TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM OF THE ROOT OF JALAPA, IPOMOEA PURGA (CONVOLVULACEAE), IN CENTRAL VERACRUZ~ MEXICO 1 ALBERTO LINAJES, VICTOR RICO-GRAY, 2 AND GLORIA CARRION Linajes, Alberto (Facultad de Ciencias Agrfcolas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., M~xico), Victor Rico-Gray and Gloria Carrirn (tnstituto de Ecologia, Apdo. Postal 63, Xatapa, Ver. 91000 M(xico). TRADITIONALPRODUCTION SYSTEM OF THE ROOT OF JALAPA, IPOMOEA PURGA (Cor,rvoLvtrtAcr.~), IN CENTRALVEPO,CgUZ, MEXICO.Economic Botany 48(1):84-89. 1994. We describe the traditional production system o f the root o f jalapa, Ipomoea purga, in Xico, Veracruz, Mexico. The results are based on open interviews with the producers to gather it!formation on the development o f this crop in the area, and observation o f the production system. The production cycle is carried out between July and February. We found that seed scarification is the key to the success o f the productive system, obtaining a m a x i m u m o f 95% seed germination in eight days. This activity, as well as seed collection and the driving o f stakes into the ground for plant support, requires a considerable input o f man-power. It is an intensive farming process, the cultivated area per farmer varies between 300 m 2 and 1000 m 2, and the yield ranges between 1.5 and 2.7 tons per hectare o ffresh roots; when dried they' lose up to 75% o f their weight. Smokedried roots are exported for sale. Sistema Tradicional de Producci6n de ta Raiz de Jalapa, tpomoea purga (Convolvulaceae), en la Regi6n Central de Veracruz, M6xico. Describimos el sistema de cuttivo tradicional de la raiz de jalapa, Ipomoea purga, en Xico, Veracruz, ML~cico. Los resultados est(m basados en entrevistas a los productores con elfin de recabar informaci6n sobre el desarol[o del cultivo de esta especie en el (trea y observaciones del sistema de producci6n. El ciclo de producci6n se realiza de julio a febrero. Se encontr6 que la escarificaci6n de la semilla constituye la base del &ito del cultivo, ya que de este modo se consigue un m6ximo de195% de germinaci6n en ocho dias. Esta actividad requiere de una inversi6n considerable de mano de obra, al igual que la recolecci6n de la semilla y la colocaci6n de soportes para que las plantas se vayan enredando en ellos. El cultivo es intensivo, el 6tea de cultivo varia entre 300 m 2 y 1000 m 2 pot productor. Los rendimientos son muy variables y van desde 1.5 hasta 2.7 toneladas pot hectdrea de peso fresco; despu(s del secado se pierde hasta un 75% del peso. E t producto se eomercializa seco y ahumado y se exporta. Key Words: jalapa root; lpomoea purga; Veracruz; Mexico. The root ofjalapa, l p o m o e a p u r g a (Wender.) Hayne (Convolvulaceae), has been used for laxative and purgative purposes since pre-Hispanic time (Martinez 1959, 1969a,b). It is considered pharmacologically as an hydragogous cathartic (Anonymous 1920; Bausor 1937) being an energic purgative in strong doses and a soft laxative in small doses (Martinez 1959, 1969b). The pharmaceutical industry uses the resin contained in the root of L p u r g a to obtain the jalapine or convolvuline, a complex of glucosides o f a not ' Received 7 July 1992; accepted 6 October 1993. z For correspondence. ten well known structure which is the ether-insoluble portion of the resin ofjalapa (Singh and Stancey 1972; Swamy, Kalyanasundaram and Balagopal 1965). Convolvuline/jalapine acts on the first section of the small intestine, increasing peristaltic movements. l p o m o e a p u r g a is one o f several well known and distantly related tuberous New World Ipom o e a species, e.g., L j a l a p a (L.) Pursh, L oriz a b e n s i s (Pelletan) Steud. ex Ledanois, L stim u l a n s Hanbury, that comprise a group o f highly esteemed purgative medicinals in American and European pharmacopoeas, known in the vernacular as jalaps (McDonald 1987, 1989). I p o m o e a p u r g a often is confused with I. durnosa Benth., Economic Botany 48(1) pp. 84-89. 