Karol Chandler-Ezell

Root and Tuber Phytoliths and Starch Grains Document Manioc (Manihot Esculenta), Arrowroot (Maranta Arundinacea), and Llerén (Calathea sp.) at the Real Alto Site, Ecuador

Although roots and tubers are dietary staples in many parts of the world, their use is difficult to document archaeo logically because their organic remains are often poorly preserved in archaeological sedi ments. Here we describe the first diagnostic phytoliths from the underground storage organs of the important New World agricultural crops manioc or yuca(Manihot esculenta Crantz), arrowroot(Maranta arundinacea L.), and llerén(Calathea allouia [Aubl.] Lindl.) and demonstrate their usefulness for identifying prehistoric root and tuber processing with a study of stone artifacts from a Valdivia 3 (2800–2400 B.C., calibrated) household at Real Alto, Ecuador. Gelatinized starch (heat-altered) and unaltered starch from maize (Zea mays L.), arrowroot, and manioc were also found on these stone tools. Our data document early evidence for manioc in Ecuador’s coastal lowlands. In combination, these phytoliths and starch residues provide evidence that both raw and cooked foods were processed in this early mixed agricultural economy.

Early Prehistoric Maize in Northern Highland Ecuador

The discovery of the fully developed Formative sites of Cotocallao (ca. 3750-2350 cal. B.P.) in the Quito Basin and La Chimba (ca. 2650-1700 cal. B.P.) in the northern highlands of Ecuador has raised questions about their cultural antecedents, which have not been resolved despite decades of archaeological work in the region. Paleoenvironmental coring investigations were conducted at Lake San Pablo in northern highland Ecuador to determine the date for the onset of prehistoric maize farming in the temperate highland valleys of this region. The investigations included analysis of lake sediments for pollen, phytoliths, diatoms, and tephra. Maize pollen was identified as early as 4900 cal. B.P., while maize phytoliths dated even earlier, to 6200 or 6600 cal. B.P. These results demonstrate a long history of maize farming in valleys around Lake San Pablo, but in the context of a punctuated record of major and minor volcanic eruptions. It is concluded that early horticultural sites predating Cotocallao and La Chimba must exist, but to find such sites, archaeologists will have to locate and study deeply buried A-horizon soils.

Understanding Medicinal Plants. Their Chemistry and Therapeutic Action

© 2006, by The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY 10458-5126 U.S.A. Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 3. Dyes and tannins. Jansen, P. C. M. and D. Cardon, eds. 2005. PROTA Foundation, Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands/CTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. 216 pp. (paperback). a 25 (book only, industrialized countries), a 32 (book plus CD, Industrialized countries), a 12.50 (book only, developing countries), a 16 (book plus CD, developing countries). ISBN 90-5782-159-7 (book only), ISBN 90-5782-160-5 (book + CD-ROM).

Artemisia. The Genus Artemisia. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants-Industrial Profiles, Vol. 18

The importance of the Fungi as a crucial component in ecosystem function, health, and maintenance has become better appreciated over the past decade or so. In order to better understand the role of fungi in the global community, it has been necessary to conduct basic surveys and inventories of species composition and abundance. Because the Fungi and fungus-like organisms traditionally studied by mycologists (e.g., water molds, slime molds) contain an amazing variety of life histories, ecology, and morphology, no single method of documentation is satisfactory for the entire kingdom. Thus, the editors brought together an international group of 88 mycologists to contribute state-of theart protocols for sampling methodologies and data analyses for fungi. After some introductory treatments that provide an overview of fungi, preservation of specimens and cultures, data management, diversity patterns, and molecular biology, the main part of the book covers the actual recommended protocols for sampling particular groups of fungi and their allies. These chapters are organized by technique and functional ecological units such as freshwater habitats, insect associated fungi, terrestrial macrofungi, coprophilous fungi, yeasts, lichens, endophytes, saprobes from soil, marine habitats, etc. Thus, subsets of the Ascomycetes, for example, are treated in several chapters since there are distinct protocols for collecting and identifying those taxonomic subsets based on criteria such as habitat, life history, or substrate preference. Otherwise, treatment by taxonomic group would have led to a major duplication of information. For the most part, the protocol chapters are fairly uniform across the board in that there are subsections devoted to taxonomy, diversity, distribution, collection, isolation, cultivation, documentation, manipulation, and preservation techniques. In some cases, identification keys are provided (e.g., parasites of nematodes and rotifers). Superb color photographs as well as half-tone photographs and/or line art are found in most treatments. At the end of the book there are four appendices describing moist chambers for fungal development; formulae for culture media, antibiotics, fixatives, mounting media, stains; a list of public and private herbaria housing fungal collections, fungus related websites; and a list of vendors for supplies and materials. This is followed by an illustrated glossary. All of the literature sources cited in the text is placed next, followed by an index. This book represents a monumental piece of work, not only in the compilation of many pieces of disparate information into a coherent whole, but also in the incredibly high quality of that information. This volume is timely given that discovery and naming of fungal biodiversity is of paramount global importance. Surely, the fundamental procedures laid out in this book will be of benefit to mycology and to mycologists and will be a stimulus to expand the boundaries of documenting fungal diversity. The contributors and editors are to be congratulated for bringing together an exceptional piece of work. This book will no doubt become a standard reference.

