Ethnobotanical observations from cabecar and guaymí settlements in central america

Abstract

Ethnobotanical information was collected and the degree of acculturation was estimated for 3 Indian groups: 1) the Guaymi near Soloy, Panama, 2) the Guaymi near San Vito, Costa Rica, and 3) the Cabecar in the Telire Reserve, Costa Rica. In both Guaymi settlements, the introduction of cattle, cacao, and coffee had altered traditional agricultural systems. Also, the availability of modern agricultural seeds had reduced the planting frequency of indigenous crop varieties. In comparison, the Cabecar agricultural traditions in the isolated Telire Reserve remain essentially intact. of the persons interviewed, the Telire inhabitants were more willing to discuss and were more knowledgeable of native plant uses, especially medicinal uses, than either Guaymi group. Expeditions to these areas indicated that much ethnobotanical information remains undocumented, especially in the Telire Reserve, and that continual acculturation pressures leave little time to achieve complete documentation.