Utilization of chaya leaf (Cnidoscolus chayamansa) and huaxin leaf (Leucaena leucocephala) in "criollas" poultry nutrition.
The use of native forages for domestic animal feeding has been practiced in mexican rural areas, since these resources are readily available in backyards or homegardens.
The forages are grasses and legumes which are used for feeding ruminants, however little has been studied about these forages for feeding poultry in backyard.
Probably native to the Yucatan Penninsula of Mexico, Chaya leaves are used as a green vegetable to some extent from Mexico to Brazil.
The genusCnidoscolus consists of 40 or more species, but only chayamansa refers to the vegetable chaya.
When drying chaya leaves it is best to blanch the leaves in boiling water for 3 minutes then rinse in clear water before drying or to grind the leaves first and dry the pulped leaves.
The tree spinach (Cnidoscolus chayamansa McVaughn, Euphorbiaceae), called "chaya" in south Texas, is popular in Mexico and Central America and has been introduced into the United States (mainly South Texas and Florida) for potential uses as a leafy vegetable and/or as a medicinal plant.
Other Cnidoscolus (chaya) species are being examined in our laboratory at Texas AandM University-Kingsville to genetically select species with high leaf and shoot biomass yield and lower hydrocyanic glycoside content.
Responses of neonatal rat islets to streptozotocin-limited ß-cell regeneration and hyperglycemia.
Like the castor bean, the Mexican jumping bean also has capsules composed of 3 carpels, except some of these are occupied by a robust moth larva rather than a seed.
A related roadside plant of southern Arizona and Mexico (Cnidoscolus angustidens) superficially resembles a young castor plant, except it is covered with very painful, stinging hairs (trichomes).
Its appropriate name of male mujer or "bad woman" is quickly realized if one makes the mistake of touching it.
waynesword.palomar.edu /plmar99.htm (5282 words)
USDA, ARS, APMRU, Pollen Lab - Cnidoscolus texanus(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-28)
Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by J.H. Miller and K.V. Miller, published by The University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Southern Weed Science Society.
