Ethnopteridology of the Guaranis of Misiones Province, Argentina.ABSTRACT.--An ethnobotanical study was performed of the ferns and lycophytes used by the Guarani gua·ra·nin. pl. guarani or gua·ra·nis See Table at currency. [Spanish guaraní, Guarani; see Guarani.] Noun 1. of Misiones Province “Misiones” redirects here. For Misiones in Paraguay, see Misiones Department. Misiones is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamia region. , Argentina. It was determined that fifty species are used, and details of the uses and the Guarani names and nomenclature are given and discussed. Fern and lycophytes are used for medicines, crafts, in magic rituals, and marketing of the plants. The most important traditional use of ferns is for medicine and the most important modern use is commercialization for use in horticulture. KEY WORDS.--Guarani communities, ethnobotany ethnobotany /eth·no·bot·a·ny/ (-bot´ah-ne) the systematic study of the interactions between a culture and the plants in its environment, particularly the knowledge about and use of such plants. , ferns and lycophytes, Parana forest ********** Economic botanists This is a list of botanists who have articles, in alphabetical order by surname. See also the list of botanists by author abbreviation and . A
The Province of Misiones is the center of diversity of ferns and lycophytes of Argentina (Ponce et al., 2002) where there are 1,123,000 hectares of subtropical sub·trop·i·cal adj. Of, relating to, or being the geographic areas adjacent to the Tropics. subtropical Adjective of the region lying between the tropics and temperate lands , semideciduous Paranfi forest and Alto Parana Atlantic rainforest (Placci and Di Bitteti, 2005). The catalogue of vascular plants of Argentina cited 158 species of monilophytes and lycophytes for the Province of Misiones (Ponce, 1996), but there have been many recent additions (Marquez et al., 2006; Martinez, and de la Sota, 2005; Meza Torres et al., 2006, 2008, 2010, Ponce, 2001; Tressens et al., 2008) bringing the total up to 180 species. This shows the increasing knowledge about the botanical richness of the extreme northeast of the country. The diversity of ferns and lycophytes is also high at the local level. In a reserve of 5340 hectares (about 0.18% of the area of the Province) 80 taxa of these groups were found which represents 43.23% of the total fern flora of the Province (Tressens et al., 2008). This diversity of species in an area that can be studied in a few days means that they are readily available for use by local peoples who depend on the resources of the flora for their livelihood, especially the indigenous communities that have lived in the area for thousands of years. Misiones has about one hundred Guarani communities of the Mbya and Ava Chiripa. Up to present day these groups have maintained much of their traditional life including aspects of cosmology cosmology, area of science that aims at a comprehensive theory of the structure and evolution of the entire physical universe. Modern Cosmological Theories , religion, methods of subsistence, swidden swid·den n. An area cleared for temporary cultivation by cutting and burning the vegetation. [Dialectal alteration of obsolete swithen, from Old Norse svidhna, to be burned.] agriculture, ways of hunting and fishing and the gathering of natural products from the forest. However, the fragmentation of their original habitat has obliged them to adopt various new strategies for survival as well as adapting customs of the surrounding global society, such as engaging in temporary employment and the commercialization of various natural products such as ornamental plants and crafts, especially baskets. For the Guarani, the native vegetation is one of the most important sources of materials for their traditional way of life and also of prime materials for selling to a wider audience. In this paper we analyze the importance of ferns and lycophytes to the indigenous population of Misiones, identifying the species, the Guarani names, their uses and significance. MATERIAL AND METHODS The fieldwork was carried out during an ethnobotanical program that took place between 2000 and 2008 in eleven Guarani villages in the Departments of Concepcion (1), Eldorado (1), Guarani (4), Lib. Gral. San Martin (1), Montecarlo (1), San Ignacio San Ignacio (the Spanish-language name of St. Ignatius) is a common toponym in parts of the world where that language is or was spoken:
