Wild and cultivated plants for medicinal use that are marketed at the Sunday fair of the district and province of Andahuaylas, Apurímac, Peru (2019)

Abstract

Samples of all the species that were marketed in the Sunday fair were purchased in 8 outings, it was herbalized and a total of 40 botanical species were determined, of which 39 are phanerogamic species and 01 cryptogamic species, 42.5% are wild and are extracted from their natural habitat to be sold fresh, while 45% are cultivated and phenologically managed, to be sold at the fair; 17.5% of plants found in the wild are reported as cultivated. The species with the highest commercialization frequency were: matico, chamomile, eucalyptus, rosemary, borage, mallow, fennel, aloe, muña, punamuña, cedroncillo, cola and horse, however, their greater or lesser sale depends on the time. The families with the highest species richness were Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. There are 10 identified medicinal plant stalls, which are distributed every Sunday at the Sunday fair to be able to sell their products, in addition there are other merchants who sell already processed products such as mattes, extracts, rubs among others, those that have not been taken in account for the present investigation. The sale price of plants fluctuates between 0.50 cents to 1.50 soles and the form of sale is mostly in bundles. The commercialization of wild and cultivated plants for medicinal purposes remains in force over time despite the existence of formal stalls such as pharmacies, drugstores, health food stores, etc. This shows that the residents of the district and province of Andahuaylas preserve and transmit their traditional knowledge through this economic activity.