The floral mats of Patamban, Michoacan, Mexico: elaboration and species used

We documented the activities and the species used by the local people of Patamban, Michoacan in the elaboration each year of floral mats for 2 different events: i) the religious festival dedicated to the town patron Cristo Rey, and ii) as a cultural activity during the Morelia Music Festival. We directly recorded the species used in each event, accompanying the artisans to the collection of material in Patamban and interviewing them informally. We documented 148 species (65% are native) belonging to 54 families and 122 genera. The most widely used growth form was herbs (60%). Asteraceae (24 species, 16.2%) and Fabaceae (17 species, 11.5%) were dominant in terms of species richness, while at the genus level it was Salvia (7, 4.7%). Inflorescences (35.1%), fruits (30.4%) and flowers (21%) are the structures that were most used in the elaboration of the mats, whose predominant colors are green, white, brown, pink, and yellow. We expect that the results of this study will contribute to preserve this important tradition among the local population and value its relevance as an example that combines, excepcionally, the natural and cultural heritage of Michoacan.