Plant Life
The SCF held an estimated 100 to 150 species of plants, 37 of which have been identified by Devon G. Peña, professor of anthropology at the Acequia Institute of the University of Washington. According to Peña, the inventory of plants present at the farm represent its connection to "Mega-Mexico", a Vavilov Center and one of the original anthropological locations where plants were domesticated. This Vavilov center stretches from the southern end of Mexico (Chiapas) up to the Southwestern United States. Some of the plants present have been reintroduced to the area by the farmers, descendants of the original inhabitants of Mesoamerica. The relationship between the farmers and the plants is not like the relationship between modern farmers and their crops. Many plants that are seen as weeds by modern farmers have multiple uses to the farmers. These plants function as crops, herbal medicine, spiritual use, and as companion plants.
- Avocado
- Banana
- Bean
- Butterfly plant
- Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica)
- Calabash
- Disc mayweed (Matricaria discoidea)
- Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
- Chayote (Sechium edule)
- Chipilín (Crotalaria longirostrata)
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. demissa)
- Dwarf nettle (Urtica urens)
- Floss silk tree (Ceiba speciosa)
- Green amaranth (Amaranthus viridis)
- Guava (Psidium guajava)
- Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica)
- Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
- Maize
- Malabar gourd
- Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
- Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)
- Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
- Pericón (Tagetes lucida)
- Mexican Wild Yam
- Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
- Pipicha (Porophyllum tagetoides)
- Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
- Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)
- Huanzontlec (Chenopodium berlandieri)
- Hoja santa (Piper auritum)
- Rose
- Sapodilla
- Seepweed
- White sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana)
- Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera)
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
- Spurred anoda (Anoda cristata)
- Succulents
- Sugarcane
- Tomato
- Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides)
- Wormwood
- Yerba mora (Solanum americanum)
- Walnut
Read more about this topic: South Central Farm
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