n. The branch of anthropology that deals with the scientific description of specific human cultures. eth·nog methods such as participant observations and structured and semi-structured interviews. In some cases herbarium herbarium, collection of dried and mounted plant specimens used in systematic botany. To preserve their form and color, plants collected in the field are spread flat in sheets of newsprint and dried, usually in a plant press, between blotters or absorbent paper. vouchers were collected during walks with informants and in other cases the herbarium material was shown to community members to ask them about names and uses of the plants. This material is deposited in the Institute Botanica bo·tan·i·ca n. A shop that sells herbs, charms, and other religious or spiritual items, especially those associated with Santeria. [American Spanish botánica, from Greek del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina (CTES CTES Cell Technology Evaluation System ) with duplicates distributed to various other herbaria in Argentina and other countries (ASU ASU Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) ASU Appalachian State University ASU Arkansas State University ASU Angelo State University ASU Alabama State University ASU Australian Services Union , B, BA, CANB CANB Cambridge Accommodation Notice Board (UK) , CESJ CESJ Center for Economic and Social Justice , ESA, GH, LIL LIL Little LIL Last in Line (band) LIL Lithuanian Airlines (ICAO code) LIL Large-Ion Lithophile (elements) LIL Living In Leather LIL Local-Into-Local , LP, MEXU, MO, NY, PC, SI). Part of the ethnobotanical work was carried out in a village that is in the Guarani Multiple-use Reserve and is where Tressens et al. (2008) carried out an exhaustive floristic inventory and so some of the herbarium vouchers are from that study. The literature studied delimits the ferns and lycophytes families in various ways and here we have followed the nomenclature of de la Sota et al. (1998) and Mickel and Smith (2004) both of whom presented their results at the generic and species level without assignment to family. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total of 50 species were indicated as useful by the communities studied (Table 1). These belong to 32 genera genera, in taxonomy: see classification. and represent 28% of the fern flora of the Province. Regarding the categories of use (Fig. 1), 38 species (76%) were indicated as medicinal, 19 species (38%) are sold commercially as ornamentals or as physical supports for growing ferns and orchids, 15 species (30%) are used in magic, mainly as talismans, 4 species (8%) are ecological indicators, 3 species (6%) are used in crafts (necklaces), and a single species (2%) is used as food. The use of tree ferns to make arrow points is mentioned in the literature but was not found to be in use today. Folk nomenclature.--The general term for ferns in Guarani is amambdi and this includes those species in the class Polypodiopsida. They do not consider tree ferns or those generically known as chachi (various ferns with entire fronds) as amambai. The Guarani plant names usually describe a morphological or organoleptic or·gan·o·lep·tic adj. 1. Relating to perception by a sensory organ. 2. Involving the use of sense organs. organoleptic character of the plant. For example, amambai taka ta·ka n. See Table at currency. [Bengali  (bifurcate To divide into two. or branched fern) refers to the
fertile fronds that are several times divided of Doryopteris nobilis.
Because of its sturdy structure Pteridium arachnoideum is called amambai
rata (= hard fern). Pecluma pectinatiformis is named amambai e'e (=
sweet fern sweet fern, common name for several plants belonging to different botanical divisions. One is a shrub of the family Myricaceae (bayberry family) in the division Magnoliophyta; others are plants of the genus Dryopteris in the division Polypodiophyta (ferns). ) because of the sweet taste of its fronds. Other species of
this genus such as P. sicca are called amambai piru (= dry fern) because
their leaves shrivel up in dry periods and then return to normal once
humid conditions return. It is interesting to note that the specific
epithet specific epithetn. The uncapitalized Latin adjective or noun that follows a capitalized genus name in binomial nomenclature and serves to distinguish a species from others in the same genus, as saccharum in Acer saccharum (sugar maple). of this species "siccum' (= dry) also refers to this same quality. Other names are associated with animals because of some morphological similarity. For example, mborevi po (tapir paw (tool) PAW - Physics Analysis Workbench. ) is the name of Doryolateris nobilis whose sterile fronds look like the footprint of a tapir (Fig. 2A). Names can sometimes be associated with the habitat of animals, as in jakare ka'a (= caiman caiman: see alligator. caiman Any member of several