The amate lives in the natural region of Central America and in the north of the Amazon. In several Central American countries it is highly appreciated due to its use by indigenous tribes in the region to take advantage of the properties of its sap and bark.
This tree of the genus ficus was classified for the first time in 1817. It belongs to the moraceae family, which includes, among other species, the fig tree, with which amate shares some characteristics.
It is a large and robust tree, with roots that tend to protrude to the surface in intricate shapes.
Beyond its well-known medicinal properties, in Guatemala and Honduras it is the protagonist of numerous myths and legends.
Habitat
Despite belonging to the fig family, it is a tree of a relatively large size, hovering between 20 and 35 meters.
It lives in the southern part of Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and some areas of Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela.
It is a species typical of humid climates, like the upper layers of the tropical jungle. They can often be found on banks near rivers, lakes, and streams.
Depending on the area, this species receives different names. In Bolivia it is called ojé; in Colombia, chibecha; in Costa Rica, river chilamate; in Panama and Peru, fig tree (because it is seen as a large fig tree); while in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico it is known simply as amate.
Etymology
Its scientific name is ficus insipida, which comes from the Latin "tasteless fig." This is because amate is capable of producing a fruit similar to the fig, but which is not suitable for human consumption.
The name amate comes from the Nahuatl amatl, which means "paper." This is due to the fact that the bark of the amate, after being treated and smoothed, was used by various Mesoamerican populations as paper or parchment for writing.
Properties and uses
For centuries, the different indigenous populations that settled throughout Central and South America immediately noticed the different uses that amate can have.
For starters, it has a flexible wood, which is not too hard and can be easily cut, shaped and mashed.
This served so that, cut into very thin sheets, its bark could be dried in the sun and thus serve as paper for writing.
Another important element of amate is its sap. This has multiple anti-inflammatory properties that serve to combat vomiting and diarrhea caused by parasites.
In indigenous villages it was common to extract this sap and mix it with honey and mint to cure these ills.
In Mexico and Honduras amate is known as a highly effective antiparasitic; numerous herbal teas and home remedies are made from amate.
The amate in Central American culture
In Guatemala and El Salvador there are numerous myths created around amate. The local folklore is full of stories.
For example, lying in the shade of an amate would be good luck. They also say that the flowers of this tree can serve as amulets.
References
- Atlas of the Plants of Traditional Mexican Medicine (2009). Retrieved on September 22, 2017, from the Digital Library of Traditional Mexican Medicine.
- Amatl (sf). Retrieved on September 22, 2017, from the Great Nahuatl Dictionary.
- Ficus (2013). Retrieved on September 22, 2017, from Encyclopædia Britannica.
- Ficus insipida (nd). Retrieved on September 22, 2017, from the Smithsonian Institution.
- The flower of amate (2015). Retrieved on September 22, 2017, from El Salvador my country.
- Family: Moraceae (sf). Retrieved on September 22, 2017, from the Smithsonian Institution.