[Aztlan] 4-Petal Flower I.D. in Teotihuacan??

[Larry Poulsen]

It is available in the Benson collection at the Univ Texas Library. They 
have 2 copies. one is available for checkout but is presently checked out.

Larry P


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carlos" <quetzal1 at earthlink.net>
To: "kim Goldsmith" <kiminmexico at yahoo.com>
Cc: <aztlan at lists.famsi.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 2:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Aztlan] 4-Petal Flower I.D. in Teotihuacan??


>
>  /Out of Print/
>
>
>  /Mitologia Y Simbolismo De La Flora En El Mexico Prehispanico (1st
>  edition)/
>
> Author: Doris Heyden
> <http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Doris_Heyden-author.html?isrc=b-compare-author>
> Language: Spanish
> Format: Book (Illustrated), 176 pages
> Publication Date: January 1983
> Publisher: Unknown
> ISBN-10: 9685804176
> ISBN-13: 9789685804172
>
> carlos
>
> kim Goldsmith wrote:
>> Hi All!
>>
>> I have always wondered about the botanical i.d. of the 4-petal flower so 
>> widely represented here in Teotihuacan.  I am basicially limited to what 
>> I can find on the Net, and I have searched but have not found anything 
>> written up on it here.
>>
>> Even though during my 27 years here at the site I have kept a keen eye 
>> out through all seasons for any flower that would fit the bill, I never 
>> saw one.  However, the other night at about 3:00 a.m. I was out in our 
>> yard (we live in the Director's house on-Site), and noticed a very small 
>> bush of flowers in full bloom!!  In the daytime the plant is in plain 
>> sight yet barely noticeable, so I kept going outside for a few 
>> evenings/nights and confirmed that indeed, that is the only time the 
>> flowers open.
>>
>> I took pictures myself, but there is a good one here (it's the white 
>> one):
>>
>> http://www.uni.edu/~andersow/fourpetals.html
>>
>> The flower is:
>>
>> Cutleaf Evening-Primrose
>>
>> Oenothera coronopifolia
>>
>> Onagraceae
>>
>>
>> It has only four petals, and is very similar to the ones we see in the 
>> art here.  Of course, to be so important iconographically, it would have 
>> to have something special about it.  On this 
>> site(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenothera), among other things, it 
>> talks about its medicinal properties as "...considered to be effective in 
>> healing asthmatic coughs, gastro-intestinal disorders, whooping cough and 
>> as a sedative pain-killer. Poultices containing O. biennis were at one 
>> time used to ease bruises and speed wound healing."  It also states that 
>> this plant is believed to be a native of Mexico and South America.
>>
>> Although anything that heals is good, it seems that for as long as man 
>> can remember, anything that sedates, relieves pain, or causes a general 
>> "feel good" state is even better.  Apparently this particular plant can 
>> produce that effect.
>>
>> Do any of you know of any work out there already done on this topic?  I'm 
>> sure there must be SOMETHING, but I certainly don't have access to it 
>> here.  And, if it turns out there isn't anything, would anyone be 
>> interested in exploring it further with me?  I'm just blown away by the 
>> fact that I was too dense in the plant department to know that anything 
>> but night-blooming jasmine opened up when the sun went down!
>>
>> Thanks for indulging me, and please remember that I will be around Teo. 
>> during the ICA next month.  My cel no. is 552-717-9845.  Give me a jingle 
>> if anyone can make it out for a visit!
>>
>> Best to all of you,
>>
>> KIM
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Aztlan mailing list
>> http://www.famsi.org/mailman/listinfo/aztlan
>> Click here to post a message Aztlan at lists.famsi.org
>> Click to view Calendar of Events 
>> http://research.famsi.org/events/events.php
>>
>>
>>
>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus 
>> signature database 4160 (20090616) __________
>>
>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>>
>> http://www.eset.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus 
> signature database 4163 (20090617) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Aztlan mailing list
> http://www.famsi.org/mailman/listinfo/aztlan
> Click here to post a message Aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Click to view Calendar of Events 
> http://research.famsi.org/events/events.php
>
>