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Gender differences and regionalization of the cultural significance of wild mushrooms around La Malinche volcano, Tlaxcala, Mexico

Authors :
Javier Caballero
Alejandro Kong
E.A. Torres-García
Adriana Montoya
Arturo Estrada-Torres
Source :
Mycologia. 104:826-834
Publication Year :
2012
Publisher :
Informa UK Limited, 2012.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the cultural significance of wild mushrooms in 10 communities on the slopes of La Malinche volcano, Tlaxcala. The frequency and order of mention of each mushroom species in interviews of 200 individuals were used as indicators of the relative cultural significance of each species. A X(2) analysis was used to compare the frequency of mention of each species between males and females, and a Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference in the total number of fungi mentioned by either gender. Traditional names for mushroom species were documented and frequency of mention assessed through multivariate statistics. The fungi with highest frequency of mention were Amanita basii, Lyophyllum decastes, Boletus pinophilus, Gomphus floccosus and Cantharellus cibarius complex. We found significant differences in the frequency of mention of different fungi by males and females but no significant difference was found for the total number of fungi mentioned by either gender. Principal component analysis suggested a cultural regionalization of La Malinche volcano communities based on preferences for consumption and use of traditional names. We observed two groups: one formed by communities on the eastern part of the volcano (with mixed cultures) and the other including communities on the western slope (ethnic Nahua towns). San Isidro Buensuceso is the most distinct community, according to the criteria in this study.

Details

ISSN :
15572536 and 00275514
Volume :
104
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Mycologia
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....5bcff815f8f03afe84af5ff7d18f9bd7
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3852/11-347