1994 9 1994, by The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458 U.S.A. 1994] LINAJES ET AL.: JALAPA IN VERACRUZ which has very similar floral morphology; however, the latter species differs in its large resinous roots, herbaceous stems, and equal to subequal, coriaceous sepals (McDonald 1987). Ipomoea purga is probably most closely related to L chenopodiifolia Mart. & Gal., both species preferring similar habitats: cool montane mesic conditions above 2000 m in pine-oak communities (McDonald 1987). Ipomoea purga is restricted to the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mrxico in the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, Oaxaca and Veracruz (McDonald 1987), at altitudes between 1800 m and 2400 m, and areas where total annual precipitation ranges between 1500 mm and 2100 mm. The roots of Ipomoea purga were first introduced to Europe by the Spaniards in the mid1500s (De Jfiuregui 1887; Monardes 1565; Velasco 1887). Between the mid-1500s and late 1600s I. purga was introduced to various European botanical gardens to attempt its cultivation, especially in England, France and Germany (Balfour 1848; Beaton 1839; Coxe 1830; Fliickiger 1890; Hanbury 1867). The British subsequently introduced this species to Jamaica and India (Fliickiger 1890), where it was cultivated (Anonymous 1920; Blanco 1949; Swamy, Kalyanasundaram and Balagopal 1965). Many adulterations and fakes appeared as a result of the great demand for the jalapa root, e.g., between 1"~61 and 1851 the Xalapa-Xico area in Veracruz, Mrxico exported 1 674 033 tons of the root to Europe (Lerdo de Tejada 1853). Many of the fakes were roots of other Convolvulaceae, which were somehow similar and were generally referred to as false jalapas (Kellogg 1862; Shellard 1962). The proliferation of false jalapas between the mid-1500s and mid-1800s led to a great nomenclatural confusion. Many authors, based on limited morphological descriptions, chemical analyses and identity assays of roots, generated a long list of common and scientific names. The most common names in this period were: jalapa macho, jalapa hembra, jalapa de Orizaba, jalapa oficial, jalapa oficinal, Michoacdn blanco, Michoacdn negro, brionfa de las Indias, and ruibarbo de las Indias (Balfour 1848; Bouldoc 1719; Bouriez 1883; De Jfiuregui 1887). All the roots exported by the Spaniards were collected in the large natural populations that grew in the Xalapa-Xico region, in the central region of the State of Veracruz, Mrxico; the increase in demand forced the cultivation of/. pur- 85 ga in the mid- 1800s (Casas 1889; Hanbury 1867). Cultivation was done in areas with primary vegetation, conserving forest diversity and using live shrubs to support the jalapa vines, propagation was accomplished using roots, and sometimes seeds; 300 kg of planted roots would yield 5000 kg (Casas 1889). Unfortunately, there is no information about the characteristics of the cultivation areas. Propagation by seed in the Xico region probably started early this century (E. Martinez, pers. comm.). The production system was maintained orally through generations of farmers without substantial modifications. For example, the postcrop treatment of smoke-drying the roots is the same now as the one observed in 1829 by Schiede in Chiconquiaco, Veracruz (Hanbury 1867; Petit 1892). Between the late 1930s and early 1940s the Xico region exported to the United States 410 tons of dry roots (231000.00 U.S. dollars) (Blanco 1949). Even though production has recently declined, 100% of the harvest is exported. In this paper we describe the traditional production system of the root ofjalapa, Ipomoea purga, in the region of Xico, Veracruz, Mrxico. STUDY SITE The study was carried out in the villages of Coxmatla and Tlacuilolan, in the vicinity of Xico, in the central region of the State of Veracruz, M6xico (19~176 altitude 1900 m) (Hoffman, Blanc-Pamard and Rossignol 1987). The climate is temperate subhumid in the K6ppen classification (Cw2), with a cool and long rainy summer, and a winter rain percentage of 5-10.2% (Lang's index is >55.0) (Garcia 1973; Soto and Angulo 1990). The vegetation of the area consists of a mixture of species characteristic of the tropical montane and pine-oak forests, the main species are: Alnusjorullensis H.B.K., Baccharis conferta H.B.K., Carpinus caroliniana Walter, Dichanthelium laxiflorum (Lam.) Gould, Echeveria racemosa Hook., Liquidambar macrophylla Oersted, Pinus pseudostrobus var. apulcensis Shaw, P. pseudostrobus var. coatepecensis Martinez, Quercus laurina Humb. & Bonpl., and Q. polymorpha Schlecht. & Cham. (Arriaga 1985). Most of the land is used for coffee plantations (Hoffman, Blanc-Pamard and Rossignol 1987). METHOD We chose for this research the villages of Coxmatla and Tlacuilolan because of their accessi- 86 ECONOMIC BOTANY bility, the presence o f producers experienced in traditional methods of cultivation, the type and preservation of the habitat, and its position (2000 m) within the distribution limits of I. purga (1800-2400 masl). The area was visited every week or sometimes every two weeks, between May 1985 and March 1986. Field work consisted of open interviews with eight producers and one buyer (ages between 55 and 85 years), and the follow-up to two jalapa root plantations to observe the technical aspects o f the production system and all related activities. During interviews we gathered information on the production and management system o f the jalapa root, and especially the amount o f seed used, size o f the cultivated area, propagation methods, use o f fertilizers, presence and effect o f plagues and diseases, weeding, harvesting, yields, postharvest root treatment, and the presence o f cultural activities associated with production. Voucher specimens o f Ipomoea purga are deposited at the Herbarium o f the Instituto de Ecologia, A.C. (Ortega 380, 408,475, XAL; Marffnez- Vdtzquez 563, 613, 661, XAL). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Ipomoea purga has been exported for the last four centuries, and cultivated in the study area for at least 150 years (Casas 1889). We estimate that 205 working days (8 hrs each) are needed to cultivate one hectare of the plant in the traditional way over an eight month cycle. The activities and the number o f working days needed to accomplish them are: seed scarification (20), land preparation (10), planting (9), collecting and embedding o f support poles (45), assisting vines to climb support poles (30), fertilization (5), weeding (16), seed collection (25), harvest (30), drying (10), and transport (5). Farmers cultivate jalapa to obtain additional income; their main activities are keeping milk cows, and working in the large coffee plantations which is the dominant agriculture in this region o f Mrxico. SEED COLLECTION AND TREATMENT Seeds were obtained in the past from natural populations, now they are obtained from the previous crop, which is an easier process. The dry fruits (capsules) are collected between the end o f January and the beginning o f February, a period one or two weeks prior to root harvesting. The seeds are extracted from the dry capsules and stored along with capsule fragments, which are [VOL. 48 believed to counter the effects o f microorganisms (type not specified). Farmers have a good knowledge o f plant phenology (flowering between September and December, and fruiting between December and February) and anticipate dehisence o f the capsular fruit. They obtain about 5 kg o f seed from a 400 m 2 plantation, after eliminating seeds that have been harmed by frosts (recognized by their yellowish colour). Approximately 2 kg o f seed are used for a 400 m 2 area (1 kg contains about 12 300 seeds). Seeds are very small (6.0 m m long-5.0 m m wide) and are manually scarified; the seed testa is sclerified and waterproof. Seed scarification consists o f a small incision on the testa opposite to the micropyle; this is a laborious and time consuming activity accomplished a few days before planting by the women and children. This method insures them 90-95% germination (compared with 5% germination without scarification). Seeds germinate eight days after planting. Nonscarified seeds m a y take several months to germinate, as they do in the forest, suggesting that even though this species has long been cultivated, it still maintains characteristics that would allow it to survive without h u m a n assistance (De Wet and Harlan 1975). We have no evidence to suggest that farmers are selecting for new or better germplasm, except for eliminating seeds affected by frosts. Plants under cultivation do not seem to present new morphological traits when compared to individuals in the wild. We did not evaluate the effect o f herbivores or parasites but despite high planting densities (ca. 625 000 plants per ha), plants under cultivation were relatively free from fungi, parasite marks on their leaves, and leaf, fruit, or stem miners. SELECTION AND PREPARATION OF THE LAND Jalapa plantations are established on hillocks or areas with steep slopes where the wind m a y lessen the effect o f hail and frosts. These areas are previously occupied by cattle, making the soil very fertile because o f manure deposits. The same areas are used to grow chile (Capsicum spp.) and maize (Zea mays L.), resulting in a mosaic o f crops and remnants o f native vegetation that should confer ecological advantages by decreasing the attacks by plagues and diseases (Altieri 1983), but we do not have experimental evidence for the area. Most o f the land used for growing jalapa is owned by the root buyers, who lend the 1994] LINAJES ET AL.: JALAPA IN VERACRUZ land to the farmers, although some o f the farmers use their own land. The area planted varies between 300 m 2 and 1000 m 2, the most c o m m o n area is 400 m 