Historical ethnobotany of Criollos groups of Argentina II: Valuation, cultural adscription and analysis of non-medicinal uses presented by the Argentinian Government at the Universal Exhibition of Paris of 1889

Abstract

A huge quantity of non-medicinal plant uses registered and exhibited during the Universal Exposition of Paris in 1889 is here put into value, analyzed, and culturally ascribed. Classic methods from historical ethnobotany were applied, considering the catalogue of the Exposition as a primary source of information. Estimated bio-cultural assignment of each one of the 643 ethnobotanical data was inferred from geographic references to seven Argentinian Criollos groups. These data refer to 173 plant taxa, mainly Prosopis nigra, Condalia buxifolia, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Eugenia uniflora, Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil, and Prosopis alba. Most plant uses belong to the following categories: dyes (89 data), utensils (87), furniture (87), food (86), transport (77), tanning (52), home building (46), other constructions (35), and fuel. Most data are referred to Criollos from Sub-Andean Valleys of Yungas-Chaco Ecotone (246), the remaining to Criollos from Misiones (142), Criollos from Humid Chaco (100), and Criollos from Arid and Mountainous Chaco (91). Much of these data correspond to little known uses or belong to Criollos groups whose relationships with plants are still incomplete or almost unknown