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Mediterranean Ethnobotany
One-week course on Plants and People in the Mediterranean

Programme
Tus Valley (Segura Mountains), Albacete, Spain June 20-27th 2012 This one-week field course is devoted to learning about the plants and people of the Western Mediterranean. The Tus valley, located in the heart of the Betic Mountain Range, offers a wealth of biodiversity by European standards, with spectacular scenery, flora, fauna and a strong ethnobotanical heritage.

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Tus Valley

Wednesday, June 20th.

12h. Meeting at the Botanical Gardens of Castilla-La Mancha located in the City of Albacete. Visit to the Gardens. Welcome Lunch (local cuisine). Paleoethnobotany in the Archaeological Museum of Albacete. Trip to the mountains by bus. Please inform us of your travel plans and we will pick you up upon arrival in Albacete.

The Botanical Garden of Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete)

Opened in September, 2010, this 70,000 m2 garden is devoted to a variety of subjects: agrobiodiversity (cereals, fruit trees, saffron, vineyards), plant ecology (wetlands and 27 Castilla-La Mancha ecosystems), ethnobotany (medicinal plants, wild greens) and plant taxonomy (endemisms, arboretum, etc.). The Garden is divided into three general areas: the first exhibits plants found in the wild and includes the wetland and ecosystem areas (3 and 13 on the map); the second displays plants linked with economic botany: fruit trees, medicinal plants, vineyards, home gardens (7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 on the map) and, finally, a classical botanical garden which includes an historical garden, greenhouse and arboretum (4, 5 and 6 on the map). Although recently created, this garden is already home to approx. 1,000 plant species found among the rich flora of Castilla-La Mancha.

Botanical Garden Map

Archaeological Museum of Albacete

The Province of Albacete possesses a rich archaeological heritage featuring: - Cave paintings - Bronze Age artifacts - Iberian Culture remains On our visit, we will follow a time line from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages, passing by Iberians, Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Arabs, with an emphasis on the technical improvements and links between cultures and their environment. With every step we can discover the footprints left by plants: palm tree iconography from Punic remains, tools for basketry work, seeds...

Tools for working esparto grass from the Al-Andalus Culture (X Century)

Thursday, June 21st.

Morning: Mediterranean Ethnoflora. Trek through the Tus Valley. Tus-La Parrilla (7.5 km.) Afternoon: Ethnobotany in the Mediterranean throughout time. (lecture). Workshop: Ethnobotanical Methodology. Interviews and other methods for ethnobotanical studies in Southern Spain.

Flora and Vegetation in the Tus Valley

Biogeographically, the Tus Valley belongs to the Betic Province of the Mediterranean Region. The Mediterranean forests covering this landscape are dominated by pines, (Pinus halepensis, P. pinaster, P. nigra subsp. salzmannii), and oaks (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota, Q. coccifera, Q. faginea and Q. pyrenaica). The most important plant families are the Lamiaceae, Rosaceae and Cistaceae. The valley contains two types of soil: chalky and sandy. The former is home to a Mediterranean macchia with species such as Cistus clusii, Digitalis obscura,

Helianthemum spp., Lavandula latifolia, Lithodora fruticosa, Salvia officinalis

subsp. oxyodon, Satureja montana, Sideritis incana, Thymus orospedanus, and Thymus vulgaris, while the latter is a macchia composed of Cistus ladanifer,

Cistus laurifolius, Cistus populifolius, Cistus salviifolius, Erica arborea, Erica scoparia, Lavandula pedunculata, Thymus mastichina etc.... Other ecological adaptations include geophytes such as Ophrys spp., Asphodelus spp., etc.
On the northern side of slopes there are patches of deciduous forests with maples (Acer granatense), a Western Mediterranean endemic tree, and honeybeams (Sorbus aria, Sorbus torminalis), along with Ulmus glabra, Ilex

aquifolium, Corylus avellana, Taxus baccata etc.

