Principles of Tzeltal Plant Classification: An Introduction to the Botanical Ethnography of a Mayan-Speaking People of Highland Chiapas covers the underlying classificatory principles used by the Tzeltal to order the vast array of organisms of the plant world. The book describes the setting of the research, both from a botanical and ethnographic view; the general outline of Tzeltal plant classification and nomenclature; and the methods used to collect data. The text also discusses the rich ethnolinguistic terminology used by the Tzeltal in describing and discussing the structure of plants, referred to as ethnophytography; and the cultural significance of plants to the Tzeltal in agriculture, food types, house building, and other areas of material culture where plants and plant products are of major importance. The individual description of all known Tzeltal plant classes is also encompassed in detail. Botanists and ethnobotanists will find the book invaluable.

ForewordPrefaceAcknowledgmentsConventions, Abbreviations, and Key to Pronunciation of Tzeltal WordsPart I The Setting, Principles, and Methods Chapter 1 The Setting 1 Phytogeography of Chiapas 2 Linguistic and Cultural Characteristics of the Central Highlands 3 The Municipio of Tenejapa 4 Informants Utilized in the Research Chapter 2 General Principles of Tzeltal Plant Classification and Nomenclature 1 Universal Principles of Classification and Nomenclature in Ethnobiology 2. Tzeltal Plant Taxonomy: A General Overview 3 Nomenclature and Classification: Some Possible Qualifications 4 Intermediate Taxa as Covert Conceptual Categories 5 Terminal Taxa 6 Summary of the Overview 7 Detailed Analysis of Tzeltal Plant Nomenclature Chapter 3 Methods of Collecting Data 1 Prior Work in Tzeltal Botanical Ethnography 2 Procedures and Techniques Employed in the Present Study 3 Advantages of General Botanical Collecting Procedures 4 Tzeltal Collection Files and Supporting Linguistic and Ethnographic Data 5 Basic and Extended Ranges of Tzeltal Plant Names 6 Informant Variability and the "Ideal Speaker-Hearer" 7 Establishing Tzeltal Plant Complexes Chapter 4 Ethnolinguistic Considerations of Plant Morphology and Plant Development 1 Linguistic Specification of States of Growth and Development 2 Tzeltal Ethnophytography 3 Descriptive Terminology of Tzeltal Plant Characteristics and Qualities Chapter 5 Cultural Significance of Plants 1 Linguistic Considerations of Cultural Significance 2 Ecological Considerations of the Significance of PlantsPart II The Flora Chapter 6 Introduction 1 Considerations on the Adequacy of the Description 2 Organization of the Flora 3 Conventions on the Form of Individual Discussion of Tzeltal Plant Names Chapter 7 The Trees: te? Covert Complexes: te? Covert Categories: te? Tree Isolates Chapter 8 The Herbs: wamal Herb Covert Complexes: wamal Herb Isolates: wamal Chapter 9 The Vines: ?ak' Covert Categories: ?ak' Vine Isolates: ?ak' Chapter 10 The Grasses: ?ak ?ak Generics Chapter 11 The Unaffiliated Plants Unaffiliated Covert Categories Isolated Unaffiliated Generic Taxa Chapter 12 The Ambiguously Affiliated Plants Covert Categories Ambiguous Isolates Appendixes Appendix 1.1 Alphabetical Inventory of Tzeltal Plant Taxa and Their Botanical Ranges by Folk Generic Name Appendix 1.2 Alphabetical Inventory of Botanical Names by Genus and Their Associated Tzeltal Plant Referents Appendix 2 Alphabetical Listing of Plants by Tzeltal Name in Terms of Their Relative Cultural Significance Appendix 3 Potentially Valid Generic Names Appendix 4 Systematic List of Plants References Indexes Index to Non-Tzeltal Plant Names Index to Tzeltal Plant Names General Index