Showing papers in "Economic Botany in 2011"
TL;DR: A review of the geographic distribution of B. excelsa and comparison with that of similar Lecythis species suggest a number of anomalies that are consistent with a recent and wide colonization of Bertholletia as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: “Made in Brazil”: Human Dispersal of the Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa, Lecythidaceae) in Ancient Amazonia. The Brazil nut, Bertholletia excelsa, is a colossal tree of terra firme forest whose seeds represent the most important non-timber forest product in Amazonia. Its peculiarly inefficient dispersal strategy and discontinuous distribution have led some to hypothesize anthropogenic origins, but evidence to date has been inconclusive. Here we present results of a multidisciplinary study addressing this question. A review of the geographic distribution of B. excelsa and comparison with that of similar Lecythis species suggest a number of anomalies that are consistent with a recent and wide colonization of Bertholletia. Published studies and field observations indicate that anthropogenic disturbance facilitates Brazil nut regeneration. Recent genetic studies showing no sequence diversity and no geographical structuring of within-population variability support a rapid and recent irradiation from an ancestral population. Historical linguistic analysis of indigenous terms for Brazil nut suggests a northern/eastern Amazonian origin for Bertholletia, with a concomitant spread of Brazil nut distribution or cultivation to the south and west. Such an expansion would have been particularly facilitated by the emergence of intensive bitter manioc cultivation and networks of interethnic trade beginning in the first millennium C.E. Together, ecological, phytogeographic, genetic, linguistic, and archeological data reinforce the hypothesis that ancient Amazonian peoples played a role in establishing this emblematic and economically important rainforest landscape.
143 citations
TL;DR: The combination of human use data from multiple cultures, independently reporting similar activities for yarrow, and the discovery of potentially relevant bioactivities by in vitro and animal studies represent meaningful evidence of the plant’s efficacy and it is argued that human clinical trials should be funded and conducted.
Abstract: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.): A Neglected Panacea? A Review of Ethnobotany, Bioactivity, and Biomedical Research. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world, primarily for wounds, digestive problems, respiratory infections, and skin conditions, and secondarily, among other uses, for liver disease and as a mild sedative. Preclinical studies indicate that it may have anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective, anxiolytic, and perhaps antipathogenic activities. Animal studies have also shown that yarrow is generally safe and well tolerated. The claim that yarrow has been shown to be specifically contraindicated during pregnancy is based on a single low-quality rat study the results of which were incorrectly interpreted. The combination of human use data from multiple cultures, independently reporting similar activities for yarrow, and the discovery of potentially relevant bioactivities by in vitro and animal studies represent meaningful evidence of the plant’s efficacy. We therefore argue that human clinical trials should be funded and conducted.
89 citations
TL;DR: A Prehistoric Mural in Spain Depicting NeurotropicPsilocybeMushrooms? The Selva Pascuala mural, a work of post-Paleolithic rock art in Spain, contains fungoid figures depicted to depict neurotropic fungi, especially Psilocybe hispanica, a species that occurs in a neighboring region.
Abstract: A Prehistoric Mural in Spain Depicting NeurotropicPsilocybeMushrooms? The Selva Pascuala mural, a work of post-Paleolithic rock art in Spain, contains fungoid figures herein hypothesized to depict neurotropic fungi, especially Psilocybe hispanica, a species that occurs in a neighboring region. This hypothesis is based on features of these figures related to fungal morphology, along with ethnographic analogy, and shamanistic explanations of rock art. If correct, this interpretation would support inference of prehistoric utilization of this fungus in the region. The mural represents the first direct evidence for possible ritual use of Psilocybe in prehistoric Europe.
60 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assess landrace conservation status in home gardens in Vall Fosca (Catalan Pyrenees, Iberian Peninsula) and estimate the individual socio-demographic attributes associated with in situ conservation of landrace and explore the reasons for their conservation.
Abstract: Landracesin situConservation: A Case Study in High-Mountain Home Gardens in Vall Fosca, Catalan Pyrenees, Iberian Peninsula. Interest in landrace conservation has grown over the last few decades with much research focusing on the maintenance of on-farm crop genetic diversity in the tropics. Research on landraces is less abundant in temperate climates. In this paper we assess landrace conservation status in home gardens in Vall Fosca (Catalan Pyrenees, Iberian Peninsula). We estimate the individual socio-demographic attributes associated with in situ conservation of landraces and explore the reasons for their conservation. Fieldwork was conducted March–September 2008, during which time we surveyed 60 home gardens, owned by 53 tenders from 16 villages. We recorded occurrence, abundance, uses, and management of plants cultivated in home gardens. We also inquired about the informants’ reasons for conserving landraces. We found 148 different species. We identified 39 landraces corresponding to 31 species. Women, people over 65 years of age, experienced gardeners, and people who grow their home garden organically were more likely to conserve landraces than people without those characteristics. Although the informants express a strong preference for landraces, they mainly grow commercial varieties. Landraces seem to be displaced by less labor-intensive commercial varieties.
60 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted a survey in Benin on the diversity and patterns of use of traditional vegetables by 18 sociolinguistic groups in the three major phytogeographical regions.