The enormous variety of endemic species, both Betic and Betic-Rifian, is a remarkable feature of this area, as are the flora native only to Eastern Spain. The rich plant communities growing in rocky limestone soils are truly remarkable. Calares are the elevated karstic plateaus located at the top of the highest mountains. Here one can find unique flora, especially dwarf shrubs traditionally utilized for grazing. Some Betic Endemisms (to be seen during the course)

Arenaria tetraquetra Convolvulus boissieri Daphne oleoides Echinospartum boissieri Erodium cazorlanum Globularia spinosa Lonicera arborea Pinguicula mundii Polygala boissieri Pterocephalus spathulatus Ptilostemon hispanicus Scorzonera albicans
Convolvulus boissieri

Trek to La Parrilla (a map will be provided for each route)

Friday, June 22nd.

Morning: Walk. Pyrenean Oak Forest (14 km.). Picnic lunch. Workshop: Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme... Mediterranean aromas. Distilling of essential oils and preparation of lavender air fresheners.

Pyrenean Oak forest (Torca de los Melojos)

Pyrenean Oak Forest

Pyrenean Oak (Quercus pyrenaica) is a Western Mediterranean oak which grows in sandy soils (The name is misleading since it is the only Spanish oak which does not grow in the Pyrenees Mountains). Rarely found in the Betic Mountains, we will visit the only Pyrenean Oak Forest located in this part of the range. These old oaks inhabit a charming corrie on the top of the Calar, a limestone plateau with many endemic plants.

Aromatic Plants
The presence of essential oils is one of the major adaptations that plants have made to the Mediterranean Climate. Here we can find a vast list of wild aromatic plants, with rosemary, different thyme species, sage, savory, rue, burning bush, and lavender, to name but a few. Being a very important ethnobotanical resource, these aromatics have traditionally been used for cooking, seasoning, gardening and as medicinal and protective plants.

From left to right; ironwort (Sideritis tragoriganum), savory (Satureja montana), mastic thyme (Thymus mastichina), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), sage (Salvia lavandulifolia), and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis).

Workshop: Distillation of an essential oil using a traditional copper distillator (alambique). 5

Workshop: Traditional lavender freshener

Saturday, June 23rd.

Morning: Medicinal Plants. Traditional healing remedies. Afternoon: Saint Johns Feast Day, collecting of medicinal plants. Workshop: Elaboration of Saint Johns liquor.

Medicinal Plants
Among the 4,000 plant species catalogued as Castilla-La Mancha flora, approx. 25 % are medicinal plants. Most of them have been used in folk medicine to treat common diseases. Only a few decades ago, the small hamlets in the region were quite far away from doctors and hospitals, so knowledge of the medicinal properties of these plants still resides in the memories of local elderly people. The most important botanical family used for medicinal purposes is the Lamiaceae. Some traditional remedies will be prepared with the plants collected in the field. Saint Johns liquor This is a traditional liquor made on Saint Johns day (Midsummers Day) with green walnuts, wine, brandy and sugar.

Sunday, June 24th.

Mediterranean Trilogy: wine, olives and wheat. Workshop: Bread and muffin baking in a traditional oven. Spirit distillation.

Mediterranean Trilogy
Grapes, olives and wheat form the basis of both Mediterranean ethnobotany and diet. Olive oil is widely used in cooking, while olives in brine are a common snack throughout Spain. Wheat is the main ingredient for bread and oven products. Finally, grapes are very important in the Tus Valley, where a long tradition in spirit distillation exists.

Monday, June 25th.

Field trip: Walk through the Betic Mountains. Mentiras Peak (12 km.). Betic Endemisms (picnic lunch). Workshop: Horchata making.

Mentiras Peak
1,897 m. high, Mentiras is the second highest peak in the Province of Albacete. Upon reaching the top, the view of the Betic Range is nothing short of spectacular. Remarkable plants found here include a robust population of Daphne oleoides and many other endemisms such as Erodium .

