The Maguey as building material.
The agave is a multi-use plant. Aside from its edible and medicinal uses (and lets not forget tequila or mezcal) it has other utilitarian purposes. The skin of the penca can be used as a type of baking paper, string and rope can be made from these fibrous “leaves” and much of the plant can be used as building material. In some species the thorn … Continue reading The Maguey as building material.
Guaje.
Guaje pods grow from a tree known as Leucaena leucocephala. leucocephala (“leu” meaning white from the Greek “leukos” and “cephala” – head refers to the flowers) also known as cuaje, huajes, hauxya, huaxin, guash, guashe (Chiapas), guaje beans, cacalas, cascalhuite, Leadtree, White Popinac, Wild Tamarind or River Tamarind; Uaxim (Maya), ipil ipil (Philippines), Narendhar (India), Safed babul (Hindi), White Babool, Yin He Huan (Chinese) When … Continue reading Guaje.
Environmentally Friendly Paint from the Nopal Cactus
The nopal, much like the maguey, plays a pivotal role in the history of Mexico. Not only used as both food (1) and medicine both plants have a space in the creation legends of Mexico and both have multiple cultural usages. for both humans and livestock For many generations prior to the arrival of the Spanish the Mexican people made a durable and environmentally friendly … Continue reading Environmentally Friendly Paint from the Nopal Cactus
Yepaquilitl : Another Skunk Weed
Acacia acatlensis Cover photo : Young shoots of yepaquilitl : courtesy of Explora Jolalpan via Facebook. Syn. Senegalia acatlensis ; Acacia pueblensis ; Mariosousa acatlensis Also called borreguitos/ borrequitos, (also árbol del borrego), yepaquilitl (skunk Quelites) or yepaquihle, huizache, guayalote, guayote (Michoacan), quebrajache, guajillo (Puebla), chindata, chondata, chivos, tiñu, tlahuitole Another plant known by the Nahuatl terminology yepaquilitl is A.acatlensis. It is known by the … Continue reading Yepaquilitl : Another Skunk Weed
Festival for El Salvador
In early June, El Salvador was hit by Tropical Storm Amanda and tropical storm Cristobal in quick succession, causing deadly flooding and landslides across the country.Many communities have lost everything and are now living in shelters waiting for aid to arrive so they can survive.This happened when the country was under a long and strict quarantine, due to COVID-19. It deepened their poor socioeconomic situation, … Continue reading Festival for El Salvador
Pipitzcaquilitl : Porophyllum obtusifolium?
Porophyllum obtusifolium (?) Pipicha/Pipitza/Chepiche (Porophyllum tagetoides) (syn P.linaria) is a narrow leaved variety of poreleaf which is popular in Oaxaca (see Post Chepiche/Pipicha Porophyllum tagetoides ). Pipitzca may or may not be this herb. There are several pore leafs that have been identified as pipitzca. P.tagetoides (1) and P.punctatum (2) have been called pipitzca (Ortíz-Sánchez etal 2015) and even the naming of the herb P.obtusifolium … Continue reading Pipitzcaquilitl : Porophyllum obtusifolium?
Mexican Mint Marigold
Tagetes lemmonii Also called : rudilla, Lemmons marigold, Copper Canyon Daisy, Mountain Marigold, Mexican Marigold, Passionfruit Marigold, Tree Marigold, Tangerine Marigold, Mount Lemmon Marigold, Texas tarragon T.lucida (pericón) is also known by the moniker Mexican Mint Marigold. (See Post : Quelite : Pericón : Tagetes lucida) T.lemmonii is native to the states of Sonora and Sinaloa in north-western Mexico as well as southern Arizona in … Continue reading Mexican Mint Marigold
Bifora. Another Cilantro Substitute?
Bifora testiculata syn Coriandrum radians (M.Bieb.) Also called : cilantro, cilantro real, carrot weed, bird’s eye, European bishop, Wild Bishop, Dubbelkoriander, Dobbeltkoriander, Getreideverpester (cereal polluter), Bumnieher, Kosbor Salvagg, חריריים מצויים, كزبرة In 1905 Joseph Rose whilst working for the US Herbarium (1) noted in the describing of Porophyllum macrocephalum (2) that it had the “odor of bifora”. This piqued my interest as it was my … Continue reading Bifora. Another Cilantro Substitute?
Tlatlaolton. Which Porophyllum Are You?
Cover Image from the Voynich Manuscript Also called : Chepiche, escobilla, pipicha, pipizca Are you even a Porophyllum? It appears so. But let’s investigate. Tlatlaolton has been classified as Porophyllum coloratum (1) (Kunth) DC (2). Esparza Villarreal (2019) : Synonyms : Kleinia colorata Kunth; Porophyllum seemannii Sch. Bip.: Porophyllum simplex M.E. Jones P.gracile, P.tagetoides, P.seemanii and P.viridiflorum have all been put forward as contenders in … Continue reading Tlatlaolton. Which Porophyllum Are You?
Nutritional Profile of Amaranth
Amaranth seed Amaranth grain is an ancient superfood. Although botanically it is not considered a grain it, along with the pseudocereal quinoa, is botanically a seed. This is merely pedantic nit picking and in no way diminishes the high nutritional value of this plant. The plant has several culinary uses. The leaves are edible and the seeds can be eaten whole, ground, popped or can … Continue reading Nutritional Profile of Amaranth
Masa Americana 