Abstract: Diversity, Geographical, and Consumption Patterns of Traditional Vegetables in Sociolinguistic Communities in Benin: Implications for Domestication and Utilization. Traditional vegetables in many African rural areas are an important part of the daily diet and economy but have been poorly documented until recently. We undertook a survey in Benin on the diversity and patterns of use of traditional vegetables by 18 sociolinguistic groups in the three major phytogeographical regions. Major groups include the Yoruba–Nagot, Fon, Bariba, Adja, Cotafon, and Ditammari. Focus groups and field visits were conducted in 49 villages. Species richness at the country level and in phytogeographical regions was estimated using species accumulation curves. Our results indicated that 245 species belonging to 62 families are used as vegetable resources all over the country. The most frequently used families include Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Leguminoseae. About 80% of collected vegetables are wild resources; only 19% were clearly under cultivation. Herbs were the most widely consumed life form. The Guinean and the Sudanian regions exhibit similar species richness while in the Sudano–Guinean region vegetable richness is higher. The use of a species as a vegetable depends not only on socio–cultural attributes but also on geographical occurrence. Based on this inventory, we identified needs for further research and activities for both the conservation and promotion of traditional vegetables.
55 citations
TL;DR: Secondary forests on Anthropogenic Soils of the Middle Madeira River: Valuation, Local Knowledge, and Landscape Domestication in Brazilian Amazonia as mentioned in this paper used a quantitative approach to investigate how secondary forests on TPI are recognized and used by local residents along the middle madeira River, Central Amazonia.
Abstract: Secondary Forests on Anthropogenic Soils of the Middle Madeira River: Valuation, Local Knowledge, and Landscape Domestication in Brazilian Amazonia. Anthropogenic forests and soils are widespread throughout Amazonia and are the product of the landscape domestication process carried out by Amazonian societies since pre-Colombian times. Areas of Terra Preta de Indio (TPI, Amazonian Dark Earths) are recognized by local rural residents and associated with specific forms of use and management of these soils and associated secondary forests. We used a quantitative approach to investigate how secondary forests on TPI are recognized and used by local residents along the middle Madeira River, Central Amazonia. Sixty-two residents were interviewed in three riverside communities and listed the ethnospecies and their uses in secondary forests on TPI and on non-anthropogenic soils (NAS). Local residents mentioned more ethnospecies on TPI (mean ± standard deviation: 19.5 ± 8.9) than on NAS (17.4 ± 8.5), and the use value of the environment to the informants (UVia) was higher on TPI (19 ± 5.7) than on NAS (16.2 ± 6.0). Eleven ethnospecies were classified as anthropogenic soil indicators, among which three intensively used palms are widely recognized as indicators of anthropogenic areas and two are domesticated to some degree. The intimate and lasting interactions between humans and TPI have favored the maintenance of secondary forests in these domesticated landscapes with a diverse assemblage of useful and domesticated species. Rural residents in Amazonia recognize these forests as an important source of food and other resources. The use, management, and traditional knowledge related to these domesticated landscapes may provide useful information for the understanding of Amazonian historical ecology and for the design of more efficient biodiversity management and conservation plans.
53 citations
TL;DR: It may be that the low rate of discovery during this developmental period of natural products discovery is a consequence of technological limitations of the discovery process rather than a lack of interesting compounds in plants, and that even when necessary assumptions are taken into account, conservative estimates would indicate great potential for the discovery of new drugs from plants.
Abstract: The Discovery of Medicines from Plants: A Current Biological Perspective. The last 50 years have seen tremendous innovations in the process of discovering novel bioactive compounds from plants. Every stage of the natural products discovery and development pipeline has seen major advances, so as a result, today it is possible to evaluate large numbers of plant extracts efficiently and in more effective ways against a wider array of disease targets. Despite all of these technological advances and numerous large-scale discovery efforts, the number of new drugs developed as natural products from plants to reach the market has been surprisingly low, very different from the continuing productive discovery work from microbes. The innovations in the discovery process are reviewed, possible explanations for low success of recent discovery efforts are explored, and an effort is made to estimate the future potential of plants as a discovery resource. It may be that the low rate of discovery during this developmental period of natural products discovery is a consequence of technological limitations of the discovery process rather than a lack of interesting compounds in plants, and that even when necessary assumptions are taken into account, conservative estimates would indicate great potential for the discovery of new drugs from plants.
40 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used quantitative ethnobotany tools to explore how local communities value wild resources, if concerns of resource depletion can engender pro-active management to conserve plants and, if so, which criteria local people would use to select species deserving conservation.
Abstract: Eliciting Local Values of Wild Edible Plants in Southern Benin to Identify Priority Species for Conservation. When financial resources are limited, prioritization of species for conservation becomes essential. Elicitation of local perceptions of threats can be a useful means of prioritizing species and can help strengthen local conservation actions for important plant species. In the neighborhood of Dan forest (southern Benin), we used quantitative ethnobotany tools to explore: a) how local communities value wild resources, b) if concerns of resource depletion can engender pro-active management to conserve plants and, if so, c) which criteria local people would use to select species deserving conservation. Ethnobotanical knowledge was collected using a range of different techniques. Results indicate that the villagers eat 41 wild plant species belonging to 17 families with the most important being Parkia biglobosa, Vitex doniana, Vitellaria paradoxa, Launaea taraxacifolia, and Prosopis africana. Local criteria against which value is evaluated include: i) the market importance, ii) the nutritive value, iii) the number of complementary uses of species, and iv) the availability of the resource. Additional criteria are species specific and include: v) rapid growth and production, vi) resistance to drought and diseases, and vii) life form. Although there is a real appreciation of threats, there is little evidence of pro-active conservation management by harvesters. The needs for further investigations to promote conservation of wild edible plants through use were explored.