Wild peonies (Paeonia broteroi) on the way to Mentiras

Workshop: Horchata Making Horchata is a traditional summer beverage made with chufa sedge (Cyperus esculentus). Related to Turkish salep (a hot drink made from orchid tubers), it was introduced into Eastern Spain by the Arabs, even though the name comes from the Latin hordeata (from hordeum, barley). Here we will learn how to make this delicious beverage with chufa nuts, lemon, cinnamon and sugar.

Tuesday, June 26th.

Morning: Crop Biodiversity. Visit to home gardens. Casas de los Malojares-El Carrascal (3.5 km. walk) Workshop: Preparation of Mediterranean rice with vegetables. Afternoon: Party, Spanish guitar

Home gardens
For the people living in the hamlets of the Tus valley, home gardens are an important source of food for both themselves and their animals. These gardens are small patches surrounded by fruit trees and grape vines. In summer, they are busy places where it is easy to see people tending their gardens early in the morning or gathering tomatoes for the daily salad. Irrigated with clear water from springs or creeks, crops that have almost been lost in other parts of Spain, e.g. broom corn (Sorghum bicolor) or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) are still cultivated here.

Traditional home garden in Spanish mountains

Wednesday, June 27th.

Visit to the Rio Mundo waterfall and the historic town of Alcaraz. Lunch at El Molino de La Potrera (Alcaraz). Return to Albacete at 17h.

Birth of the Ro Mundo

This mighty waterfall cascading from a high cliff into a cave gives birth to the Rio Mundo (from the Latin mundus, clean), which then follows its course various kilometres inside the Calar. This cool valley forms a shelter for plants normally found in Northern Spain: holly trees, yews, hazels etc.

Alcaraz
From the Arabic Al-Karas (cherry tree), this town was an important centre during the Middle Ages. Many signs of its lost power are still evident: the castle, historical

buildings, towers and its magnificent square. Close to the town lies the old Molino de La Potrera, a XIV Century mill devoted today to ecotourism.

Walks
Walking will be at a slow pace, with time to enjoy the scenery, take pictures and rest. A bag, boots, sunscreen, hat and water are necessary.

Accommodation
The Pea de la Ventana Inn (www.piedralaventana.com) is located in a picturesque setting with a breathtaking mountain view. Each building houses two twin bedrooms. We can also enjoy the swimming pool.

Meals
Local products will be used to prepare Mediterranean-style meals. These will be served on a Spanish timetable (breakfast at 8 am, lunch at 2:30 pm, dinner at 8:30 pm).

Local foods; left: moorish tomatoes with garlic and cumin. Right: cowpea stew

Registration
For information on how to book your reservation, please send an e-mail to rockrosecotourism@gmail.com.. A 50 deposit is required. If you have special requirements, please let us know. Also, you can contact us by phone +34 676 684637 (Miguel) Maximum: 24 persons.

Staff:
Alonso Verde Lpez Ph. D. in Ethnobotany (Medicinal Plants). Botanist and member of the Society of Economic Botany. Dr. Verde has 20 years of experience as an ethnobotanist in Central and Southern Spain. Member of the Research Team on Ethnobiology, Flora and Vegetation in the Iberian S.E., Botanical Institute, Botanical Garden of Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete). Jos Fajardo Rodrguez Ph. D. in Ethnobiology (Local foods). Botanist, member of the Society of Economic Botany. Along with Alonso Verde, he belongs to the Research team on Spanish Ethnobotany coordinated by Dr. Diego Rivera from the University of Murcia. Member of the Research Team on Ethnobiology, Flora and Vegetation in the Iberian S.E., Botanical Institute, Botanical Garden of Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete). Miguel Rodrguez Brotons Forestry Engineer, Rockrose Ecotourism. Organization and logistics Technical Management: Encebra Travel

650
Includes all transportation by bus during the course, plus, lodging, meals, activities, insurance and didactic materials.

Tus Valley on the Iberian Peninsula

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