache , silvery orache) The leaves are edible. Extracts from the leaves have shown to have significant hypoglycemic effects. The species has potential use in agriculture. A study allowed sheep and goats to voluntarily feed on A. halimus and aimed to determine if the saltbush was palatable, and if so, did it provide enough nutrients to supplement the diet of these animals. In this study they determined when goats and sheep are given as much A. halimus as they like, they do obtain enough nutrients to supplement their diet – unless the animal requirements are higher during pregnancy and milk production. This plant is... |
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Opuntia dillenii (sweet prickly-pear) (Cholla (USA), Dildo, Eltham Indian-fig, Pak'an, pipestem prickly-pear, slipper thorn, spiny pest-pear, spiny prickly-pear, sweet prickly-pear) Opuntia dillenii is a species of prickly pear native to the tropical and subtropical Americas. It is naturalized in many other parts of the world. It differs from O. stricta by having more spines per arose (usually more than 3). |
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moringa oleifera (Moringa) (Moringa) Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent and used extensively in South and Southeast Asia. Common names include moringa, drumstick tree (from the long, slender, triangular seed-pods), horseradish tree (from the taste of the roots, which resembles horseradish), or malunggay (as known in maritime or archipelagic areas in Asia). It is widely cultivated for its young seed pods and leaves, used as vegetables and for traditional herbal medicine. It is also used for water purification. Although listed as an invasive species in several countries, M. oleifera has "not been observed invading... |
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Amaranthus palmeri (pigweed) Amaranthus palmeri is a species of edible flowering plant in the amaranth genus. It has several common names, including carelessweed, dioecious amaranth, Palmer's amaranth, Palmer amaranth, and Palmer's pigweed. It is native to most of the southern half of North America. Populations in the eastern United States are probably naturalized. It has also been introduced to Europe, Australia, and other areas. The plant is fast-growing and highly competitive. |
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Selenicereus megalanthus (Yellow Pitaya) Selenicereus megalanthus, synonym Hylocereus megalanthus, is a cactus species in the genus Selenicereus that is native to northern South America, where it is known, along with its fruit, by the name of pitahaya. The species is grown commercially for its yellow fruit, but is also an impressive ornamental climbing vine with perhaps the largest flowers of all cacti. The yellow skinned fruit of S. megalanthus has thorns, unlike the green, red or yellow skinned dragon fruits of S. undatus, S. monacanthus and their cultivated hybrids. S. megalanthus is commonly known as "yellow dragon fruit", "yellow... |
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Selenicereus costaricensis (Costa Rican Pitaya, Pitaya roja) Selenicereus costaricensis, synonym Hylocereus costaricensis, known as the Costa Rican pitahaya or Costa Rica nightblooming cactus, is a cactus species native to Central America and north-eastern South America.The species is grown commercially for its fruit, called pitaya or pitahaya, but is also an impressive ornamental vine with huge flowers. |
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Selenicereus undatus (White Pitaya) Selenicereus undatus, the white-fleshed pitahaya, is a species of the genus Selenicereus (formerly Hylocereus) in the family Cactaceae and is the most cultivated species in the genus. It is used both as an ornamental vine and as a fruit crop - the pitahaya or dragon fruit. Like all true cacti, the genus originates in the Americas, but the precise native origin of the species S. undatus is uncertain and never been resolved. |
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Stenocereus griseus (Mexican organ pipe, dagger cactus, pitaya, pitayo de mayo) This tree-like cactus can grow up to 9 m tall, with stems up to 12 cm in diameter.[1] Depending on the cactus, the color of the fruit vary from white, yellow, red, and purple being the hardest to find. Its fruit is edible to humans and is considered good tasting. It is planted as an ornamental and as a living fence in warm regions. When used as a fence, it can be impervious to animals due to its spiny nature. |
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Stenocereus thurberi (Organ pipe cactus) Stenocereus thurberi, the organ pipe cactus, is a species of cactus native to Mexico and the United States. The species is found in rocky desert. Two subspecies are recognized based on their distribution and height. The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is named for the species. Its English common name is derived from its resemblance to a pipe organ. It is locally known as pitaya dulce, Spanish for "sweet pitaya" or sweet cactus fruit. |
