A Comparison of Useful Pteridophytes between Two Amerindian Groups from Amazonian Bolivia and Ecuador

2004·4.1 MB·English

by  Manuel J Macía

American Fern 94(1):39^6
Journal (2004)
A
Comparison between
of Useful Pteridophytes
Two
Amerindian Groups Amazonian
from
and Ecuador
Bolivia
Manuel Macia
J,
Real Jardin Botanico de Madrid (CSIC), Plaza de Murillo E-2a014 Madrid, Spain
2,
—
An
Abstract. ethnobotanical study of the pteridophytes used by the Tacana and Huaorani
indigenous groups from Amazonian forests of Bolivia and Ecuador presented. Twenty-four
is
useful species, eleven for Bolivia and fourteen for Ecuador, are reported. The only species used by
both groups Cyathea pungens. Most of the recorded uses (76%) are medicinal. Whereas the
is
Tacana use most medicinal pteridophytes by external administration, to heal wounds, swelling,
boils, and as eyewash, the Huaorani use them by internal administration, mainly to cure diarrhea,
stomachache, body-pain, toothache, and colds. Three species are recorded for veterinary use
wounds
[12%), to heal and to expel intestinal parasites of domestic animals. Tree-ferns were
widely used by the interviewed informants.
all
Ferns and lycophytes have been employed for a wide variety of uses over
all
and
the tropics: cosmetics, dyes, fibers, folklore, flavorings foods, medicines,
and other minor products Sodiro, 1893; Copeland, 1942; May, 1979;
{e.g.,
Murillo, 1983; Schultes and Raffauf, 1990; Ortega and Diaz, 1993; Nwosu,
2002]. Although in Amazonia, rural, mestizo, and indigenous people have
also used pteridophytes for those purposes, medicinal uses were the most
and Boom,
important category Davis Yost, 1983; Murillo, 1983; 1985;
(e.g.,
Bourdy et ah, 2000]. There little published about useful pteridophytes in the
is
Amazon. Chacobo
Bolivian Fifteen medicinal species are reported for the
indigenous community [Boom, 1985] and four medicinal species the
for
Amazonian
Tacana group (Bourdy Information from
ethnic et qL, 2000).
known
Ecuador more complete. There are five indigenous groups to use
is
pteridophytes, mainly for medicinal purposes. The Quichua use 12 species
(Alarcon, 1988; Maries et al, 1988; Baez, 1998]; the Cofan 10 species (Ceron
and Huaorani and Ceron and
et aL, 1994; Ceron, 1995); the (Davis Yost, 1983;
and
Montalvo, 1998], the Shuar (Baez Backevall, 1998; Bennett et aL, 2002],
and Plowman,
and Siona-Secoya (Vickers 1984) use four species each.
the
In this study, record and compare the uses of pteridophytes by two
I
indigenous people from western Amazonia: the Tacana from Bolivia and the
whether and
Huaorani from Ecuador determine the uses, applications,
to
same
administration of ferns and lycophytes follow the general pattern of
two indigenous ethnic groups.
utilization for the
Methods
Ecuador, fieldwork was carried out in Orellana province, from April 1997
In
May and
1998, near the Huaorani communities of Tiputini (0°36'S; 76°27'W)
to
VOLUME
40 JOURNAL:
Dicaro The community
(0°56'S; 76°12'W}. located within
first is the limits of
the Yasuni National Park; the second located within the Huaorani Ethnic
is
m
The
Reserve. study area is tropical evergreen rainforest at 200-300 elevation.
According
drainage and
to flooding, three broad
forest types
[tierra firme,
and swamp)
floodpain, can be recognized
(for a specific description of the
area,
see Romero-Sahos The
et ah, 2001). indigenous Huaoranis and
hunters
are
and were
fruit-gatherers, first contacted less than 50 years ago (Yost 1991;
knowled
[M
Fieldwork was
in Bolivia conducted Abel
in Iturralde province
froiu
Madidi
Manej
Mad
m
low montane
forest from 260 1070
to elevation. Ethnobotanical
in-
was
formation obtained from
five pilot-study remote
areas {13°53'S-
68^09'W; 14°10'S-67^54'W). The
indigenous Tacanas were
contacted
in the
17^^ century by Franciscan
missionaries
(Wentzel, 1989; Hissink and Hahn,
and
2000) today they mainly
are farmers, although hunting and
fishing are
occasional
activities.
male
Five informants (>40 were
years
old] separately interviewed about
useful pteridophytes in each of the two study women
sites; the participation of
was
The
not possible. informants were chosen by
most
villagers as the plant-
knowledgable own
people within
communities.
their
In
Bolivia, the
infor-
mants came
from three Tacana communities (Carmenpecha, Macahua, and
Tumupasa), and
in Ecuador from two Huaorani communities
and
(Dicaro
A
Tiputini). semi-structured was
interview followed
for ethnobotanical
queries (Alexiades, 1996}. All interviews and fern collections were conducted
in the with
field the informants.