38 citations
TL;DR: The chemical profiles of L. glaucescens and L. guatemalensis suggest a correlation with the culinary and medicinal uses of these species due to the known properties of their main constituents.
Abstract: Essential Oils in Mexican Bays (Litseaspp., Lauraceae): Taxonomic Assortment and Ethnobotanical Implications. The seven species of Litsea found in Mexico, all of them popularly known as “laurel,” were surveyed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for their foliar essential oils composition and related ethnobotanical applications. Litsea glaucescens is in high demand as a condiment, and is sold in rural and urban markets all over Mexico. However, four other species are also locally used for food seasoning. Litsea guatemalensis is the species most used in traditional medicine, especially to treat fever, chills, infectious diseases of the digestive system, and arthritis. No reports of culinary, medicinal, or other applications were located for L. muelleri, and L. pringlei. This is the first report on the essential oils for L. neesiana, L. muelleri, L. parvifolia, L. pringlei, and L. schaffneri. The terpenoids commonly found in all the Litsea species studied were 1,8-cineole, linalool, α-pinene, β-pinene, m-cymene, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, caryophyllene, and caryophyllene oxide. Nevertheless, each species can be distinguished by its characteristic assortment of terpenoids. According to hierarchical cluster analysis, three groups of species were recognized: (1) 1,8-cineole group (C-10 terpenes), consisting of L. glaucescens, L. schaffnerii, L. pringlei, and L. muelleri; (2) limonene-rich group (C-10 oxygenated terpenes), including L. guatemalensis, and L. neesiana, and (3) oxygenated sesquiterpenes-rich group (C-15 oxygenated terpenes), comprising L. parvifolia. The chemical profiles of L. glaucescens and L. guatemalensis suggest a correlation with the culinary and medicinal uses of these species due to the known properties of their main constituents.
32 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare structural and floristic characteristics of homegarden agrobiodiversity on three different soils (upland Amazonian Dark Earths, Oxisols (OX), and Fluvent Entisols) along the middle Madeira River in the municipality of Manicore, Amazonas State, Brazil.
Abstract: Homegardens on Amazonian Dark Earths, Non-anthropogenic Upland, and Floodplain Soils along the Brazilian Middle Madeira River Exhibit Diverging Agrobiodiversity. We test the hypothesis that the agrobiodiversity associated with homegardens on three different soils—upland Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE) and Oxisols (OX), and Fluvent Entisols (FL)—commonly found along the middle Madeira River in the municipality of Manicore, Amazonas State, Brazil, is different due to the contrasting biotic, abiotic, and cultural settings specific to each of these soils. Using data from interviews with 63 farmers about food and utility species, we compare structural and floristic characteristics of homegarden agrobiodiversity. The density of individuals is higher on ADE than on the other soils (mean ± standard deviation: 715 ± 363 on ADE, 474 ± 283 on OX, 642 ± 399 on FL). ADE and OX have higher species richness (28.2 ± 5.6 on ADE, 25 ± 3.7on OX, 23.6 ± 5 on FL), while ADE and FL have a greater degree of domestication (2 ± 0.6 on ADE, 1.3 ± 0.5 on OX, 2.3 ± 0.6 on FL). ADE and OX have greater proportions of richness, density, and coverage composed of South American species, while FL has greater proportions of richness and density composed of Old World species. ADE has higher proportions of density and coverage of Mesoamerican species. Floristic composition is also different between soils: ADE occupies an intermediate position, composed of species associated with each of the other soil types and species that are most common on ADE. These differences in agrobiodiversity emerge through the interaction of human agency, plant responses, and the unique properties of soils in relation to socioeconomic and historical trajectories over time.
31 citations
TL;DR: The results showed that production of food for domestic use was the main function of the gardens, and the primary floristic variation was related to climatic change with altitude.
Abstract: Comparison of the Homegardens of Eight Cultural Groups in Jinping County, Southwest China. Species growing in 124 homegardens in 15 villages inhabited by 8 cultural groups living in Jinping County, southwest China, were recorded, together with information on the uses of the species and other features of the gardens. Data were gathered using key informant interviews, participatory observation, and ecological sampling. The results showed that production of food for domestic use was the main function of the gardens. Other uses included plants for income generation, household-level construction, local health care, and for ecological purposes (confined to higher altitude homegardens). The primary floristic variation in the gardens was related to climatic change with altitude, with variations in the use of the gardens to grow plants for local healthcare being also significant. Homegardens can be clustered into two groups based on floristic composition—lower altitude gardens (including Dai, Zhuang, Homg, and Lahu) and higher altitude gardens (including Yao, Yi, Hani, and Han). Both cultural conservatism and a readiness to adapt to new economic conditions are reflected in the characteristics of the gardens. Homegardens maintain considerable conservation value as repositories of several species of endangered plants and several species of medicinal plants that are over-collected in the wild.