species of Central and South American reptiles of the alligator family. Like the rest of the crocodile order, caimans are amphibious, lizardlike carnivores. herb) for Thelypteris riograndensis, which, like caimans, lives beside water sources. This name is similarly applied to various ferns by the Tupi-guarani of Amazonia (Balee, 1994). Some names refer to other plants, for example species of Selaginella are called koto koto (kō`tō), a Japanese string instrument related in structure to the zither. It consists of an elongated rectangular wooden body, strung lengthwise with 7 to 13 silk strings. jaryi (= false moss) and Adiatopsis chlorophylla is called kurunjy u miri (small specimen of the tree kurunjy u). Some species have bilingual names, as for Huperzia mandiocana which is called laino tyre'i (epiphytic ep·i·phyte n. A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a staghorn fern, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called aerophyte, air plant. pine). Other names are derived from the Spanish as is the case for Adiantum called kurantrijo (derived from culantrillo: Adiantum capillus-veneris L., widely distributed Adj. 1. widely distributed - growing or occurring in many parts of the world; "a cosmopolitan herb"; "cosmopolitan in distribution" cosmopolitan bionomics, environmental science, ecology - the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms in Europe) or from the Quichua language as in karaguara (calaguala) that refers to the genera Asplenium L. (A. balansae and A. brasiliense), Campyloneuron and Niphidium. Finally, various names refer to their use, such as Pleopeltis pleopeltifolia being called memby ja (giver of children) which is taken by women to increase their fertility. Medicines.--Medicinal plants are generally used by the Guarani in the fresh state preferably on the day they are collected. The storing of medicines is confined to plants located far from the village or of short duration. The most frequent method of use is in decoctions of macerated plant material in water at room temperature. It is also common to mix the medicinal material in mate water (the infusion of leaves of Ilex paraguariensis Ilex paraguariensis, n See yerba maté. A. St.-Hil. in the Aquifoliaceae) taken on a daily basis. Many species are used to treat infections of the reproductive system reproductive system, in animals, the anatomical organs concerned with production of offspring. In humans and other mammals the female reproductive system produces the female reproductive cells (the eggs, or ova) and contains an organ in which development of the fetus and this use accounts of the most uses reported here (46%). This agrees with the findings of an ethnobotanical study of the Guarani communities of Pai'i tavytera in Amambay Department Amambay is a department in Paraguay. The capital is the city of Pedro Juan Caballero. The department is divided in 3 districts:
Departments of Paraguay of Paraguay (Basualdo and Soria, 2002) where of the three species cited two were used to treat female fertility. Other medicinal use categories that stand out are: treatment of infections of the respiratory (18%), digestive (16%), circulatory circulatory /cir·cu·la·to·ry/ (ser´ku-lah-tor?e) 1. pertaining to circulation, particularly that of the blood. 2. containing blood. cir·cu·la·to·ry n. 1. (12%) and nervous systems (12%). Many plants used by the Guaranf of Misiones have their origins from the doctrine of signatures Doctrine of Signatures, the concept that the key to humanity's use of various plants was indicated by the form of the plant. The red sap of the bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis (Keller, 2007). Women who want to have a large family eat ferns of the genera Pleopeltis and Pecluma that are characterized by their prolific production of small fronds. Tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) sleep on their backs with their hooves pressed against their chests and the Guaranf maintain that in this way they cure heart problems. For this reason they attribute heart-healing properties to Doryopteris nobilis (mborevi po or tapir hooves) whose sterile fronds resemble the tracks of this animal. Commercialization.