Revitalização e ampliação do horto medicinal UEMA

Abstract

Medicinal plants are part of the great biodiversity and have been used in people's lives since ancient times. This work aimed to revitalize and expand the Medicinal Garden, located at the fazenda Escola de São Luis at the Universidade Estadual do Maranhão. A previous visit to the garden was made in order to assess the real situation regarding the quality of the beds, distribution and quantity of species, management, seedling production, among other factors, identifying local demands and determining actions for further revitalization. The activities related to revitalization were carried out through a set of actions and strategies that were developed during the months from January to November 2022. A literature review was carried out and consultations to specialized websites, a survey of the plants grown in the beds, recovery of the beds, cleaning, fertilization, planting of seedlings, cultural treatments, production of seedlings, collection, and herborization. With the addition of 38 new species, the garden now has 54 cultivated species, distributed in 25 botanical families. The most representative family is Lamiaceae with 14 species, followed by Amaranthaceae with 8 species. The area for growing medicinal plants was expanded, with the use of spaces outside the beds, mainly for shrubs and trees. The organization of the university garden ensures the preservation of medicinal species native or cultivated in the region, offering a solid base for the revitalization and development of teaching, research and extension linked to the study of these plants