The unpublished moqoit ethnobotany of Martínez Crovet to I: Description, updating and analysis of the indigenous nomenclature.

Abstract

The unpublished moqoit ethnobotany of Martínez Crovetto I: Description, updating
and analysis of the indigenous nomenclature. Raúl Martínez Crovetto (M.C.) is the begginer of the ethnobotanical researches in Argentina. Valuable and unpublished data from this author about mocoví (moqoit) indians ethnobotany recorded in the ‘60’s in the Chaco province, were found at the Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. The objetive of this paper is to rescue, to analyze and to interpret the huge volume of information about mocovi plant names recorded by M.C. The aim is to contribute to the cultural
patrimony of these people and to the understanding of their ethnobotany. Methodology employed is the corresponding to the “historical ethnobotany”, that considers past records as primary sources, about which classical ethnobotanical method is applied. M.C. records 295 plant names corresponding to 443 botanical taxa, most of them native species (95 %). Semantic analysis of these names resulted in 84 primary lexemes (proper names); 37 secondary lexemes, and 141 metaphorical-descriptive names,
besides some translation and absolute loanwords taken from other languages. Edition and analysis of the substantial information here presented –a third of which is updated with accuracy- and the ethnotaxonomy implications it shows, is highlighted.