Ethnopteridological knowledge of Afro-descendant communities in the humid forest of Chocó, Colombia

Abstract

Background: Ferns are of great utility to neighboring communities due to their wide diversity of uses, ranging from medicinal to magical-religious applications. The Afro-Colombian population possesses a rich ethnobotanical tradition, making it an ideal setting for exploring ethnopteridological knowledge. This study documents and analyzes the diversity of uses of ferns species reported by the inhabitants of Alto Atrato, Chocó, Colombia.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 local experts from the Alto Atrato community. Additionally, botanical walks were carried out to collect ferns specimens, which were subsequently identified and deposited at the Herbarium of the University of Antioquia (HUA). The uses reported by the experts were classified according to the categories proposed by Cook, and the Cultural Importance Index (CI) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated.

Results: A total of 17 ferns species were reported with traditional uses. The species Pityrogramma calomelanos exhibited the highest CI (1.294), followed by Cyathea trichiata (0.706). Regarding RFC, C. trichiata and P. calomelanos shared the highest value (0.706). The most frequent use category was medicinal, accounting for 64.7% of the records.

Conclusion: There is a notable diversity of useful ferns species compared to the total number reported in the other surveys. Have been reported 13 new ethnopteridological species for Colombia. Additionally, an intergenerational gap in ethnobotanical knowledge was observed, underscoring the urgency of preserving this knowledge within the communities. Pityrogramma calomelanos holds significant cultural importance due to its diverse applications.

Citation

Pérez-Mosquera, J. F., Vera-Marín, B., Quijano-Abril, M. A., & Alzate-Guarín, F. A. (2025). Ethnopteridological knowledge of Afro-descendant communities in the humid forest of Chocó, Colombia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 32, 1–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.32859/era.32.11.1-22