POETIC BLOSSOMS, RECORDS OF THE FLORA OF CARIRI IN CEARÁ IN THE WORKS OF THE POET PATATIVA DO ASSARÉ

Artistic expressions convey the perception, culture, and emotional dimensions of those who conceive, interact with, and transmit them. Patativa do Assaré, a popular poet, exemplifies this multifaceted grasp through his extensive work that portrays the landscape, culture, people, and history of the northeastern backlands. His book, "Sing There That I Sing Here - Philosophy of a Northeastern Troubadour," is the focus of this study. The aim was to identify common plant names, analyse them, and assess whether the poet could still draw inspiration from these plants today. The verses contain 2,639 citations related to nature, with 597 terms, 64 of which directly refer to plants. Botanical names were inferred through verse analysis and comparison with herbarium specimens from the Cariri region of Ceará. Despite increasing anthropisation, much of the landscape and place could largely be retold. This research joins others in enhancing the value of biological and cultural conservation, contributing to the conservation status of the imburana and pequi, as evoked by the artist in his work. Keywords: Ethnobotany; Popular plant names; Northeastern Flora; Patativa do Assaré; Cariri Ceará.