2, and farmers fully depend on land owners for crop price and what is to be planted (they may decide to plant something other than jalapa). The standing vegetation is cleared by slash-and-burn prior to soil preparation. In July the soil is loosened and plowed, up to a depth o f 30-40 cm, to allow roots to grow freely. Larvae o f the root damaging beetle, gallina ciega or rosquilla (Phyllophaga sp.: Coleoptera), are killed by dehydration when exposed to the sun and by other environmental factors as a result o f tilling. SEED PLANTING Seed planting is carried out sometime between late July and early August, after the first heavy rains. Furrows are spaced 50-60 cm, leaving 10 cm between seeds. One seed is planted at a time, at a depth o f 1-2 cm. Crop density is ca. 25 000 plants per 400 m 2. Eight days after seed germination the farmers collect two types o f poles to support the vines ofjalapa. The first, a two meter pole, from the techichi, Ageratina ligustrina (DC) R. M. King & H. E. Robinson (Asteraceae), which has abundant, straight, and resistant branches (600-1000 poles are used in a 400 m 2 area). The second, a 50 cm pole from the chancle, Ageratina aschenborniana Schever (Asteraceae); six o f these are used per one large pole. Each unit, one long pole with six small ones distributed radially around it, support 15 to 20 plants. The poles are sometimes saved and used in next year's crop. The farmers m a y modify the phenology o f L purga for their benefit. If they plant the seeds later than scheduled (July-August), the plant develops bigger roots by March, but does not produce seed. When this happens, they use the small roots for propagation and plant them next year on schedule, obtaining seeds and larger roots. Cultivated plants flower between September and D e c e m b e r , while n o n c u l t i v a t e d i n d i v i d u a l s flower between July and December. Both fruit between December and mid-February. Seeds are collected in early February and rarely in March. FERTILIZATION AND WEEDING We did not observe fertilization during the life o f the crop. I f it is done, semi-degraded goat manure is used to protect the crop from over fertilization. In general, farmers do not fertilize because it adds one more activity to the already 87 laborious processes needed for this crop, and also because they do not have data on the effect o f fertilizer concentration, quantity per area, and frequency o f application on yields. Weeds are eliminated by hand once during the first 30 days o f plant growth, when the plants are 30 cm tall, and again, i f needed, in OctoberN o v e m b e r during flowering time. HARVEST AND YIELDS Under normal conditions harvest is in February but may be done in January i f frost or unusually heavy rains kill the aerial parts o f the plant and prevent further root growth. A wooden burin is used to facilitate root extraction from the soil. The yields obtained in the plantations followed in this study were: 2.4 and 3.0 tons o f fresh weight o f roots per hectare. The farmers explained that yields in recent years have been variable, because o f ( I ) the lack o f a systematic application of fertilizers, (2) not enough time dedicated to activities such as weeding, and (3) variable weather conditions. In India, yields are in the order o f 4.8 tn/ha, but farmers use cow manure at a rate o f 7 - 1 2 tn/ha in a triennial cycle (Swamy, Kalyanasundaram and Balagopal 1965). The yield in Xico is high (2.4-3.0 tn/ha) if we consider that it is obtained in a one-year cycle with no added fertilizer during growth. POSTHARVEST ROOT TREATMENT AND MARKETING Harvested roots are deposited in sacks and transported by horse or mule to the farmer's house to dry. The drying oven is a small wooden booth with one or two shelves covered with screen. Liquidambar macrophylla wood, green or not too dry is burned for smoke. During the smokedrying process the roots lose between 50% and 75% o f their weight. Smoke-drying is preferred over simple dehydration because roots last longer stored and are better protected against the attack o f fungi and other organisms. Postharvest treatment is completed in approximately 20 days, for a mean crop size per producer o f 300 kg o f root. Dried roots are transported from the villages by horse or mule to Xico, and sold to a middleman (1.00 U.S. dollar per kilogram o f dried root in 1988). The m i d d l e m a n either sells the roots to another buyer for export, or exports them himself, allowing for a gross-profit o f 500%. 