These spider-like plants cling to the vertical rock walls 
of the barrancas from the lower arid sub-tropical region 
to the higher cooler region. The plant is not eaten. The 
leaves provide a soap for bathing and washing clothes, 
wool blankets and utensils, while the macerated plants 
are used as a fish poison. 
Specimen: Cuimuanua: Municipios de Guazapares y Chinipas, be- 
tween Nopalero and Cusidrare, ca. 3500 ft. Scattered plants found on 
protected vertical walls. Nov. 8, 1973. Bye, Burgess and Mares 5805. 
CONCLUSIONS 
Kight species of fave are recognized and used by the 
Western Tarahumara. ‘The members of subgenus -f cave, 
generically called “‘imé’’, are distinguished from the 
members of subgenus Littaca. The two groups are differ- 
entiated on gross morphology of leaves and inflores- 
cences. Some Western ‘Tarahumara include all of the 
magueys that are pit-baked under “‘imé”’. 
ach species of “‘imé™” has a name which reflects the 
habitat preference or a characteristic of the species. Al- 
though the Tarahumara to the east also recognize sub- 
genus -feave, ““mé’, as different from that of subgenus 
Littaea, the Western ‘Tarahumara recognize a greater 
diversity of species, and their names are similar to 
Guarijio names. In subgenus Littaca, two of the three 
species on the eastern slopes of the Rio Chinipas area 
have names in common with Guarijio names to the west 
and ‘Tarahumara names to the east. The third species, 
A. polianthiflora, has not been reported east of the 
Western Tarahumara region. 
There is a greater specific diversity of .feave on the 
western slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental than on 
the eastern slopes. The similarity of the Western ‘Tara- 
humara names to those of the Guarijio for the members 
of subgenus .f@ave may be explained, in part, by the 
western movement of ancestors of the Tarahumara from 
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