Inventory of fruit species and ethnobotanical aspects in Sultepec, Mexico State, Mexico

Abstract

Sultepec, State of Mexico, located on the central part of Mexico, belongs to the Physiographic province “Sierra Madre del Sur” and to the Subprovince “Depresión del Balsas”. Although it is known for its floristic richness, it lacks an inventory of vascular plants, including the fruit species. The aim of this work was to elaborate a database including family, scientific name, local name, biological form, origin, use, management, production and service of the fruit species. Plants were collected continuously from June 2010 to June 2011. Subsequently, they were determined in the herbarium “Eizi Matuda” (CODAGEM) from the Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. The Principal Component Analysis was performed to show that management, use, origin and biological form explained the highest variability (41%) associated to the Principal Component 1. Meanwhile, plant height showed the highest association with the Principal Component 2 (18%). There were 25 families, 43 genus and 64 species. The best represented families by their species richness were Rosaceae, Rutaceae and Mimosaceae; at the genus level prevailed Citrus (7 species). The predominant biological form were trees (76.6%); 22 species provided firewood, 11 had ornamental value, 11 possessed medicinal properties, 8 were a forage source and 7 had wood value. The services they can provide include physical fence, shade, shelter for domestic animals and windbreak trees. Most of the species (62.5%) are for sale and own consumption; 37.5% is just obtained for own consumption. The main species management was in the backyard category.