CONSTRUCTION AND FUEL

Amapa

amarillo (Tahebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) Nichols).

—

Forest tree with a massivebright-yellowbloom inthefall. The woodisvalued highlyforbeams, cabinetwork, and construction. Another species, "amapa colorada" {Tal)el)uia palmeri Rose), distinguished by its pink to red flowers, is much more common and thewood ^is equally valued. They arevery enduring, strong, hard, andare attackedby fewinsects.

Algodoncillo, papelio (Wimmeriamexicana (DC).) Lundell).

— A

slender tree found onrocky hilltops; employed for posts andgeneral construction.

Batamote (Baccharis glutinosa Pers.).

—

The common riparian bush along arroyos. Itis employedinmakingroofs of brush, as on "ramadas."

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Batayaqui (talaka'o) {Montanoa rosei Rob and Greenm.; Montanoa patens Gray).

—

These two tall composite shrubs of the barrancas are very similar in appearance but Montanoa rosei occupies the lowland canyons and flowers in the spring, while Montanoa patens grows in the higherelevations, even occur- ring with the pines andflowersinthelate summerand fall. In boththewhite bloom isprofuseandodorous. Theyareusedby theWarihiosinmakingcrates,

"guacales," granaries, fences around houses or gardens, in the sides of mud- wattle houses, aswell as to support underlying grass inearthen roofs, a func- tion theyshare with several other shrubs having long straightbranches. For- merly they were employed as the points for arrows, poisonous properties being attributed to them; whence the name "batayaqui" or "mata yaqui", meaning Yaqui^killer. Theleavesarestillused medicinallyas poultices for bruises,sores,

and aches when coated with animal fat or grease, or better with some patent ointmentwhen available.

Brasil (huchachago) {Haematoxylon hrasiletto Karst).

— A

small tree or shrubwith a deeplyfissuredtrunk. Itisusedfor uprights, for the sides ofmud- wattle houses,andfor posts in corrals. From thedeep-red heartwoodlittlero- sary crosses are carved and a lightred dyeis obtained by ^boiling it in water.

The wood is excellent for fuel and will burn green; it is widely employed throughoutthelowlandsofMexico.

Carrizo {Arundo donax L.).

—

^{This giant reed of the Old World is so widely}

dispersed alongthe creeks, rivers, and settlements of the

warm

lands of Latin Americaitappearsasifanative. CoulditbeanearlyAmerindianintroduction?

It is usedby the Warihios ^for making pens for fowlandpets, for storage bins inhouses, etc.

Kowusamo

(kov\^usamo) {Coursetia glandulosa Gray).

—

^{Large shrub with}

tough springy branches which were used by the Warihiosforbows. Itis also usedforfuelandconstruction.

Chilicote {Erythrina flatelliformis Kearney).

—

^{Small tree of the rocky bar-}

ranca slopes with verysoftwhitewoodemployed forgourdandbottlestoppers.

Chirowi,huinola, huinora (sinala) {AcaciacymMspina Sprague and Riley).

—

It has an abundantuseas fuel alongthewestcoast ofMexico. In Sinaloa it is extensively employed in making charcoal. See also under Seed Foods.

Chopo (eho'po) {Mimosapalmeri Rose).

— A

smallThornForesttree usedfor construction andfuel.

Encino, roble, Encinobianco (kusi, hachuka,sahawo) {Quercus spp.).

—

^There

are 8 or10 species of oaks in Warihio landwhich havea limited usefor build- ingandamoregeneral use asfuel.

Guiloche {Bisphysa occidentalis Rose).

— A

small spreading ThornForesttree with yellow flowers and tough pliant wood. At San Bernardo it was reported to havebeen usedin earlier daysas a battle club. Usedfor fuelandposts.

Giiirote de Oulebra {Serjaniamexicana Willd.).

— A

large vine climbing high upon trees. Thetough stems areoftenemployed bythe forest peoples,whether Indian or Mexican, as cordage for binding up such gatherings as wood, grass, poles,orherbstocarryhome. Serjaniapalmeriand Gouania mexicana,similar toughvines,arealsoemployedasroughcordage.

Guasima (ahiya) {Guazumaulmifolia Lam.),

—

Employedinconstruction and furniture;seeunder"Fruits."

Mauuta (sahi') {Lysiloma divaricatum (Jacq,) MacB.),

— A

dominantforest tree. The wood is regularly employedin theconstruction of buildings, corrals,

and as fuel.

98 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY

^[Bull.186 Mesquite (hupala) (Prosopis juliflora (Swartz)

DC). —

^{Usedfor fuelandin}

construction. Seealsounder"Seed Foods."

