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Capulin, Trema micrantha; bark produces cordage (Parker p. 928).
Carludovica palmate, can be used for making hats.
Cattail, Typha angustifolia (Lundell)
Desmoncus quasillarus, stalks used to make baskets (Palenque area)
Vogl et al. 2002: 637
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Handmade baskets made in Antigua market Guatemala Central America
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Guano, Sabal mexicana; thatch palm, but also for hats and mats (Lundell)
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Guano Sabal mexicana thatch palm but also for hats and mats Peten Guatemala Central America
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Wild cotton, Hibiscus pernambucensis,
Mano de leon, Hampea stipitata. Mano de leon is a vague Spanish term used to describe many different and totally unrelated plants, such as split-philodendron.
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Mano de leon Hampea stipitata Sayaxche Peten Guatemala Central America
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Philodendron, Philodendron sp., roots used for baskets; even in pre-Columbian times (Tikal, Early Classic burial; Moholy-Nagy 2001: 91).
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Philodendron roots used for baskets close up rims handmade even in pre Columbian times
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Philodendron roots used for baskets handmade even in pre Columbian times
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Sisal, maguey, henequen, Agave sisalon, Agave fourcroydes
Maguey, Furcraea species
Tule, Typha dominguensis
Another dozen plants used for making baskets are in the FLAAR Report on Guatemalan basketry, available as a PDF from our www.maya-archaeology.org.
In his article seventy years ago, on plants probably used by the Maya, Lundell also mentions the following as relaed to cordage, baskets, or nets:
- Aechmea magdalenae André. Cham, piñuela
- Sida acuta Burm. Chichibe
- Abutilon lignosum (Cav.) Don. Zacxiu, yaxholche
- Muntingia calabura L. Capulin (Chizmar 2009:244-246)
- Heliocarpus spp.
- Hibiscus tiliaceus L. Xtolol
- Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. Pixoy
- Belotia campbellii Sprangue. Moho
Our goal is to find these plants one by one out in the wild, photograph them extensively, and learn which villages use them for which aspects of basket weaving or cordate.
First posted August 2011.
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