Between Leaves and Branches: Floristic, Phylogenetic and Spatial Diversity of Plants Used by the Povo De Terreiro in Brazil

The Povos e Comunidades Tradicionais de Terreiro e de Matriz Africana (Traditional Peoples and Communities of Afro-Brazilian Terreiro and African Matrix religions, henceforth Povos de Terreiro ) are Afro-Brazilian religious communities that draw upon African traditions — especially Yoruba, Jeje, and Bantu — together with Indigenous knowledge and the Brazilian environmental context. Their practices are centered, though not exclusively, in the sacred space known as Terreiro or Ilê . Within these spaces, plants serve as bridges between the spiritual world and daily life, mediating rituals, healing practices, and symbols of identity. Such uses reveal knowledge systems that preserve ancestral memory while continuously adapting to local environments and cultural diversity. This study investigates taxonomic, phylogenetic, and geographic patterns in the selection of plants used in terreiros across different Brazilian biomes. We analyzed whether species composition is more closely associated with shared cultural ancestry, local flora, or geographic proximity. Results indicate that terreiros share patterns of plant use that transcend regional boundaries, underscoring the strength of cultural transmission and the resilience of Afro-Brazilian knowledge. Differences between biomes, and between native and exotic species, reflect cultural adaptations to local conditions. This study highlights how cultural and biological diversity intertwine in sustaining the ethnobotanical systems of the Povos de Terreiro in Brazil.