TL;DR: Hanging by a Thread: Natural Metallic Mordant Processes in Traditional Indonesian Textiles as discussed by the authors describes how textile weavers in more remote areas of Indonesia continue naturally dyed textile production as a living tradition.
Abstract: Hanging by a Thread: Natural Metallic Mordant Processes in Traditional Indonesian Textiles. Despite the availability of synthetic dyes and the impact of significant religious, social, and economic change, textile weavers in more remote areas of Indonesia continue naturally dyed textile production as a living tradition. This paper documents mordant plants in Sulawesi, West Kalimantan, and nine islands in eastern Indonesia (Bali, Flores, Java, Lembata, Nusa Penida, Rai Jua, Savu, Sumba, and West Timor). These plants, such as various Symplocos species, are hyperaccumulators of aluminum compounds. Other plants used as sources of alkaline ash, of saponifiable oils and fats and for ritual purposes in the dyeing process, are also recorded.
TL;DR: In this article, the trade in Encephalartos for traditional medicine was quantified in South Africa's two largest TM markets, Faraday in Johannesburg and Warwick in Durban.
Abstract: Quantifying the Trade in Cycads (
Encephalartos
Species) in the Traditional Medicine Markets of Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. Cycads have been used for traditional purposes for centuries, mainly as a source of starch during droughts and famines. In South Africa, Encephalartos species are traded for traditional medicine (TM) in local TM markets. The 2009 IUCN Red Data assessment for South African flora lists 78% of the 37 indigenous Encephalartos species as “Threatened”, with three species already “Extinct in the Wild” (EW). South African cycads face an extinction crisis, primarily due to collecting for the horticultural trade. The trade in Encephalartos for TM also has a significant impact on several species, and is largely understudied. In this paper, the trade in Encephalartos for TM was quantified in South Africa’s two largest TM markets, Faraday in Johannesburg and Warwick in Durban. Harvesting of South African Encephalartos for TM involves the removal of bark strips and/or whole stem sections. Encephalartos species were sold at 26% and 13% of the stalls at Faraday and Warwick, respectively, with an estimated 9.0 metric tons traded at Warwick in 2009. Stem samples purchased in the markets were assigned to stem diameter size classes using a size class chart, and regression analysis was used to validate the allocations. Most harvesting was from sub-adult and adult cycads, and it appears that bark strips are removed from large arborescent plants, whereas smaller individuals and subterranean-stemmed species are harvested by removing the entire plant. There is generally a positive relationship between stem diameter and leaf base length as well as stem diameter and pith radius. The former can be used as a predictor of stem diameter size class for market samples that prove difficult to assign to diameter classes using the chart. Overall, this is the first study to quantify the trade in Encephalartos for TM in South Africa with reference to the size classes of the plants traded.
TL;DR: The results lend biochemical support to the practice of harvesting F. cirrhosa during the early stages of plant senescence (i.e., early fruit development), which is under increasing pressure from over-collection and decreasing suitable alpine habitat.
Abstract: Phytochemical Variation inFritillaria cirrhosaD. Don (Chuan Bei Mu) in Relation to Plant Reproductive Stage and Timing of Harvest. Economic development in southwest China and the increasing use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) worldwide have led to intensified collection of native medicinal plants. Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don (Chuan Bei Mu), commonly used for the treatment of cough in TCM, is endemic to the Hengduan Mountain region of southwest China and is under increasing pressure from over-collection and decreasing suitable alpine habitat. The bioactive compounds in F. cirrhosa bulbs, isosteroidal alkaloids, are greatly influenced by environmental conditions and fluctuate in content and concentration with plant age and reproductive stage. Aiming at obtaining useful information for the sustainable management of wild F. cirrhosa populations, we evaluated how the phytochemical composition of F. cirrhosa bulbs varies at various stages of plant reproductive development. Using chemical methods and high-performance liquid chromatography, we extracted and analyzed two major bioactive alkaloids from F. cirrhosa bulb samples collected throughout the Hengduan Mountain region. Plant reproductive stage was found to affect the concentration of bioactive alkaloids in F. cirrhosa bulbs. Bulb alkaloid concentration was highest during the early stages of fruit development and decreased significantly with fruit maturation. These results lend biochemical support to the practice of harvesting F. cirrhosa during the early stages of plant senescence (i.e., early fruit development).
TL;DR: Broomcorn in South Eastern Europe (SEE) is part of an important niche market of natural, renewable brooms made from the panicles of sorghum, and improvements in seed quality, as well as stalk biomass, juiciness, and sweetness are undertaken.
Abstract: Broomcorn in South Eastern Europe (SEE) is part of an important niche market of natural, renewable brooms made from the panicles of sorghum. This article is a summary of almost 60 years of experiences concerning broomcorn research, development, and production in SEE, and more specifically in Serbia. The botanical classification, origin, history, morphology, production, cultivar choice, certified seed, improvement, and utilization of broomcorn are discussed. Its improvement through breeding and production research includes various panicle quality traits, like optimization of fiber length, improving fiber fineness and appearance, elimination of undesirable red discoloration, and adapting the crop to mechanical harvest. Broomcorn could become a suitable feed, energy, or fiber crop if improvements in seed quality, as well as stalk biomass, juiciness, and sweetness are undertaken. Broomcorns will continue to play an important role in Serbian agriculture and work will continue to breed for improvements of the crop to benefit broomcorn farmers throughout Europe and the world.
