Teosinte Distribution in Mexico - CIMMYT: Seeding innovation ...

J. Jesús Sánchez and José Ariel Ruiz Corral
climates ((A)C(w)); 2) in subhumid hot climates (AW)
at El Sitio, El Aguacate, Palmar Chico, and Las
Anonas; 3) an isolated population exists in the
archaeological ruins of Malinalco, in the southern
part of the state in an (A)C climate; it covers
approximately 1 km2 on a steep, rugged hill known
locally as the “Hill of the Idols” (Fig. 9).
Morelos. Seed has been found at only one site east of
Tepoztlán (Fig. 12), characterized by a semihot,
subhumid climate type (A)C. Teosinte is located in a
small canyon next to the town of Amatlán, generally
isolated from maize and surrounded by plum
orchards (Spondias mombin L.). The population grows
more abundantly on a small cliff, far from the reach
of cattle, competing only with grasses and shrubs, in
an area no larger than 1 km2 .
State of Oaxaca
Three populations have been reported: 1) one by
Danish botanist Fredrick Liebmann last century near
San Agustín Loxicha (Wilkes 1967, 1986); 2) another
discovered in 1985 near San Pedro Juchatengo (San
Cristóbal Honduras); and 3) In the Mixe region
where, according to a communication by Lipp (1986)
Cuernavaca
Tepoztlán
Yautepec
Zacatepec
Cuautla
99 o 20' 98 o 40'
Information from
botanical gardens
and other
sources; no seed
samples available.
Balsas
18 o 20'
Figure 12. Teosinte distribution in the state of
Morelos.
19 o
Arcelia
Chilpancingo
Information from botanical
gardens and other sources;
no seed samples available.
Balsas
Iguala
Acapulco
102 o 99 o
Figure 11. Teosinte distribution in the state of
Guerrero.
(Fig. 13), teosinte is interplanted with maize or sown
as a separate crop.
Teosinte is also found in the areas of San Pedro
Juchatengo and San Agustín Loxicha, in the southern
Sierra Madre with a climate primarily similar to that
of the Balsas River Basin, namely subhumid, and hot
with a dry winter (Aw).
18 o
16 o
Huajuapan
San Pedro
Juchatengo
Loxicha
Oaxaca
Miahuatlán
Pochutla
98 o 94 o
Figure 13. Teosinte distribution in the state of
Oaxaca.
29
18 o
17 o
Information from
botanical gardens and
other sources; no seed
samples available.
Balsas