--The sale of ornamental plants is the second most important use of ferns and their allies in the communities studied. Ornamental species are sold as single plants or on frames or wooden supports, and others are used to add to groups of epiphytic orchids, which they sell in stands beside the highways (Fig. 2B). One of the most sought after species from the roadside stands is Huperzia mandioccana, which is not a common plant. The commercial use of this species could threaten the future of its natural populations. The stems of the tree fern tree fern, any fern having a treelike trunk. Sometimes other similar primitive plants are also called tree fern, e.g., species of cycad. tree fern Dicksonia sellowiana, a rare species in the region, are cut and sectioned for sale (Fig. 2C). This is a substrate widely used by nurseries as a support for orchids and other epiphytes. The bases of other ferns with a robust stem such as Alsophylla setosa are also sometimes used in the same way. Magic.--Most of the plants used for magic by the Guarani have names associated with animals and they are usually aromatic plants. They term them vy'aja (givers of happiness) or iru pora (good friends) to their personal charms. They frequently carry fragments of leaves and other plant materials in pouches in order to have good results form various events especially in their declarations of love. The most used ferns in this category are species of the genus Anemia Noun 1. genus Anemia - genus of terrestrial or lithophytic ferns having pinnatifid fronds; chiefly of tropical America Anemia family Schizaeaceae, Schizaeaceae - small family of mainly tropical ferns Sw. whose fronds are aromatic and are used in various procedures to attract members of the opposite sex. Sometimes they use these plants as a perfume, rubbing the fragrant material on their cheeks. At other times they place fragments of the fern in the bowl of their pipes and blow the smoke in the direction of the person they hope to conquer. The propagules of fern fronds with gemmae are also frequently used as charms (Fig. 2D). [FIGURE 2 OMITTED] Ecological indicator Ecological indicators are used to communicate information about ecosystems and the impact human activity has on ecosystems to groups such as the public or government policy makers. plants.--Various small ferns grow on tree trunks and often, together with mosses and lichens Lichens Symbiotic associations of fungi (mycobionts) and photosynthetic partners (photobionts). These associations always result in a distinct morphological body termed a thallus that may adhere tightly to the substrate or be leafy, stalked, or hanging. , form a living carpet along the branches. The Guarani have noted that some of these small plants are more abundant on the north-facing side of the host tree (Fig. 2E) because this side does not receive as much direct sunlight, and this is particularly so on trees of large diameter. During their long treks through the forest at night or on cloudy days it is possible to estimate the probable compass points from the location of the carpets of epiphytes on a tree. This is especially true on large, straight-trunked trees. There are various edaphic e·daph·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to soil, especially as it affects living organisms. 2. Influenced by the soil rather than by the climate. characteristics of the deep red soils of Misiones that make them hard to cultivate, such as low fertility, high acidity, high aluminum content, and susceptibility to erosion (Ligier et al., 1990). The Guarani identify, where this type of soil occurs in the forest by the presence of tree ferns (Fig. 2F), specifically Alsophylla setosa, and so they avoid establishing their slash and burn This article is about the agricultural practice of slash and burn. For the military tactic, see scorched earth. Slash and burn refers to the cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields for agriculture or pasture for livestock, or for a agriculture on these sites. Some large ferns, such as Pteris deflexa, form dense clumps clump n. 1. A clustered mass; a lump: clumps of soil. 2. A thick grouping, as of trees or bushes. 3. A heavy dull sound; a thud. v. on the edge of or in the forest. The Guarani say that it wise to avoid these areas because of the large number of ticks that occur there. In addition they say that the small deer petty game, not worth pursuing; - used metaphorically. (See citation from Shakespeare under the first definition, above. - G. P. Marsh. See also: Deer Mazama nana (Cervidae) has the habit of hiding under the fronds of this fern and so they call the deer "amambai guy'i", which translated means "he who is under the fern." Crafts.--The Guarani make many crafts from nature such as baskets and carvings either for their own personal use or to sell. They often make bead necklaces to sell to tourists or for themselves for use by either men or women. Amongst the materials used to make beads we have observed the use of the shiny black petioles of Adiantopsis chlorophylla, Adiantum pseudotinctum and Doryopteris nobilis. Arrow points.