. 
148 INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY—PUBLICATION NO. 4 
According to Bukasov (1930), “the majority of the species 
Canavalia,” namely 24, are American and only 13 from the 
Old World. 
I collected specimens of small, wild forms of Canavalia 
along the north shore of Lake Atitidn in Guatemala, and in 
many parts of the mountains of Chiapas (1941). 
ANNATTO 
Annatto (achiote, Bixa orellana, probable upper limit of 
good production, 600 m., or 1,968 ft.), which grows in abun- 
dance in the Lowlands, is a common ingredient of native 
beverages. There are two varieties of this small tree, one 
with a smooth pod and one spiny, the capsules being about 2 
inches long and containing numerous seeds the size of BB 
shot, coated with soft, claylike, brick-red pigment. This is 
much in demand throughout Guatemala as a coloring sub- 
stance for foods, especially rice, and drinks.** Chichicaste- 
nango merchants buy it in Lowland markets, chiefly Maza- 
tenango, and sell it in many Highland plazas. 
PATAXTE 
Pataxte (Theobroma bicolor, upper elevation limit, 600 m., 
or 1,968 ft.) is commonly planted as a shade tree, along 
with cuxin (Inga punctata, more important for coffee shade, 
qd. v., p. 34) for Theobroma cacao (discussed under agri- 
culture, p. 33), and it also serves rather widely as a 
substitute for it.“ Patarte pods (smaller than those of 
cacao, which is ordinarily sold in beans or as chocolate) are 
generally sold entire, in small quantity by the weekly Atiteco 
fruit vendors in Solola, Patziim, Panajachel; and other 
Highland markets. I saw one of the heavy, woody pods, 
cut in half transversely, used as a cup at Santa Catarina 
Palopé. At San Pedro Cutzan the pinol (ground toasted- 
corn and spice drink) as prepared in the Lowlands was 
described to me as containing pataxte, cacao, aniseed, sugar, 
and sometimes ginger or cinnamon, in addition to toasted 
corn. There are many regional variations in this drink, 
which is almost universal with Indians and Ladinos alike. 
In the Lake Atitlan region, for example, the partial substi- 
tution of pataxte for cacao seemed to occur less frequently 
than on the coast, where it is more readily available. Also, 
around the Lake, Chiapas pepper (pimienta de Chiapas) 
is added and barley, but no sugar; at Guatemala City, sugar 
is used as on the coast. 
CALABASH, OR GOURD, TREE 
The native calabash or gourd tree, jsicaro (Crescentia 
cujete), is abundant through the inner Coastal Plain, supply- 
ing useful gourds for receptacles (jicaras or guacales), 
generally oblong, up to 8 or 10 inches in length. The round- 
fruit species (C. alata), generally called morro, is much the 
2a. 6. ~senters in the mixture of the drink cacao’’ (Anon. Ms. 
1579, p. 17 f. 113). Annatto is used for body paint in Amazonia and 
other tropical regions, and is made into dyes in some sections, as well 
as being exported in considerable quantity for coloring butter and 
cheese (Standley, 1920-26, p. 835). 
245 The value of pataxte in early colonial time was about one-half 
that of cacao (Anon., Ms. 1579, p. 17, f. 113). 
commoner in Guatemala. These go in quantity to Highland 
markets, but not in quantities comparable with those of 
Rabinal (see p. 57). Both habitats are characterized by 
hot, dry climates, to which the tree seems best suited. 
HEDGE PLANTS 
The universal hedge plant, chichicaste, or nettle-tree * 
(Urera baccifera), from which the town of Santo Tomas 
Chichicastenango derives its name, is somewhat less in evi- 
dence in the Lowlands than in the Highlands, where there 
are infinitely more small land-holdings of independent In- 
dians to be fenced in. Pifiuela (Bromelia pinguin), looking 
like a large pineapple plant, but with small, inferior, acid 
fruit, is also commonly planted as a hedge. Both native to 
tropical America, neither one could well be called “culti- 
vated.” 
Yucca (hizote, Yucca elephantipes).—Grown mainly as 
a hedge plant, especially in the Highlands (pls. 16; 23, d), 
the hizote bears a large white flower (panicle) which is 
gathered for food, and frequently appears in Highland 
markets. Having a mildly bitter taste, it is regarded as a 
delicacy, and justly so, prepared in an omelet. Standley sug- 
gests that the plant was in ancient times imported originally 
from Mexico, where it is “probably native to Veracruz” 
(Standley, 1930, p. 228; 1920-26, p. 92; Standley and Cal- 
derén, 1925, p. 50). Bukasov (1930) describes it as a “half 
cultivated textile plant of the Costa Rica Indians (and 
Guatemala?).” The usual uses of yucca in Guatemala are 
as hedge and minor food. Standley (see reference above) 
cites and lists additional uses in Costa Rica as follows: Soap 
(roots), thatch and fiber (leaves); stockades and posts 
(trunks); these also in Salvador and Mexico. In the 
Mexican plateau, I have seen the leaves used extensively 
for thatch, but this is extremely rare in Guatemala. 
The coral tree (flor de pito, Erythrina sp.), is a common 
fence plant, especially around Lake Atitlan. The flowers, 
like ‘small red machetes, are eaten (boiled), and the red seeds 
are used as beads, often in the rituals of medicine men. 
PLANTS USED FOR ROOFING, FURNITURE, ETC. 
In addition to the rubbery bejucos already mentioned, fine 
and flexible plant material is provided by the mimbre or osier 
of the “sauce,” or willow (Salix chilensis), used in the Low- 
lands for making such articles as wicker furniture, baskets, 
and hats. Like the bejucos, mimbre is to be found to some 
extent throughout the southwestern Lowlands, but is partic- 
ularly abundant in the boca costa. From Nahuala-Santa 
Catarina Ixtahuacan come great quantities of it, regularly 
brought by the natives of those municipios to furniture shops 
of Mazatenango. The Indians of Nahuala and Santa Cata- 
rina make baskets and hats, which look as if they were de- 
signed after British cork helmets, of osier, and sell the for- 
mer, for the most part, in the Mazatenango market. 
Another genus of considerable economic significance, 
which should be mentioned in connection with the boca costa, 
is that of Calathea, including the so-called hoja maxdn or 
