How the Objectives were met:A botanical garden for medicinal herbs was established in Tihosuco during the year of 1999. The official area for the garden was planted with around 90 specimens. A botanical label was made for most of these plants. Beds were established adjacent to the official garden, extending the formal area of the garden. These could potentially hold approximately another 60 plants. Woodland within the museum grounds held another 30 medicinal plants, but could potentially hold many more. Have a look at how the garden was developed A book was compiled about medicinal herbs from the information given by the informants. This book will assist the preservation of Mayan knowledge over medicinal herbs. The information was compiled in a way that it can be consulted by using either the common names, scientific names or illness. Full referencing allows the user to consult a photograph or a herbarium specimen of a plant, if one is available. Have a look at how the book was compiled 275 plants are included within the book, 225 of which are fully identified taxanomically, 25 identified to genus level, 10 identified to family level and 15 unidentified. The plants represent 84 plant families. Of these plants, 181 are native to the peninsula of Yucatan, 53 were introduced and 41 of the plants listed were not categorised. Although most plants were not classed in terms of conservation status, it is hoped that possible further work in Tihosuco will focus more on this point. Have a look at the floristic list of the plants 161 specimens were collected and included within the 'Alfredo Barrera Marin' herbarium of the Faculty of Animal and Veterinary Sciences of the Autonomous University of Yucatan. Have a look at how the specimens were prepared for the herbarium Over 300 photographs were made of the medicinal plants, the people involved, of the different developmental stages of the garden and also demonstrating how herbs were prepared and used. Have a look at how a herbal cream is prepared The garden was prepared with the help of the local community, including school groups. Time and circumstances restricted planned educational activities using the garden in Tihosuco by the time my involvement finished in November 1999. However, using the garden, book and photographs, it is hoped that educational activities will be organised in the future. Despite this, the garden created a lot of interest informally and raised many questions from the community of Tihosuco. |