Urban Ethnobotany in Argentina: Theoretical advances and methodological strategies

Urban Ethnobotany is a discipline of relatively recent development, allowing new questions and interesting challenges from both theoretical and methodological point of view. This has become evident from the development of a research line in the metropolitan area Buenos Aires-La Plata, the largest in extension and population of Argentina. This research was carried out in the Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada (LEBA), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. In this frame, the ongoing investigations constitute an example of feedback between theory and practice in ethnobotanical studies. How the botanical knowledge is composed in urban pluricultural contexts? Is it possible to find traditional botanical knowledge in these contexts? How is the local botanical knowledge transmitted? How is its dynamic? Assuming the premise that knowledge guides the actions, then how botanical knowledge guides the selection and utilization strategies of plants and its products in urban areas? The aim of this contribution is try to answer these, and other relevant questions. Some basic principles about Ecology, Biocultural Ecology, and Ethnobotany as different levels of approximation within a unified field were discussed. Later, advances in the theoretical field of urban ethnobotany were considered, as reflection product on complexity of the obtained results. These advances were translated into methodological strategies based on different criteria to evaluate the urban botanical knowledge underlying the circulation of plant products (exclusivity and visibility of these products, re-signification of its uses in contexts of change). Finally, a reflexive discussion on complexity of theoretical and methodological contexts allows us to rethink the developments in Urban Ethnobotany, and Ethnobotany in general.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Las posibilidades de la etnobotánica y un nuevo enfoque a partir de la ecología y su propuesta cibernética.

Sin resume

Artemisia

Artemisia L., Sp. Pl. 2: 845, 1753. Lectotipo: A. vulgaris L., loc. cit.: 848 [designado por Britton & Brown, 1913]. Etimología: en homenaje a la diosa griega Artemis (Αρτεμις), hermana de Apolo (la Diana de los romanos), que se benefició de una planta de esta familia a la que dio su nombre; o bien, en honor a Artemisia de Caria (siglo IV a.C.), hermana y esposa de Mausolo, a quien construyó su suntuoso sepulcro, el Mausoleo original, una de las siete maravillas del mundo antiguo.Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica AplicadaFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Flora del Valle de Lerma. Serie Flora : Fam. Alliaceae Borkh.

Fil: Delucchi, Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Plantas Vasculares; ArgentinaFil: Hurrell, Julio Alberto. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada; Argentin

Taraxacum

Fil: Hurrell, Julio Alberto. Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada (LEBA). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Delucchi, Gustavo. División Plantas Vasculares. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Arctotheca

Fil: Delucchi, Gustavo. División Plantas Vasculares. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Hurrell, Julio Alberto. Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada (LEBA). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Andean plants and its products commercialized for food and medicinal purposes in the Metropolitan Area Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina

Este trabajo incluye 50 taxones (especies, subespecies, variedades, cultivares) de plantas vinculadas al acervo andino, cuyos productos se comercializan con fines alimentarios y terapéuticos en el Área Metropolitana Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina. Para cada taxón se indican sus productos, los usos asignados y sus efectos científicamente estudiados, a los fines de evaluar su correlación. Asimismo, se discute su difusión desde el ámbito restringido del segmento de inmigrantes bolivianos (contexto “ligado a tradiciones”) hacia el circuito comercial general (contexto “no tradicional”). De este modo, la dinámica del conocimiento botánico local es evaluada a través de la circulación de distintos productos.This paper includes 50 taxa (species, subspecies, varieties, cultivars) of plants linked to the Andean context whose products are marketed for food and medicinal purposes in Metropolitan Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina. For each taxon its products are indicated, as well as its assigned uses and scientifically studied effects, in order to evaluate their correlation. Also, the products diffusion from the restricted ambit of the Bolivian immigrants segment (‘linked to traditions’ context) to the general commercial circuit (‘not traditional’ context) is discussed. Thereby, the dynamics of local botanical knowledge is assessed through the different products circulation.Fil: Puentes, Jeremías Pedro. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Hurrell, Julio Alberto. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Plantas trepadoras: tipo biológico y clasificación