--The construction of arrow points involving the use of the cord-like sclerenchimatous tissue of tree fern petioles by the indigenous people of Misiones was mentioned by Queirel (1897). The mythology of the guayakies of Paraguay refers to "arrows of ferns" (Fernandez, 1992). We have not been able to verify this use from contemporary Guaranis. Conclusions.--The Guarani of Misiones use a considerable part of the fern flora of the Province. Ferns and lycophytes provide a variety of resources to maintain their traditional methods of subsistence and their more modern commercial life. The conservation of the biological diversity of Misiones Province undoubtedly has helped to avoid erosion of the cultural diversity of the region as well. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Firstly we thank the members of the communities studied for the time and information given. We are grateful to CONICET CONICET Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (National Council for Science and Technology, Argentina) (Argentina) and the Darwin Initiative (U. K.) for financing our ethnobotanical studies and to M. Dematteis, Ph.D., for a critical reading of the manuscript. LITERATURE CITED BALEE, W. 1994. Footprints of the Forest. Ka'apor Ethnobotany, The Historical Ecology Historical ecology is a fairly new field of study that takes a human/nature dialectical approach to the history of landscapes, cultures, and regions. It is similar in some ways to environmental history, cultural ecology, and evolutionary ecology though different enough that many of Plant Utilization by an Amazonian People. 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One of the premier botanical gardens in the United States, it spans some 240 acres of Bronx Park in the borough of The Bronx and is home to some of the 88:1-1055. MOLINA, M., V. REYES-GARCIA and M. PARDO DE SANTAYANA. 2009. Local Knowledge and Management of the Royal Fern (Osmunda os·mun·da also os·mund n. Any of several ferns of the genus Osmunda, having erect, bipinnately compound fronds and deeply contracted fertile pinnules. regalis L.) in Northern Spain: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation. Amer. Fern J. 99(1):45-55. Nwosu, M. O. 2002. Ethnobotanical studies on some Pteridophytes of southern Nigeria. Econ. Bot. 56:255-259. ORTEGA, F. and W. DIAZ. 1993. Ethnopharmacological notes on two Venezuelan Asplenium. Amer. Fern J. 83:71. PLACCI, G. and M. dI BITETTI. 2006. La situacion ambiental en la eco region del bosque atlantico del Alto Parana (Selva Paranaense). In Brown, A., U. Martinez Ortiz, M. Acerbi and J. Corcuera (eds.) La situacion ambiental Argentina 2005. 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QUEIREL, J. 1897. Misiones. Taller tipografico de la Penitenciaria Nacional, Buenos Aires. p. 163. RUIZ LOPEZ, H. 1805. Memoria sobre la legitima Calaguala y otras dos raices que con el mismo nombre nos vienen de la America meridional me·rid·i·o·nal adj. Of or relating to meridians or a meridian. , imprenta de D. Jose del Collado, Madrid. 60 p. TRESSENS, S. G., H. A. KELLER and V. REVILLA. 2008. Las plantas vasculares de la Reserva de Uso Multiple Guarani, Misiones. Bol. Soc. argent ar·gent n. 1. Heraldry The metal silver, represented by the color white. 2. Archaic Silver or something resembling it. . Bot. 43(3-4):273-293. TURNER, N. J., L. M. JOHNSON GOTTESFELD, H. V. KUHNLEIN and A. CESKA. 1992. Edible wood fern rootstocks of Western North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. : solving an ethnobotanical puzzle. J. Ethnobiol. 12(1):1-34. HECTOR A. KELLER and ESTEBAN I. MEZA TORRES Instituto de Botanica del Nordeste, UNNE-CONICET, C.C.: 209, 3400 Corrientes, Argentina, e-mail: hkeller@facfor.unam.edu.ar GHILLEAN T. PRANCE School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AS, UK, e-mail: gtolmiep@aol.com
TABLE 1. List of the ferns and fern allies used by the Guarani of
Misiones, Argentina.
SPECIES GUARANI NAME USES
Adiantopsis kurunjy u miri --Necklace beads
chlorophylla (small tree of
(Sw.) Fee Trema micrantha) --Expectorant,
treatment of heart
problems, stomach
refresher
Adiantopsis amambdi u --Febrifuge, treatment
radiata (L.) Fee (black fern) of nosebleed
Adiantum kurantrijo (from
pseudotinctum the Spanish --Treatment of
Hieron. "culantrillo", = headaches and
small cilantro") nausea, post
partum washing,
nosebleed
--Necklace beads
Adiantum kurantrijo (from --Treatment of
raddianum the Spanish headache and
C. Presl. "culantrillo", = nausea, febrifuge,
"small cilantro" nosebleed, diarrhea
Alsophila chachi rakua (tree --Stands for
setosa Kaulf. fern with spines) ornamental plants
--Formerly used for
arrow points
--Indicator that soil
not suitable for
agriculture
--Treatment of Herpes
sp.
