March09_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Photos - The western slope of San Agustin Village with a small orchard of Pomegranate trees (Punica Granatum) showing blossoms and ripe fruit on the trees. The Pomegranate fruit is ripe and ready to eat with the leather-like skin of the fruit body splits to expose the ruby-red seed nodules. Taking a walk through the village, one can find neighboring branches hanging out over streets to yield the occasional ripe sample fruit.

Sap, when decocted from the bark contains an alkaloid similar to Hemlock, and is used for the expulsion of tapeworm. The decoction is taken, followed by a purgative such as castor oil or olive oil. The fruit of the pomegranate also has medicinal properties. The rind, when dried has astringent properties and is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.

The 'Pomegranate' has traditionally been regarded as a symbol of fertility. In India, the pomegranate is upheld for its sacred value. The leaves or flowers are offered to Lord Ganapati, Lord Satyanarayana and Lord Samba on Shree Sankastha Vrata and Nitya Somavara Vrata respectively.

Photos - Frames left and right: Villagers pass along cobblestone streets in San Agustin leading their farm animals to and from work sites or the market place.

Center frame: A Domestic Goat (Capra Hircus) looks up from munching corn stalks in Daniel's field next door to where I stayed in San Agustin. The Domestic Goat is closely related to the sheep and are lively, swift, climbing animals with a strong odor. The same species as the wild goat, this mammal is well known for its hardiness, resistance to disease and the ease with which it can be kept have made it the poor man's cow. A big Alpine goat of 150 to 170 pounds gives an average of 12,000 to 1,400 pints of milk each year. Relative to the animal's size, this is about twice to three times the yield of a good cow. Also, the excellent butter and cheeses that can be made, and that the milk is more easily digestible make it very popular to breed and board. Goats are very popular in Oaxaca area for milk and fresh meat - road side stands often specialize in Barbecued Goat.

Photos - Textures in the streets of San Agustin: A bamboo fence (frame left), a pile of bricks ready for building (Bricks now replace adobe bricks for the building material of choice), and a bricked up, wrought iron grated window that faces the street (frame right).

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