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What Makes a Plant Magical? Symbolism and Sacred Herbs in Afro-Surinamese Winti Rituals

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African Ethnobotany in the Americas

Abstract

The Surinamese Winti religion is probably the least known of all ­Afro-Caribbean beliefs. Magical plants are essential ingredients in Afro-Surinamese rituals, but little research has been done on the plants associated with the various deities. Why are certain plants thought to have magical power? How did Surinamese plants, which must have been unknown to the Africans at first, attain magical status during the course of history? During ethnobotanical surveys in 2005 and 2006, we collected all magical species mentioned to us and interviewed 20 Winti priests and several traditional healers, vendors and collectors of magical plants. We recorded at least 411 species and 1,100 different recipes for magical baths, potions and rituals. Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Piperaceae and Asteraceae were the most important families. Most plants were used to expel evil, as luck charms, and for spirits of the forest, the sky and the recently deceased. The bulk of the plants were native to Suriname. Several things could make a plant magical: a connection with ancestors; a remarkable growth form, shape, scent or color; its habitat; relation with animals; an associated medicinal use; or a sacred status among other ethnic groups. Plants that once helped escaped slaves to survive in the forest (e.g. water-containing herbs, inflammable resins or seeds for ammunition) are now considered sacred by their descendents. Searching for the reason behind a plant’s magical power revealed a wealth of botanical, ecological, historical, linguistic and cultural knowledge. It is this specific ethnobotanical wisdom that makes a plant magical in the end.

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Acknowledgements

This research would not have been possible without the collaboration, trust and patience of our informants in Suriname and the Netherlands, in particular our principal Winti specialists Ruben Mawdo, Norbert Eersteling, Solé Ponica, Bibi van Essen, André Kendo, Michel Alubutu and Blacky Finfin. MSc students Karolien van Kerckhove, Reinout Havinga, Joelaika Behari-Ramdas and Lucienne Niekoop assisted in the fieldwork. We are grateful for the botanists of the National Herbarium of the Netherlands for their help with identifying our specimens. This research was funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), CWO Faculty of Bio-Engineering and BOF, Ghent University, Leopold III Fund and VLIR-IUS (Belgium).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis (Section National Herbarium of the Netherlands), Leiden University, 9415, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Tinde van Andel Ph.D.

  2. Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Ethnobotany, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Sofie Ruysschaert M.Sc.

  3. Department of Biology, Research Group Mycology (Spermatophytes), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Kobeke Van de Putte M.Sc.

  4. Social Sciences group, Wageningen University, 8130, 6700 EW, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Sara Groenendijk M.Sc.

Authors
  1. Tinde van Andel Ph.D.
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  2. Sofie Ruysschaert M.Sc.
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  3. Kobeke Van de Putte M.Sc.
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  4. Sara Groenendijk M.Sc.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tinde van Andel Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Geography, California State University, 800 N. State College Blvd, Fullerton, 92834, California, USA

    Robert Voeks

  2. , Department of Sociology and, College of Charleston, 66 George St., Charleston, 29424, South Carolina, USA

    John Rashford

Appendix A: Species Used in Winti Rituals, Suriname

Appendix A: Species Used in Winti Rituals, Suriname

Acanthaceae

Dicliptera sp. KVP0036

Justicia calycina (Nees) V.A.W. Graham

Justicia cayennensis (Nees) Lindau

Justicia pectoralis Jacq.

Lepidagathis alopecuroidea (Vahl) R. Br. ex Griseb.

Acoraceae

Acorus calamus L.

Adoxaceae

Sambucus canadensis L.

Agavaceae

Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw.

Amaranthaceae

Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze

Amaranthus blitum L.

Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex. Thell.

Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume

Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen

Amaryllidaceae

Allium cepa L.

Allium sativum L.

Crinum erubescens L.f. ex Aiton

Hippeastrum sp. TvA5158

Hymenocallis tubiflora Salisb.

Anacardiaceae

Anacardium occidentale L.

Mangifera indica L.

Spondias mombin L.

Tapirira guianensis Aubl.

Annonaceae

Annona muricata L.

Duguetia pycnastera Sandwith

Guatteria anthracina Scharf & Maas

Guatteria punctata (Aubl.) R.A. Howard

Guatteria scandens Ducke

Xylopia discreta (L.f.) Sprague & Hutch.

