Diferentes usos de las leguminosas en la península de Yucatán

Abstract

This paper presents advances of an ethnobotanic study about 260 species of the leguminosae (Fabaceae) family. The study was carried out in 27 Mayan communities. We assumed that because of the large diversity of the leguminous family, it is one of the most used in the area by Mayan communities. results show that from the 36 use-categories recognized in the Etnoflora Yucatanense Program, leguminous comprise 22 categories. Some of the species are multipurpose. For example, Enterolobium cyclocarpum Griseb is considered for 9 different categories. The most common uses for the Leguminosae family are: honey-extraction (147), forage (110), medicine(29), living fences (49), timber (23), ornamental (31),colorin (11) and food frequent use of leguminous species shows that we can design sustainable management projects that would be a key for Mayan localities' development.