This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Montoya, A. Articles by Caballero, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Montoya, A. Articles by Caballero, J. Agricola Articles by Montoya, A. Articles by Caballero, J.

Traditional knowledge about mushrooms in a Nahua community in the state of Tlaxcala, México

     Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala Km 10.5 Autopista San Martín Texmelucan-Tlaxcala, Ixtacuixtla, Tlaxcala, C.P. 90120, México

J. Caballero

     Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Apartado Postal 70-614, México, D.F. 04510, México

This paper describes the traditional mycological knowledge of the Nahua of San Isidro Buensuceso, on the slopes of La Malinche Volcano National Park, in the state of Tlaxcala, México. The results described in this paper were obtained through interviews with villagers selected at random; a free-listing technique was used to determine the cultural significance of the mushrooms of the region. A total of 48 species, which had 65 Náhuatl names and 40 in Spanish, were identified. Although San Isidro villagers consider mushrooms to be a natural resource mainly used for food, they also use them for medicine, insecticides and trade. This paper presents traditional information on the morphology, ecology, fenology and consistency of the mushrooms found around San Isidro. It proposes that, from a cultural perspective, Gomphus flocossus, Ramaria spp. and Boletus spp. are the most important species of the region.

Key words: Ethnomycology, La Malinche National Park, Nahua, traditional uses of fungi, wild mushrooms