(B)--Bocas del Toro (E)--English
(C)--Colombian Spanish (J)--Jamaican
(Db)--Choco (N)--Nicaraguan Spanish
(CA)--Central American Spanish (P)--Panamanian Spanish
(CR)--Costa Rican Spanish (S)--Spanish in general
(Cu)--Cuna (W)--Western Panama
(D)--Darien Spanish (!)--Personally gathered information
(Ch)--Not defined, but in text
Aba: Bombacopsis (N); Pithecellobium (Cu)
Ababol: Papaver (C)
Abaca: Musa (CR)
Abanico: Celosia (P)
Abanico chino: Amaranthus (S)
Abarco: Cariniana (C)
Abataque: Zantholoxylum (C)
Abebe: Renealmia (C)
Abejon: Cassia (CR); Stanhopea (C)
ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS (L.) Moench. Okra (E); Algalia (C); Candia (C); Gombo (C);
Gumbo (J); Guicombo (C); Lagarto (C); Naju (P). (Fig. 1). Young okra is good as a vegetable or a
pickle; roasted seeds are eaten on toast, sometimes used as a coffee substitute. The fruits are
considered antispasmodic, used to treat bites of venomous animals.
ABELMOSCHUS MOSCHATUS Medic. Musk okra (E); Wild okra (J); Algalia (C); Almizclillo (C);
Lagarto (C). (Fig. 2). Cultivated elsewhere for the musk-scented seeds, used in perfumery, and as
a fiber plant. In Panama, the plant is apparently cultivated only as an ornament.
Abetoa: Coleus (Cu)
Abgi: Unidentified cultivated shrub (probably Rubiaceae) used by the Bayano Cuna to stain hammocks black (!).
Abgigastuet: Indigofera (Cu)
ABRASIVE: A coarse-leaved plant used for washing dishes, Curatella, Luffa, Miconia, Pavonia,
Solanum, Waltheria.
Abraza palo: Ficus (P)
Abrojito: Tribulus (C)
Abrojo: Alternanthera (C); Cenchrus (CR); Kallstroemia (C); Sloanea (CR); Triumfetta (P)
ABRUS PRECATORIUS L. Crab's eye (E); Rosary pea (E); Jequerite (C); Ojo de cangrejo (P);
Peronilla (C,D). (Fig. 3). Raw seeds are very poisonous, have served as a contraceptive (4 to 6 white
or black seeds are taken daily for several days after each menstruation). Seeds are used as necklace
ornaments. Powdered seeds are used as a snuff for headache; boiled seeds used as an aphrodisiac.
Roots used as a licorice substitute, chewed as an aphrodisiac, diuretic, for sore throat, and for
rheujmatism. Macerated leaves are said to be styptic and to remove freckles. The leaves taste sweet,
and a decoction of the leaves and roots is widely used for cought, colds, and colic.
Abugi: Indigofera (Cu)
Acabu: Zanthoxylum (P)
Acacia: Acacia (E); Leucaena (E)
Acacia de aguijote: Parkinsonia (N)
Acacia de Catharino: Prosopis (N)
ACACIA FARNESIANA (L.) Willd. Sweet acacia (E); Aromo (P); Pela (C); Una de Cabra (C). (Fig.
4). The gum is used as a famin food. Flowers are put between linens to scent them and to protect
them from moths. Flowers are attractive to bees. Crushed fruits yield an astringent used in
conjunctivitis, diarrhea, etc.; also used to mend broken dishes. Bark is considered febrifugal and is
tied around the joints by West Indians to alleviate rheumatism.
ACANTHOCEREUS PITAJAYA (Jacq.) Dugand Ex Croizat. Dildoe (E); Dildo espinoso (C);
Pitajaya (C). Fruits of this, as of all cacti, are safe to sample, avoiding spines and minute hairs that
are present on several varieties. the plant is diuretic. These cacti are fairly common in thorn forests
of the Azuero Peninsula (!).
ACANTHOSPERMUM AUSTRALA (Loefl.) Kuntze. Cancer de loma (C).
ACANTHOSPERMUM HISPIDUM DC. Pacado mortal, espuela de caballo, ericito playero,
cacharro, el trejo (C).
Acapalti: Iva (C)
Acapro: Tecoma (C)
Acedera (de montana): Oxalis (CR); Trifolium (CR)
Acedejo: Thevetia (C)
Aceite: Calophyllum (C); Copaifera (C); Phyllanthus (C)
Aceite maria: Calophyllum (C)
Aceite de palo: Podocarpus (C)
Aceituno: Guettarda (C); Humiriastrum (C); Simarouba (CR, CR/ROC, P); Vitex (C)
Aceituno negrito: Simarouba (N)
Acerola: Malpighia (CR)
Acesiva: Zamia (C)
Ache: Clarisia (C)
Acheri: Phyllanthus (C)
Achicoria: Elephantopus (CR); Eryngium (CR)
Achihuite: Bixa (C)
ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM L. Yarrow (E); Colchon de pobre (C). (Fig. 5). Leaves used
occasionally as a soup vegetable, or as tea or tobacco substitutes. Aerial parts are regarded as
depurative.