TL;DR: A list of plants blessed in herbal bouquets on Assumption Day in Poland over a century ago with the Bouquets blessed in the same locations in 2009, which indicate that only half the species from Udziela’s list are still blessed.
Abstract: Changes in Assumption Day Herbal Bouquets in Poland: A Nineteenth Century Study Revisited. The aim of this study is to compare a list of plants blessed in herbal bouquets on Assumption Day (August 15th) in Poland over a century ago with the bouquets blessed in the same locations in 2009. Assumption Day has been the main occasion when plants are blessed in Polish Roman Catholic churches for centuries. Such bouquets, composed of medicinal herbs and crop plants, are long believed to possess apotropaic properties. In 1894–1899, Seweryn Udziela made an herbarium documenting the composition of these bouquets (over 100 species) in 13 locations in the Krakow area. In 2009, 482 bouquets were photographed on Assumption Day and the plant species were identified. Results indicate that only half the species from Udziela’s list are still blessed. A total of 233 taxa were found in the bouquets in 2009, an average of nine species per bouquet. The proportion of cultivated ornamentals has increased over time, whereas the proportion of wild species and dry grassland plants has decreased. The proportion of crop plants, as well as species from grassland and forest habitats, remained the same. The most commonly blessed species were Solidago spp., Tanacetum vulgare, Dahlia sp., Sanguisorba officinalis, Anethum graveolens, Achillea millefolium, Mentha spp., Zinnia elegans, Triticum sp., Avena sativa, and Sorbus aucuparia. The tradition of blessing bouquets continues, although the composition of the plant species has changed. These changes are due to alterations in the surrounding vegetation and the species of plants in cultivation, the transformation of species’ value from medicinal and apotropaic, the maintenance of floral traditions, and artistic competition.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared useful species richness, proportion of exotic species, and market orientation of farms situated on Amazonian Dark Earth and non-anthropogenic Oxisols in the municipality of Borba in Central Brazilian Amazonia.
Abstract: Useful Species Richness, Proportion of Exotic Species, and Market Orientation on Amazonian Dark Earths and Oxisols Anthropogenic soils of Amazonia, known as Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE), are environments with elevated soil fertility that can produce crops that otherwise yield poorly on the leached and highly acidic Oxisols that dominate much of the basin. While ADE sites near urban centers often attract commercial horticultural production of nutrient–demanding exotics, these soils are also considered possibly unique reservoirs of endemic agrobiodiversity because of their relationship to pre–Columbian indigenous occupation. Through botanical surveys and interviews with smallholder farmers, this study compared useful species richness, proportion of exotic species, and market orientation of farms situated on ADE and non–anthropogenic Oxisols in the municipality of Borba in Central Brazilian Amazonia. Species richness was similar on Amazonian Dark Earth and Oxisol farms (19.6 spp vs. 18.3 spp); however, ADE farms showed significantly higher proportions of exotic species (39% vs. 26%; p = 0.025). Furthermore, ADE farms in Borba demonstrated significantly higher market orientation (61.0% vs. 47.3%; p = 0.028), likely a result of the advantage of Amazonian Dark Earths for production of crops that are nutrient–demanding or pH–sensitive crops that have higher values in the nearby regional market of Manaus.
TL;DR: This article examined the diversity of plant knowledge among elders who live in the Standing Rock Nation of the northern Great Plains and found that elders each contribute unique, complementary, and seemingly contradictory plant knowledge to their community.
Abstract: Diversity of Plant Knowledge as an Adaptive Asset: A Case Study with Standing Rock Elders. Indigenous knowledge is often represented as being homogeneous within cultural groups, and differences in knowledge within communities are interpreted as a lack of cultural consensus. Alternatively, differences in knowledge represent a range of possibilities for communities to respond to social and ecological change. This paper examines the diversity of plant knowledge among elders who live in the Standing Rock Nation of the northern Great Plains. Elders know how to use different plants, and also hold different knowledge about the same plants. Analysis indicates that elders each contribute unique, complementary, and seemingly contradictory plant knowledge to their community. Compiled seasonal rounds help visualize differences in knowledge about the temporal availability of plants. These differences are linked to variations in use, including references to specific gathering sites, strategies to harvest multiple species, and selection of plants at different stages of development. Elders’ diverse knowledge about the seasonal availability of plants may facilitate community adaptation to climate change in the 21st century.
TL;DR: In the U.S. states where the species occurs, its percentage of forest composition ranges from 0.01% in Kentucky to 6.00% in Minnesota, with an average of 1.42% in the region as a whole as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Fraxinus nigra Marsh. is a small, relatively uncommon tree with large social significance. Known as black ash or brown ash, it rarely exceeds 18 meters (60 feet) in height or 30-50 centimeters (12-20 inches) in diameter. In the U.S. states where the species occurs, its percentage of forest composition ranges from 0.01% in Kentucky to 6.00% in Minnesota, with an average of 1.42% in the region as a whole (Miles 2009). Black ash basketmaking is nonetheless an important element of biocultural diversity in northeastern North America. It is central to the creation story of the Wabanaki peoples of Maine and black ash basketmaking has been an important cultural and economic activity of tribes throughout the region for hundreds of years. The species also has a history of use in Shaker and other European-derived craft traditions. Today, black ash basketry is a celebrated regional art manifested in both traditional and contemporary forms.
