Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye Plants
Peru is a megadiverse country with native species of all kinds, including dye plants, which have been used for hundreds of years by the local population. Despite the fact that many of these natural dyes are of a superior quality compared to synthetic ones and do not have the harmful effects that the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/6/4/63 |
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| author | José Mostacero León Segundo E. López Medina Helmut Yabar Jordan De La Cruz Castillo |
| author_facet | José Mostacero León Segundo E. López Medina Helmut Yabar Jordan De La Cruz Castillo |
| author_sort | José Mostacero León |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Peru is a megadiverse country with native species of all kinds, including dye plants, which have been used for hundreds of years by the local population. Despite the fact that many of these natural dyes are of a superior quality compared to synthetic ones and do not have the harmful effects that the latter may cause to human health, due to the lack of documentation and dissemination, ethnobotanical knowledge is unfortunately being lost with the passing of generations. In order to preserve and spread such valuable knowledge, this study conducted a comprehensive taxonomic, phytogeographic, and ethnobotanical inventory of dye plants based on periodical botanical explorations in selected locations of Northern Peru during the span of two decades. A critical review of the specialized bibliography was then carried out and the findings were verified with the personal knowledge and experience of both the researchers and the local and regional people. The results of the inventory record 32 species of dye plants from Northern Peru distributed in 22 families, of which the following stand out due to the number of species: Fabaceae (5), Anacardiaceae (2), Annonaceae (2), Asteraceae (2), Berberidaceae (2), Rosaceae (2), and Solanaceae (2). Of the 32 dye species identified, four are considered endemic from Peru: Berberis buceronis J.F. Macbr., Caesalpinia paipai Ruiz & Pav., Coreopsis senaria S.F. Blake & Sherf., and Lomatia hirsuta (Lam.) Diels. The study also found that species such as Bixa orellana L., Indigofera suffruticosa Mill., Sambucus peruviana, and the lichen Usnea baileyi (Stirton) Zahlbr have not been commercially exploited in Peru despite the fact that they already constitute a great economic source for several countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T11:21:02Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T11:21:02Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d887aec9e034cff9550e3d34955fb1e2022-12-21T19:42:31ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472017-12-01646310.3390/plants6040063plants6040063Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye PlantsJosé Mostacero León0Segundo E. López Medina1Helmut Yabar2Jordan De La Cruz Castillo3Faculty of Biological Sciences, National University of Trujillo, Jr. San Martin 392, Trujillo 13007, PeruFaculty of Biological Sciences, National University of Trujillo, Jr. San Martin 392, Trujillo 13007, PeruGraduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8587, JapanFaculty of Biological Sciences, National University of Trujillo, Jr. San Martin 392, Trujillo 13007, PeruPeru is a megadiverse country with native species of all kinds, including dye plants, which have been used for hundreds of years by the local population. Despite the fact that many of these natural dyes are of a superior quality compared to synthetic ones and do not have the harmful effects that the latter may cause to human health, due to the lack of documentation and dissemination, ethnobotanical knowledge is unfortunately being lost with the passing of generations. In order to preserve and spread such valuable knowledge, this study conducted a comprehensive taxonomic, phytogeographic, and ethnobotanical inventory of dye plants based on periodical botanical explorations in selected locations of Northern Peru during the span of two decades. A critical review of the specialized bibliography was then carried out and the findings were verified with the personal knowledge and experience of both the researchers and the local and regional people. The results of the inventory record 32 species of dye plants from Northern Peru distributed in 22 families, of which the following stand out due to the number of species: Fabaceae (5), Anacardiaceae (2), Annonaceae (2), Asteraceae (2), Berberidaceae (2), Rosaceae (2), and Solanaceae (2). Of the 32 dye species identified, four are considered endemic from Peru: Berberis buceronis J.F. Macbr., Caesalpinia paipai Ruiz & Pav., Coreopsis senaria S.F. Blake & Sherf., and Lomatia hirsuta (Lam.) Diels. The study also found that species such as Bixa orellana L., Indigofera suffruticosa Mill., Sambucus peruviana, and the lichen Usnea baileyi (Stirton) Zahlbr have not been commercially exploited in Peru despite the fact that they already constitute a great economic source for several countries.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/6/4/63taxonomic inventorybotanical explorationsHerbarium Truxillenseendemic speciesAndes Mountains |
| spellingShingle | José Mostacero León Segundo E. López Medina Helmut Yabar Jordan De La Cruz Castillo Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye Plants Plants taxonomic inventory botanical explorations Herbarium Truxillense endemic species Andes Mountains |
| title | Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye Plants |
| title_full | Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye Plants |
| title_fullStr | Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye Plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye Plants |
| title_short | Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye Plants |
| title_sort | preserving traditional botanical knowledge the importance of phytogeographic and ethnobotanical inventory of peruvian dye plants |
| topic | taxonomic inventory botanical explorations Herbarium Truxillense endemic species Andes Mountains |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/6/4/63 |
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