Syngonanthus nitens
Encyclopedia
Syngonanthus nitens or Golden grass is a grass-like species of Eriocaulaceae
which exists in the region of Jalapão
, state of Tocantins
, Brazil - the region is part of the Brazilian cerrado
. Its main characteristic is the bright and gold color, hence their common name "Capim Dourado", which literally means "golden grass".
The making of handicrafts from S. nitens began in Jalapão, in the Afro-Brazilian community of Mumbuca in the municipality of Mateiros. Indigenous people, probably from the Xerente ethnic group, taught the art to local inhabitants when passing through the region around the 1930s. The handicrafts are made of coils of S. nitens scapes sewn tightly together with strips from the Moriche Palm
's (Mauritia flexuosa) young leaves. For decades the handicrafts were only made by women for household uses and/or sporadic selling. Today, there are at least 12 local community associations. The handicrafts are usually sold in small shops of local artisan associations.
S. nitens flowering starts in July and seeds are produced from the beginning of September through October. The Tocantins State Government, through its Environmental Agency
(Naturatins), established a regional law (Portaria 55/2004 and 092/2005) allowing scape harvesting only after September 20th, and requiring flowerhead cutting and dispersal in the grassland areas just after scape harvesting. This regional law can be an efficient tool for contributing to the sustainability of S. nitens handicraft activities.
Eriocaulaceae
The Eriocaulaceae or pipewort family is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the order Poales. The family is large, with about 1,150-1,200 species described in ten genera. The family is widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group occurring in tropical regions,...
which exists in the region of Jalapão
Jalapão
Jalapão is a state park in eastern Tocantins, Brazil, about 250 kilometers from the Tocantins capital, Palmas. It occupies 34,000 km2, making it the largest state park in Tocantins...
, state of Tocantins
Tocantins
Tocantins may refer to:* Tocantins, a state in Brazil* Tocantins River, a river in Brazil* Survivor: Tocantins, a reality show set in Tocantins, Brazil* Tocantins Esporte Clube, a Brazilian football club...
, Brazil - the region is part of the Brazilian cerrado
Cerrado
The Cerrado, is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Gioas and Minas Gerais...
. Its main characteristic is the bright and gold color, hence their common name "Capim Dourado", which literally means "golden grass".
The making of handicrafts from S. nitens began in Jalapão, in the Afro-Brazilian community of Mumbuca in the municipality of Mateiros. Indigenous people, probably from the Xerente ethnic group, taught the art to local inhabitants when passing through the region around the 1930s. The handicrafts are made of coils of S. nitens scapes sewn tightly together with strips from the Moriche Palm
Moriche Palm
The Moriche Palm, Mauritia flexuosa, also known as the Ité Palm, Ita, Buriti, or aguaje , is a palm tree. It grows in and near swamps and other wet areas in tropical South America....
's (Mauritia flexuosa) young leaves. For decades the handicrafts were only made by women for household uses and/or sporadic selling. Today, there are at least 12 local community associations. The handicrafts are usually sold in small shops of local artisan associations.
S. nitens flowering starts in July and seeds are produced from the beginning of September through October. The Tocantins State Government, through its Environmental Agency
(Naturatins), established a regional law (Portaria 55/2004 and 092/2005) allowing scape harvesting only after September 20th, and requiring flowerhead cutting and dispersal in the grassland areas just after scape harvesting. This regional law can be an efficient tool for contributing to the sustainability of S. nitens handicraft activities.
External links
- Tocantins Government website http://jalapao.to.gov.br/en/golden-grass/56
- Naturatins - Instituto Natureza do Tocantins (the state environmental agency) website http://naturatins.to.gov.br/
- Pequi - Pesquisa e Conservação do Cerrado website http://www.pequi.org.br/capim.html
- Handicraft - website http://www.capimdouradoonline.com.br/info/info.html