TL;DR: It is proposed that Oxalis tuberosa Molina, “oca,” may represent a third example of such a crop system, with opposing high organic acid and low organic acid cultivars, as well as highlighting areas that merit further investigation.
Abstract: The Role of Organic Acids in the Domestication ofOxalis tuberosa: A New Model for Studying Domestication Resulting in Opposing Crop Phenotypes. Though few crops display directly opposing domesticated phenotypes, these crops may be the key to understanding domestication processes that address conflicting selective pressures in the agricultural ecosystem. Two relatively well-known examples are cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), which has high-cyanide and low-cyanide varieties, and potato (Solanum section Petota). Among the potatoes are several species, including the common potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), that have low levels of glycoalkaloids and there are other species of “bitter potato” with elevated levels of glycoalkaloids. We propose that Oxalis tuberosa Molina, “oca,” may represent a third example of such a crop system, with opposing high organic acid and low organic acid cultivars. Each cultivar set has different cultural food preparation practices (“use-categories”), similar to the “use-categories” that have been described for potatoes in the Andes (Brush et al. Economic Botany 35;70–88, 1981; Zimmerer Journal of Biogeography 18;165–178, 1991). Our initial analyses suggest that organic acids in tubers may be an important biochemical difference between use-categories, based on both oxalic acid and pH data. Here, we review our understanding of organic acids in oca tubers, while highlighting areas that merit further investigation.
TL;DR: A survey of the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa revealed which wetland plant species are harvested and how the different species are used for craft production as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Wetland Plant Species Used for Craft Production in Kwazulu–Natal, South Africa: Ethnobotanical Knowledge and Environmental Sustainability. In KwaZulu–Natal Province, there is a rich tradition of wetland plant utilization for craft production. A survey of the province, based on interviews and participatory field walks, revealed which wetland plant species are harvested and how the different species are used. The principal plant species utilized varied greatly among regions: In the coastal region it was Cyperus latifolius Poir. (iKhwane) and Juncus kraussii Hochst. (iNcema), whereas in the uplands it was Cyperus marginatus Thunb. (iNcema). The initial hypothesis that the diversity of plant morphologies added to the diversity of different weave types and products was confirmed by the data. Plant morphological characteristics influenced the weaving techniques suitable for craft production. For example, the fine culms of J. kraussii and C. marginatus have particular value for twilling, twining, and straight sewing and the robust C. latifolius leaves are well suited for the plait. Pressures on the supply of the natural resource were greatest from competing land uses, such as wetland cultivation and, to a lesser extent, from competition among plant harvesters. There was a high demand for J. kraussii, which is traded beyond the limits of its geographical distribution to a much greater extent than the other species. The paper concludes by recommending the wider application of the approach and methods used in the study in order to inform initiatives promoting small business development based upon sustainably harvested natural resources.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the fatty acids profile from seeds of A. crassiflora and A. coriacea from Cerrado, A. montana from Amazon Forest, and three cultivars (A. cherimola x A. squamosa cv. Gefner).
Abstract: Annona (Annonaceae) is an important source of fruits in the Brazilian Cerrado and the Amazon Rainforest. Some Annona species are widely commercialized as fresh fruit or as frozen pulp. Seeds are accustomedly discarded. Our main goal was to analyze fatty acids profile from seeds of A. crassiflora and A. coriacea from Cerrado, A. montana from Amazon Forest, and three cultivars (A. cherimola cv. Madeira, A. cherimola x A. squamosa cv. Pink’s Mammonth and A. cherimola x A. squamosa cv. Gefner). The total oil yield ranged between 20 and 42% by weight of dry mass. The A cherimola x A. squamosa cv. Gefner has significantly higher total lipid yield than all other samples. 100 g of fruit of this species present 6-8 g of seeds. Considering the fruit production of Chile (over 221 ton of fruits/year), more than 1300 ton of seed/year could be obtained, which could provide at least 200 ton of seed oil. Oleic acid was predominant for most samples, but for A. montana linoleic acid was the most abundant FA. Phenotypic variation on FAME profile was observed. These new data are an urgent requirement for supporting conservation programs, mainly for Cerrado areas in Brazil.
TL;DR: In the Yungas region of the Salta province, Argentina, interest in the use of plant dyes has revived due to new market demands and the growth of rural tourism as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Dyeing Plants and Knowledge Transfer in the Yungas Communities of Northwest Argentina. In the Yungas region of the Salta province, Argentina, interest in the use of plant dyes has revived due to new market demands and the growth of rural tourism. In this study we compare the use of dyeing plants recorded between 1994 and 2000 with those used in 2007 and 2008. We also address factors currently involved in the acquisition and transmission of knowledge. We worked with 39 randomly chosen participants (of which 11 were artisans) in the first stage, and 32 artisans in the second stage. Information was gathered during semi–structured interviews and structured questionnaires. Eleven and 57 dye plant species, and 10 and 2 mordants, were registered in the first and second stage, respectively. The use of soft plant parts has increased, relative to the employment of roots and barks. Pastels predominate among the colors obtained. Mothers are the main transmitters of this knowledge; however, new mechanisms of knowledge acquisition and transfer are gaining importance. These results provide an alternative for the diversification and quality of existing crafts.
