Nota Científica: Especies vegetales usadas para la bisutería en Honduras

Plants used for costume jewellery in Honduras

Abstract

Handicrafts in Honduras represent an important economic factor for many Honduran families, particularly jewelry such as earrings, necklaces and bracelets using nuts and seeds, however there is very little systematized information on the species most used in this over time. Based on the above, this study aimed to identify taxonomically fruits and seeds of plant species used in jewelry in Honduras, using as reference the scientific collection of the Laboratory of Plant and Ethnobotany Histology “Sonia Lagos-Witte” of the National University Autonomous of Honduras. Twenty plants were identified, being mostly native species belonging to the family Fabaceae, among them are Cassia fistula, Erythrina spp., Ormosia spp. and Enterolobium cyclocarpum. The use of jewelry and the processing of nuts and seeds, as well as other potential uses of the species, are recorded. The handicraft is traditional and is mostly made by artisan groups from the rural communities of the country using seeds mostly for jewelry and collecting the raw material directly from the natural environment.