Edible Rubiaceae Plants in Mexico: 39 Species from Literature Review

A 2026 literature review by Alejandro Torres-Montúfar documents 39 edible plant species from the Rubiaceae family in Mexico. The compilation identifies 33 native species, with fruits as the most consumed plant part and the genera Randia and Coffea having the most edible species. It synthesizes information from nearly 50 sources, including scientific articles, theses, and books.

Use Cases

• Analyze the distribution of edible species across the 19 documented genera, such as Randia and Coffea.
• Study the prevalence of fruit consumption versus other plant parts among the 39 documented species.
• Map the association of edible species, particularly those native to Mexico, with tropical rainforest ecosystems.
• Investigate the documented food uses of the 33 native species to identify understudied applications.
• Examine the compilation of sources to identify research gaps regarding specific uses among different ethnic groups.

Strengths

• Compiles data on 39 distinct edible plant species from a major botanical family.
• Synthesizes information from nearly 50 different literature sources for a consolidated view.
• Identifies specific taxonomic details, including 19 genera and 33 native species.
• Explicitly documents the most frequently consumed plant part (fruits) and predominant form of use.

Limitations

• The dataset is very small in scale (24.2 KB), derived from a literature review rather than primary field data collection.
• The author notes a significant information gap regarding specific uses among different ethnic groups, indicating incomplete coverage.
• As a compiled review, the data's granularity and consistency depend on the original sources, which may vary in methodology.

Provenance

Source

Literature review of scientific articles, theses, books, and technical reports by Alejandro Torres-Montúfar.

Collection Method

Extensive literature survey focusing on documented food use.

Time Range

Publication date of the reviewed literature is not specified; the compilation itself was updated in 2026.

Freshness

Last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Mexico, with many species associated with tropical rainforest ecosystems and Indigenous communities.