This study shows the results of a wide but non-exhaustive review on plants cited in the literacy work
of the writer-naturalist João Guimarães Rosa (J.G. Rosa). Information about popular names and use of
plants were recovered through a review in seven works of the author. The assignment of the scientific
names was based in other previous ethnobotanical studies performed in similar areas of Cerrado in Minas
Gerais state. For each species, data about their presence in the Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia, or use for
preparing commercial products were checked. A total of 964 popular names for plants were recovered, 59
of them being more frequently cited. From the total citations, 57 native species have their use described
by the author but curiously, only thirteen are referred to as medicinal. It is assumed that the literature
from J.G. Rosa is very rich in data about the utility of the plants from the Cerrado; however, the present
work shows that his interest was rather the literary (poetic) creation, and we demystify that supposition.