In this paper we present traditional knowledge and importance of palms in Ashaninka people’s life. Qualitative and quantitative description is based on 32 interviews obtained during visits in seven native communities situ- ated near by Perene and Tambo rivers in Junín department of Peru. We registered 15 species of palms used by Ashaninka people; those were classified in five categories by use: food, construction, tools, ornaments and medicaments. Species with the most diverse uses were Attalea phalerata, Bactris gasipaes, Oenocarpus bataua and Socratea exorhiza. The most useful palm parts are fruits used mainly as a food. The proximity of Asháninkas communities from Perené Valley to the cities would produce a change in the traditional way of life, where palm trees are the most important natural resources used by them. However, the traditional life, knowledge and practice in using o...

The center of diversity of palms (Arecaceae) in tropical America is found in the Amazon basin and along the Panamanian isthmus.The greatest palm species richness has been reported for the Iquitos and Chocó areas. Many species of palms are used mainly for construction and due to their edible fruits. In addition, there are 104 palm species that are used for medicinal purposes in many regions of the Americas. Cocos nuciferaand Oenocarpus batauaare the most commonly used species for medicinal purposes. The fruit is the most commonly used part of palms for medicinal purposes (57 species). The traditional and medicinal use of plants has deep roots in indigenous communities of Latin America. The significance of ethnomedicine for health care of local populations can not be ignored anymore because it plays a significant role in basic health care in developing countries. Interdisciplinary researc...

El presente artículo muestra el conocimiento e importancia de las palmeras en la vida de los nativos Asháninkas. Presentamos una descripción cualitativa y cuantitativa de 32 entrevistas, obtenidos durante la visita a siete comunidades nativas ubicadas en los márgenes de los ríos Perené y Tambo en el departamento Junín, Perú. Registramos 15 especies de palmeras usadas por los Asháninkas, agrupadas bajo cinco categorías de uso: alimenticio, construcción, herramienta, ornamental y medicinal. Las especies con usos más amplios son: Attalea phalerata, Bactris gasipaes, Oenocarpus bataua y Socratea exorhiza. Las partes de las palmeras más utilizadas son los frutos, principalmente gracias a su valor comestible. La cercanía de las comunidades Asháninkas del valle del Perené a ciudades, influirían en un cambio en el tipo de vida tradicional, donde las palmeras son los más importa...

The center of diversity of palms (Arecaceae) in tropical America is found in the Amazon basin and along the Panamanian isthmus.The greatest palm species richness has been reported for the Iquitos and Chocó areas. Many species of palms are used mainly for construction and due to their edible fruits. In addition, there are 104 palm species that are used for medicinal purposes in many regions of the Americas. Cocos nuciferaand Oenocarpus batauaare the most commonly used species for medicinal purposes. The fruit is the most commonly used part of palms for medicinal purposes (57 species). The traditional and medicinal use of plants has deep roots in indigenous communities of Latin America. The significance of ethnomedicine for health care of local populations can not be ignored anymore because it plays a significant role in basic health care in developing countries. Interdisciplinary researc...