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

Quelite : Pericón : Tagetes lucida

Tagetes lucida. also called : Mexican tarragon, sweet mace, periquillo, anicillo, basigó, basigoko (Tarahumara), ohoom (Huastec), tumutsali (Huichol) Pericó, Anisillo, atagote, cedrón, flor de xuchitl, hierbanís, hierba anís, hierba de nubes, hierba de San Juan, hierba santa, periquillo, rincón, Santa María, Santa María de jardín, tatalencho, yerbanís. Chiapas: k’anal nich wamal, k’ixin vomol, perikon vomol, tzitz ak, tzitz pox, tzitz vomol, tzitzilal ul (tzotzil), tzitzak … Continue reading Quelite : Pericón : Tagetes lucida

Quelite : Chepiche/Pipicha : Porophyllum tagetoides

Porophyllum tagetoides (syn P.linaria, Kleinia tagetoides ): chepiche, chepito, pipicha, pipitza, pipitzcaquilitl (Nahuatl), tepicha, quelite oaxaqueño, escobeta, papalo delgado (thin papalo), Cole de coyote (coyote tail), yerba de la venado (so called because the plant exhales a stench similar to that which gives off the meat of the deer)(sic) (Hieronymus. G), nlí-dún (Zapotec) named after a stinging ant (ndún), one assumes because of its smell … Continue reading Quelite : Chepiche/Pipicha : Porophyllum tagetoides

Papaloquelite : What’s in a name?

Porophyllums were first described by Linnaeus in 1753. The University of Arizona has specimens in their Herbarium collected from the Sonora and Chihuahua regions in the 1800’s. The Latin translations of some of the names in the poreleaf family are as follows;  The common name “Papaloquelite” is from the Nahuatl words papalotl (butterfly), and quilitl (edible weed, vegetable; adj green). Quilitl (quelite) is from the Goddess Quilaztli, the goddess of “those … Continue reading Papaloquelite : What’s in a name?

Quelite : Quillquina : Porophyllum ruderale

Updated 07/07/22 Also called, chapáhuate (Totonac), chucha, cilantro boliviano, Bolivian coriander, Killkiña, (Bolivia) Quilquiña / Quillquiña / Quirquiña (del quechua killkiña), killi, hierba del shingo (Peru), namu, anamu (strongly scented herb), chucha, shuca ruda (Peru), guacamaya, Picão-branco, cravo de urubu (black vulture marigold)(Brazil), yerba de cabra (goat plant), yerba de venado (deer grass), yerba del ciervo (deer grass), yerba galinazo (buzzards breath), yerba porosa, rudade gallina, … Continue reading Quelite : Quillquina : Porophyllum ruderale

Quelites : Quilitl

Even though anthropological studies are often undertaken there are no truly accurate records of the native use of wild plants. The daily foods of indigenous peoples are usually considered a food of low social status and are often overlooked by peoples of a “developing” society, in particular those people of the society doing the developing. This was the case in Mexico where some plants were … Continue reading Quelites : Quilitl

Amaranth and the Tzoalli Heresy

The amaranth species is used for its seed and its leaves are eaten as a green vegetable. The popped grain is popularly used (both in the past and in modern times) to make a sweet treat called “alegria” (happiness/joy). The amaranth species of quelite is a valuable plant and was held in high esteem by the Azteca. It was one of four grains (the others being maize … Continue reading Amaranth and the Tzoalli Heresy