TL;DR: The results suggest that local communities apply practices that tend to minimize the harvest impact on the P. guillaumetii population, and it is assumed that their availability in the long term may not fulfill the needs of the local people.
Abstract: Impact of Women’s Harvest Practices onPandanus guillaumetiiin Madagascar’s Lowland Rainforests.Pandanus guillaumetii B.C. Stone is endemic to the east coast rainforests of Madagascar. The plant is an important non-timber forest product (NTFP) for the local population living near these forests, and its leaves are collected by women to be woven into mats. These mats have economic value and are also used for daily activities. At present, little is known about how local harvesting practices impact this plant species. In this study, we describe women’s local harvest practices and quantify their impact on the P. guillaumetii population. We carried out plant inventories as well as interviews and participatory observations with local people harvesting P. guillaumetii in two villages with different population densities in the Manompana region. Inventories were conducted at varying distances from the villages in order to better understand the influence of human pressure on the plant population. The results suggest that local communities apply practices that tend to minimize the harvest impact on the plant. Harvesting seems to have no effect on the actual density of P. guillaumetii. However, the availability of plants with leaves of sufficient quality for mat production is influenced by human pressure. Considering the decreasing number of plants suitable for handicraft, we assume that their availability in the long term may not fulfill the needs of the local people.
TL;DR: Capsicum use in Cambodia: The Continental Region of Southeast Asia Is Not Related to the Dispersal Route ofC. frutescens as mentioned in this paper, and the distribution of the diagnostic ShDH-B isozyme pattern of Capsicum was studied.
Abstract: CapsicumUse in Cambodia: The Continental Region of Southeast Asia Is Not Related to the Dispersal Route ofC. frutescensin the Ryukyu Islands. The local nomenclature and use of Capsicum by Khmer and other ethnic groups in Cambodia and the distribution of the diagnostic ShDH-B isozyme pattern of C. frutescens were studied. People in Cambodia use Capsicum in various ways, not only as a condiment but also as a vegetable, a medicine, and a colorant, and in popular beliefs, agricultural rituals, taboos, and rice malt. The findings showed that the ShDH-B phenotype may not have occurred as a mutation in Asia but in the Americas and then was introduced to Asia. Also, the ShDH-B phenotype is distributed in the insular regions of Southeast and East Asia and Oceania, but seems not to be distributed in the continental region of Southeast Asia. One possible hypothesis is that C. frutescens possessing the ShDH-B phenotype was introduced directly from the Americas via Oceania to the Philippines, and it thereafter dispersed into the insular regions.
TL;DR: The Use and Cultural Significance of thePitaPlant (Aechmea magdalenae) among Ngobe Women of Chalite, Panama as mentioned in this paper, has been widely used throughout Ngobe communities in Panama as a source of fiber for hammocks, baskets, nets, thread, rope, and other fibers and cloth.
Abstract: The Use and Cultural Significance of thePitaPlant (Aechmea magdalenae)among Ngobe Women of Chalite, Panama. The pita plant-Aechmea magdalenae (Andre) Andre ex Baker-has been widely used throughout Ngobe communities in Panama as a source of fiber for hammocks, baskets (kra), nets, thread, rope, and other fibers and cloth. As Ngobe society becomes more integrated in regional and national society, the transformation of the pita plant to kra by the women of Chalite (Panama) has changed. Modern materials such as commercial dyes and synthetic threads are now used as substitutes for the pita fiber. As women specialize in tasks that are often linked to economic changes in Chalite, some women have specialized in kra production or even subsets of production while others have discontinued the practice and rely on other women for kiga or kra. Limited production of kra for the tourist trade has been unsuccessful as inadequate markets exist.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the economic potential of leaf and seed exploitation in the area, collected information on abundance, population patterns, and leaves and seed stocks in Ejido Conhuas, a community within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR).
