Hábitats y usos tradicionales de especies de Urtica l. en la cuenca alta del Rio Ambato, Tungurahua- Ecuador

For hundreds of years the people of peasant and indigenous communities in the Andes have used nettle in the treatmentof biological and spiritual diseases, nevertheless their uses are little documented in this particular region. The aim of thestudy was to register the main species of the genus Urtica L. (nettles), in villages in the upper basin of the river Ambato,Tungurahua Province, Ecuador, their uses and the local knowledge around them. Key informants (natural therapists)were selected to perform individual and group interviews. Plant samples were collected at specific places well known bythe informants. The samples were preserved, soil samples were taken for analysis of pH and organic matter. Traditionaluses of each species and the characteristics of the informants were documented. The results show that there are fourspecies of nettles, three natives (U. flabellata, U. leptophylla and U. magellanica) and one introduced (U. dioica), growing on soils with pH ranges between 6.16 y 7.68 with a mean percentage of organic matter at 12.37%. Each has a preferential use, the permanence and contribution to the local knowledge is discussed.Durante cientos de años los habitantes de las comunidades campesinas e indígenas en los Andes han utilizado la ortiga enel tratamiento de enfermedades así como en tratamientos espirituales, a pesar de esto, sus usos están poco documentadasen esta región en particular. El objetivo del estudio es registrar las principales especies del género Urtica L. (ortigas), enlos pueblos de la cuenca alta del río Ambato, provincia de Tungurahua, Ecuador, sus usos y el conocimiento local entorno a ellas. Se seleccionaron informantes clave (terapeutas naturales) para llevar a cabo entrevistas individuales ygrupales. Las muestras de plantas fueron recolectadas en lugares específicos conocidos por los informantes. Las muestrasse conservaron, se tomaron muestras de suelo para análisis de pH y materia orgánica. Se documentaron los usos tradicionales de cada especie y las características de los informantes. Los resultados muestran que existen cuatro especies deortigas, tres nativas (U. flabellata, U. leptophylla y U. magellanica) y una introducida (U. dioica), creciendo en rangosde pH entre 6.16 y 7.68 con una media de porcentaje de materia orgánica de 12.37%. Cada una tiene un uso preferente, lapermanencia y la contribución al conocimiento local se discut

Habitats and traditional uses of species of Urtica l. in the high basin of Rio Ambato, Tungurahua-Ecuador

For hundreds of years the people of peasant and indigenous communities in the Andes have used nettle in the treatment of biological and spiritual diseases, nevertheless their uses are little documented in this particular region. The aim of the study was to register the main species of the genus Urtica L. (nettles), in villages in the upper basin of the river Ambato, Tungurahua Province, Ecuador, their uses and the local knowledge around them. Key informants (natural therapists) were selected to perform individual and group interviews. Plant samples were collected at specific places well known by the informants. The samples were preserved, soil samples were taken for analysis of pH and organic matter. Traditional uses of each species and the characteristics of the informants were documented. The results show that there are four species of nettles, three natives (U. flabellata, U. leptophylla and U. magellanica) and one introduced (U. dioica), growing on soils with pH ranges between 6.16 y 7.68 with a mean percentage of organic matter at 12.37%. Each has a preferential use, the permanence and contribution to the local knowledge is discussed

Hábitats y usos tradicionales de especies de Urtica l. en la cuenca alta del Rio Ambato, Tungurahua- Ecuador

For hundreds of years the people of peasant and indigenous communities in the Andes have used nettle in the treatmentof biological and spiritual diseases, nevertheless their uses are little documented in this particular region. The aim of thestudy was to register the main species of the genus Urtica L. (nettles), in villages in the upper basin of the river Ambato,Tungurahua Province, Ecuador, their uses and the local knowledge around them. Key informants (natural therapists)were selected to perform individual and group interviews. Plant samples were collected at specific places well known bythe informants. The samples were preserved, soil samples were taken for analysis of pH and organic matter. Traditionaluses of each species and the characteristics of the informants were documented. The results show that there are fourspecies of nettles, three natives (U. flabellata, U. leptophylla and U. magellanica) and one introduced (U. dioica), growing on soils with pH ranges between 6.16 y 7.68 with a mean percentage of organic matter at 12.37%. Each has a preferential use, the permanence and contribution to the local knowledge is discussed.Durante cientos de años los habitantes de las comunidades campesinas e indígenas en los Andes han utilizado la ortiga enel tratamiento de enfermedades así como en tratamientos espirituales, a pesar de esto, sus usos están poco documentadasen esta región en particular. El objetivo del estudio es registrar las principales especies del género Urtica L. (ortigas), enlos pueblos de la cuenca alta del río Ambato, provincia de Tungurahua, Ecuador, sus usos y el conocimiento local entorno a ellas. Se seleccionaron informantes clave (terapeutas naturales) para llevar a cabo entrevistas individuales ygrupales. Las muestras de plantas fueron recolectadas en lugares específicos conocidos por los informantes. Las muestrasse conservaron, se tomaron muestras de suelo para análisis de pH y materia orgánica. Se documentaron los usos tradicionales de cada especie y las características de los informantes. Los resultados muestran que existen cuatro especies deortigas, tres nativas (U. flabellata, U. leptophylla y U. magellanica) y una introducida (U. dioica), creciendo en rangosde pH entre 6.16 y 7.68 con una media de porcentaje de materia orgánica de 12.37%. Cada una tiene un uso preferente, lapermanencia y la contribución al conocimiento local se discut