In this paper, follow the taxonomic system
I of
Tryon and Tryon
and
(1982] for ferns lycophytes. Vouchers from Bolivia have
MO
MA.
and
M
A QC A
,
Results
The
name
generic vernacular
for pteridophytes
Tacana
is 'atarisr in the
language whereas
in the Huaorani
language
Twenty-four
'toyuha'.
it is
pteridophytes were used by
both
groups: 11 species for the Tacana and 14
species for the Huaorani. The
tree-fern Cyathea pungens was
used by
both.
Most
uses (76%] were
medicinal
for purposes.
In Bolivia, four species were
used wounds
to heal and an
as antiseptic (including two Campyloneurum
and two more
species],
species an
as anti-inflammatory and
for boils swelling.
In Ecuador, four species were used
to alleviate diarrhea and stomachache
two Adiantum
(including
species], three species
to cure general bodypain
two
(including Polybotrya
and two
species),
species
to alleviate toothache.
Three species were used
for veterinary medicine
(12%).
AND ECUADOR
MACIA: USEFUL PTERIDOPHYTES OF BOLIVIA 41
Adiantum humile Kunze
[Pteridaceae]
Huaorani vernacular name: Toyuba.
Macia
Vouchers: al 874, 2841, 3388.
et
swamp
and
(Ecuador).
Tierra firme, floodplain,
A
drunk and
Uses: decoction of crushed fronds to cure diarrhea
is
stomachache. One informant reports that this plant was only used by
shamans medicinal remedy.
as a
Adiantum obliquum
Willd. [Pteridaceae]
Tacana vernacular name:
Atarisi.
Macia
Voucher: 5945.
et
al.
Amazonian
high
Tierra firme in forest (Bolivia),
hemorrhaging and
Uses: Crushed fronds are directly applied to stop heal
wounds.
typhyll
Tacana vernacular name: Cucubio ina.
Voucher: Macia aL 4455,
et
Amazonian
high
Tierra firme in forest (Bolivia).
when
Uses: Some drops from crushed fronds are used as eyewash vision is
not
clear.
Adiantum pulverulentum
[Pteridaceae]
L.
No name
vernacular given.
Voucher: Macia 2899. Tierra firme (Ecuador).
et
al.
A
drunk
Uses: decoction of the fronds to cure diarrhea.
is
Conant [Cyatheaceae]
Alsophila cuspidata (Kunze) D.
S.
Tacana vernacular name: Atarisi.
High Amazonian and low
Vouchers: Macia 4017, 4424, 6492.
et
al.
montane
firme forests (Bolivia).
tierra
A
stem applied
Mucilage from the apical part of the cut to boils.
Uses:
any
poultice made from this sap externally applied to reduce swelling in
is
body.
part of the
Alston [Dryopteridaceae]
Bolbitis nicotianifolia (Sw.)
Acagueme,
name:
Huaorani vernacular
swamp
and
Floodplain
Vouchers: Macia 2861. 3218, 3668.
et
al.
(Ecuador).
Boiled crushed rhizome with one pinna drunk to cure stomachache;
Uses: is
body and
a decoction of the rhizome is drunk to alleviate pain fever
{'calentura'].
fuscosquamatum
name; Toyuba.
Huaorani vernacular
Macia
(Ecuador).
VOLUME
FERN lOURNAL:
42
A
and
Uses: decoction of the crushed fronds drunk to cure colds coughs.
is
eurum
Tacana vernacular name:
Atarisi,
Macm Amazonian
high
Voucher: 5658. Tierra firme in forest
et
q1.
[Bolivia).
may
be placed under bandages several hours.
for
Campyloneurum
sphenodes (Kunze ex Klotzsch) Fee [Polypodiaceae]
Tacana vernacular name; Chati
ina.