Nesco (Willardia mexicana (Wats.) Rose).

— A

small tree with a light gray trunk, floweringleafless inthe dry season. Used in construction. Reportedto poison honey.

Otate (pakwi,pakuwe') (Arundinaria longifoliaFourn.).

—

^Thebambooofthe Rio

Mayo

country, growing in the moist shady canyons of the barrancas.

EstrellaCanyonintheCedros range appearstobeaboutitsnorthernlimit. The poles are employed for building roofs, granaries, corrals, fishing, and fruit- gathering, etc. Barranca dwellers cut and carrythem to the lowlands, selling

them by the piece.

Palo bianco (Piscidia mollis Rose).

—

^Itis a sturdy white-barkedtree, oaklike in habit, scattered through thefoothill valleys in sandy alluvium. It is used for fueland posts. Reportedalso tobe usedinpoisoning fish.

Palo chino {Pithecellodmm mexicanum Rose).

— ^A

mesquite-like tree of the alluvial bottomlands. It is usedin construction, for musical instruments, and as fuel.

Palo chino {PithecelloMnm mexicanum- Rose).

—

^{^A} mesquite-like tree of the thelowlands usedfor posts,forgeneral construction, andasfuel.

Palo de asta (Cordia sonorae Rose).

— A

slender tree flowering whitein the spring dryseason. The woodis used inconstruction andfor toolhandles.

Palo duce {EysenTiardtia polystacJiya (Ort.) Sarg.).

—

Small shrubby treelet with light checkered bark and hard durable wood employed in building, tool handles, canemills,etc.

An

infusionismadeofthewoodand drunkforstomach trouble and other afflictions; it forms a dark reddish brew, which floresces brightlyunderultra-violetlight.

Palojoso {AlMzziasinaloensisBrit,andRose).

— A

ratherlarge treeinfrequent in the lowervalleywhere ground wateris available. Thelong trunks areused forbeams,posts,andother constructions.

Palma (ta' cu) (SadaluresanaTrelease).

—

^{ThelargestnativepalmoftheRio}

Mayo

foothills. The leaves are employed for thatching roofs. The Warihios also collectthe terminalleafbuds and strip out theyoungtender segmentsfor making baskets, while the mature leaf is employed in "petates," the plaited mats. Sections ofthetrunkalsoserve forposts,uprights,andbeams.

A

smaller

~3>ecies of palm, probably Erythea aculeataBrge., is also employedfor baskets and petates, while the leaves are considered superior to those ofSahal uresana forroofing. Seealsounder "Root andPlerbageFoods."

Pino (heko) (Pinus spp.).

—

Thewoodis employedby theWarihiosinmaking their musical instruments, the violin and the harp. Pitch slabs are used for torches and lighting houses in the barrancas and are known by the Mexican name of "ocote." The ^resins are employedmedicinally for breaks and bruises, catarrh, and other afflictions. The wood is used generally in construction, for shakes, furnitiu'e, etc. Pinus ayacahuite Ehrenb., P. arizonica Engelm., andP.

oocarpa Schiede are

common

species.

Sabino, cedro (hav>^oli) {Taxodiummucronatum Ten.).

—

Fine grovesofthese trees occur in the canyonseast of the Cedros River and more scatteredones in higher affluents of the Rio Mayo. Largebowls and spoons are madefrom the wood.

Sacate.

—

^{Sacate is the}common namefor grassinMexico. The largercoarse speciesareusedasalay-bed forearthen roofs. Mulilenhergiagracilisandothers areusedforpackingthe "aparejos," theMexican packsaddle.

Sauce (Salix l)onplandiana HBK.).

—

^{Used for posts and furniture.}

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Tepeguaje (macliawi') (Lysiloma watsoni Rose)^.

—

^{Largespreadingtreeoftlie}

barrancas. Thevery strongheavywoodisusedinconstruction. TheMexicans employ it for making gears and rollers in sugar mills. The bark is used in tanning skins, chewed tohardenthegums andstrengthen theteeth, or decocted asapotion for fevers.

Vara blanca (Croton alamosanus Rose).

— An

abundant, slender, closely branched shrub employed asa firstlayer coveringoverbeams in earthenroofs.

Over them^islaidgrassandfinallyclaysoil. Itis alsousedin fences. Theroots aremashed up andcookedinwater, makinga verybitter potion for indigestion and stomachtroubles, "empachedelestomago."

Varaprieta (BrongniartiaalamosanaRydb.)^.

— A

^{closelycolonialThornForest}

treeletorshrubcommonlyused throughtheWarihio areafor fuelandconstruc- tion,especiallyinmud-wattleconstruction.