The importance of chemosensory clues in Aguaruna tree classification and identification

Kevin A. Jernigan

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2008, 4:12doi:10.1186/1746-4269-4-12


Published:	3 May 2008

Abstract (provisional)

Background

The ethnobotanical literature still contains few detailed descriptions of the sensory criteria people use for judging membership in taxonomic categories. Olfactory criteria in particular have been explored very little. This paper will describe the importance of odor for woody plant taxonomy and identification among the Aguaruna Jivaro of the northern Peruvian Amazon, focusing on the Aguaruna category numi (trees excluding palms). Aguaruna informants almost always place trees that they consider to have a similar odor together as kumpaji - 'companions,' a metaphor they use to describe trees that they consider to be related.

Methods

The research took place in several Aguaruna communities in the upper Maranon region of the Peruvian Amazon. Structured interview data focus on informant criteria for membership in various folk taxa of trees. Informants were also asked to explain what members of each group of related companions had in common. This paper focuses on odor and taste criteria that came to light during these structured interviews. Botanical voucher specimens were collected, wherever possible.

Results

Of the 182 tree folk genera recorded in this study, 51 (28%) were widely considered to possess a distinctive odor. Thirty nine of those (76%) were said to have odors similar to some other tree, while the other 24% had unique odors. Aguaruna informants very rarely described tree odors in non-botanical terms. Taste was used mostly to describe trees with edible fruit. Trees judged to be related were nearly always in the same botanical family.

Conclusions

The results of this study illustrate that odors of bark, sap, flowers, fruit and leaves are important clues that help the Aguaruna to judge the relatedness of trees found in their local environment. In contrast, taste appears to play a more limited role. The results suggest a more general ethnobotanical hypothesis that could be tested in other cultural settings: people tend to consider plants with similar odors to be related, but say that plants with unique odors are unrelated to any other plants.