Low
Voucher: Macia et aL 5174. montane tierra firme forests (Bolivia).
Uses: Crushed fronds are directly applied to stop hemorrhaging and heal
When
chew
wounds. dogs have been by wild animals, people the
bitten
fronds and apply them the dogs wounds.
to
Cyathea amazonica Moran
[Cyatheaceae]
R. C.
Tacana name:
vernacular Atari
si.
Voucher: Macia et aL 5635. Tierra firme in high Amazonian forest
(Bolivia).
Uses: Crushed apical part of the stem macerated in cold water or urine and
is
applied directly to scabby dogs. According to our informant, cannot be
it
used on people because too "strong".
is
it
Cyathea delgadii Stemb. [Cyatheaceae]
Tacana name:
vernacular AtarisL
Low
Macia montane
Vouchers: et 5357, 6183. tierra firme forests
al.
(Bolivia).
Uses: Mucilaginous sap from central apical part of the cut stem directly
is
applied
to boils.
Domin
Cyathea Kuhn)
lasiosora ex [Cyatheaceae]
(Mett.
Huaorani vernacular name: Toyuba,
toyuto.
swamp
Macia and
Vouchers: et aL 400, 655. Tierra firme (Ecuador).
Uses: Drops of mucilaginous sap, from the basal part of a cut pinna or apical
used them
part of the cut stem, are to alleviate toothache, placing directly
on the gum. Five informants from two Huaorani communities reported
this use. Well-dried stems are occasionally used for firewood.
Cyathea pungens Domin
(Willd.) [Cyatheaceae]
Huaorani vernacular name; Toyuba, toyuwe.
Swamp
Macia
Vouchers: et aL 309, 2441, 2721, forest (Ecuador).
Uses: Drops of mucilaginous sap from the basal part of a cut pinna are used
to alleviate toothache by placing them directly on the gum.
Tacana vernacular name:
Atarisi.
Macia Amazonian
Voucher: et aL 4127. Tierra firme in high forest
(Bolivia).
MACIA: USEFUL PTERIDOPHYTES OF BOLIVIA AND ECUADOR
43
Uses: Mucilaginous sap from central apical part of the cut stem applied
is
on
directly skin in cases of swelling.
Equisetum giganteum
[Equisetaceae]
L.
Spanish vernacular name: Bigote de
tigre.
Amazonian
Voucher: none. Floodplain in forest (Bolivia).
A
Uses: decoction of crushed aerial stems and whorls of branches is drunk to
kidney and bladder
alleviate pain.
Lomariopsis japurensis Sm. [Dryopteridaceae]
(Mart.)
J.
Tacana vernacular name: Chati
ina.
Amazonian
Voucher: Macia al 3880. Tierra firme in high forest
et
(Bolivia].
wounds
and on
Uses: Dried fronds are pulverized put directly to heal them.
Melpomene Sm. and Moran
melanosticta (Kunze] A. R. R. C. [Grammitidaceae]
Tacana name:
vernacular AtarisL
Low
montane
Voucher: Macia et aL 6224, tierra firme forests (Bolivia),
Uses: Whole plant used for womens' necklaces because their fresh
is
rhizomes are fragant for a long time.
Microgramma
fuscopunctata (Hook.) Var(
Huaorani vernacular name: Guimipume,
Macia
[k
aching.
Polybotrya crassirhizoma Lellinger [Dryopteridaceae]
Huaorani vernacular name: Toyuba, to}niba bengana.
and
Vouchers: Macia al 623, 684. Tierra firme floodplain (Ecuador).
et
A
body
drunk
pain.
Uses: decoction of croziers to alleviate
is
osmundacea Humb. &
Bonpl. ex Willd. [Dryopteric
ilybotrya
Huaorani vernacular name: Toyuba.
Vouchers: Macia al 605, 3377. Tierra firme forest (Ecuac
et
A
drunk body
pain.
Uses: decoction of croziers to alleviate
is
Saccoloma inaequale (Kunze) Mett. [Dennstaedtiaceae]
Huaorani vernacular name: Toyuto.
swamp
and (Ecuador)
Macia al 3389. Tierra firme
Vouchers: 1521,
et
and used deodorant.
