The importance of chemosensory clues in Aguaruna tree classification and identification.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The ethnobotanical literature still contains few detailed descriptions of the sensory criteria people use for judging membership in taxonomic categories. Olfactory criteria in particular have been explored very little. This paper will describe the importance of odor for woody plant taxonomy and identification among the Aguaruna Jívaro of the northern Peruvian Amazon, focusing on the Aguaruna category númi (trees excluding palms). Aguaruna informants almost always place trees that they consider to have a similar odor together as kumpají - 'companions,' a metaphor they use to describe trees that they consider to be related.

Methods

The research took place in several Aguaruna communities in the upper Marañón region of the Peruvian Amazon. Structured interview data fo

SUBMITTER: Jernigan KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2412849 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature