Ditaxis heterantha

Ditaxis heterantha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Ditaxis
Species:	D. heterantha
Binomial name
Ditaxis heterantha Zucc.

Ditaxis heterantha is a member of the plant family Euphorbiaceae and grows wild in Mexico, where it is known as azafrán, azafrancillo, or azafrán de bolita and has several culinary uses, including as a substitute for saffron. Ditaxis heterantha is not related to true saffron (Crocus sativus) nor to safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), which also is used as a saffron substitute.

Ditaxis heterantha has dull, dark brown seeds 3-5 mm in diameter that resemble allspice. The waxy, deep orange endosperm of the seed is used in Mexico (particularly Guanajuato) for coloring and flavoring food, such as menudo amarillo.^[1] It has an oil content of about 40% and a protein content of about 20%,^[2] as well as containing the apocarotenoids heterathin and ditaxin.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Azafran in Mexico". Chowhound. 2008. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/529922. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
2. ^ Ma. Dolores Méndez-Robles, Claudia Flores-Chavira, Ma. Eugenia Jaramillo-Flores, Ignacio Orozco-Ávila, and Eugenia Lugo-Cervantes (2004). "Chemical Composition and Current Distribution of "Azafrán de Bolita" (Ditaxis heterantha Zucc; Euphorbiaceae): A Food Pigment Producing Plant". Economic Botany 58 (4): 530–535. doi:10.1663/0013-0001(2004)058[0530:CCACDO]2.0.CO;2. 
3. ^ L. Del Toro-Sánchez, S. Sánchez, M. A. Ortiz, S. Villanueva and E. Lugo-Cervantes (2006). "Generation of aroma compounds from Ditaxis heterantha by Saccharomyces cerevisiae". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 72 (1): 155–162. doi:10.1007/s00253-005-0244-y. PMID 16547703.