Uso e disponibilidade local de Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem. & Schult.) T.D. Penn. (quixabeira) em três regiões da depressão sertaneja da Paraíba, nordeste do Brasil.

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze and to record the knowledge and use that traditional populations do with Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem. &Schult.) T.D. Penn., and its local availability in the cities of Itaporanga (Pau D‟ Arco community∕15 informants), Lagoa (Barroquinha and Pereiro, 38 and 32, respectively) and São Mamede (Várzea Alegre, six), located at the Depressão Sertaneja in Paraíba state (Northeastern/Brazil). It was considered as informants people who knew the species; it was interviewed 76 householders (Man\Women), who signed the term of free consent required by the Ethics and Research Committee (CEP/HULW nº297/11). In order to evaluate the availability, it was carried out a free referring totalizing 72 hours, and a phytossociological study (300 plots, three hectare). The individuals were mapped with the aid of GPS, and measured their height and DNS. It was counted and measured the extractions of bark in each plant. The use citations were organized into eight categories. In the plots was not recorded any individual, but in the referring, it was recorded 80 in Pereiro, seven in Barroquinha and four in Várzea Alegre, distributed into agro forest yards, farming areas and near roads. It was recorded 140 bark extractions which are indicated for 17 diseases, standing out the treatment of general infections. It was accounted 65 use citations in Barroquinha, 85 in Pereiro and 20 in Várzea Alegre. The bark got the largest number of citations (Barroquninha 35%, Pereiro 77% and Várzea Alegre 70%). This study demonstrated the importance and use of this species for people from the Northeastern semi-arid, being needed certain studies that evaluate the impact of such activity upon the populations of this species.