Category: Native Plants

Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Mexican Mint Marigold

Tagetes lemmonii Also called : rudilla, Lemmons marigold, Copper Canyon Daisy, Mountain Marigold, Mexican Marigold, Passionfruit Marigold, Tree Marigold, Tangerine Marigold, Mount Lemmon Marigold, Texas tarragon T.lucida (pericón) is also known by the moniker Mexican Mint Marigold. (See Post : Pericón. Tagetes lucida) T.lemmonii is native to the states of Sonora and Sinaloa in north-western Mexico as well as southern Arizona in the Estados Unidos. … Continue reading Mexican Mint Marigold

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants

Tlatlaolton. Which Porophyllum Are You?

Cover Image from the Voynich Manuscript Also called : Chepiche, escobilla, pipicha, pipizca Tlatlaolton has been classified as Porophyllum coloratum (1) (Kunth) DC (2). The common names pipicha (pipizca) and chepiche refer generally to P.tagetoides which is a narrow leaved variety of porophyllum. P.coloratum is considered a synonym of P.macrocephalum which is a broad leaved variety of pore leaf and this adds to the confusion … Continue reading Tlatlaolton. Which Porophyllum Are You?

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Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Nutritional Profile of Amaranth

Amaranth seed Amaranth grain is an ancient superfood. Although botanically it is not considered a grain it, along with the pseudocereal quinoa, is botanically a seed. This is merely pedantic nit picking and in no way diminishes the high nutritional value of this plant. The plant has several culinary uses. The leaves are edible and the seeds can be eaten whole, ground, popped or can … Continue reading Nutritional Profile of Amaranth

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History, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Pulque Curado : Sangre de Conejo (Rabbits Blood)

The rabbit holds a special place in the mythological landscape of México. It plays a part in both the legend of the moon (1) and in the creation of pulque. The moon is itself represented in various codices by the image of a jar of pulque, the rabbit was used as a measuring stick of drunkenness (2) and the saying “Ye iuhqui itoch” (Such is … Continue reading Pulque Curado : Sangre de Conejo (Rabbits Blood)

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants

Medicinal Qualities of Amaranth

Amaranthus species plants can be broken down into 3 basic categories, grain, leaf and ornamental. All varieties of the plant can be eaten as a green leafy vegetable when the plants are young enough and all will provide seed to one degree or another but only a few provide enough seed to be considered viable as a foodstuff. Species primarily used for their seeds are … Continue reading Medicinal Qualities of Amaranth

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Chinchweed

(Pectis papposa) Syn. Pectis angustifolia Torr also called Fetid marigold, Pague, Limoncillo, Lemonscent, Crownseed Pectis, Lemon-scented Pectis, Lemonscent Pectis, Lemonweed, TshéGdannItc’iih (Navajo), manzanilla del coyote, ban mansani:ya, caasol heecto (small caasol), caasol ihasii quiipe (pleasant smelling caasol (Seri), ban manzani;ya I have recently come across this plant during my research into the porophyllums. I was initially drawn to the porophyllum species because of the impact … Continue reading Chinchweed

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Papalo and Pipicha. Skunk Weed?

Hierba de Zorrillo Amongst the names papalo has accrued lies the not altogether unexpected moniker “skunk weed”, although I have never found the word “zorrillo” used and for some reason online translators always come back with “hierba mofeta”; the word used is mampuritu (1) and mampurite (2) (Morton 1968). My grasp of Spanish is rudimentary at best and there is no doubt I am missing … Continue reading Papalo and Pipicha. Skunk Weed?

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Chaya

Cnidoscolus chayamansa (Syn C.aconitifolius) Also called : Tree spinach Chaya or Chayamansa is originally from southern Mexico and is popular in Yucatecan Maya cuisine. Chaya grows in size from a large shrub to a small tree. It has edible leaves that are considered more nutritious than spinach that are rich in vitamin C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and are an important source of protein. There are many … Continue reading Chaya

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Native Plants, Uncategorized

Agave straws : An Alternative to Plastic

In December 2019 Jose Cuervo, producers of the archetypal Mexican drink Tequila (1) since the late 1700’s, launched the Agave Project. This initiative is part of a general worldwide push seeking renewable and environmentally friendly solutions to issues of human impact on the Earth. The Agave Project is one of many community based projects initiated by Jose Cuervo over the last 21 years. They are … Continue reading Agave straws : An Alternative to Plastic

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Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Achiote (Annatto)

Alo called : urucum, açafrão , açafroa , açafroeria-de-terra (Brazil), axiote (Mexico), bija (Peru, Cuba), santo-domingo (Puerto Rico), urucu (Argentina, Bolivia), bixa (Guyana), analto (Honduras), onotto, onotillo (Venezuela), guajachote (El Salvador), lipstick tree Achiote is a Yucatecan spice obtained from the seeds of the Bixa orellana shrub/tree. Achiote held a sacred function for the Mayas and Aztecs as an extract of the plant was regarded as a symbolic … Continue reading Achiote (Annatto)

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