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Se presentan los resultados de una investigación etnobotánica que trata los tintes vegetales y fúngicos entre los indígenas wichí del Chaco Semiárido. Se realizaron trabajos de campo con informantes calificados y ocasionales de ambos sexos en localidades de las provincias argentinas de Salta y Formosa. Asimismo, se hizo una revisión minuciosa de la bibliografía vinculada con el tema. Se encontraron 24 especies de plantas y 2 de hongos que son usadas para colorear productos textiles realizados a partir de fibras de cháguar (Bromelia hieronymi y B. urbaniana). Se proporcionan informaciones y detalles sobre los nombres vernáculos de las especies, las partes usadas, los procedimientos de tinción y los colores logrados. El número total de plantas tintóreas encontrado es alto comparado con los que fueron citados para otras etnias chaquenses y se registraron especies que antes no fueron mencionadas como tintóreas entre los wichís.Dye plants and fungi among the Wichí people of the Gran Chaco. This paper presents the results of an ethnobotanical investigation into plant and fungal dyes used by the Wichí people of the Semiarid Chaco. Fieldwork was carried out with occasional and key informants, both men and women, in several locations of Salta and Formosa provinces in Argentina. Moreover, a detailed examination of the bibliography on the topic was conducted. Twenty-four plant species and two fungi that are used for coloring textile products made from cháguar fibers (Bromelia hieronymi and B. urbaniana) were found. Information and details on the vernacular names of the species, the parts that are used, the dying technique and the colors obtained are provided. The total number of dye plants found is high compared with the ones cited among other Chaco ethnic groups, and records were made of species that had not previously been mentioned among the Wichí people as being used for dyes.

Diversity of naturalized species of the genus Opuntia (Cactaceae) used by the people of Northern Córdoba (Argentina). Agriculture understood as cultivation and domestication of plants constitute a practice orientated by botanical knowledge of different cultures. The study of plant diversity, cultivated and domesticated by a community is useful for understanding the underlying interests around them. In Argentina, particularly in Córdoba, there are few ethnobotanical research works about the relationship established between human groups and Cactaceae. That is why, in this study, an ethnobotanical research was conducted white creole inhabitants in the north of Córdoba. Methodology consisted of open and semistructured interviews, field exploration and herbarium material collection. We identified seven different kinds of “tunas", which have been collected from natural ecosystem and currently undergo domestication process. Six of them belong to the botanical species Opuntia ficus-indica (4 to form ficus-indica: “Amarilla", “Cordobesa", “Italiana" and “Salteña"; and 2 to form amyclaea: “Colorada" and “Blanca"), and the seventh belongs to the botanical species Opuntia robusta (“Cuaresma"). Plant uses declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synandrospadix vermitoxicus is a native species of the Gran Chaco (Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina) and neighbouring regions. An ethnobotanical investigation was conducted with the aim of summarising vernacular knowledge on the plant: common names, uses, its role in social and cultural life, as well as stressing the interest and value attached by human groups of the region. This paper is a summary of original data obtained in situ, in addition to those recorded in bibliographic sources. Oral information and herbarium material was collected during fieldwork carried out with eight ethnic groups, as well as with natives-criollos (local non-indigenous people) from Argentina and Paraguay. In order to contextualise the ethnobotanical information, brief references on the taxonomy, floristics, morphology, ecology, and phytonymy associated with this plant are added. Notes are also included on the plant's role in different cultural settings: food, medicine, veterinary practice, magic, toxicology, mythology and witchcraft. Attention is drawn to the value of the plant for the ethnic peoples and settlers in the Gran Chaco and the interest it holds for them. The need to preserve it as natural and cultural heritage is also expressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work completes the synthesis of useful and harmful Asteraceae species, which began with our first contribution in 2009, in which the general characteristics of the family, habitat, dispersion and chemical composition were discussed, in addition to the genera and species of industrial, ecological and environmental significance, as well as some considerations about their conservational status. In this second part it addresses important species such as vegetables and spices (especially Lactuca, Carthamus, Cichorium, Cynara, Helichrysum), bee plants for honey, pollen and propolis (Aster, Baccharis, Solidago, etc.), plants of interest in human and animal health (medicinal, toxic and allergenic, Achillea, Achyrocline, Arnica, Baccharis, Bidens, Chamaemelum, Echinacea, Gnaphalium, Inula, Matricaria, Pulicaria, Schkuhria, Tanacetum, etc.), ornamental and floral (Senecio, Gerbera, Gaillardia, Helichrysum, Mutisia, Rudbeckia, Tagetes, Zinnia, etc.), timber and fuelwood (Eremanthus, Montanoa, Tessaria, etc.), and forage (Helianthus tuberosus), and those that have become important agricultural weeds (Carduus, Centaurea, Silybum, Conyza, etc.). Finally, there are comments on the advances of the Asteraceae's taxonomic knowledge since 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Las Asteráceas incluyen gran cantidad de especies útiles (medicinales, agrícolas, industriales, etc.). Algunas han sido domesticadas y cultivadas desde la Antigüedad y otras conforman vastas extensiones de vegetación natural, determinando la fisonomía de numerosos paisajes. Su uso etnobotánico ha ayudado a sustentar numerosos pueblos. Hoy, unos 40 géneros de Asteráceas son relevantes en alimentación humana y animal, fuentes de aceites fijos, aceites esenciales, forraje, miel y polen, edulcorantes, especias, colorantes, insecticidas, caucho, madera, leña o celulosa. Otras son importantes malezas y/o plantas tóxicas para el hombre y el ganado, algunas causan alergia y otras resultan ornamentales. En terapéutica son usados gran número de metabolitos secundarios sintetizados por Asteráceas. Se ofrece una síntesis de las Asteráceas útiles y dañinas, taxonómicamente actualizadas, considerando usos etnobotánicos y propiedades fitoquímicas y farmacológicas, con énfasis en las entidades silvestres, cultivadas o adventicias que viven en Argentina. En esta primera parte se discuten los caracteres generales de la familia, hábitat y dispersión, fitoquímica, y los géneros y especies de valor industrial y de mayor importancia ecológica y ambiental, así como el estado de conservación de sus miembros, considerados a nivel global, todo ello a la luz de la actual sistematización de la Familia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]