Anemia nachi'u ra (similar --Male charm to
phyllitidis (L.) to a mosquito), attract opposite sex
Sw. typycha ovy
(blue brush) --Treatment of
sinusitis,
expectorant,
antidepressant,
stomach refresher,
treatment of heart
infections
Anemia jakare ka'a --Male charm to
simplicior (caiman plant) attract opposite sex
(Christ) Mickel
Anemia jakare ka'a --Male charm to
tomentosa (caiman plant) attract opposite sex
(Sav.) Sw.
--Muscular tonic,
prevention of illness
Asplenium karaguara yvy --Sold as an
bolansae reegua (calaguala ornamental
(Baker) of the earth)
Sylvestre --Contraceptive,
menstrual analgesic
Asplenium karaguara yvv --Sold as an
brosiliense Sw reegua (calaguala ornamental
of the earth)
--Contraceptive,
menstrual analgesic
Asplenium kuna manje'a --Sold as an
scandicinum (for women) ornamental
Kaulf. --Male charm to
attract the opposite
sex
Blechnum amambdi (fern) --Female
australe L. contraceptive,
subsp. treatment of
auriculatum headache
(Cav.) de la
Sota
Blechnum amambdi (fern) --Sold as an
oustrobrasilianum ornamental
de la Sota
Blechnum amambdi (fern) --Sold as an
brasiliense Desv. ornamental
Campyloneurum karaguara ita --Sold as an
lapathifolium reegua (growing ornamental
(Poir.) Ching on rocks)
--Menstrual analgesic,
treatment of gastritis
Campyloneurum karaguara ita --Sold as an
nitidum (Kaulf.) reegua (growing ornamental
C.Presl on rocks), mburika
ka'a (donkey herb), --Treatment of nausea,
jagua ka'a (dog epilepsy, muscular
herb) tonic, blood purifier,
female contraceptive,
abortive, menstrual
analgesic, to
facilitate child birth,
post-partum
washing, treatment
of gastritis, asthma,
lumbago and
kidney infections.
Dicksonia chachi raviju --Stands for
sellowiana Hook. (woody tree fern), ornamental plants
kereke
--Formerly used for
arrow points
--Treatment of burns
and measles
Didymochlaena amambdi (fern) --Stands for
truncatula (Sw.) ornamental plants
J. Sm.
--Sold as an
ornamental
Doryopteris mborevi po (tapir --Sold as an
nobilis (Moore) pawr); amambdi ornamental
C.Chr. take (fern with
bifurcate fronds) --Necklace beads
--Male charm to
attract opposite sex
--Treatment of colds,
headaches, cardiac
infections, diarrhea,
menstrual analgesic.
Elophoglossum karaguara ita --Female
pachydermum reegua (growing contraceptive,
(Fee) T. Moore on racks) abortive, menstrual
analgesic
Equisetum kavaju rugudi --Treatment of
giganteum L. (horse tail) headaches, epilepsy and
kidney infections
Hemionitis rorarija (from --Sold as an
tomentosa spanish ornamental
(Lam.) Raddi "doradilla",
because the --Used in a procedure
ferruginous to gain power,
indumentum)
--Treatment of heart
and kidney
infections,
menstrual analgesic,
treatment of female
sterility, for
healing childs
navel, blodd
purifier
Huperzia pino tyre'i --Sold as an
mandiocana (epiphytic pine) ornamental
(Raddi) Trevis.
Lastreopsis amambdi tyre'i --Male charm to
effusa (Sw.) (orphan fern) attract opposite sex
Tindale
Lycopodiella urukure'a ka'a --Male charm to
cernua (L.) Pic. (owl herb) attract opposite sex
Serm.
Lycopodium urukure'a ka'a --Male charm to
clavatum L. (owl herb) attract opposite sex
Lygodium jakare ka'a --Male charm to
volubile Sw (caiman plant) attract opposite sex
Microgramma ambere ka'a --Treatment of kidney
lindbergii (Kuhn) (small lizard plant) infections and
de la Sota deafness, menstrual
analgesic
Microgramma ambere mboi (small --Slimming, menstrual
squamulosa lizard-snake), analgesic, female
(Kaulf.) de la anguja ruguai contraceptive, post
Sota (rat tail) partum washing,
treatment of
lumbago.