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Stenocereus queretaroensis (Pitaya de Querétaro) Stenocereus queretaroensis is a species of cactus from Mexico, including the state of Querétaro. It is cultivated for its fruit. Plants are tall, up to 5–6 m (16–20 ft), with a central trunk followed by many upturned branches, producing a candelabra-like shape. The stems are around 15 cm (6 in) across and have six to eight very distinct ribs. The areoles produce five to nine whitish radial spines, up to 2 cm (0.8 in) long, and one to four somewhat grayer central spines, of which the lower are longer, up to 4 cm (1.6 in). The scented white flowers are borne from the sides of... |
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stenocereus gummosus (Pitaya agria, Sour pitaya) Stenocereus fruit (sour pitayas) are a variety that is commonly eaten in the arid regions of the Americas. They are more sour and refreshing, with juicier flesh and a stronger taste. The sour pitaya or pitaya agria (S. gummosus) in the Sonoran Desert has been an important food source for indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Seri people of northwestern Mexico still harvest the fruit, and call the plant ziix is ccapxl "thing whose fruit is sour". |
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agave tequilana (Blue agave) (Agave azul, Blue agave) Agave azul (blue agave) is used in the production of tequila. It is native to the Caribbean as well as many regions of Mexico like Colima, Nayarit, Jalisco and more. In 2001, the Mexican government and European Union agreed upon the classification of tequila and its categories. All 100% blue agave tequila must be made from the A. tequilana 'Weber's Blue' agave plant, to rigorous specifications and only in certain Mexican states. Blue agave is significantly different from other types of agave because it is higher in fructose and much sweeter compared to the rest. It is also the primary source... |
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Prosopis velutina (Velvet mesquite) (Mesquite, Velvet mesquite) Prosopis velutina, commonly known as velvet mesquite, is a small to medium-sized tree. It is a legume adapted to a dry, desert climate. Though considered to be a noxious weed in states outside its natural range, it plays a vital role in the ecology of the Sonoran Desert. |
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trichocereus pachanoi (San Pedro cactus) A fast-growing columnar cactus native to the Andes Mountains at 2,000–3,000 m (6,600–9,800 ft) in altitude. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, and it is cultivated in other parts of the world. Uses for it include traditional medicine and traditional veterinary medicine, and it is widely grown as an ornamental cactus. It has been used for healing and religious divination in the Andes Mountains region for over 3,000 years. |
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myrtillocactus geometrizans (Bilberry cactus, Blue candle cactus, Blue myrtle cactus, Whortleberry cactus) Myrtillocactus geometrizans is a large shrubby cactus growing to 4–5 m tall, with candelabra-like branching on mature plants. The individual stems are 6–10 cm diameter, with five (occasionally six) ribs, with areoles spaced 1.5–3 cm apart. The flowers are creamy white, 2–2.5 cm diameter. The fruit is an edible dark purple berry 1–2 cm diameter, superficially resembling Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry or whortleberry) fruit; both the scientific and English names derive from this resemblance. |
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Opuntia megacantha (Nopal blanco) Opuntia megacantha is a shrub that grows in the form of a tree and reaches a height of 4 to 5 meters. Sometimes they form colonies. The sections are ovate to oblong gray-green to light green 40 to 60 (or more) cm long. The small leaves are green or purple. The small areolas are 4 to 5 cm long and bear small yellow glochids . It has 1 to 5 whitish spines, divergent 2 to 3 cm long. The yellow to orange flowers, reaching a length of up to 8 centimeters. The fruits are 7-8 cm long. |
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Opuntia Linguiformis (Cow's Tongue) (Cow's Tongue) A prickly pear cactus with red fruit and elongated leaves. |
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Opuntia Robusta (Wheel Cactus) (Mickey Mouse Cactus, Silver Dollar Cactus, Wheel Cactus) Opuntia robusta, the wheel cactus, nopal tapon, or camuesa, is a species of cactus in the family Cactaceae. It is native and endemic to central and northern Mexico to within 100 miles (160 km) of the Arizona and New Mexico borders where it grow from 5,000 to 10,000 feet (1,500 to 3,000 m) on rocky slopes, open shrub lands, woodlands and mixed with other cactus and succulents. |