Anatomical and chemical characterization of leaves from <em>Oreopanax</em> spp. (Araliaceae), the Mexican xoco tamale food complex

Background: Based on the concept of “plant species complex,”, defined as a group sharing local names and morphological, aromatic, and curative properties, we analyzed the leaves of three species of the genus Oreopanax that are used as wrappers for tamales called “xocos” or “chocos” in Veracruz, Mexico, searching for common traits. Question: Do leaves of the genus Oreopanax form an ethnobotanical food complex sharing chemical and anatomical characteristics? Studied species / data description: Leaves from three species of the genus Oreopanax: O. capitatus, O. echinops, and O. flaccidus. Study site and dates: Leaves of O. capitatus and O. echinops were recollected on January 25 and 26, 2021, in the Clavijero Botanic Garden of the Instituto de Ecología, A. C. in Xalapa, Veracruz; leaves of O. flaccidus were recollected in Atapalchico, Tlacolulan, Veracruz. Methods: Chemical analyses consisted of oil extraction of the studied species' leaves, which were then injected into a gas chromatographer coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Anatomical analyses included: fixation, paraffin sectioning, and staining of leaf sections of the three species. Observations were performed with a compound microscope using a bright field or UV light. Results: For the first time, we are reporting major volatile compounds common in the three analyzed species (several aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, and terpenoids). The three species present resin canals in the mesophyll and the cortex of the midrib of the leaf. Conclusions: The studied Oreopanax species form an ethnobotanical food complex since they share similar uses, smells, and tastes

Estudio integral de la fruta silvestre comestible Oecopetalum mexicanum Greenm. & C.H. Thomps., de la Sierra de Misantla, Veracruz,

72 páginasTrabajo de fin de Máster. Directora : Marta Soler Montiel. Tutora : Citlalli López. Se presenta un marco teórico y metodológico para realizar un estudio integral interdisciplinario de la fruta comestible silvestre Oecopetalum mexicanum (cachichín) en la Sierra de Misantla, Veracruz, México. Se fundamenta en los aportes conceptuales, teóricos y metodológicos de la agroecología y los productos forestales no maderables. Se describe un plan de investigación a largo plazo, el cual contiene una metodología general diseñada para elaborar un plan de manejo, donde se establecen las prácticas óptimas de manejo, rendimiento y productividad que incorpore la conservación del hábitat como bosques manejados articulados al conocimiento tradicional local, a las formas de organización y a los contextos socioculturales y económicos de las diferentes comunidades que aprovechan este recurso. Este estudio se enfocará a fortalecer iniciativas locales encaminadas hacia acciones cooperativas en el manejo y uso de la fruta. Finalmente se incluye un calendario de actividades, metas y productos por etapas, conclusiones y discusión

LA SOCIEDAD DEL CONOCIMIENTO, LA BRECHA DIGITAL Y LOS SATÉLITES ARTIFICIALES VENEZOLANOS=THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY, THE DIGITAL GAP AND VENEZUELAN ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES

La sociedad del conocimiento, la brecha digital, el futuro de un pa&iacute;s est&aacute; en una generaci&oacute;n de relevo capacitada, sin embargo, la realidad supera la ficci&oacute;n. Mucho se ha dicho sobre la sociedad de la informaci&oacute;n y la sociedad del conocimiento y tambi&eacute;n no cabe duda que las brechas cognoscitivas y digitales, son una realidad ineludible desde un enfoque prospectivo en materia a la nueva web 2.0, este es el caso de los sat&eacute;lites artificiales venezolanos VENESAT-1 o mejor conocido como: el &ldquo;Sim&oacute;n Bol&iacute;var&rdquo;, el &ldquo;Miranda&rdquo; y el &ldquo;Sucre&rdquo;. El primero, se compr&oacute; para cubrir la brecha digital de Venezuela, lejos de ello se desvirtu&oacute; para ser objeto de uso militar y el educativo qued&oacute; relegado al simple uso de propaganda. En cuanto al sat&eacute;lite (VRSS-1) o Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satelite (VRSS-1) Sat&eacute;lite &ldquo;Miranda&rdquo;, trata sobre im&aacute;genes, el uso sobre control de cultivos il&iacute;citos, otras para fines catastrales, y el VRSS-2 &ldquo;Sucre&rdquo;.&nbsp;The knowledge society and the digital gap, the future of one country is in a generation of trained relief, however, reality exceeds fiction. Much has been said about the information society and the knowledge society and there is also no doubt that the cognitive and digital gaps are an unavoidable reality from a prospective approach in terms of the new web 2.0 this is the case of Venezuelan artificial satellites, better known as: the "Sim&oacute;n Bol&iacute;var", for images the "Miranda" and the "Sucre". The first, the reason for being seemed to cover the digital gap, far from it was distorted to be subject to military use and the educational was relegated to the simple use of propaganda. Regarding the satellite (VRSS-1) or Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite (VRSS-1) Satellite "Miranda", it deals with images, its use on control of illicit crops and for cadastral purposes, and eventually the VRSS-2 "Sucre" This last one of images, it is conceived for environmental purposes. We can use these, to meet the "Millennium Goals" in a democratic environment.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp

Números cromosómicos de cuatro especies de Costus (Costaceae), una de Calathea, una de Maranta y una de Stromanthe (Marantaceae)

Chromosome counts of the following species were done: Costus pictus, C. scaber and C. pulverulentus all have 2n = 18; Costus dirzoi 2n = 27, 28; Calathea ovandensis 2n = 25; Maranta gibba 2n = 40 and Stromanthe macrochlamys 2n = ca. 60, ca. 63. Observations on Costus lead us to consider the probable existence of a polyploid series, with the recently described C. dirzoi being triploid.Se hicieron recuentos cromosómicos de las siguientes especies: Costus pictus, C. scaber y C. pulverulentus tienen todos 2n = 18; Costus dirzoi 2n = 27, 28; Calathea ovandensis 2n = 25; Maranta gibba 2n = 40 y Stromanthe macrochlamys 2n = ca. 60, ca. 63. Nuestras observaciones sobre Costus hacen pensar en la probable existencia de una serie poliploide, siendo triploide la recién descrita C. dirzoi

Culture and environment in the Sierra de Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico: the case of Oecopetalum mexicanum

Abstract: We analyze the cultural and environmental dimensions of foraging the wild edible fruit cachichín (Oecopetalum mexicanum) in the Sierra de Misantla in central Veracruz, Mexico, including gathering practices, social organization, subsistence, commerce, and consumption. Gathering cachichín brings together generations and genders in practices that provide amusement, as well as resources for economic income and personal consumption. Socialization during the gathering of cachichín renews and strengthens family bonds, friendships, and a sense of belonging. This study provides valuable insights for management, use and conservation of non-timber forest resources with biocultural roots.Resumen: Se analizaron las dimensiones cultural y ambiental de la recolección del fruto silvestre comestible (Oecopetalum mexicanum) de la Sierra de Misantla en el centro de Veracruz, México. Se describen las prácticas de recolección, la organización social, la subsistencia, el comercio y el consumo. Las prácticas de recolección del cachichín proporcionan diversión y reúnen diferentes generaciones de hombres y mujeres; el fruto es para consumo personal y su venta genera ingresos económicos. La socialización durante la recolección de cachichín renueva y fortalece los lazos familiares, de amistad y sentido de pertenencia. Este estudio proporciona información valiosa para el manejo, uso y conservación de los recursos forestales no maderables con raíces bioculturales

Floristic diversity and cultural importance in agroforestry systems on small-scale farmer's livelihoods in central Veracruz, México

México is a cultural and biological megadiverse country with an increased anthropogenic pressure on its tropical landscapes. The study area was the ejido "Los ídolos", Misantla, Central Veracruz, Mexico. The main objective of this research was to identify how the woody plant diversity of agroforestry systems contributed to the cultural, economic, and subsistence security of local farmers. Five different agroforestry systems were identified: forest gardens (FG), home gardens (HG), plantation crop combination with perennial cultivates (PC), plantation crop combinations with annual cultivates (AC), and trees on pastures (TP). FG systems had the highest floristic diversity, followed by HG and TP. Interviews with farmers showed that FG, HG, and PC systems were important for maintaining cultural identity and secure subsistence needs, while PC and TP systems were important for improving the economic situation of farmers. The FG systems contained only native species, while the proportion of exotic plants differed among the other systems. Useful exotic plants were found in the HG system. This study demonstrated that agroforestry systems such as FG were not used to their full potential, despite their high diversity of useful plants. It is recommended that farmers-assisted by institutions and representatives of local product chains-conduct feasibility studies on the marketing and promotion of products derived from specific agroforestry systems

