This study deals with the use of vegetal species by small farmers in the municipal district of Manacapuru, in the State of Amazonas. We used a formal questionnaire for participative interviews which took into consideration the entire agricultural property. Of the one hundred and seventy three species that we registered, the majority (101) presented medicinal use. Sixty-eight species are used for human nutrition and twenty-two for house building. Ninety-seven species (56.1%) come exclusively from domestic orchards; twenty-two (12.7%) exist only in the primary forest; and eighteen species (10.4%) originate from fallows. Some species can be found in different environments. Although the vegetation of the region under study is capable of providing farmers with necessary resources, their look for alternatives that might improve the quality of their lives. Planting fruit species is quite common and means both diversification and better food quality. It is however necessary to encourage planting native forest species. Knowledge and use of medicinal plants is always passed on from generation to generation by women
Medicinal plants; home garden; usefulness of plants; agroforestry systems