Un tipo biológico es una categoría morfo-estructural con correlato ecológico (adaptativo) que se aplica a diversas especies de plantas, de distintos grupos taxonómicos. Distintas especies, distintos individuos o incluso un mismo individuo a lo largo de su vida puede presentar distintos tipos biológicos. El tipo biológico trepador comprende a aquellas plantas que no se mantienen erguidas por sí mismas, se encaraman a soportes y crecen en altura. Se han propuesto numerosas clasificaciones de este tipo biológico, en su mayoría basadas en sus mecanismos de ascenso. Sin embargo, muchas especies desarrollan más de un mecanismo de ascenso, por lo cual su clasificación resulta conflictiva. Del análisis de diferentes esquemas propuestos consideramos que el esquema más apropiado consiste en distinguir dos grupos básicos: plantas escandentes (presencia de mecanismos de ascenso especializados: zarcillos, pecíolos prensiles, tallos volubles, raíces adherentes), y plantas apoyantes (ausencia de tales mecanismos). Las escandentes de tallos leñosos se denominan <i>lianas</i>, las de tallos herbáceos se llaman <i>enredaderas</i>. Este esquema pretende acotar el significado de estos términos, que muchas veces se confunden en la bibliografía. Esta contribución se basa en los estudios realizados en la región rioplatense, de donde provienen la mayoría de los ejemplos.A life form is a morpho-ecological category with structural (adaptive) correlate, applied to various species of plants of different taxonomic groups. Different species, different individuals or even the same individual throughout life may have different life forms. The climbing life form includes plants that are not kept upright by themselves, climb to a support and grow in height. Several classifications have been proposed of this life form, mostly based on their climbing mechanisms. However, many species develop more than one climbing mechanism, so their classification is debatable. From the analysis of different schemes proposed, we consider the most appropriate is to distinguish two basic groups: scandent plants (presence of specialized climbing mechanisms: tendrils, petioles prehensile, voluble stems, adhesive roots) and leaning plants (absence of those mechanisms). Woody stemmed scandent plants are called <i>lianas</i>, while the herbaceous stemmed are called <i>enredaderas</i>. This scheme aims to limit the meaning of these terms, which are often confused in the literature. This contribution is based on studies in the Río de La Plata region, from where most of the examples

Medicinal and aromatic species of Asteraceae commercialized in the conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata (Argentina)

The present contribution includes 50 species of Asteraceae whose products are marketed with therapeutic and aromatic purposes in the conurbation Buenos AiresLa Plata, the largest metropolitan area of Argentina. For each species, the scientific and vernacular names, types of products and samples are given. The plant products comprise fresh plants or parts thereof, herbal products, tinctures, and dietary supplements, among others. The uses assigned and the effects scientifically studied are indicated. Also, the ethnobotanical value of the diverse plant products and their commercial circulation are discussed. Circulating products and their uses were studied, both in the restricted context of immigrant segments (Bolivian and Chinese), and in the broader context of general commercial circuit (health food stores, named locally 'dietéticas'). Botanical knowledge of immigrants segments is considered linked to their traditions, and botanical knowledge of general commercial circuit is regarded nontraditional. Research conducted is framed within the urban ethnobotany context. Specially, it addresses some relevant theoretical and methodological topics within discipline: composition of botanical knowledge in urban pluricultural scenarios (linked to traditions, nontraditional), the embodiment of this knowledge in actions (such as selection of products to consume), and the dynamic of changes in urban botanical knowledge (dispersion of products and uses in the commercial circuit and media).Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicad

Medicinal and aromatic species of Asteraceae commercialized in the conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata (Argentina)

The present contribution includes 50 species of Asteraceae whose products are marketed with therapeutic and aromatic purposes in the conurbation Buenos AiresLa Plata, the largest metropolitan area of Argentina. For each species, the scientific and vernacular names, types of products and samples are given. The plant products comprise fresh plants or parts thereof, herbal products, tinctures, and dietary supplements, among others. The uses assigned and the effects scientifically studied are indicated. Also, the ethnobotanical value of the diverse plant products and their commercial circulation are discussed. Circulating products and their uses were studied, both in the restricted context of immigrant segments (Bolivian and Chinese), and in the broader context of general commercial circuit (health food stores, named locally 'dietéticas'). Botanical knowledge of immigrants segments is considered linked to their traditions, and botanical knowledge of general commercial circuit is regarded nontraditional. Research conducted is framed within the urban ethnobotany context. Specially, it addresses some relevant theoretical and methodological topics within discipline: composition of botanical knowledge in urban pluricultural scenarios (linked to traditions, nontraditional), the embodiment of this knowledge in actions (such as selection of products to consume), and the dynamic of changes in urban botanical knowledge (dispersion of products and uses in the commercial circuit and media).Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicad