Oral Communication and Scientific Nomenclature on Medicinal Wild Plants in Culiacan, Sinaloa, México: An Educational Proposal

Abstract

This research was done with objetive to know if oral communication among members of communities in the municipality of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, is the principal means of transmitting knowledge regarding medicinal wild plants often used by people of the same communities, and identify said plants by the name scientific to the benefit of the citizens in general. The resources or techniques used to compile the information required were field observation and interview. The information was obtained by applying interviews for asking about the species known as medicinal plants and used in the community. They were carried out field trips to different communities in the municipality of Culiacan, looking for information of species used for medicinal purposes. The samples were collected when necessary and materials for photographic collections of plants were studied, as well as respondents. In each community five people were interviewed, including the old, men or women, who were selected randomly, and young people who have knowledge about the use of plants for medicinal purposes. The collection of plants was made without adversely affecting the conservation of the species studied and used as medicinal. The identification of the collections was made by consulting literature. Oral expression is the predominant form of transmitting knowledge about medicinal plants, wild or cultivated, each with scientific nomenclature, and the inhabitants of the communities known, of manner own or through others, what wild plants have properties to cure diseases.