Xylopia frutescens Aubl.

Apiaceae

Apium graveolens L.

Eryngium foetidum L.

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Pimpinella anisum L.

Apocynaceae

Allamanda cathartica L.

Asclepias curassavica L.

Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold

Tabernaemontana heterophylla Vahl

Tabernaemontana siphilitica (L.f.) Leeuwenb.

Tabernaemontana undulata Vahl

Araceae

Alocasia plumbea van Houtte

Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent.

Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott

Dieffenbachia seguine (Jacq.) Schott

Dracontium asperum K. Koch

Heteropsis flexuosa (Kunth) G.S. Bunting

Montrichardia arborescens (L.) Schott

Philodendron deflexum Poepp. ex Schott

Philodendron linnaei Kunth

Philodendron melinonii Brongn. ex Regel

Philodendron scandens K. Koch & Sello

Philodendron solimoesense A.C. Sm.

Araliaceae

Hydrocotyle umbellata L.

Schefflera morototoni (Aubl.) Maguire, Steyerm. & Frodin

Arecaceae

Astrocaryum sciophylum (Miq.) Pulle

Astrocaryum vulgare Mart.

Cocos nucifera L.

Desmoncus polyacanthos Mart.

Euterpe oleracea Mart.

Mauritia flexuosa L.f.

Attalea maripa (Aubl.) Mart.

Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.

Socratea exhorrhiza (Mart.) H. Wendl.

Aristolochiaceae

Aristolochia cf. consimilis Mast.

Asphodelaceae

Aloe vera L.

Asteraceae

Bidens cynapiifolia Kunth

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. King & H. Rob.

Clibadium surinamense L.

Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H. Rob.

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.

Elephantopus mollis Kunth

Erechtites hieracifolia (L.) Raf. ex DC.

Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl

Mikania guaco Bonpl.

Mikania micrantha Kunth

Rolandra fruticosa (L.) Kuntze

Struchium sparganophorum (L.) Kuntze

Tagetes spp.

Tilesia baccata (L.f.) Pruski

Unxia camphorata L.f.

Begoniaceae

Begonia glabra Aubl.

Bignoniaceae

Bignonia nocturna (Barb.Rodr.) L.G. Lohmann

Crescentia cujete L.

Mansoa alliacea (Lam.) A.H. Gentry

Bixaceae

Bixa orellana L.

Boraginaceae

Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult.

Cordia sagotii I.M. Johnst.

Cordia schomburgkii DC.

Heliotropium indicum L.

Bromeliaceae

Bromelia alta L.B.Smith

Guzmnia pleiosticha (Griseb.) Mez

Burseraceae

Protium cf. aracouchini Marchand

Protium guianense (Aubl.) March.

Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand

Tetragastris altissima (Aubl.) Swart

Tetragastris panamensis (Engl.) Kuntze

Cannaceae

Canna indica L.

Caricaceae

Carica papaya L.

Cecropiaceae

Cecropia obtusa Trécul

Cecropia sciadophylla Mart.

Coussapoa angustifolia Aubl

Chrysobalanaceae

Licania incana Aubl.

Licania leptostachya Benth.

Licania membranacea Sagot ex Laness.

Parinari campestris Aubl.

Clusiaceae

Clusia grandiflora Splitg.

Garcinia madruno (Kunth) Hammel

Symphonia globulifera L.f.

Combretaceae

Terminalia catappa L.

Commelinaceae

Commelina diffusa Burm. f.

Commelina erecta L.

Commelina rufipes Seub.

Tripogandra serrulata (Vahl) Handlos

Convolvulaceae

Cuscuta americana L.

Ipomoea batatas L.

Ipomoea sp.

Costaceae

Cheilocostus speciosus (J. König) C. Specht

Costus arabicus L.

Costus scaber Ruiz & Pav.

Costus spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe var. spiralis

Costus sp.

Cucurbitaceae

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.

Luffa aegyptiaca Mill..

Momordica charantia L.

Cyperaceae

Cyperus odoratus L.

Cyperus prolixus Kunth

Scleria secans (L.) Urb.

Scleria stipularis Nees

Dilleniaceae

Davilla kunthii A.St.-Hil.

Doliocarpus brevipedicellatus Garcke

Dioscoreaceae

Dioscorea sp.