Divination and Healing: Potent Vision

The importance of the Fungi as a crucial component in ecosystem function, health, and maintenance has become better appreciated over the past decade or so. In order to better understand the role of fungi in the global community, it has been necessary to conduct basic surveys and inventories of species composition and abundance. Because the Fungi and fungus-like organisms traditionally studied by mycologists (e.g., water molds, slime molds) contain an amazing variety of life histories, ecology, and morphology, no single method of documentation is satisfactory for the entire kingdom. Thus, the editors brought together an international group of 88 mycologists to contribute state-of theart protocols for sampling methodologies and data analyses for fungi. After some introductory treatments that provide an overview of fungi, preservation of specimens and cultures, data management, diversity patterns, and molecular biology, the main part of the book covers the actual recommended protocols for sampling particular groups of fungi and their allies. These chapters are organized by technique and functional ecological units such as freshwater habitats, insect associated fungi, terrestrial macrofungi, coprophilous fungi, yeasts, lichens, endophytes, saprobes from soil, marine habitats, etc. Thus, subsets of the Ascomycetes, for example, are treated in several chapters since there are distinct protocols for collecting and identifying those taxonomic subsets based on criteria such as habitat, life history, or substrate preference. Otherwise, treatment by taxonomic group would have led to a major duplication of information. For the most part, the protocol chapters are fairly uniform across the board in that there are subsections devoted to taxonomy, diversity, distribution, collection, isolation, cultivation, documentation, manipulation, and preservation techniques. In some cases, identification keys are provided (e.g., parasites of nematodes and rotifers). Superb color photographs as well as half-tone photographs and/or line art are found in most treatments. At the end of the book there are four appendices describing moist chambers for fungal development; formulae for culture media, antibiotics, fixatives, mounting media, stains; a list of public and private herbaria housing fungal collections, fungus related websites; and a list of vendors for supplies and materials. This is followed by an illustrated glossary. All of the literature sources cited in the text is placed next, followed by an index. This book represents a monumental piece of work, not only in the compilation of many pieces of disparate information into a coherent whole, but also in the incredibly high quality of that information. This volume is timely given that discovery and naming of fungal biodiversity is of paramount global importance. Surely, the fundamental procedures laid out in this book will be of benefit to mycology and to mycologists and will be a stimulus to expand the boundaries of documenting fungal diversity. The contributors and editors are to be congratulated for bringing together an exceptional piece of work. This book will no doubt become a standard reference.

The Urban Cliff Revolution. New Findings on the Origins and Evolution of Human Habitats

Bill Dunmire previously collaborated with Gail Tierney in two delightful books on the plants and people of the southwestern United States (1995. Wild Plants of the Pueblo Province; 1997. Wild Plants and Native Peoples of the Four Corners). Alone Bill has written this engaging and information-packed volume on the arrival and impact of plants that the Europeans brought to the New World. Much previously has been written of New World contributions to Old World lives. Now that has been balanced with details of the other part of the story. This book outlines the history of Spanish colonization in the New World and the arrival with them of their favorite plants. The story begins with the status of life in Spain on the cusp of American exploration and contrasts that with foods and worldviews in Mexico and what became the southwestern United States. Chapters 4–6 tell of the ‘‘pathways’’ to the New World between 1492 and 1521, with discussions of Spanish agricultural arrival and the associated trade systems and livestock. Then, it explains how the Spanish first brought their culture, religion, and plants into Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas before discussing either Florida or California. There is a Master Plant List (pp. 315–324), a Glossary, a Sources providing data supporting each chapter (pp. 329–342), a Selected Bibliography (pp. 343–362) of ca. 400 titles, and an Index. Most chapters are introduced with a map (13 total) showing the points needed for orientation and understanding movements by people. Also scattered throughout are sketches of tools and other items of the period, and many chapters end in discussions of individual cultivated plants, with drawings of each. All illustrations were created by Bill’s wife, Evangeline L. Dunmire. Most of the black-and-white photographs were taken by the author. The only color in the book is on the cover, featuring photos of the courtyard garden at the Parroquia de San Luis Obispo in Texcoco, grapes, plums, and a traditional farmer harvesting her safflower. The quality of these makes me wish that all pictures were in color. There are 12 tables providing various information on the plants pertinent to the individual chapters. The data packed into these tables on the 158 Old World species in the master list is wonderful. Nowhere else is there as much information about so many topics on these species and their arrival in the New World. Dunmire clearly worked long and hard on compiling these data and presents them in a lucid, compact format. Since the New and Old World plants became intermingled in indigenous and European-derived cultures, he has included pertinent New World species in the second part of the master list (57 spp.). Bill has a delightful twist that brings the history of these plants into the modern world in the Epilogue (pp. 309–314). He highlights two individuals, Anita Chavez and Rudy Perea, as representatives of traditional agriculture who continue growing many of the Mediterranean and American plants together in modern New Mexico. This is a thoroughly researched and readable book that will interest all readers of this journal. I strongly recommend it!

