6400 - Palm domestication and distribution in the Amazon

Domestication is not just a historical question, but a dynamic process that can be studied today in many Indian villages. Traditional management by the natives could have great impact both on genetic selection of palms in homegardens and palms' distribution in the Amazon forest. The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) is recognized as the only Neotropical palm with domesticated populations. However, other useful palms have been selected as well for cultivation and may reveal adaptation to man-made habitats. I will present the results of ethnobotanical investigation in Ashaninka indigenous community in the Tambo river region, Peru.

Palavras-chaves: palms, ethnobotany, domestication, traditional management

Autores: Sosnowska, Joanna (W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland / Polen)