Resources

Plant Database

We aim to capture the Maya plants’ unique properties in our database recording over 400 plants from our in-field studies.

Naba-cuc
Allspice

A spice that can make tea and treat digestive upsets and toothaches

Ixcanan
Polly Redhead

An ornamental flower that treats fevers, rashes, and more

Tza
Chaya

A nutritious vegetable that lessens the effects of diabetes

Dominant Plants Shaping the Forest

After millennia of Maya occupying the Maya forest, there are 20 trees that economic botanists recognize as dominating the well-drained uplands. These plants often cover more than three-quarters of the area! These dominant plants occurred where the ancient Maya lived and are all useful because the Maya selected plants they needed while creating the Maya forest garden.

Since these trees, palms, and shrubs greatly differ in appearances, we included the flower portion along with their Maya and English Names for easy comparison.

Illustrations by Julia Beery

Jabin
Wormwood

Pollinated by Bees
Used for Fish Poison

Jobo
Hogplum

Pollinated by Insects
Used for Food

Ya
Sapodilla

Pollination by Bats
Used for Food

Wayum
Kinep

Pollination by Bees
Used for Food

Kibche
Milady

Pollinated by Insects
Used for Construction

Ts’om
Wild Mamey

Pollinated by Moths
Used for Food

Chaca
Tourist Tree

Pollinated by Bees
Used for Medicine

Box Ya
Black Zapote

Pollinated by Insects
Used for Latex

Glossary

El Pilar

An ancient Maya city center and archeological site on the present-day border of Cayo District, Belize and Peten, Guatemala

Outside Resources

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