S-13. Plants
§1. Below are some words for trees and plants that are common in the Tlacolula Valley of Oaxaca. Many names for flowers or flowering plants start with gyi or gyia, a short form of the word gyia “flower”. Yanuan starts with ya, which is related to gyag “tree”.
be [be’eh] mushroom dub [dùub] maguey gyia bugambily [gyìa’ bugambi’lly] bougainvillea gyia carnad [gyìa’ ca’rnaad] pomegranate tree gyibtsë [gyibtsëh] organ-pipe cactus gyibya [gyibyàa] prickly pear cactus gyiluzh [gyi’lùùu’zh] pepper tree gyiwi [gyiwii] guava tree yanuan [yannuuan] chirimoya (custard apple) tree |
Here are some pictures of some of the trees and plants named above.
dub
Maguey, a type of agave from which mezcal is made, is one of the most important cash crops grown in the Tlacolula Valley.
gyibtsë
gyibya
gyiluzh
gyia bugambily
Below are some pictures of fruit trees. While some of these fruits are common in California, you may not recognize others. Many types of tropical fruit grow in Oaxaca. If you would like to try them, you may be able to find some in specialty grocery stores!
gyiwi
yanuan
gyia carnad
§2. Here are words for some fruits and vegetables, some of which grow on the trees named above.
bruiny [brùu’iny] tuna, xoconostle (prickly pear cactus fruit) btsë [btsëh] tuna (organ-pipe cactus fruit) btyux [btyùu’ux] tomato btyux guizh [btyùu’ux gui’ihzh] tomatillo bya [byàa] nopal (prickly pear cactus pad) carnad [ca’rnaad] pomegranate durazn [dura’azn] peach gyet wez [gyeht wèèe’z] chilacayote (a type of large squash) gyex [gye’ehx] avocado gyiny [gyììi’ny] chile limony [limoony] lime; lemon mansan [mannsaan] apple membri [membrii] quince nuan [nnuuan] chirimoya wi [wii] guava zhity [zhi’ihty] onion |
Below are pictures of some of the fruits and vegetables given above. Many of these pictures were taken at the weekly market in Tlacolula.
mansan, durazn, cuan membri
limony
btyux guizh
zhity
gyiny
gyet wez
§3. Finally, here are words for some common flowers. Again, these words start with a short form of gyia “flower”. Flowers have a very special place in Zapotec culture. Many of these flowers are used to decorate altars, both in the church and in people’s homes; others are prized for their sweet smell.
gyia cub [gyìa cu’ub] marigold gyia daly [gyìa’da’lly] dahlia gyia gradyol [gyìa gradyoo’ll] gladiola gyia jerany [gyìa’ jera’anny] geranium gyia nub [gyìa’ nuub] flor de nubes (type of small white flower) gyia panumr [gyìa’ pannu’ummr] (type of red flower) gyia reiny [gyìa’ re’ehiny] poinsettia gyia rros [gyìa rro’s] rose gyia rrueg [gyìa’ rrueeg] basil flower gyia susen [gyìa’ suseen] azucena (type of lily) |
Below are pictures of some of the flowers mentioned above.
gyia nub
gyia daly
gyia jerany
gyia gradyol
gyia ros