Plant resources of the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Valley, Mexico

• Published in: Economic botany Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 129 - 166
• Main Authors: Casas, A, Valiente-Banuet, A, Viveros, J.L, Caballero, J, Cortes, L, Davila, P, Lira, R, Rodriguez, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg The New York Botanical Garden Press 2001; Bronx, NY Springer; New York Botanical Garden Press; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; America; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; arid zones; Biological and medical sciences; Biosphere; Chorology; crops; culture; Development strategies; Domestic animals; domestication; Economic botany; Endemic species; Ethnobotany; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); flora; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Genetics. Plant material; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Herbivores; Indigenous species; livestock; Minority & ethnic groups; nationalities and ethnic groups; natural resources; Origin, evolution, domestication; Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution; Plant domestication; Plant material; Plant resources; Plant species; Plants; Species; species diversity; Temperate regions; Tropical regions; uses; Vegetation; weeds; wild plants; Mexico; Central America; America; Endemic species; Weed; Ethnobotany; Arid environment; Tropical zone; Domestication; Use study; Ethnic group; Species diversity; Natural biological resources; Ruderal plant; Nature reserve; Wild plant; Cultivated plant; Neotropical Region; Floral survey; Native species
• ISSN: 0013-0001; 1874-9364
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02864551

Information on richness of plant resources, and their forms of use and management in the biosphere reserve Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Mexico is analyzed. This 10 000 km2region hosts nearly 2700 vascular plant species, and it is acknowledged as one of the arid areas with the highest floristic diversity in North America. The seven indigenous ethnic groups that live in this region have cultural roots that date back almost 10 000 years. Based upon ethnobotanical and floristic studies, as well as bibliographical sources, a total of 808 useful plant species were identified, most of them (90%) being native, and 44 species being endemic to the region. A total of 681 species are wild plants, 109 are weeds and ruderal plants, and 86 are domesticated crops. However, it was noted that considerable overlap exists between the species of these 3 categories. For example, while wild and ruderal plants (706 species) are foraged by both humans and domestic animals, 59 species of this group are also managed in situ. On the other hand, 168 wild, ruderal and domesticated species are cultivated. The Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley is one of the richest regions of Mexico in plant resources. Local knowledge on use and management of plants is a valuable source of information for designing conservation and social development strategies for the biosphere reserve. /// Se analiza información sobre la riqueza de recursos vegetales, así como sus formas de uso y manejo en la reserva de la biosfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, México. Esta región, con una extensión de 10 000 km2, alberga a cerca de 2700 especies de plantas vasculares y es reconocida como una de las zonas áridas con mayor diversidad florística de Norteamérica. Incluye además a siete grupos étnicos indígenas con una historia cultural iniciada hace aproximadamente 10 000 años. Con base en estudios etnobotánicos y florísticos, así como información bibliográfica, se identificaron un total de 808 especies de plantas útiles, la mayor parte de las cuales (90%) son nativas y 44 son endémicas para la región. Un total de 681 especies son silvestres, 109 son arvenses y ruderales, y 86 son domesticadas, con algunas especies presentando al mismo tiempo condición de silvestres, arvenses y domesticadas. En total, 706 especies de plantas silvestres, arvenses y ruderales son forrajeadas tanto por humanos como por animales domésticos en las áreas donde se encuentran, pero 59 de ellas son también manejadas in situ, mientras que 168 especies silvestres, arvenses y ruderales, así como domesticadas, son cultivadas. El Valle de Tehuacán es una de las regiones de México con mayor diversidad de recursos vegetales. El conocimiento indígena sobre uso y manejo de las plantas locales es una fuente de información valiosa para el diseño de estrategias de conservación y desarrollo social para la reserva de la biosfera.