Abstract: Potential Management of
Chamaedorea seifrizii
(Palmae), a Non-timber Forest Product from the Tropical Forest of Calakmul, Southeast Mexico. Leaves and seeds of Chamaedorea (xate) palms are important non-timber forest products (NTFPs). In the Calakmul region (Yucatan Peninsula) of Mexico, several communities have sporadically collected and sold seeds of C. seifrizii since 1980. However, harvesting has intensified recently, raising concerns about overexploitation. To evaluate the economic potential of leaf and seed exploitation in the area, we collected information on abundance, population patterns, and leaf and seed stocks in Ejido Conhuas, a community within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR). Then we combined these data with current market values and hypothetical management regimes obtained from the literature for leaves and seeds. Conducting a quantitative analysis of 43 0.1ha plots with differences in forest and soil type, we assessed the abundance of C. seifrizzi in the area. We also conducted interviews to estimate the importance of xate in the local economy. We found C. seifrizii density to be highly variable, with a mean (±SE) of 295 (±35), with forest type being the most influential factor. Population structures differ between forest types, with healthy populations in medium and lower forest. We found a mean density of leaves of harvestable size of 3,750 (±380) leaves ha-1, while seed production was 1.5 (±0.3) kg/ha-1 of fresh seeds. Assuming sustainable harvest rates of 30–50% for leaves and 80% for seeds, one hectare of forest could generate USD 7.0–15.9/ha-1. Considering the number of households (102) and 10% of the total area managed each year (5,700 ha), this harvest could generate a household income of USD 391–838 annually. At the moment, xate trade represents a minor component in the economy of the community, but given the area’s extensive forest (>57,000 ha), the resource abundance, and the low human population, we believe the NTFPs derived from C. seifrizii have a potentially great economic impact in the area. Manejo potencial de
Chamaedorea seifrizii
(Palmae): Un producto forestal no maderable del bosque tropical de Calakmul, sureste de Mexico. Las hojas y frutos de las palmas Chamaedorea (xate) representan un importante producto forestal no maderable. En la region de Calakmul, varias comunidades han recolectado y vendido esporadicamente semillas de C. seifrizii. Sin embargo, la cosecha se ha intensificado y hay preocupaciones de sobreexplotacion. Para evaluar el potencial de la cosecha de hojas y semillas en la region de Calakmul realizamos una investigacion de abundancia y de su potencial economico en el Ejido Conhuas, una comunidad dentro de la Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul. Evaluamos la abundancia de C. seifrizii en 43 sitios de 0.1 ha con diferencias en tipos de bosque y de suelo. Encontramos que la densidad de C. seifrizii es muy variable con una media (±ES) de 295 (±35), siendo el tipo de bosque el factor mas importante. La estructura de la poblacion difiere entre tipos de bosques con las mejores poblaciones en selva mediana y baja. Las hojas cosechables fueron muy abudantes con una media de 3,750 (±380) leaves ha-1, mientras que la produccion de frutos fue de 1.5 (±0.3) kg/ha de fruto fresco. Asumiendo 30%–50% hojas of leaves and 80% de frutos como maximo de cosecha sustentable, la extraccion de C. seifrizii generaria USD 7.0–15.9/ha. Considerando un numero de familias (102) y el manejo de un 10% del area total de la comunidad (5,700 has), la cosecha de xate podria generar un ingreso annual de USD 391–838 anuales. Creemos que C. seifrizii representa un PFNM con un gran potencial economico.
TL;DR: The methodological results indicate that variation in archaeological sunflower achenes is better described by conventional size parameters rather than computerized shape analysis.
Abstract: Morphometric Analysis of Sunflower (
Helianthus annuus
L.) Achenes from Mexico and Eastern North America. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has played a major role in the evolution of agricultural systems in the Americas. The discovery of ancient domesticated remains from archaeological deposits in pre-Columbian Mexico offers new dimensions to widely accepted viewpoints on the domestication pattern of H. annuus. Although American sunflower populations north of Mexico have been examined extensively, Mexican indigenous domesticated landraces have not been studied in any detail. In this study, we morphologically assessed wild and domesticated sunflower achenes from Mexico and compared them to similar datasets from eastern North America. Additionally, we evaluated the utility of four computer-assisted shape measurements in discriminating between wild and domesticated sunflower achenes (fruits) and compared variation in achene size among modern wild and cultivated populations from both Mexico and the U.S. We found that, of the shape parameters tested, none were informative in distinguishing wild achenes from domesticated varieties. Subsequent size analysis, using conventional parameters of length, width, and thickness, showed that modern wild populations from Mexico had smaller achenes compared to modern populations from eastern North America. Domesticated achenes unearthed from Mexican archaeological sites, however, were significantly larger than the early domesticated specimens recovered from eastern North America. Our methodological results indicate that variation in archaeological sunflower achenes is better described by conventional size parameters rather than computerized shape analysis.
TL;DR: The Indian potato (Ipomoea pandurata) is a plant that native peoples in the eastern United States considered to be a purgative and ate its roots on a regular basis as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Indian Potato (
Ipomoea pandurata
, Convolvulaceae)—A Record of Confusion. Once European explorers began sending back plants from distant lands, confusion developed regarding their identities. Among these was Ipomoea pandurata, which native peoples in the eastern United States considered to be a purgative. Unfortunately, edible plants like potatoes were confused with I. pandurata, and by the early 1900s Americans and Europeans began writing that indigenous peoples also ate its roots. The literature for the late 1900s into the 2000s mostly reports that I. pandurata is edible. Although no documented use for food by pre-European cultures in the Americas has been found, the myth persists that the roots were eaten on a regular basis.
TL;DR: FISH technique provided a useful chromosomal marker for discriminating among the diploid putative parental Canna species, and supported the hybrid origin of C. discolor between C. indica and C. plurituberosa.
Abstract: The Origin of Southeastern Asian Triploid Edible Canna (Canna discolorLindl.) Revealed by Molecular Cytogenetical Study.Canna discolor Lindl. (Cannaceae), commonly known as edible canna, is often cultivated in Southeastern Asia for its starchy rhizomes. Based on morphological and karyological features, it is thought to be an allotriploid plant originated from hybridization between the closely allied C. coccinea Mill., C. patens Roscoe, C. plurituberosa T. Koyama & Nb. Tanaka, C. speciosa Roscoe, or C. indica L. In this study, to clarify the origin of triploid edible canna, physical mapping of 5S and 18S rDNA probes in C. discolor and its closely related five putative parental species was conducted. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique provided a useful chromosomal marker for discriminating among the diploid putative parental Canna species, and supported the hybrid origin of C. discolor between C. indica var. indica and C. plurituberosa.