TTw.q- rriishfirl rhizomfi is fragrant as
(Kunze) Spring [Selaginellaceael
Selaginella exaltata
Toyume.
name:
Huaorani vernacular
Swamp
Vouchers: Macia al 311, 339. forest (Ec
et
44
FERN JOURNAL
Uses: Crushed rhizome
macerated
is in cold water, mixed with chicha
made
(traditional beverage from and drunk
cassava), cure stomachache
to
and
diarrhea.
Selaginella gemculata
Presl) Spring
(C. [Selaginellaceae]
name: Toyub
Macia
adornment
traditional Huaorani
feasts.
Selaginella parkeri &
(Hook.
Grev.) Spring
[Selaginellaceae]
Huaorani
vernacular name:
Toyotome.
Voucher;
Yanez, Macia
2231.
et Tierra firme
al. (Ecuador).
A
Uses: liquid decoction of crushed rhizomes
given dogs
is to to expel
intestinal parasites,
Thelypteris macrophylla
[Kunze] Morton
C. V.
[Thelypteridaceae]
Huaorani
vernacular name:
Toyuba.
Voucher: Macia
swamp
et 2980. Tierra
al. firme.
(Ecuador).
A
Uses: decoction of crushed rhizome drunk
is to cure stomachache.
Discussion
Seventy-six
percent of the and
ferns lycophytes
discussed with
informants
were
used
as medicines, number
a
similar
to that reported
in previous
Amazonian
ethnobotanical
studies Davis and
Boom,
(e.g., Yost, 1983;
1985;
Bourdy
et 2000]. Tree-ferns were known
al., well
to informants, and
all
their
applications coincided with
those
cited in previous
Hterature and
(Davis Yost
1983 for Cyathea; Bourdy 2000
et al, for Alsophila]. Both
study groups used
Cyathea pungens
an
as anti-inflammatory, although
the was
local application
different. This use a special and valuable
is resource need more
in
of study.
Because
the Ecuadorian more
region uniform and
lower
is
in elevation than
the Bolivian study with wide
area, a altitude gradient and
low
in transition
to
montane
explain
forests, the fern flora of the both
regions
with
is different,
species
little overlap.
There
are clear differences in the use of pteridophytes
and
in Bolivia
The
Ecuador.
medicinal and
veterinary species used by
the Tacanas were
administered
externally (except Equisetum
for giganteum),
whereas
those used
by
the Huaoranis were
administered
internally (except Microgramma
for
fuscopunctata). This
differentiated medicinal
pattern seems
be
to exclusive
to
pteridophytes, because
medicinal
administration
of other vascular
plants
is
not
as specific for these two Amerindian
people and
(Davis
Yost, 1983- Ceron
and
Montalvo, Bourdy
1998; Bourdy
1999;
et al., 2000). Other indigenous
groups show
also
preferences
medicinal
for administration
of ferns and
lycophytes: Chacobo
the from and
Bolivia the Quichua from
Ecuador, mostly
administered
their preparations
internally (Boom,
1985; Alarcon, 1988-
Maries
MACIA: USEFUL PTERIDOPHYTES OF BOLIVIA AND ECUADOR
45
et 1988), whereas the Cofan from Ecuador administer their preparations
al.,
externally [Ceron 1994; Ceron, 1995).
et
al.,
The fragant rhizomes of two species are used as a perfume or a deodorant.
Melpomene
Furthermore, the rhizomes of melanosticto have been reported to
maintain a sweet spicy fragance for tens of years (Smith and Moran, 1992);
chemical analysis of this fragance should be of interest.
Acknowledgments
am deeply grateful to the Tacana communities of Carmenpecha, Macahua and Tumupasa in
I
Bolivia, and to the Huaorani communities of Dicaro and Tiputini in Ecuador, for sharing their
knowledge and for their hospitality; to the staff of Herbario Nacional de Bolivia (LPB), especially to
QCA
S.G. Beck; to the staff of Herbarium at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador in Quito,
who
especially to R. Valencia. To H. Tuomisto [TUR), Jimenez (LPB), and M. Lehnert (GOET),
I.
kindly provided determinations of vouchers. To A. Herrero, A. Ibaiiez, Fuertes, and an
J.
anonymous reviewer valuable comments on the manuscript. Funding of the Bolivian
for their
Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid and
project by the Consejeria de Educacion, (Spain), to the
Ecuadorean by European Comission (INCO-DC, IC18-CT960038) acknowledged.
project the
is
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