XVI International Botanical Congess
Ethnobotanical knowledge convergence, divergence, and change among the Hoti Indians of Venezuela are studied by analyzing patterns of interinformant agreement and disagreement about plant names and uses in four Hoti communities. The communities chosen for this study vary in terms of habitat, settlement pattern, subsistence focus, interethnic contact, social structure, accessible technology, material culture, socialization, and religion. Overall consensus scores as well as the patterned variation of scores between different age, gender and family groups are compared among the four communities. The observed patterns of knowledge variation appear to be associated with different environmental and social variables. Inasmuch as the results of this study may be used to infer the current direction of ethnobotanical knowledge change among the Hoti, they also suggest the prognosis and possibilities for preserving their traditional plant lore.