Características anatómicas y propiedades mecánicas de la madera de Oecopetalum mexicanum Greenm. & C.H. Thomps. (Icacinaceae) de la sierra de Misantla, Veracruz, México

Abstract The wood anatomy of Oecopetalum mexicanum Greenm. & C. H. Thomps. is described for the first time. This species grows in the forest and coffee ecosystem of the sierra de Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico. In order to recommend possible uses, mechanical properties essays of different types were carried out. These were: bending, like stress at proportional limit, unit work to proportional limit, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and unit work to maximum load in bending; parallel compression to grain, like maximum strength, stress at proportional limit and modulus of elasticity. All these essays were performed in green wood condition. For each sample, specific gravity was obtained. Vessel diameter, density and distribution, and estimation of abundance and distribution of axial and radial parenchyma were measured from permanent slides. Fiber and vessel elements length, as well as cell contents, were determined from mace- rated wood samples. Anatomical descriptions were made according to the IAWA List of microscopic features for hardwood identification (IAWA 1989). The results so far obtained suggest that el cachichín wood is as resistant as pine wood and, for some mechanical properties, this is better than pine wood. Therefore, it is apt as building material, provided the whole bole is used; only if dimensions allowed, it could be saw for making prismatic pieces.Resumen Se describe por primera vez la anatomía de la madera deOecopetalum mexicanum( cachichín ) Greenm. & C.H. Thomps., la cual es una especie que crece en los bosques y ecosistemas de café de la sierra de Misantla, Veracruz, México. Con el fin de conocer sus posibles usos, se determinaron las propiedades mecánicas en flexión, del tipo: esfuerzo en el límite de proporcionalidad, trabajo unitario en el límite de proporcionalidad, módulo de elasticidad, módulo de ruptura y trabajo unitario a carga máxima; en compresión paralela a la fibra, como lo fue el esfuerzo máximo, esfuerzo en el límite de proporcionalidad y módulo de elasticidad. Todo ello, en su madera en condición verde. Se investigó también la densidad relativa básica de cada muestra, así como el diámetro, la distribución y densidad de los vasos, la abundancia y distribución del parénquima axial y radial. A partir de macerados, se identificó el tamaño de los elementos de vaso, tamaño de las fibras y contenidos celulares. La descripción anatómica se basó en la IAWA List of microscopic features for hardwood Identification (IAWA 1989) . Los resultados obtenidos a la fecha indican que la madera del cachichín tiene resistencia similar a la del pino y, en algunas propiedades, incluso lo supera. Por lo tanto, es apta para la construcción, siempre y cuando se utilice todo el tronco y solo cuando sea posible aserrarla, se usarán piezas prismáticas aserradas

Visitors’ Perception Regarding Floating Treatment Wetlands in an Urban Green Space: Functionality and Emotional Values

Floating treatment wetlands (FTW) are artificial structures used for water quality improvement through the hydroponic growth of certain macrophytes and their rhizospheric bacteria, with the capacity for pollutant removal. Through the application of face-to-face questionnaires, our study aimed to analyze visitors’ perception of the structure, functionality, and benefits of FTW installed in two ponds of one green space in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, and the emotional experience that these FTW could incite in those same visitors. Visitors identified the plant component of FTW as the most noticeable one, perceived filtering/cleaning water as their principal function, and reported positive and negative emotions in the same proportion. The visitors’ perceptions of FTW varied according to their age, school level, and occupation. Positive and negative perceptions regarding FTW were linked to their maintenance and that of the ponds. Visitors’ awareness of FTW composition and function was associated with the presence of informative signs. The understanding of perception about the FTW can be integrated into management programs for the successful and participative improvement and cleaning of water bodies in urban settings. Along with people’s participation, the municipality of the city must improve the maintenance of these important water bodies given its positive repercussions on visitors’ perception