88 ECONOMIC BOTANY [VOL. 48 Ipomoea purga has been cultivated in the Xico region for at least 150 years. The species grows vigorously under management, and can be considered under domestication, as an intermediate form between wild and cultivated (Davis and Bye 1982). The basis for the success o f this crop is seed scarification, which yields 90% to 95% germination. The method used to scarify seeds could be improved, so that many seeds are scarified at once, and save working days (e.g., immerse seeds in a low acid concentration and hydrate). Plantations are healthy, even though managed as a monoculture, and acceptable yields are obtained despite the lack o f fertilization during the life o f the crop; further research is needed to evaluate the type and appropriate application rates of fertilizers. Traditional management has demonstrated the effectiveness o f the annual cycle. A biennial cycle could be tested, alternating growth from seed with vegetative propagation (using the top portion o f the root). The production of the root ofjalapa has declined in the past decades, even though its quality and the demand for laxatives have not. The Mexican pharmaceutical industry manufactures over 20 laxative products, but instead of using the root o f / . purga, they have been importing between 2 and 10 tons a year of seed and fruit powder o f Plantago sp. and Cassia sp., species with similar properties as the jalapa root (Rosenstein 1988). Finally, even though the farmers do not earn as much income as they should from jalapa, they consider it a welcome supplement to earnings from their main activities. flowered recently in the Edinburgh Botanical Garden. Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal 44:200205. Bausor, S.C. 1937. A review of some medicinal plants. Torreya 37:25-32. Beaton, D. 1839. Note on the jalap plant of commerce. Garden Management 15:328-329. Blanco, M.G. 1949. El cultivo de las plantas medicinales en Mrxico tiene gran porvenir. Tierra 4:81-83. Bouldoc, G. 1719. Observations analitiques du jalapa. Pages 108-111 in Memoires de L'Aademie Royale des Sciences, Paris. Bourlez, A. 1883. Researches upon the jalaps. American Journal of Pharmacy 55:29-34. Casas, C. 1889. La raiz de jalapa. Boletin de la Sociedad Mexicana de Geografia y Estadistica 2a. 6poca, t. 1:6-8. Coxe, J . R . 1830. Some observations on the plant that produces the otficinal jalap, as established by its culture during three successive seasons. American Journal of Medical Science 5:300-307. Davis, T., and R. A. Bye. 1982. Ethnobotany and progressive domestication of Jaltomata (Solanaceae) in Mrxico and Central America. Economic Botany 36:225-241. De Jauregui, M.F. 1887. Estudios acerca de algunos purgantes idigenas. La Naturaleza 7:104-113. De Wet, J. M. J., and J. R. Harlan. 1975. Weeds and domesticates: evolution in the man-made habitat. Economic Botany 29:99-107. Fiiickiger, F. 1890. Jalap and jalap resin. The Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions 11:546-547. Garcia, E. 1973. Modificaciones al sistema de clasificaci6n clim~tica de Kreppen. Instituto de Geografia, Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mrxico, Mrxico. Gerth van Wijk, H . L . 1971. A dictionary of plant names. Asher and Co., Amsterdam. Hanhury, D. 1867. On the cultivation of Jalap. London Pharmaceutical Journal 39:352-356. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Hoffmann, O., C. Blanc-Pamard, and J. P. Rossignol. CONCLUSION We thank E. Martinez and R. Martinez of Comaxtla for allowing us to work with their crop; A. Hernhndez of Xico for information about marketing of the jalapa root; and J. Martlnez for plant identification. LITERATURE C I T E D Altieri, A . M . 1983. Agroecologia. Bases cientificas de la agricultura alternativa. CETAL, Berkeley, CA. Anonymous. 1920. Jalap production in Mexico. Page 75 in The Pharmaceutical Era. Arriuga, R. 1985. Tiposdevegetaci6nyusodelsuelo. Pages 123-127 in Y. Marchal, and G. R. Palma, eds., Anfilisis grfifico de un espacio regional: Veracruz. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Birticos (INIREB)--Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer (ORSTOM), Xalapa, Ver. Mrxico. Balfour, J . H . 1848. Notice of some plants which 1987. Paisaje y Sociedad en un Ejido Veracrnzano (Xico). Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Bi6ticos (INIREB)--Oftice de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer (ORSTOM), Xalapa, Ver. Mrxico. Kellogg, A. 1862. Native jalapa. Hesperian 8:214216. Lerdo de Tejada, M. 1853. Comercio exterior de Mrxico desde la conquista hasta hoy. Edicirn facsimilar, Banco de Comercio Exterior, Mrxico, D.F. Mrxico. Martinez, M. 1959. Plantas utiles de la flora Mexicana. Editorial Botas, Mrxico. Martinez, M. 1969a. Las plantas medicinales de Mexico. Editorial Botas, Mrxico. Martinez, M. 1969b. Catfilogo de nombres vulgares de plantas Mexicanas. Editorial Botas, Mrxico. 