Microgramma ambere ka'a, --Treatment of kidney
vacciniifolia ambere mby (small infections and
(Langsd. & lizard plant) deafness, menstrual
Fisch.) Copel. analgesic
Niphidium karaguara yvyra --Sold as an
crassifolium reegua (that which ornamental
(L.) Lellinger grows on trees)
--Indicator of cardinal
points
--Muscular toner,
menstrual analgesic,
treatment to ease
child birth, post
partum washing
Ophioglossum kochi apia'i --For colds
reticulatum L. (peccary penis)
Osmunda nachi'u rd guachu --Treatment of sore
regalis L. (large Anemia throats
phyllitidis)
--Male charm to
attract opposite sex
Pecluma filicula amambdi piru --Sold as an
(Kaulf.) M. G. (dry fern) ornamental
Price --Treatment of female
sterility
Pecluma amambdi re'e --Chewed as a sweet
pectinatiformis (sweet fern)
(Lindm.) M. G. --Sold as an
Price ornamental
--Treatment of
epilepsy, blood
purifier
Pecluma sicca amambai piru --Sold as an
(Lindm.) M.G. (dry fern) ornamental
Price --Treatment of female
sterility
Pecluma amambai piru --Sold as an
singeri (de la (dry fern) ornamental
Sota) M.G. Price --Treatment of female
sterility
Phlebodium karoguara (from --Menstrual analgesic
areolatum quichua
(Willd.) J. Sm. "Calaguala")
Pleopeltis memby ja (giver of --Menstrual analgesic,
pleopeltifolia children) treatment of
(Raddi) Alston excessive
menstruation and
female sterility
Pleopeltis teko'a pord ja --Indicator of cardinal
squalida (Vell.) (owner of good points
de la Sota customs) --Menstrual analgesic,
treatment of
excessive
menstruation and
female sterility
Pteridium amambai rata --Menstrual analgesic
arachnoideum (hard fern)
(Kaulf.) Maxon. --Indicator of places
Pteris deflexa amambai (fern) with an abundance
Link of ticks
--Used in a magic
process to forget an
ex wife
Pteris nachi'u ra ra --Treatment of sore
denticulata Sw. (similar to Anemia throat,
phyllitidis) antidepressant
Selaginella guaimi rogue --Female
muscosa Spring (old lady's hair), contraceptive,
ygau jaryi (false washing wounds
moss)
Selaginella koto jaryi (false --Female
sulcata (Pair.) moss) contraceptive
Mart.
Serpocaulon karaguora --Menstrual analgesic
latipes (Langsd. (calaguala)
& Fisch.) A. R.
Sm.
Thelypteris amambai tyre'i --Male charm to
recumbens (orphan fern) attract opposite sex
(Resent.) C. F.
Reed --Tranquilizer for
children
Thelypteris jakore ka'a --Male charm to
riograndensis (caiman herb) attract opposite sex
(Lindm.) C. F.
Reed --Antidepressant
Thelypteris amambai tyre'i --Male charm to
scabra (C. (orphan fern) attract opposite sex
Presl)Lellinger
Vittaria lineata avukujo guachu --Sold as an
(L.) Sm. (great owner of ornamental
long hair) --Treatment to make
hair grow
SPECIES PARTS USED VOUCHERS
Adiantopsis --Fronds Keller 2787
chlorophylla
(Sw.) Fee
Adiantopsis --Fronds Keller 1057
radiata (L.) Fee
Adiantum
pseudotinctum --Petioles Tressens et
Hieron. al. 6469
--Fronds
Adiantum --Fronds Keller 1371
raddianum
C. Presl.
Alsophila --Stems Tressens et
setosa Kaulf. al. 4719
--Sclerenchyma
strands
--Exudate from
petiole
Anemia --Fertile fronds Keller 2979
phyllitidis (L.)
Sw. --Fronds
Anemia --Fronds Keller 829
simplicior
(Christ) Mickel
Anemia --Fronds Keller &
tomentosa Gatti
(Sav.) Sw. 1693
Asplenium --Whole plant Keller 5629
bolansae
(Baker)
Sylvestre
Asplenium --Whole plant Keller 5628
brosiliense Sw
Asplenium --Whole plant Keller et al.
scandicinum 1939
--Fronds
Kaulf.
