RESUMO Estuda a cultura popular do Recife no que diz respeito ao conhecimento do mundo vegetal, conforme é difundido nos mercados públicos dessa cidade. Leva em conta aspectos etnobotânicos e as relações sociais que acompanham a assimilação de padrões culturais pela medicina popular. Inclui levantamento preliminar das plantas comercializadas naqueles mercados e comenta a integração em diferentes contextos sócio-culturais. ABSTRACT Medicinal plants and commercialized sorcery at the public markets in Recife. v. 25, n. 1, p. 7-15, jan./jun. 1997. Studies folk culture in Recife (Pernambuco, Brazil), concerning the knowledge of vegetables, according to the diffused content of that knowledge in the public markets of that city. Takes into account the ethno-botanical traits and the social relations usually attached to the assimilation of cultural patterns by the popular medicine. Includes preliminary survey of the plants commercialized at those markets, and comments on their integration in differents socio-cultural contexts. RÉSUMÉ Les plantes médicinales et magiques commercialisées dans les marchés publiques de Recife. v. 25, n. 1, p. 7-15, jan./jun. 1997. Etude de la culture populaire à Recife portant sur la connaissance du monde végétal qu’ont les gens de cette ville y compris la diffusion de cette connaissance à l’intérieur des marchés publiques. L’auteur met en évidence des aspects ethnobotaniques et les relations sociales qui accompagnent l’assimilation des processus culturels par la médecine populaire. Il ajoute une liste de plantes commercialisées et fait des commentaires sur l’intégration dans différents contextes socio-culturels.