Quelite : Porophyllum pausodynum

Also called :  Guaymas Poreleaf, hierba del venado, maravilla P.pausodynum, a less well known variety of slender poreleaf that was used by the Mexicans of Guaymas to alleviate headaches. (Johnson 1969). Guaymas poreleaf is native to the semi-arid region of subtropical northern Mexico and is named after an historical port city in Sonora. Before European settlement this area was populated by the Guaymas, Seri and Yaqui peoples. … Continue reading Quelite : Porophyllum pausodynum

Unknown Porophyllums

In all corners of Mexico there are varieties of porophyllum unknown to the scientific community. They remain unclassified and without the Latin nomenclature that science is so fond of. There are many varieties of pore leaf yet to be catalogued. One such variety would be Copanquelite. According to Diana Kennedy, this as yet unidentified porophyllum (My Mexico, 1998) is a delicate plant with smaller leaves … Continue reading Unknown Porophyllums

Quelite : Porophyllum punctatum

Synonym : Porophyllum millspaughii BL Rob. Also called: Tlapanche, tepepapaloquilitl, eek’ puk che’ (Maya), hierba de dunas costeras, hierba del venado, mal de ojo, paloquelite, pech’ uk’ (Maya), pech’uk-il (Maya), pioja, pio-jillo (Nahuatl), Mata piojo (louse killer), piojillo, piojo, papalillo pipisca de venado, pipixat, pipitzcaquilitl, quelite, ruda de monte, sorrio, tepalcachu, ucuchoo, uk’ che’ (Maya), uk’ xiw (Maya), xiiw (Maya), xpechuekil, x- pechuk’il, yerba de … Continue reading Quelite : Porophyllum punctatum

Quelite : Tepepapaloquilitl

Also called : tepalcachu, pápalo, pipizca de venado. Tepepapaloquilitl (tepetl – mountain, hill : papalotl – butterfly : quilitl – weed), it is so named because it is a herb which attracts butterflies and it grows on hilly ground or in the mountains. Porophyllum gracile has also been identified as tepepapaloquilitl. In the mountains outside Toluca there is a root called “chautl” which comes from a plant identified by … Continue reading Quelite : Tepepapaloquilitl

Quelite : Huacatay : Tagetes minuta

Inca marigold, Peruvian black mint, Stinking Roger, Ocopa, Cravo-de-defunto (generic name used for Tagetes species marigolds), cravo-de-urubu (vulture marigold), enxota, Aztec marigold Huacatay is native to southern South America (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and the Chaco region of Paraguay). It has a liquorice like aroma/taste and is a popular culinary herb, beverage herb and medicinal tea. Plants of the Tagetes species are known as Marigolds … Continue reading Quelite : Huacatay : Tagetes minuta

Quelite : Porophyllum lanceolatum

Also called, clavelina, hierba del ciervo, hierba del venado, yerba del venado, ıvira käti (Isoceño-guaran´ı) quilquina (Argentina) This herb is used in west-central Argentina primarily as an infusion. One study of P.lanceolatum (Mattana etal) showed that extracts from this plant look promising as a potential natural therapy against Gram-positive bacteria (1).  According to the Colegio de Farmacéuticos de Santa Fe (2) in Argentina it is … Continue reading Quelite : Porophyllum lanceolatum

Quelite : Mexixquilitl

Mexixquilitl (as L.virginicum) also called lentejilla The picture above depicts a plant from the tropaeolum genus. These are commonly known as nasturtiums. The leaves of the nasturtium are edible and have a “peppery” bite to them. The Tropaeolum genus is native to Central and South America and were introduced into Europe from Peru by the Spanish. Nasturtiums received their common name because the produce an … Continue reading Quelite : Mexixquilitl

Quelite : Porophyllum scoparium

Also called : shrubby poreleaf, hierba del venado, jarilla, romerillo, pomerillo, Transpecos poreleaf. P.scoparium is a narrow leaved variety of pore leaf. In Mexico P.scoparium is used as a remedy for rheumatism, fever and intestinal problems. This herb is currently being used by the Grupo Medico Dr. Zurita SA de CV in Mexico City. Dr’s Manuel A Zurita Lopez and Maria Esther Zurita Jiminez on their … Continue reading Quelite : Porophyllum scoparium

Quelite : Porophyllum gracile : Deer Weed

Synonyms: P.junciforme, P.putidum, P.caesium, P.cedrense , P.leucospermum , P.nodosum , P.ochroleucum , P.pinifolium , P.vaseyi , P.confertum var. ochroleucum Also called, slender pore leaf, odora, (hierba) yerba del venado (deer herb), maravilla, tepepapaloquilitl, Pech’uk-il (Mayan name), xtisil or xtesel (Seri name), hestej (Guarijio), jestej (Guarijío) The first text I have come across that refers to papaloquelite under the moniker “deer weed” is that of Hernandez who writes of the herb MAZATLIPAPALOQUILITL or deer papaloquilitl. … Continue reading Quelite : Porophyllum gracile : Deer Weed

A Note on Deer Weed : The Danger of Common Names

Yerba del venado (Hierba de Venado, Yerba del ciervo) The first text I have come across that refers to papaloquelite under the moniker “deer weed” is that of Hernandez who writes of the herb MAZATLIPAPALOQUILITL or deer papaloquilitl. mazatl. Principal English Translation: deer. – Frances Karttunen: MAZĀ-TL pl: MĀMAZAH – MAZĀ-MEH deer / venado (M), ciervo quilitl. Principal English Translation: edible herbs and vegetables – … Continue reading A Note on Deer Weed : The Danger of Common Names