2. The Use and Cultural Significance of the Pita Plant (Aechmea magdalenae) among Ngöbe
Women of Chalite, Panama. The pita plant-Aechmea magdalenae (André) André ex Bakerhas
been widely used throughout Ngöbe communities in Panama as a source of fiber for
hammocks, baskets (kra), nets, thread, rope, and other fibers and cloth. As Ngöbe society
becomes more integrated in regional and national society, the transformation of the pita
plant to kra by the women of Chalite (Panama) has changed. Modern materials such as
commercial dyes and synthetic threads are now used as substitutes for the pita fiber. As
women specialize in tasks that are often linked to economic changes in Chalite, some
women
have specialized in kra production or even subsets of production while others have
discontinued
the practice and rely on other women for kiga or kra. Limited production of kra for the
tourist trade has been unsuccessful as inadequate markets exist.

3. The pita plant-Aechmea magdalenae (André) cheaper mass-produced materials substitute climate and isolated population. Rainfall exceeds
André ex Baker-is an understory terrestrial bromeliad for traditional materials. Substitution ranges 2,000 mm/year and no true dry season exists.
found in the rainforests of Mexico and from extensive use of western clothing and Daily annual temperature shows little variation
Central and South America. Kiga, the long white products to mass production of products that throughout the year falling within a range of 24°
fiber extracted from the leaves of the plant, is mimic traditional products. This general pattern C and 29°C (Slatton 2004). The village sits at the
strong, durable, and resistant to salt water (Kirby is evident in the Ngöbe culture of Panama base of a small mountain ridge, Cerro Chalite, in
1963). Indigenous groups, including the Ngöbe where there has been a loss and then a rebirth the foothills of the Cordillera Central. The village
of Panama, have used the fiber for fishing nets, of knowledge of traditional plants and plant itself is 60 masl and is surrounded by substantial
rope, fishing line, bags, fans, sandals, hammocks, products, with the rebirth driven by a variety of wetlands. Two hundred and fifty Ngöbe citizens
thread for clothing, and string for musical instruments new cultural interactions including marketing live in 30 houses in Chalite and practice
(Gordon 1982; Ticktin 2002; Young of kra (Müller-Schwarze 2006). subsistence farming. The village has no roads
1971). Ngöbe women gather pita leaves from The purpose of this study is to document the and is accessed only by dugout canoe, horse, or
the forest, extract the fiber, use local plant extracts processing of A. magdalenae fibers as they are on foot. The fastest access is by dugout canoe and
to dye it, and create sewn and woven household transformed into kra and to understand the is a two-hour journey by ocean along the coast
items. The wide range of products derived from impact of markets on production in Chalite. In from Chiriqui Grande and another two-hour trip
the pita plant makes it an important functional a meta-analysis of 61 studies of commercialization up the Guariviara River. Many villagers only leave
and social component of Ngöbe life. of non-timber forest products, Ruiz-Perez et al. Chalite once a year, if at all, to work coffee
Textiles, broadly defined to include woven and (2004) determined that good market access and harvests and purchase goods not available in the
sewn materials, have been a critical component of high value products (both components of market village. When compared to many indigenous
cultures, defining the place of the user in society integration) lead to greater specialization and communities in the Comarca, Chalite is isolated.
1 Received 12 October 2009; accepted 21 December more intensive resource management. They also A. magdalenae ranges from Mexico to Ecuador,
2010; published online 5 February 2011. emphasize the importance of local markets in the frequently on wetter sites in moist tropical forests,
Economic Botany, 65(1), 2011, pp. 13–26 commercialization of a non-timber forest product. although it is also found in wetlands (Croat 1978;
© 2011, by The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY While ours is a case study of one community Ticktin 2005). In Panama, it is most common on
10458-5126 U.S.A. in Panama, this example follows the framework in the moister, Atlantic side of the Cordillera Central
(Schneider 1987). Gender, class, worldview, and Ruiz-Perez et al. (2004) of a community that is (Croat 1978). Despite the presence of the CAM
economic status may all be defined, identified, poorly integrated into the cash economy and pathways, it is not associated with forest openings
enhanced, and constrained by the role of a textile many households use the pita plant on a daily (Croat 1978; Skillman et al. 2005).
within a culture (Tice 1995). Most traditional basis. This limited integration provides an interesting A. magdalenae is a member of the Bromeliaceae;
cloth production and the subsequent products contrast with Ticktin’s (2002) study of A. it is one of the few bromeliads in Panama
require substantial investment in time. The timespent in cloth magdalenae in Mexico, where there has been a that is not an epiphyte (Croat 1978). It has the
and goods production may have
long history of marketing A. magdalenae fibers distinctive long leaves and rosette growth form of
multiple purposes: A chance for women to gather,
and products. Ticktin identified both the sustainability bromeliads (Kirby 1963; Pfitsch and Smith
a setting where information is passed to younger
through proper management and socioeconomic 1988). Leaves are up to 3.5 m long, though
generations, and a time to strengthen and develop
and marketing processes as key more commonly reported as 2.5 m long and 5 to
social networks within the community. The
elements of the use of A. magdalenae. 10 cm wide with long spines (Croat 1978; Kirby
traditional products frequently contain deeper
Background 1963; Pfitsch and Smith 1988; Ticktin 2005). A
spiritual and cultural significance (Salvador
The study was conducted in Chalite, Panama, rosette commonly contains 20 to 40 leaves (Kirby
1997; Woodtikarn 2000). However, as traditional
a small community 20 km east and 10 km south 1963). The plant is a perennial monocarp with
cultures have greater contact with the
of the nearest port town of Chiriqui Grande few plants flowering in any 1 year (Villegas
global economy, the role of cloth often
within the Comarca Ngöbe Buglé (Fig. 1). The 2001). Both flowering and fruiting occur during
changes. First, while cultures may retain traditional
Comarca’s location between the Caribbean Sea the wetter season; flowers are yellow and 5 cm in
clothing and cloth products for special
and the leeward side of Panama’s steepest
occasions or some aspects of traditional clothing,
mountain range contribute to its humid tropical