The Nature of Plants. Habitats, Challenges, and Adaptations

An engrossing progress report by an economic and cultural geographer tackles the number one issue related to utilization of plant genetic resources today. The era of free and unencumbered access to new crop varieties appears to be passing (Koo et al. 2004). This development in intellectual property (IP) raises concerns about its implications for food production and human health. New global regulations are reshaping our cultural and natural environments. This work involves an investigation of the role that global institutions (World Trade Organization, United Nations, World Bank) play in constructing new commodities (genetic resources, cultural products, and types of specialized labor) and in modifying the market economies to which they give rise. Debates about the function of the nation state and how its sovereignty is undermined by the emergence of these new global institutions are examined. Cross-cultural analysis of alternative forms of environmental regulation illustrates the culturally embedded nature of knowledge production. Indigenous folk, social movements, and NGO’s now play key roles in contemporary geo-political conflicts. The history of the development of global regulatory institutions and regimes in the post-WWII period, their intended purposes and operational structures, are followed by theoretical debates about the ‘transboundary’ nature of environmental issues and of the need for a global approach to their control. Case studies on genetic resources and IP rights, commodification of cultural property, food safety governance, and global regulation of specialized labor markets illustrate the impact that their regulations are having in shaping local environments. Henry Shands, head of the USDA’s Genetic Resources division, suggested that DNA extraction techniques are advancing so rapidly that it is now even possible to use dried herbarium specimens as sources of replicable DNA. This development has created consternation amongst the holders of scientific and academic collections. Parry investigates why these impacts are so geographically uneven and considers what powers nation states and non-state NGOs and indigenous groups have to mediate these effects through alternative, localized, systems of regulation. Koo et al. (2004:1,297) point out that concerns over IP seem to be diverting policy attention from more fundamental negative trends, notably, the slowdown of investment in agricultural R&D worldwide, especially research targeted to poor people’s food crops. This weakens domestic capacities to conduct agricultural R&D in many poor countries, especially throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Parry’s outsider status provides her an opportunity to speak out without reprisal. It is undeniable that this subject is riddled with contradictions and qualms. All plants have genetic potential. There is a need to rank species according to the likelihood of exploitation, based on objective criteria. Gene bank collections of genetic resources must genuinely be accessible to all. Sites must be selected carefully. Access must not be denied for geopolitical reasons. Are farmer’s rights and benefits lost in bureaucratic considerations? Read Wolfgang’s (1995) report on challenges to patents on native technology from constituents of the neem tree. Who benefits under benefit sharing? The central government, or the descendants of those farmers whose efforts at crop selection and breeding over hundreds of generations, led to welladapted landraces? Suppose farmers whose successful discoveries are out of favor with the central government, their current status is problematic, or those are residents scattered in refugee camps or incarcerated as prisoners of conscience? Annoyingly, footnotes force readers to refer repeatedly to notes at the end of the volume. There are numerous typographical errors: spelling, hyphenation, superscripts, incorrect placement of information in tables, etc. Parry tackled a difficult subject with adroitness. She does not preach, but reports the facts and leaves readers to draw their own conclusions. Her compilation may irritate some; it will certainly provoke discussion. This book is essential reading for all researchers involved with plant genetic resources—including field botanists, botanical gardens, gene banks, breeders, chemists, pharmacologists, and everyone interested in using plant germplasm—because it critically assesses one of the fundamental issues of our times.

