archaeological remains of Leucaena (Fabaceae) revised

• Published in: Economic botany Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 477 - 499
• Main Author: Zarate, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg The New York Botanical Garden Press 01.10.2000; Bronx, NY Springer; New York Botanical Garden Press; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; archaeological material; Archaeology; Biological and medical sciences; Caves; crops; Cultivated plants; domestication; Economic botany; Epidermis; Fabaceae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Genetics. Plant material; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; history; identification; Infestation; Insects; Legumes; Leucaena; Origin, evolution, domestication; Plant domestication; Plant material; plant morphology; Plants; Plexus; Scanning electron microscopy; Stomata; Taxa; Trees; Trichomes; ultrastructure; Valleys; Mexico; Central America; America; Origin; Scanning electron microscopy; Taxonomy; Ethnobotany; Interspecific comparison; Domestication; Leucaena; Taxonomic character; Woody plant; Leguminosae; Ultrastructure; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Chronological age; Spermatophyta; Specific identification; Neotropical Region; Archaeological sites
• ISSN: 0013-0001; 1874-9364
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02866547

Archaeological specimens of Leucaena (Fabaceae; Mimosoideae) previously published (Tamaulipas, Tehuacan Valley, and Oaxaca Valley) which are housed at the Departmento de Prehistoria, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico City, were reexamined. Selected remains from Tehuacan were observed with scanning electron microscopy and ultrastructural features were compared to material from herbarium specimens. External epidermis near margins of legume valves provided identification characteristics (stomata abundance and morphology, texture, pubescence). In Tehuacan, L. leucocephala subsp. glabrata was found in addition to two previously reported taxa-L. esculenta and L. diversifolia subsp. stenocarpa (L. pueblana). Acacia sericea, a wild tree with edible legumes, was frequently misidentified as Leucaena. In Guilá Naquitz, Oaxaca, all samples reported as L. esculenta were identified as another edible, wild legume tree, Conzatia multiflora. Chronology was assigned following published reports and, also for Tehuacan, the field catalogue. Possible use was assigned based upon evidence of chewing and insect damage, indicating ripeness of legumes. No direct evidence of cultivation was found. However, the presence of L. esculenta in Tehuacan (since ca. 4000-1000 B.C.) and of L. 1. glabrata (since ca. 300 B.C.-A.D. 780) suggests their introduction there as a cultivated plant. Se reidentificaron las muestras arqueológicas asignadas a Leucaena (Fabaceae; Mimosoideae) en estudios previamente publicados (Tamaulipas, valles de Tehuacán y Oaxaca), mismas que se conservan en el Departamento de Prehistoria del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, México. Algunas muestras de restos arqueológicos de Tehuacán se examinaron mediante microscopio electrónico de barrido para comparar sus rasgos ultraestructurales con los de muestras de ejemplares de herbario. La epidermis cercana al margen de las valvas de las legumbres aportó las características diagnósticas (densidad y morfología de estomas, textura, pubescencia). En Tehuacán, además de los taxa previamente reportados-L. esculenta y L. diversifolia subsp. stenocarpa (L. pueblana)-se confirmó la presencia de L. leucocephala subsp. glabrata. Mezclada con las muestras de Leucaena, se identificó a Acacia sericea, un árbol silvestre de legumbres comestibles. Todas las muestras de Guilá Naquitz, Oaxaca identificadas como L. esculenta se reidentificaron como Conzatia multiflora-árbol silvestre también con legumbres comestibles. La cronología de las muestras se obtuvo de los resultados publicados y, en el caso de Tehuacán, también de una copia del catálogo de campo. Se discute el posible uso de estas plantas mediante indicadores de la madurez del fruto (masticación y actividad de insectos). No se encontró evidencia directa del cultivo. Sin embargo, la presencia de L. esculenta en Tehuacán desde 4000-1000 a.C., y de L. 1. glabrata desde 300 a.C.-780 d.C., sugiere que se introdujo allí como planta de cultivo.