Edible ethnoflora of the southern tepehuans of Durango, México

Abstract

R ESUMEN : Parte fundamental del patrimonio biocultural mexicano es el conocimiento tradicional sobre plantas comestibles. Actualmente existen avances significativos sobre la documentación de estos recursos a escala nacional; sin embargo, aún existen áreas geográficas y grupos étnicos escasamente estudiados. El objetivo de este trabajo fue sistematizar, analizar y discutir la información sobre plantas silvestres comestibles utilizadas por los tepehuanes del sur de Durango, México. En base a trabajo de campo, reportes técnicos de información etnobotánica y ejemplares de herbario, se generó una base de datos sobre aspectos taxonómicos, ecológicos y etnobotánicos de cada taxa registrado. La información se analizó en términos de composición taxonómica, riqueza, distribución ecológica, formas analyze and discuss information about edible wild plants used by the Southern Tepehuan of Durango, Mexico. Based on field work, unpublished ethnobotanical reports and herbarium speci mens, we generated a database that includes taxonomic, ecological and ethnobotanical information. These data were analyzed in terms of taxonomic composition, richness, ecological distribution, management and use patterns. Additionally, separate lists of edible wild plants reported in the literature were prepared for the other three main ethnic groups of the Sierra Madre Occidental and a comparative similitude analysis was carried out. For the Southern Tepehuan ethnoflora, a total of 122 species, 84 genera and 46 families were registered. Asteraceae, Cactaceae, Fabaceae Solanaceae account for 39% of the species. The richest genera are Agave (9 species), Opuntia and Physalis (4 species each), and Begonia , Dahlia and Tagetes (3 species each). Fruits are the part of the plants more used, raw food is the main form of consumption, and simple gathering the main management form. The comparison of this ethnoflora with that of the three other largest ethnic groups of the Sierra Madre Occidental (Huichol, Northern Tepehuan, and Tarahumara) suggests a similar richness and floristic patterns. The similarity analysis results indicate that the edible ethnoflora of the Southern Tepehuans is mainly related with that of the Huicholes, their geographically closest neighbors. This inventory fills an important information gap and is a basis to develop further research and strategies for the use and conservation of the biocultural heritage in Durango.