the favela plant had both a medicinal and practical function, as the leaves could be used for herbal teas and its light wood branches could be used as building material - furthermore, the plant caused itching and skin irritation, adding a symbolic dimension to the use of the term 'favela' by the veterans.

The modern term 'favela' derives from Providência hill, making this community the first one officially denominated and recognized as a 'favela' - yet, if going by modern definitions, Providência was not the first favela in rio de janeiro, since at the time unregulated and precarious housing had existed on the outskirts of the city for decades. 

not far from providência hill, the now extinct favela de Santo António surged in similar circumstances, when another battalion returning from the canudos war built temporary and precarious housing on rua evaristo de veiga - growing to over 1000 houses by 1910.