Abstract:
This encyclopedic presentation of the plant knowledge of the Tzotzil-speaking Mayans of Zinacantán, in the highlands of the state of Chiapas, Mexico, is the fruit of 30 years' investigation, beginning in 1960. Dennis E. Breedlove, botanist, and Robert M. Laughlin, ethnologist, gained their information from many hundred men, women, and children. Seventy-three men and two women, representing 26 Zinacantec communities, were hired consultants. The total of 2686 Tzotzil names for generics, specifics, and varietals refers to Latin determinations of 1484 species with an additional 30 identifications by genus.
Introductory chapters describe the methodology and provide the geographic, historic, cultural, and linguistic context for "the Flora." John B. Haviland details Zinacantec flower marketing.
"The Flora" is organized by life form, set or isolate, genus, species, and variety, according to native taxonomic principles. A morphological description of each plant is followed by its cultural context.
The appendices include tables of Mayan botanical name cognates, a survey of plant cultivation per hamlet, Tzotzil-Latin and Latin-Tzotzil indices, a Tzotzil plant name synonymy, a listing of plant uses, and a massive cultural omnibus, providing a broad range of Tzotzil vocabulary devoted to plants.