Achiote: Bixa (S)
Achiote de monte: Sloanea (C)
Achiotillo: Caryocar (C); Fuchia (CR); Lindackeria (C); Mayna (C); Vismia (CR, C)
Achira: Canna (C)
Achira de monte: Alpinia (C)
Achirilla: Curcuma (C)
Achon: Xylopia (C)
Achoncha: Cyclanthera (C)
Achote: Bixa (P)
Achote de monte: Ampelocera (C)
Achotillo: Banara (C); Vismia (CR)
Achueriala: Lippia (Cu)
ACHYRANTHES ASPERA L. Prickly chaff-flower (E); Rabo de gato (S) (Fig. 6). Leaves are eaten
as a vegetable (6% protein). The seeds, though emetic, have served as famine food, also used to treat
hydrophobia and snakebite. The branches serve as a toothbrush and the ashes are used for salt.
Macerated roots are used on scorpion stings.
ACHYROCLINE SATUREOIDES (Lam.) DC. Juan Blanco (C)
ACROCLINIUM ROSEUM Hook. Inmortales dobles (C)
ACROCOMIA ANTIOQUENSIS Posada-Arango. Corozo (C); Corozo a molado (C); Corozo
caucano (C); Corozo grande (C). The seeds are a source of oil, and the leaves a source of fiber. The
flowers are said to be pectoral.
ACROCOMIA PANAMENSIS Bailey. Prickley palm (E); Coyai (CR); Palma de vino (P); Pacora
(P). The seeds are a source of oil, relished by cattle. Sweet sap of this and related species are used
to make wine. Root of A. mexicana is regarded as a cure for diabetes.
ACROSTICHUM AUREUM L. Mangrove fern (E); Esnargan (Cu); Helecho de manglar (S). Young
leaves and fiddleheads are edible raw or cooked. The leaves are emollients, sometimes used for
thatch; rhizomes vulnerary. The Cuna use the young fiddleheads to extract fish bones from the
throat (!). The plant is used as a medicinal bath for infants (!).
Acuapar: Hura (C)
Acuasia: Quassia (C)
Acuruco: Mutingia (C)
ADANSONIA DIGITATA L. Baobob (E,S) (Fig. 7). The young leaves are eaten as a pot-herb and
in soups. The bark and leaves are eaten asa famine food; powdered, they serve as a substitute for
salt and pepper. The seeds are febrifugal and are made into a gruel; roasted seeds are applied to
aching teeth. Shoots of germinating seeds are edible.
Adelpha: Petrea (P)
ADENANTHERA PAVONINA L. Redhead (E); Coralitos (S) (Fig. 8). The leaves are served as
famine food. Macerated leaves are used in gout and rheumatism; husked seeds are said to have an
agreeable taste. Powdered seeds hasten suppuration of boils and cure prickly heat. The bark is used
for washing clothes and hair, and the wood was formally the source of a red dye.
ADENOSTEMMA LAVERIA (L.) Kuntze. Dona Juana (C). Used in the Choco to wash wounds, and
around Sautata regarded as a snakebite cure.
ADIANTUM sp. Maidenhair Fern (E); Culantrillo de piedra (P). This fern is regarded as an
emmenagogue and expectorant.
Adonis: Duranta (C)
Adonis blanco: Duranta (C)
Adonis morado: Duranta (C)
Adorate: Pisonia (C)
Adyanya peso: Trichilia (C)
AECHMEA MAGDALENAE (Andre) Andre ex Baker. Pingwing (J); Pita (S) (Fig. 9). The acid
fruits are edible raw or cooked, better for making beverages. Fibers in leaves are used for making
rope and methods for commercial production are being studied in the Choco.
AEGIPHILA MARTINICENSIS Jacq. Contra culebra (P); Juan de la Verdad (P) (Fig. 10. The plant
is considered alexeritic and aphrodisiac.
Afaja: Trichilia (C)
Agallo: Caesalpinia (P)
Agapanto: Agapanthus (CR)
AGERATUM CONYZOIDES L. Hierba hemostatica (C); Retentina (C); Mejorana (S); Chiba (C);
Manrubio, Yerba de chino; Marrubio blanco, Yerba de chivo, Mastranto (Fig. 11). A valued
hemostatic in Colombia, used elsewhere to treat venereal diseases.
