In Chiapas it is known as ‘‘flor de cacao” or *‘molinillo”’; in 
Puebla and Veracruz, ‘‘palo copado’’ or *‘madre de cacao”’; in 
the Nahuatl dialect, “‘cacahoaxochitl’* (Pennington & Saruk- 
han, 1968). 
When the Spanish came to Mexico in the sixteenth century, 
they found three important spices indigenous to that country: 
the chili peppers (Capsicum annum L. and C. frutescens L.), 
vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andr.), and allspice (Pimenta dioica 
L.). These flavoring agents were destined to become highly 
popular condiments throughout the world (Rosengarten, 1973). 
Yet OQ. funebris, for some puzzling reason, never became popu- 
lar or even known outside of a limited region in Middle 
America. This minor spice had been mentioned, to be sure, by 
the renowned Spanish chronicler, Sahagun, during his six- 
teenth-century travels in Mexico: *‘There are also other trees 
called cacauaxochitl which bear flowers . . . like jasmine and 
have a very delicate but pungent fragance.”’ 
While the world-wide consumption of vanilla in 1976 was 
more than 3,000,000 pounds, of allspice over 5,000,000 pounds, 
and of chili peppers more than 150,000,000 pounds, the total 
consumption of the highly aromatic flowers of Q. funebris was 
insignificant, probably less than 20,000 pounds, and this use 
was for the most part limited to southeastern Mexico (Plates 30 
and 31). 
In the pleasant Zapotec valley of Oaxaca, 10 kilometers 
northeast of Oaxaca City, there lies a sleepy village called San 
Andrés Huayapan. Ordinarily Huayapan, elevation 5,900 ft., 
consisting of a church and a few scattered adobe homes, would 
not be especially worthy of note. The village is unusual, how- 
ever, in that some two dozen trees of Q. funebris may be found 
growing in and around it. The largest is about 50 feet tall, with 
the lowest branches spreading to a diameter roughly equal to its 
height (Plate 29). This magnificent tree, said to be 120 years 
old, characterized by its conical symmetry and dense foliage, 1s 
growing in the back yard of a local, indigenous family. Its 
abundant flowers provide most of this humble family’s annual 
income. The flowering takes place all year long, although it Is 
especially prevalent during the rainy season, between May and 
August. The flowers, having been dried on mats in the sun 
184 
