Ethnobotany of the Sumu (Ulwa) of southeastern Nicaragua and comparisons with Miskitu plant lore

• Published in: Economic botany 1999-10, Vol.53 (4), p.363-386
• Main Authors: Coe, F.G, Anderson, G.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaloids; Biological and medical sciences; Cognitive problems, arts and sciences, folk traditions, folklore; cultural activities; cultural differences; Diseases; domestication; Economic botany; Ethnobotanics. Ethnoecology; Ethnobotany; Ethnology; Fieldwork; Food crops; Food plants; General pharmacology; Glycosides; Kitchen gardens; leaves; Medical sciences; Medicinal plants; medicinal properties; nationalities and ethnic groups; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant species; Plants; traditional medicine; Traditional sciences and medicine; Tropical environments; uses
• ISSN: 0013-0001; 1874-9364
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02866715

The Sumu (Ulwa) are one of three Amerindian groups of eastern Nicaragua. Their uses of 225 species of plants in 174 genera and 72 families were documented in two years of fieldwork. Included are 187 medicinals, 69 food plants, and 84 for other uses. Ulwa medicinals treat more than 25 human ailments, and most (80%) are native to eastern Nicaragua. Over 70% of the medicinals have a recognized bioactive principle, most are herbs (48%) or trees (33%). Leaves are the most frequently utilized plant part. Most medicinals are prepared as decoctions and are administered orally. Almost half of Ulwa food plants are domesticates, but only six are native to the New World tropics. Comparison of plant use between the Ulwa and southern Miskitu indicated that most of the species used for food (98%), medicinals (90%), and medicinal applications (80%) are the same. The Miskitu use more species, have a wider range of medicinal applications, and more unique plant uses than the Ulwa, presumably due to their larger territory. Differences in ethnobotanical usage between these groups seem to be more a reflection of scale than of remnants of cultural differences. /// Los Sumu (Ulwa) constituyen uno de los tres grupos Amerindios del oriente Nicaragüense. Durante dos años de estudios se documentaron los usos por éste grupo de 225 especies vegetales en 174 géneros y 72 familias. Incluyendo 187 especies medicinales, 69 especies alimenticias y 84 especies para usos auxiliares. Las plantas medicinales de los Ulwa tratan más de 25 enfermedades y la mayoría (80%) son especies nativas del oriente Nicaragüense. Más del 70% de las especies medicinales poseen algún principio bioactivo; la mayoría son hierbas (48%) o árboles (33%). Las hojas son las partes más frecuentemente utilizadas en remedios y son preparados en forma de decocciónes y administradas oralmente. Las plantas comestibles en su mayoría son domesticadas, solamente seis son nativas del neotrópico. Comparaciones de las plantas usadas por los Ulwa y Miskitu demuestran que la mayoría de las especies usadas como alimentos (98%), medicinas (90%) y aplicaciones medicinales (80%) son iguales. Los Miskitu usan un mayor número de especies, con un mayor rango de aplicaciones medicinales y mas usos singulares de plantas que los Ulwa, presumiblemente debido a su territorio mas extenso. Diferencias etnobotánicas parecen ser mas bien consecuencia de escala y no vestigios de diferencias culturales.