The little Lineas Unidas bus was full, so two of us got to sit up front with a very friendly driver, Geovanni Gris, who, when he learned I am a biologist, shared lots about plants, but also language and culture. He explained how a tall grass, carrizo, I’d mistaken for corn is used for basket-making. It’s been planted in the US but grows wild in Mexico, often on extremely steep slopes, but also by wetlands.
I hadn’t seen many cattle during my trip, and when we saw a pair yoked to a plow, he said the yoke is called a “yunta,” and usually has one older cow who teaches its younger partner, who is stronger.
He mentioned “poleo” tea, which translates as Mexican pennyroyal but is really a kind of vervain whose scientific name is Lippia turbinata. He said it will pick you up the morning after you drink too much.
Wild Bee Plantings 