February16_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Photos - Frames left and right: Iglesia de Santo Domingo Church a prominent structure near the Zocalo in Oaxaca City. Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church and Cultural Complex Begun in 1532 under the auspices of the Dominican Order, this is one of the most magnificent baroque churches not only in Latin America but in the world. The recent renovation has made a wonderful museum of the former cloister and begun an ethnobotanical garden which will ultimately include many of the native plants and herbs used in traditional medicine.

Center frame: Moving on from the city of Oaxaca toward the north along Highway 190 to the village of San Agustin Etla which is a small village in the district of Etla surrounded by other small villages such as San Sabastian and Vista Hermosa. San Agustin is in the mouth of a valley where El Rio flows. El Rio is a part of, or flows into Atoyac which flows south to the city of Oaxaca. This photo looks southwest from the back yard of the house I stayed in - the hill in the background is La Coronita and has an all but buried ruin from Period IIIb in the Valley of Oaxaca sequence (AD 500-1000).

Photos - Frames left and right: Always splashes of color at this time of year in San Agustin. This is Paper Flower (Bougainvillea glabra), also known as lesser bougainvillea, is the most common species used for bonsai. It has shiny green, slightly hairy leaves and magenta colored bracts. Bougainvillea, a native of Brazil is an evergreen, climbing woody vine. Tiny white flowers usually appear in clusters surrounded by colorful papery bracts, hence the name paper flower. Single and double flower forms are available. The woody trunk tends to be twisted and the thin stem have sharp thorns and dark green leaves. Bougainvilleas can be easily grown as a hedge, an arch or a tree on the ground and in pots. Bougainvilleas available in a variety of species, is ideal for bonsai. Planting Bougainvillea may be grown from root cuttings and branch cuttings. Cuttings can propagate plants easily. Cuttings should be planted in a shady area until they form roots. The shoots, a few inches in length, can be replanted in sandy soil with bottom heat and moisture. Half-ripened or old woodcuttings in six to twelve inch lengths may be rooted April to June. Bougainvillea does best in dry conditions. They need full sunlight, warm weather and well drained soil to flower well.

Center frame: Looking north east from the front yard toward Mount Picacho (the pyramid shaped mountain at the left) and El Rio valley which is the V cut into the hillside to the right of Picacho. El Rio supplies water for Vista Hermosa, San Agustin and San Sabastian, the three main villages at the mouth of El Rio Valley.

Photos - L-R - Looking to the north, next door to Daniel's cows and barn. The white cow at left is the milk cow, the black cow at right is being raised for sale in the village.

Sunset in San Agustin, following a path down from Vista Hermosa to the village of San Sebastian - The bare hill in the background with sunshine is La Conora which also has a ruin on top from Period IIIb in the Valley of Oaxaca sequence (AD 500-1000).

Looking west from the backyard - a beautiful ending to a perfect day of exploring San Agustin and Oaxaca.

Click here for more photos of San Agustin for this day.