Relatos de conhecimento e uso de espécies da família cactaceae na obra Historia Naturalis Brasiliae (1648): uma análise comparativa passado - presente.

Abstract

Cactaceae gather species employed in a variety of uses in Brazil, mainly in the Northeast because they present morphological and physiological characteristics that allow them to accommodation in various environments making it useful for humans as well as animals. In general, are perennials expression in all seasons and may have modified leaves in thorns, are generally succulents and present forms of specialized survival. This botanical group presents a great biological and ecological value for the Northeast region of Brazil to be present in this Caatinga environment, which is characterized as an ecosystem of contrary environmental conditions in terms of climate and soil. Inserted into Historia Naturalis Brasiliae of the floor and Marcgrave, the Cactaceae, therefore, included in this eighteenth-century work that presents the first scientific record of the Brazilian flora. On the the singularity of this work aimed to retrieve information about the Cactaceae (C. jamacaru DC, Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw, H. adscendens (Gurke) Britton & Rose, O. brasiliensis Willd.), Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose, Cereus fernambucensis Lem.) studied by naturalists cited. Moreover, it sought to establish a past-present parallel comparing the use of these species of cactaceae with the current registration of them. It was used as a methodological trajectory: documental research, qualitative and quantitative. It was found that the seven species described in the work, six of them are still in use, some with distinct use. With regard to the categories of use involving the castof Cactaceae mentioned both in theprimary source and on current records, they are: medicinal, ornamental, food, accessory, shadow, bioindication, construction, magical-religious, fuel, fodder and about -alive. It is noteworthy that the categoriesmedicinal, forage and hedge were those that were present in the set of past-present records considered in this research. Given the aboveis interesting that the floor and Marcgrave records are of paramount importance for understanding usage dynamics of Cactaceae on a time scale, thereby becoming a source that contributes to the establishment of future research in different areas.