1994] LINAJES ET AL.: JALAPA IN VERACRUZ McDonald, J . A . 1987. Revision oflpomoea section Exogonium (Choisy) Griseb (Convolvulaceae). Brenesia 28:41-87. 1989. Neotypification of Ipomoea jalapa (Convolvulaceae). Taxon 38:135-138, Monardes, N. 1565. Historia medicinal de las cosas que traen de nuestras Indias Occidentales que sirven en medicina. Sevilla, Espafia. Nuriega, J . M . 1903. Estudio comparativo entre la verdadera y la falsa jalapa. Anales del Instituto Nacional Mexicano 6:111-120. Petit, J. 1892. Salsepareille etjalap. Reveue des Sciences Naturelles Appliqu~es 39:59-60. Rosenstein, E. 1988. Diccionario de especialidades farmac6uticas. Ediciones P. L. M., M6xico. Shellard, E . J . 1962. Pharmacological studies ofVera Cruz and Tampico jalap. Ceiba 9:31-40. 89 Singh, S., and B. E. Stancey. 1972. Thin-layer chromatographic separation and colorimetric determination of rhamnosa, quinovese, fucose and glucose of Exogonium purga. Analyst 97:977-980. Soto, M., and J. Anguio. 1990. Estudio climatol6gico de la regi6n del Cofre y Valle de Perote. Publ. 28. Instituto de Ecologia, Xalapa, Ver. M6xico. Swamy, E. M., S. Kalyanasundaram, and M. Balagopal. 1965. The plant that gives us jalap. Indian Farming p. 30-3 I. Velasco, I. 1887. Purgantes del reino vegetal. La Naturaleza 7:127-152. Wallis, T.E. 1966. Manual de farmacognosia. Compafiia Editorial Continental, S.A., Mrxico. BOOK REVIEW Bark. The Formation, Characteristics, and Uses of Bark around the World. G. T. Prance, A. E. Prance (text) and K. B. Sandved (photos). 1993. Timber Press, Inc., 9999 S. W. Wilshire, Suite 124, Portland, OR 97225 in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 174 pp., 177 color photos, three black and white figures and maps. $49.95 + $4.00 shipping and handling. ISBN 0-88192-262-5. This thin volume is unique in that it is simultaneously a coffee-table book and a valuable summary on ethnobotany and ecology (is there such as word as "animobotany" to contrast with human usage? If not, maybe we should coin it and start publicizing a fascinating field of study). Sandved begins the book with a chapter on photographing bark. Then the Prances provide a chapter of the structure and function of bark, followed by field identification using bark traits. Chapters on ethnobotany include topics like latexes, resins, medicines and poisons, hallucinogens, flavors, tannins, cork, cloth, canoes, fiber, fuel and mulch. Ecological chapters deal with photosynthetic bark, bark ecology, bark flora and bark dwellers, camouflage, and food. There is also an index of scientific names and a general index. Many of the numbered 17 chapters are introduced by quotes ranging in sources from classical Greek publications, through the Bible, Richard Spruce's writing, Ojibwa Indian poetry and legends to French voyagers and a Swahili proverb. The chapters are written to weave the literature with the scientific, a task ably carried out by scientist Iain and English teacher Anne Prance. Much of the writer's personal experience with the topics, either from a human-plant interaction, or human-literature involvement, shows clearly through the writing. Sandved's photographs hardly need description for anyone who has even the remotest familiarity with the natural world. In spite of his many excellent photographs published in popular but scholarly books, the photographer is undoubtedly best known for his Butterfly Alphabet poster. Although it is not advertised, many of the photographs were taken by Iain Prance. Thumbing through the book and just enjoying the photographs is a good way to pass the time for professional and amateur alike. Reading the chapters is also informative and entertaining. Even though you may think you know quite a lot about a topic in this book, have a look at what the Prances have to say about it. You may be surprised to find some different and pleasant tidbits that you had not run across before. From what I have said above, it should be plain that I like this book. It is expensive, but not bad as coffeetable books go on today's market. Moreover, this book has so much more than just pretty pictures. The text will not set the scientific community on edge, but it will interest and inform the average person in what ethnobotany is about. Get a copy, for yourself or a favorite relative, and savor it. DANIEL F. AUSTIN DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY BOCA RATON, F L 33431