Publicação on-line; 38 ref.; 1 table; Summary (En)

ABSTRACT

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the Quilombola Community of Serra do Evaristo
in the municipality of Baturité, Ceará state, Brazil. We interviewed 41 residents who provided
information on the plants used, the types of use, the preparation methods, the purchase location
of the plants and their knowledge source. One hundred and fourteen species belonging to
53 botanical families were recorded. Six types of use were reported, with most species being
used for medicinal purposes (43% of the species), followed by food (25%), decoration (23%),
construction (5%), domestic fuel (3%) and ritualistic purposes (3%). The most cited species were
Musa paradisiaca L. (banana), Zea mays L. (corn), Phaseolus vulgaris L. (bean), Citrus sinensis
(L.) Osbeck (orange), Melissa officinalis L. (common balm), Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (aloe vera),
Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. (lemon grass), Mentha sp.(mint) and Psidium guajava L. (guava).
The knowledge and use of the plants is part of a cultural heritage passed down through families,
and has been helping the survival and maintenance of the Quilombola identity in the studied
community.

Keywords: ethnobotany, traditional populations, afro-descendants