PLANTAE MEXICANAE V 
BY 
RicHarRp Evans SCHULTES 
DESMONCUS CHINANTLENSIS AND ITS UTILIZATION 
IN NATIVE BASKETRY 
THe piscovery of the use of Desmoncus chinantlensis 
Liebmann ex Martius in the manufacture of baskets 
among the Chinantee Indians of Oaxaca has prompted 
me to make a study of the literature for comparative in- 
formation from other regions. 
Although considerable interest in basketry and weav- 
ing has been manifestin recent anthropological researches, 
I have been unable to find in anthropological literature 
any references to the use of this palm in weaving. There 
are, however, several scattered and incidental references 
to this use in technical taxonomic papers. 
In view of the importance of Desmoncus as an ex- 
cellent material in basket-making and because of the lack 
of easily available information regarding its use, it has 
seemed advisable to present the following notes on the 
plant and its utilization. 
lL. BoranICAL CONSIDERATIONS 
Desmoncus chinantlensis Liebmann in Overs. 
Dansk. Vid. Selsk. Forh. 1845 (1846) 8, zomen nudum— 
Liebmann ex Martius Hist. Nat. Palm. 8 (1850) 821. 
Atitara chinantlensis (Liebmann) O. Kuntze Rev. 
Gen. Pl. 2 (1891) 727. 
Mexico: Oaxaca, District of Choapam, San Juan Lacova, long. 
95° 55’, lat. 17° 29’, June 1842, Liebmann 6594 (Coryrr) ; same lo- 
cality and date, Liebmann 6595 (Tyrer); same locality and date, Lieb- 
mann 6596 (Corypr). 
Chinantee name: Auan-ka. 
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