Resumen

BERDEJA-MARTINEZ, Blanca Margarita et al. Contribution to traditional knowledge of plant resource use and management in Malinalco, State of Mexico, Mexico. Polibotánica [online]. 2026, n.61, pp.343-364.  Epub 18-Mayo-2026. ISSN 1405-2768.  https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.61.20.

In indigenous and mestizo rural communities of Mexico, traditional knowledge of plant resources represents a heritage closely linked to cultural practices and subsistence. In Malinalco, State of Mexico, this knowledge is increasingly threatened by immigration processes that have contributed to the deterioration of biotic resources and the erosion of local ethnobotanical wisdom. This study aimed to document the current state of traditional knowledge among the inhabitants regarding the plant resources of the municipality and to assess the degree of dependence of the most relevant species on human use. Research was conducted in three localities: San Simón El Alto, Santa Mónica, and its municipal seat. The study was carried out in three stages. First, a questionnaire and a field data sheet were designed to record botanical and ethnobotanical information. Second, 15 visits were made to the communities, during which 35 residents and three groups of secondary school students were interviewed, complemented by informal dialogues and ethnobotanical walks. Finally, ethnobotanical exploration included 11 plant collections, which were pressed and preserved as herbarium specimens, and identified using specialized taxonomic keys and verified against reference collections. A total of 161 species belonging to 57 botanical families were identified. The most representative families were Asteraceae (15 species), Anacardiaceae (11), Fabaceae (8), Rosaceae (7), Rutaceae (6), Solanaceae (5), and Apiaceae (4). These species were classified into 20 anthropocentric categories, with medicinal uses prevailing (51.5%), followed by food uses (36.0%) and artisanal-ornamental uses (12.4%). Of all species, 59.6% had a single use, 24.8% had two uses, and 15.5% had three or more. In terms of dependence on humans, 50.9% were cultivated, 23.6% wild, 8.1% weedy and ruderal, and 17.3 % combined multiple forms of dependence. Despite social and demographic changes, the original inhabitants of Malinalco remain custodians of valuable ethnobotanical knowledge that sustains local practices of health, food, and culture.

Palabras llave : plant resources; traditional knowledge; botanical identification; anthropocentric categories; Malinalco.

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