Ebenacee

Diospyros guianensis (Aubl.) Gürke

Elaeocarpaceae

Sloanea grandiflora Sm.

Euphorbiaceae

Cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur

Croton trinitatis Millsp.

Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Rumph. ex A. Juss.

Euphorbia hirta L.

Euphorbia thymifolia L.

Jatropha curcas L.

Jatropha gossipyfolia L.

Manihot esculenta Crantz

Maprounea guianensis Aubl.

Ricinus communis L.

Fabaceae

Abarema jupunba (Willd.) Britton & Killip

Abrus precatorius L.

Adenanthera pavonina L.

Arachis hypogaea L.

Balizia pedicellaris (DC.) Barneby & J.W. Grimes

Bauhinia guianensis Aubl.

Bauhinia surinamensis Amsh.

Bocoa prouacensis Aubl.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw.

Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

Crotalaria incana L.

Crotalaria micans Link

Crotalaria pallida Aiton

Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC.

Desmodium barbatum (L.) Benth.

Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC.

Dicorynia guianensis Amshoff

Dipteryx odorata (Aubl.) Willd.

Eperua falcata Aubl.

Hymenaea courbaril L.

Indigofera suffructicosa Mill.

Inga alba (Sw.) Willd.

Inga heterophylla Willd.

Inga stipularis DC.

Inga virgultosa Desv.

Lonchocarpus chrysophyllus Kleinhoonte

Lonchocarpus negrensis Benth.

Lonchocarpus heptaphyllus (Poir.) DC.

Machaerium lunatum (L.f.) Ducke

Machaerium myrianthum Spruce ex Benth.

Mimosa pudica L.

Mora excelsa Benth.

Mucuna sloanei Fawc. & Rendle

Ormosia coutinhoi Ducke

Parkia nitida Miq.

Parkia pendula (Willd.) Walp.

Parkia ulei (Harms) Kuhlm. var. surinamensis Kleinh.

Pseudopiptadenia suaveolens (Miq.) Grimes

Sclerolobium melinonii Harms

Senna alata (L.) Roxb.

Senna occidentalis (L.) Link

Senna quinquangulata (Rich.) Irwin & Barneby

Tephrosia sinapou (Buchholz) A.Chev.

Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ssp. unguiculata

Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.

Zygia inaequalis (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Pittier

Zygia latifolia (L.) Fawc. & Rendle var. latifolia

Gentianaceae

Chelonanthus alatus (Aubl.) Pulle

Gesneriaceae

Codonanthe crassifolia (H. Focke) C.V. Morton

Haemodoraceae

Xiphidium caeruleum Aubl.

Heliconiaceae

Heliconia acuminata A. Rich.

Heliconia bihai (L.) L.

Heliconia psittacorum L.f.

Heliconia richardiana Miq.

Humiriaceae

Sacoglottis cydonioides Cuatrec.

Hypericaceae

Vismia cayennensis (Jacq.) Pers.

Vismia guianensis (Aubl.) Pers.

Vismia macrophylla Kunth

Iridaceae

Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) Urb.

Lamiaceae

Amasonia campestris (Aubl.) Moldenke

Hyptis atrorubens Poit.

Hyptis lanceolata Poir.

Hyptis mutabilis (Rich.) Briq.

Hyptis recurvata Poit.

Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br.

Ocimum campechianum Mill.

Ocimum gratissimum L.

Ocimum tenuiflorum L.

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng.

Thymus vulgaris L.

Lauraceae

Cassytha filiformis L.

Cinnamomum verum J. Presl.

Laurus nobilis L.

Licaria guianensis Aubl.

Lauraceae sp. TVA 4791

Laxmanniaceae

Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Chev.

Lecythidaceae

Couratari guianensis Aubl.

Loganiaceae

Spigelia anthelmia L.

Spigelia hamelioides Kunth

Loranthaceae

Oryctanthus florulentus (Rich.) Tiegh.

Phthirusa stelis (L.) Kuijt

Struthanthus syringifolius (Mart.) Mart.

Lythraceae

Lawsonia inermis L.

Malpighiaceae

Byrsonima spicata (Cav.) Rich. ex Kunth

Hiraea faginea (Sw.) Nied.

Malvaceae

Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench

Abelmoschus moschatus Medik.

Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.

Gossypium barbadense L.

Hibiscus bifurcatus Cav.

Lueheopsis rugosa (Pulle) Burret

Pachira nervosa (Uittien) Fern. Alonso

Quararibea guianensis Aubl.

Sida cordifolia L.

Sterculia excelsa Mart.

Sterculia pruriens (Aubl.) K. Schum.

Theobroma cacao L.

Waltheria indica L.

Marantaceae

Ischnosiphon arouma (Aubl.) Körn.

Ischnosiphon gracilis (Rudge) Körn.

Ischnosiphon petiolatus (Rudge) L. Andersson

Ischnosiphon puberulus Loes.

Maranta arundinacea L.

Mayacaceae

Mayaca sp. TvA 5444

Melastomataceae

Aciotis purpurascens (Aubl.) Triana

Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don

Miconia ciliata (Rich.) DC.

Miconia gratissima Benth. ex Triana

Miconia lateriflora Cogn.

Miconia racemosa (Aubl.) DC.

Miconia tomentosa (Rich.) D. Don ex DC.

Miconia sp. TvA5237

Nepsera aquatica (Aubl.) Naudin

Meliaceae

Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

Carapa guianensis Aubl.

Guarea gomma Pulle

Menispermaceae

Abuta sp. TvA5488

Moraceae

Bagassa guianensis Aubl.

Brosimum acutifolium Huber

Brosimum rubescens Taub.

Ficus nymphaeifolia Mill.

Ficus schumacheri (Liebm.) Griseb.

Ficus sp. GBA0162

Musaceae

Musa sp. (several cultivars)

Myristicaceae

Myristica fragrans Houtt.

Myrtaceae

Campomanesia aromatica (Aubl.) Griseb.

Campomanesia grandiflora (Aubl.) Sagot

Eugenia florida DC.

Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr.

Psidium guajava L.

Psidium guineense Sw.

Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

Nyctaginaceae

Neea ovalifolia Spruce ex J.A. Schmidt

Nymphaeaceae

Nymphaea amazonum Mart. & Zucc.

Olacaceae

Heisteria cauliflora J.E. Smith

Oleaceae

Jasminum multiflorum (Burm.f.) Andrews

Onagraceae

Ludwigia erecta (L.) H. Hara

Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H. Raven

Passifloraceae

Passiflora coccinea Aubl.

Passiflora foetida L.

Passiflora glandulosa Cav.

Pedaliaceae

Sesamum indicum L.

Phyllanthaceae

Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn.

Phytolaccaceae

Petiveria alliacea L.

Pinaceae

Pinus caribaea Morelet

Piperaceae

Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth

Peperomia quadrangularis (J.V. Thomps.) A. Dietr.

Peperomia rotundifolia (L.) Kunth

Piper aduncum L.

Piper anonifolium (Kunth) Steud.

Piper arboreum Aubl.

Piper cf. avellanum (Miq.) C. DC.

Piper bartlingianum (Miq.) C. DC.

Piper betle L.

Piper brownsbergense Yunck.

Piper demeraranum (Miq.) C. DC.

Piper divaricatum G. Mey.

Piper hispidum Sw.

Piper marginatum Jacq.

Piper peltatum L.

Piper pulleanum Yunck.

Poaceae

Andropogon bicornis L.

Bambusa vulgaris Schrad.

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.

Ichnanthus breviscrobs Döll

Imperata brasiliensis Trin.

Imperata contracta (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) Hitchc.

Oryza glaberrima Steud.

Oryza sativa L.

Olyra micrantha Kunth

Paspalum conjugatum P.J. Bergius

Saccharum officinarum L.

Zea mays L.

Podostemmaceae

Mourera fluviatilis Aubl.

Polygonaceae

Coccoloba gymnorrhachis Sandwith

Coccoloba mollis Casar.

Coccoloba sp. SRU0926

Pontederiaceae

Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms

Portulacaceae

Portulaca oleracea L.

Putranjivaceae

Drypetes variabilis Uittien

Rhizophoraceae

Rhizophora racemosa G. Mey.

Rosaceae

Rosa sp.

Rubiaceae

Capirona decorticans Spruce

Coccocypselum guianense (Aubl.) K.Schum.

Coffea liberica Hiern.

Duroia aquatica (Aubl.) Bremek.

