New reports of plants of African origin in the Cuban flora

Abstract

Context: The Cuban flora faces significant threats such as intensive agriculture, illegal logging, mining, and the proliferation of invasive plants that endanger numerous native species. A relevant cultural aspect is the introduction of African plants since the colonial era, linked to the African diaspora and the ethnobotanical knowledge brought by enslaved people, who used these plants for food, medicinal, and ritual purposes. In recent decades, the process of "Yorubization" has driven the conscious incorporation of African plants for religious and medicinal practices, reflecting a cultural and spiritual rearrangement.

Objectives: To document the recent introduction of African species and their cultivation in Cuba.

Methods: The research has a qualitative approach. Additionally, participant observation and unstructured interviews were used to collect data on the physical environment. Documentary analysis enabled a deep and contextualized understanding of the object of study based on existing sources, contributing to the generation of new knowledge and the theoretical foundation of the research work. 

Results: Six new African species for the Cuban flora are reported i.e. Garcinia kola, Glyphaea brevis, Milicia excelsa, Newbouldia laevis, Ouret lanata, and Tetrapleura tetraptera, introduced from Africa and cultivated in various Cuban provinces for ritual and medicinal uses.