Knowledge and use of magical-religious plants by meadows from the semiarid state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Magical-religious plants are sacred instruments in praying rituals. The aim of the research was to register the knowledge and local use of magical-religious plants used by mourners, discussing the importance of this knowledge. The survey interviewed all mowers in the municipality of Amparom (PB), Northeast Brazil. For data collection, direct observation, semi-structured interviews and collection of botanical material were used. We recorded 23 species distributed in 23 genera and 15 families. The Fabaceae (5 spp.) And Lamiaceae (4 spp.) Families were the most cited. The species most approached by the mowers were the purple pine nut (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.), the rue (Ruta graveolens L.) and the muçambê (Cleome spinosa (Jacq.) Raf.). Diseases treated through prayers with plant use range from 'evil eye' to 'spill'. This culture still resists in the city, although the new generation does not show interest in the craft. There was a change in the magical-religious species used over time, perhaps due to possible changes in the caatinga vegetation, such as the insertion of invasive species. It is important to promote public policies to encourage the culture of mourners, and thus promote the rapprochement, respect and conservation of magical-religious plants.