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Copyright of Revista Austral de Ciencias Sociales is the property of Facultad de Filosofia y Humanidades, Intituto de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Austral de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Copyright of Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We have analyzed the ethnobotany and anatomy of five aromatic species with medicinal or edible use, highly valued in Argentine Patagonia: Valeriana clarionifolia, V. carnosa (Valerianaceae), Azorella monantha, Osmorhiza chilensis and Eryngium paniculatum (Apiaceae).We focused on the charac- terization of the secretory structures of the underground organs and their possible link to sensory perceptions and uses given by the people. Ethnobotanical work was conducted in two Mapuche indige- nous communities of the province of Neuquén and in two communities of Chubut, with a total of 53 interviews. The anatomical work consisted of structural and ultrastructural observation of the secretory structures. Informants indicated that E. paniculatum is mainly used to treat digestive and liver disorders; O. chilensis for vision problems, and A. monantha as urinary and antitussive; also underground organs of these three species are eaten raw and/or cooked. Valeriana species are mainly used as analgesic, digestive, antitussive and in cultural syndromes. The taste and smell are the main sensory pro- perties used to recognize and use the Valeriana and O. chilensis species. Azorella monantha and E. paniculatum are recognized by their morphological characteristics, but also are valued for its taste and smell. The microscopic observations revealed the presence of schizogenous secretory cavities in O. chilensis, E. paniculatum and A. monantha, and abundance of starch. In species of Valeriana periderm is observed with a high content of essential oils like drops. We conclude that these species have organoleptic attributes originated in specialized anatomical structures, which partly explain their food and/or medicinal uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is a first approach to the study of the role of edible plants with underground storage organs (PUSO) in Patagonia, from both temporal and spatial perspectives, integrating ethnohistorical and current ethnographic data on the use of PUSO. Of the 54 sources studied, 75% mention the use of wild PUSO for human alimentation in Patagonia. There are 51 species of wild edible PUSO registered, the most common group being those with edible roots. The steppe and transition zones present the greatest richness of PUSO, probably because of ecological adaptations associated with drought in the former case, and the relatively high diversity typical of ecotones in the latter. Marked discontinuity of use was revealed by ethnohistorical registers, with few species present for longer than a century. Worthy of special mention are the documented continuity of A. tuberosa from the18th century up to the present time, and the recent incorporation of exotic species. When the ethnohistorical studies reviewed are compared with recent ethnobotanical field studies, dynamic use patterns are suggested, which over time have led to the abandonment of PUSO in alimentary practices in Patagonia. The unusual characteristics found with respect to temporal and spatial factors can be related both to specific local knowledge developed over time by Patagonian inhabitants, and the sociopolitical and academic circumstances of the different literature analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]