Blechnum --Whole plant, Keller 3599
australe L. fronds
subsp.
auriculatum
(Cav.) de la
Sota
Blechnum --Whole plant Keller 773
oustrobrasilianum
de la Sota
Blechnum --Whole plant Keller 1072
brasiliense Desv.
Campyloneurum --Whole plant Fernandez
lapathifolium et al. 98
(Poir.) Ching --Rhizomes
Campyloneurum --Whole plant Keller 1081
nitidum (Kaulf.)
C.Presl --Rhizomes
Dicksonia --Stems Tressens
sellowiana Hook. et al. 4631
--Sclerenchyma
strands
--Exudate of
petiole
Didymochlaena --Stems Keller 1106.
truncatula (Sw.)
J. Sm. --Whole plant
Doryopteris --Whole plant Keller 1368
nobilis (Moore)
C.Chr. --Petioles
--Propagules
--Fronds
Elophoglossum Whole plant Keller 7462
pachydermum
(Fee) T. Moore
Equisetum --Shoots Keller 3282
giganteum L.
Hemionitis --Whole plant Keller &
tomentosa Gatti 1858
(Lam.) Raddi --Whole plant
--Fronds
Huperzia --Whole plant Keller et al.
mandiocana 1941
(Raddi) Trevis.
Lastreopsis --Propagules Keller 5624
effusa (Sw.)
Tindale
Lycopodiella --Whole plant Keller 1994
cernua (L.) Pic.
Serm.
Lycopodium --Whole plant Keller 49
clavatum L.
Lygodium --Fronds Keller &
volubile Sw Franco 5814
Microgramma --Whole plant Keller 5678
lindbergii (Kuhn)
de la Sota
Microgramma --Whole plant Keller 1080
squamulosa
(Kaulf.) de la
Sota
Microgramma --Whole plant, Keller 7541
vacciniifolia fronds
(Langsd. &
Fisch.) Copel.
Niphidium --Whole plant Keller 1889
crassifolium
(L.) Lellinger --Rhizomes
Ophioglossum --Whole plant Keller 3065
reticulatum L.
Osmunda --Whole plant Keller 1058
regalis L. fronds
--Fertile
Pecluma filicula --Whole plant Keller 797
(Kaulf.) M. G.
Price --Fronds
Pecluma --Fronds Keller et al.
pectinatiformis 3096
(Lindm.) M. G. --Whole plant
Price
--Rhizomes
Pecluma sicca --Whole plant Tressens
(Lindm.) M.G. 4942
--Fronds
Price
Pecluma --Whole plant Keller 5594
singeri (de la
--Fronds
Sota) M.G. Price
Phlebodium --Rhizomes Keller &
areolatum Paredes
(Willd.) J. Sm. 7465
Pleopeltis --Whole plant, Keller 776
pleopeltifolia fronds
(Raddi) Alston
Pleopeltis --Whole plant, Keller 1891
squalida (Vell.) fronds
de la Sota
Pteridium --Tender fronds Keller &
arachnoideum Benitez 2727
(Kaulf.) Maxon. --Fronds
Pteris deflexa Tressens et
Link al. 6750
Pteris --Fronds Keller 1892
denticulata Sw.
Selaginella --Whole plant Tressens et
muscosa Spring al. 4635
Selaginella --Whole plant Keller 1163
sulcata (Pair.)
Mart.
Serpocaulon --Rhizomes Keller &
latipes (Langsd. Franca 5827
& Fisch.) A. R.
Sm.
Thelypteris --Propagules Tressens et
recumbens al. 6845
(Resent.) C. F.
Reed
Thelypteris --Fronds Keller 2975
riograndensis
(Lindm.) C. F. --Whole plant
Reed
Thelypteris --Propagules Keller &
scabra (C. Gatti 1861
Presl)Lellinger
Vittaria lineata --Whole plant Keller 2409
(L.) Sm.
--Fronds
FIG. 1. Species in each category of use
Medicinal: 38(76%)
Commercialization: 19(38%)
Food: 1(2%)
Crafts; 3(6%)
Indicators plants; 4(8%)
Magic: 15(30%)
Note: Table made from pie chart.
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