tie ugua. and an infusion of the roots and flowers is used to treat 

 dysentery (von Reis Altschul, 1973). 



Stevia viscida HBK., Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 4: 1 10, pi. 351. 1818. 



In Mexico, this plant is known as Maiapulgas and Pipizhuail 

 in the State of Jalisco, and as Ilicrha de la pul^a in the State of 

 Mexico (Martinez, 1979). The use of the name Pipitzahuail 

 (Hernandez, 1946; Martinez, 1979) for this species appears to 

 have its origin in the work of Sesse and Mo^^ino, who described 

 Ai^craluni /unpurcuni Sesse and Mo^^ino (1893) and referred it 

 to Pipitzuhuatl. Ai^eraiuni purpurcun} Sesse and Mo(;ino is a 

 synonym oi Stevia viscida HBK. (Grashoff, 1972). 



In Guatemala, this plant is known as Mejorana, according to 



r 



F) 



STEVIA SPECIES 



Uses of several Stevia species are reported in the literature, 

 but the specific identities of the plants are presently either 

 unknown or questionable. Among such reports are those found 

 in the book Natural History of Plants of the New Spain written 

 by Francisco Hernandez, a Spanish physician, between 1 570 and 

 1576. This book has been published several times in Latin and 

 Spanish, between 1605 and 1959 (Hernandez, 1959). In this 

 book, plants listed under their Nahuatl names are given brief 

 descriptions concerning botanical characteristics and medicinal 

 virtues, and sometimes provided with illustrations. The rich 

 information contained in this book has prompted Schultes 

 (1962) to call it an "incredible treasury". It is also considered as a 

 very reliable source of information by del Pozo (1969). A rela- 

 tively recent edition of the book was published in Spanish, in 3 

 volumes (Hernandez 1942: vol. 1, 1943: vol. 2, 1946: vol. 3). In 

 this edition, the editors have provided a tentative identification 

 or, more correctly, interpretation, to a great number of the 

 plants. Thus, the equivalent Latin binomials are provided. In 

 spite o{ these Latin binomials and the remarkable accuracy of 

 interpretation, the final and correct botanical identity of many 



12 



