FLORA
Of the most important plants in the Maya region can be mentioned some trees which were used for constructive purposes, such as the chicozapote, mahogany and cedar, which currently are cataloged as fine woods. From the chicozapote is also extracted the gum, and the resin from the copal tree has been important for ceremonial use. Other trees were used in the construction of canoes or for the production of paper, in particular the amate bark. For food were important fruit trees, in particular the evergreen, which were the most consumed, together with a large variety of wild fruits. The diet was also based on a variety of edible roots and tubers, such as cassava and sweet potato, as well as various herbs, peppers, mushrooms and flowers. Of particular importance have been Cucurbitaceae, including various types of squash or pumpkins. Among the plants that produce edible seeds are the different types of corn and beans, vanilla, achiote, Ramon or ujuxte, and cocoa. With regard to maize, has been the mainstay of all Mesoamerican populations, so that the intensification of its crop around the year 2.000 B.C. was one of the triggers of the development of the Maya civilization. In fact, at the present time corn is the most widely consumed agricultural product throughout the world. Cocoa also deserves special attention, since it was a food reserved for royalty and people of high social rank. When was processed in Europe as chocolate, it became another food consumed worldwide.