Algunas plantas en billetes, boletos de café y cafetales de Costa Rica (1836 – 2004)

Abstract

The bank notes and coffe tokens of Costa Rica include illustrations of several species of plants. The leaf of the Acanthus sp. plant is used as an ornament in paper money from the mid XIX century to the end of the XX century. The most widely known botanical illustration of Costa Rica is the orchid, Guarianthe skinneri, the national flower, featured in the 5 colones bank notes issued from 1968 to 1992. The most common illustration in coins since 1935 is the coffee (Coffea arabica) branch (bandola) with fruits. Coffee tokens, used in Costa Rica since the mid of the XIX century, include a variety of plant forms representing the coffee tree. Coffee tokens also include illustrations of other plants, like the myrtle (Myrtus communis). The coffee industry in Costa Rica had its origins in 1840 with the first coffee exports, and soon coffee became the main crop of the country. In this work we cite some species used in coffee plantations as live fences and shade, and also some common weeds. We also mention several plant fibers used in the elaboration of the canastos, the baskets used to collect the ripe coffee fruits.