Lycianthes ciliolata var. pratorum Bitter

A Revision of Lycianthes series Meizonodontae
(UC) UC Berkeley/ (XAL) Institute de Ecologia, Xalapa
Lycianthes ciliolala (Mart. & Gal.) Bitter
Mexico: State of Oaxaca; Mpio. Sta. Maria Jaltianguis; Town of Sta. Maria Jaltianguis. 7200
ft.
Disturbed oak-pine forest slopes with paths and cultivated fields surrounding the town.
Especially common in hedgerows which were being weeded on this very day, and are cut
every year. Said to occur in cultivated fields with com. Com not in elote stage yet. Common,
but only in certain places, occurring in groups. Perennial herb from storage root. Some plants
to 4 ft tall, others only 1 ft tall.; some plants still in flower, these lilac with purple stripes.
Others with immature green fruit. A few plants with mature black-purple fruit.
Informant 1: Assistant to municipal president. Use: edible fruit, weed of cultivated fields and
around town. Indigenous name: "chichi de venado", one of two classes here. Also gave a
Zapotcc name that sounded like "rshtisti katya", which means "black teat".
Informant 2: Some women waiting in office. Use: said fruit not popular here now, because the
seeds are too hard. They didn't know another class.
Informant 3: Retired school teacher. Use: edible fruit. She wasn't aware of two classes of this
plant, but she took us to her orchard to look for the other class. Indigenous name: "chichi de
venado"; Zapotec name sounds like "rshtisti katya"
Informant 4: Pedro Perez. Use: Edible fruit. He brought us a big plant with lots of black-
purple fruit. Indigenous name: "chichi de venado"
Ellen Dean 295 20 Oct 1991
with Thomas Starbuck
Fieldwork supported by grants and fellowships from:
the National Science Foundation, Explorer's Club, Sigma Xi, Hardman Foundation,
Tinker Foundation, and UC Berkeley
01424502