Ixora coccinea L.

Oldenlandia corymbosa L.

Psychotria apoda Steyerm.

Psychotria bracteocardia (DC.) Müll. Arg.

Psychotria capitata Ruiz & Pav.

Psychotria cuspidata Bredem. ex Schult.

Psychotria poeppigiana Müll. Arg.

Psychotria rosea (Benth.) Müll. Arg.

Psychotria sphaerocephala Müll. Arg.

Psychotria ulviformis Steyerm.

Randia armata (Swartz) DC.

Spermacoce latifolia Aubl.

Spermacoce verticillata L.

Uncaria guianensis (Aubl.) J.F. Gmel.

Rutaceae

Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle

Citrus aurantium L.

Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f.

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck

Ertela trifolia (L.) Kuntze

Ruta graveolens L.

Zanthoxylum pentandrum (Aubl.) R.A. Howard

Salicaceae

Banara guianensis Aubl.

Casearia javitensis Kunth

Xylosma tessmannii Sleumer

Santalaceae

Phoradendron cf. bathyoryctum Eichler

Phoradendron perrottettii Nutt.

Sapindaceae

Cupania hirsuta Radlk.

Paullinia sp. TvA5014

Vouarana guianensis Aubl.

Sapotaceae

Micropholis guyanensis (A. DC.) Pierre

Pouteria cf. cuspidata (A. DC.) Baehni

Pouteria engleri Eyma

Scrophulariaceae

Scoparia dulcis L.

Simaroubaceae

Quassia amara L.

Siparunaceae

Siparuna guianensis Aubl.

Smilacaceae

Smilax schomburgkiana Kunth

Solanaceae

Capsicum frutescens L.

Nicotiana tabacum L.

Physalis angulata L.

Solanum americanum Mill.

Solanum leucocarpon Dunal

Solanum stramoniifolium Jacq.

Solanum subinerme Jacq.

Trigoniaceae

Trigonia laevis Aubl.

Ulmaceae

Trema micrantha (L.) Blume

Urticaceae

Laportea aestuans (L.) Chew

Verbenaceae

Lantana camara L.

Lavandula angustifolia Mill.

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson

Priva lappulacea (L.) Pers.

Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.) Vahl

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl

Vitaceae

Cissus erosa Rich.

Cissus sp.

Vochysiaceae

Vochysia guianensis Aubl.

Zingiberaceae

Aframomum melegueta K. Schum.

Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K.Schum.

Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) Maas

Renealmia floribunda K. Schum.

Renealmia guianensis Maas

Renealmia monosperma Miq.

Renealmia sp.

Zingiber montanum (J.König) Link ex A.Dietr.

Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm.

Appendix B: Lower Plants

Adiantaceae

Adiantum latifolium Lam.

Adiantum leprieurii Hook.

Adiantum serratodentatum Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link

Aspleniaceae

Asplenium serratum L.

Dennstaedtiaceae

Pteridium caudatum (L.) Maxon.

Dryopteridaceae

Tectaria sp. KVP92

Gleicheniaceae

Dicranopteris flexuosa (Schrad.) Underw.

Hymenophyllaceae

Trichomanes vittaria DC. ex Poir.

Polypodiaceae

Campyloneurum repens (Aubl.) C. Presl.

Schizaeaceae

Lygodium volubile Swartz

Thelypteridaceae

Thelypteris leprieurii (Hook.) R.M. Tryon

Selaginellaceae

Selaginella parkeri (Hook & Grev.) Spring.

Selaginella novae-hollandiae (Sw.) Spring

Lycopodiaceae

Lycopodiella cernua (L.) Pic. Serm.

Leucobryaceae

Octoblepharum albidum Hedw.

Fungi

Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat.

Unidentified higher plants

onalibano’ SR3657

yuwairi’ SR3655

babar’ udu’ SR2443

bakúlu fulu’ SR3653

switi sei tombo’ SR2201

ogii ay dyingo’ SR2178

draai tete’ TVA5095

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van Andel, T., Ruysschaert, S., Van de Putte, K., Groenendijk, S. (2013). What Makes a Plant Magical? Symbolism and Sacred Herbs in Afro-Surinamese Winti Rituals. In: Voeks, R., Rashford, J. (eds) African Ethnobotany in the Americas. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0836-9_10

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