Xochipilli : New Floral Identifications
The Aztec universe has been poorly represented and even less eloquently articulated. This is in some way to be expected as our understanding of this universe has been in many ways limited by the existing written sources that describe this universe. These sources were, by and large, written by the very peoples who destroyed the culture they were inadequately attempting to describe and were also … Continue reading Xochipilli : New Floral Identifications
Pre-made Mole. Blessing or Curse? Homage or Travesty?
The author is not receiving (nor has sought) any financial benefit or support from any of the products or companies mentioned in this Post. This was my first exposure to mole in Australia. I found it in (of all places) a Filipino grocery store. Historically speaking this is not so unusual I guess as it was the Manila galleons that opened up trade between Asia … Continue reading Pre-made Mole. Blessing or Curse? Homage or Travesty?
Cuetlaxochitl : The Poinsettia
Also Known As: Flor de Noche Buena, Euphoribia, Spurge Root, Snake Root, Asthma Plant, Christmas flower, Easter flower, Lobster flower, Mexican flame leaf, Mexican flame tree Euphorbia pulcherrima : Euphorbia – late Middle English: from Latin euphorbea, named after Euphorbus, Greek physician to the reputed discoverer of the plant, Juba II of Mauretania (1st century BC) and pulcherrima – the “most beautiful” or “beautiful treasure” … Continue reading Cuetlaxochitl : The Poinsettia
Acocoxochitl : The Dahlia
acocoxochitl : (Nahuatl) “flower of hollow stems with water” – atl (water), cocotli (tube) and xochitl (flower) also called Chichipatli : (Nahuatl) “bitter medicine” – chichic (bitter) and patli (medicine) (1) an alternative translation is “dog medicine” chi (dog) and patli (medicine/medicinal herb) (Bye 1986) (Simeon 1984). It is sometimes said that chichimeca people are called “dog” people (although it is likely closer in translation … Continue reading Acocoxochitl : The Dahlia
Quelite : Alache : Anoda cristata
from nahuatl alaztic (or alactic) meaning slippery. This no doubt refers to the mucilaginous baba (1) common to the Mallow (2) family. Synonyms. Anoda hastata Cav., Sida cristata L., Anoda triloba Cav., Anoda dilleniana Cav. Also calledCrested anoda, spurred anoda, malva, malvilla, malvarín, bimalva, malva de castilla, malva cimarrona, malva abrisca, malvavisco (marshmallow), panelita, quesitos, quesillo, amapolita azul (blue poppy), amapola silvestre (wild poppy), amapolita … Continue reading Quelite : Alache : Anoda cristata
Aztec Gods or States of Consciousness?
I have previously written of the mythology (1) of various Aztec deities (2) and even the origin of the word Aztec or if there was even a people known as the Aztecs (3). I recently came across a video regarding Dia de muertos (4) that has convoluted the issue even more. It seems that even amongst those knowledgeable of such things there is even more … Continue reading Aztec Gods or States of Consciousness?
Porophyllum fruticulosum
syn Porophyllum scoparium also called Hierba del venado, jarilla, romerillo (1) (Coahuila) Romerillo is also the common name for Bidens pilosa (which is also called black-jack, beggarticks, hairy beggarticks, cobbler’s pegs, devil’s needles, Spanish needle, shepherds needles, farmers friend, Devils Pitchfork, sticky beaks, toothache plant) Porophyllum X fruticulosum Rydb. was first proposed in 1916 as a species, typified by a specimen collected by Palmer near … Continue reading Porophyllum fruticulosum
Lactucarium. Parte the Thirde.
Aaaaargh. My daughter (bless her soul) was cleaning the house today (again with the blessings) and she “cleaned up” all the dried sap/latex/resin I had collected. Aaaaargh. To the beginning I go. The main plant I have been collecting from has grown considerably taller. By about a third perhaps. (7 bricks taller maybe). The plant has also sprouted a few more growing tips. I found … Continue reading Lactucarium. Parte the Thirde.
Tequesquite
or tequexquite (from Nahuatl tequixquitl) tetl: stone, and quix-quitl: sprout, sprouting stone. Quixquitl has also been said to translate as “foaming/efflorescent” (1) (Parsons 2001) or “something that comes out by itself, that floats” (algo que sale por sí mismo, que flota). Also called : sal de tierra (land/earth salt), sal de laguna (lagoon salt) Tequesquite is a natural mineral salt containing compounds of sodium chlorate, … Continue reading Tequesquite
Porophyllum amplexicaule
The classification of some porophyllums can be somewhat problematic. Even if we completely discount the confusion over the common names of plants in this family there are still stumbling blocks present even in the Latin binomial nomenclature (1) of the species. Binomial nomenclature (“two-term naming system”), a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both … Continue reading Porophyllum amplexicaule
Masa Americana 