De Historia Stirpium Commentarii Insignes, CD-ROM

Women and Plants is a valuable collection of case studies from areas in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. These case studies work together to help us gain a better understanding of the intricate relationship between women, plants, and the environment. The contributors of this book come from many disciplines, such as, ethnobotany, geography, agronomy, anthropology, sociology, nutrition, and gender studies. These contributors have done a wonderful job stressing the importance of including women in ethnobotanical research, in resource management planning, and in the conservation of biodiversity and certain native plant species. They have taken on the task of discussing the gender biases evident in most current scientific research, policy, and development practice relating to biodiversity management and land issues. The many international case studies offer superb examples of the vital roles women play throughout the world in their families, their communities, and their natural environments. The chapters in this book are neatly organized into five parts, each containing case studies that truly build on each other. Each part presents a theme that is essential to the analysis of women and gender relations in people–plant relationships. Part 1—Culture, Kitchen and Conservation; Part 2—Gender Relations, Women’s Rights and Plant Management; Part 3—Gendered Plant Knowledge in Science and Society; Part 4— Plants, Women’s Status and Welfare; Part 5—Gender, Biodiversity Loss and Conservation. The design of the book is visually appealing and organized. I especially like the cover photograph and the choice of colors for the cover. I personally would have appreciated one or two photographs for each of the case studies. These could have been photographs of the women, their daily activities, their fields, plant collecting areas, important plants, etc. Photos such as these sprinkled throughout the text would pull the reader into the lives of these women at a greater and a more personal level. Also, a map of the study site for each of the case studies would have been helpful in mentally picturing where these studies occurred. I feel that these two additions would highlight the culturally and geographically diverse focus of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and feel as though my mind has been intellectually and culturally fed and opened at the same time. I now have a much greater understanding of and respect for those many unnoticed and unknown women whose rich knowledge is an important key to the survival of the environment and ethnobotanical knowledge. This book has definitely inspired me to take on a different and more encompassing approach when conducting ethnobotanical research in the future. I recommend this book to anyone interested in ethnobotany, gender relations, or the conservation of biodiversity and of traditional knowledge and cultures. In fact, anyone remotely interested in the health of this planet and its many inhabitants should read this book.

The Atlas of Food. Who Eats What, Where, and Why

This book, shedding light as it does on the unique edible fruits of southern Oceania, is long overdue. It treats in detail 50 species of indigenous fruits, with a tabular summary presented at the back of the volume for 157 species (including the 50 covered in the text) that are eaten on islands between New Guinea and the Cook Islands. While not covering the full geographic breadth of Oceania (thus rendering the title overly ambitious) this slim, flexi-bound volume does cover in depth four specific island groups—Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, and New Guinea (specifically, the Ankave people)—as exemplars of the places where tropical fruits are eaten and used in the broader region of Oceania. It does an admirable job. Opening chapters provide a glossary, introduce the four study regions, introduce the book, explain traditional alimentation and arboriculture in Oceania, and then lead into the main text. In the main text, or ‘‘ethnobotanical inventory of fruiting species,’’ the 50 species are arranged alphabetically by scientific name; synonymy is minimal. Each species account begins with a box that includes family name, common names, consumption, part eaten, and toxicity, followed by a brief botanical description, a map, illustration, and paragraphs for ecology and exploitation, alimentary uses, other uses, and related species with notes. There are copious illustrations, both line drawings and color photographs, which depict the plants, fruits, and ethnobotanical practices. And what sorts of fruits will one find covered here? Not your typical tropical fruit medley! Even the genera will be unfamiliar to many exotic fruit enthusiasts and ethnobotanists. Ever hear of Aceratium, Burckella, Finschia, Pipturus, or Pometia? Likely not, for those living outside the Oceanian region. Each of these, and many others, has a fascinating story told within the pages of Fruits of Oceania. Following the main text are a series of indexes and lists: synonyms for the accepted names used in the text, vernacular names in detail, index of scientific names, index of common names, a list of herbarium specimen vouchers, and indexes of distribution maps, botanical illustrations, and photographs. I could not find anything to quibble with in the book itself, but I do have a complaint about getting access to it. Like many government agencies, ACIAR is set up to spend public funds, not to make money, so they tend to be unresponsive to requests for their products. My email inquiry about Fruits of Oceania has never been answered. Fortunately, I was offered a review copy so the lack of reply from ACIAR did not prevent me from obtaining this book. But would that it were in commercial production, where any inquiry from a prospective buyer brings prompt attention! I hope others will be luckier than I in finding ways to obtain it. This reference is well worth pursuing and I encourage anyone with an interest in Pacific cultures, peoples, and plants, exotic fruit species, or arboriculture to seek it out. My copy now occupies, and deservedly so, a place in the first rank of references closest to my work station.