Agra: Vitia (CR)
Agraz: Gouania (C); Vitis (C); Coccoloba (C)
Agrecejo: Gossyopiospermum (C)
Agu: Allium (Cu)
Agua libia: Senecio macrophyllus (C)
Aguacate: Persea (S)
Aguacate asca: Styrax (CR)
Aguacate del monte: Nectandra (P)
Aguacatia: Panopsis (S)
Aguacatilla: Hernandia (CR); various Lauraceae (CR); Persea (P)
Aguacatillo cordillero: Beilschmiedia (C)
Aguacaton: Ocotea (CR,P); Persea (P)
Aguacharaco: Protium (C)
Aguacolda: Sobralia (C)
Aguadija: Odontoglossum (C)
Aguadulce: Palicourea (C)
Aguaje: Chelyocarpus (C); Mauritia (C)
Aguakkalat: Eryngium (Cu)
Aguama: Bromelia (S)
Aguarras: Ocotea (C); Tetragastris (C)
Aguatillo de tierra firma: Grammadenia (C)
Agujade arrea: Casearia (C); Xylosma (C)
Agujilla: Ladenbergia (CR)
Ahumada: Cassia (N)
Ahuyama: Cucurbita (C)
Aikra: Gliricidia (C)
Aili: Avicennia (Cu); Conocarpus (Cu); Laguncularia (Cu); Rhizophora (Cu)
AIPHANES CARYOTIFOLIA (H.B.K.) Wendl. Chascara (C); Corozo de chascara (C); Mararay (C);
Palma de chascara (C). The seeds are oily and edible.
Air Plant: Bryophyllum (E)
Air Potato: Dioscorea (E)
Aje de monte: Stemmadenia (C); Thevetia (C)
Ajenjibre: Zingiber (C)
Ajenjibrillo: Paspalum (CR)
Ajenjillo cimarron: Gnaphalium (CR)
Ajenjo: Artemisia (Cr, C)
Aji: Capparis (C); Capsicum (P); Caryocar (CR); Clarisia (C); Coccoloba (C); Diplotrophis (C)
Aji canella: Drimys (C)
Ajicillo: Heisteria (P)
Ajicito: Toxicodendron (C); Capparis (C)
Aji de monte: Stemmandenia (C); Thevetia (C)
Ajillo: Capparis (C); Capsicum (P); Caryocar (CR); Nothoscordum (CR); Petiveria (CR, CR/ROC)
Ajito: Capparis (C)
Ajo: Allium (P); Caryocar (CR); Cassipourea (P); Parkia (D)
Ajonjoli: Sesamum (S)
Akee: Blighia (J)
Ala de angel: Begonia (P); Bignonia (P)
Alacran: Heliotropium (CR,P)
Alacrancillo: Heliotropium (CR); Parosela (CR)
Alagua: Carludovica (C)
Ala de murcielago: Passiflora (P)
Alampana: Lantana (C)
Alasant: Ormosia (CR)
Alazano: Calycophyllum (C,P)
Albaca: Ocimum (D)
Albahaca: Ocimum (CR, CR/ROC)
Albahaca cimarrona: Salvia (CR)
Albarco: Cariniana (C)
Albarica: Aiphanes (C); Pyrenoglyphis (C); Desmoncus (C)
Albarina: Centaurea cyanus (C)
Albarracin: Bocconia (C)
Alcabu: Zanthoxylum (P)
Alcanfor: Cinnamomum (P)
Alcaparra: Capparis (C); Cleome (S)
Alcaparro: Adipera (C)
Alcareto: Aspidosperma (P); Sickingia (P)
Alchoncha: Sechium (C)
Alcornoque: Sechium (C)
Alcornoque: Bowdichia (C); Licania (CR); Mora (CR,P); Ormosia (P); Terminalia (CR)
Alcotan: Baccharis (CR); Cissampelos (S); Piper (CR)
ALEURITES MOLUCCANA (L.) Willd. Candlenut tree (E); Nuez de India (S) (Fig. 12). The nuts,
stimulant and sudorific, are edible after roasting; strung as candlenuts.
ALEXERITIC: A substance to counteract infection or poison. Acalypha, Achyranthes, Aegiphila,
Albizia, Anacardium, Aristolochia, Asclepias, Caesalpinia, Cassia, Chiococca, Cissampelos,
Clavija, Cocos, Coffes, Dracontium, Entada, Euphorbia, Fevillea, Gustavia, Hibiscus, Jatropha,
Lantana, Mikania, Mimosa, Musa, Nicotiana, Piper, Pluchea, Quassia, Sapindus, Simaba,
Tabebuia, Tamarindus, Thevetia, Vernonia, Xylopia.
Alfaje: Trichilia (P)
Alfajillo: Podocarpus (P); Trichilia (P)
Alfenique: Dialium(CR)
Alfombra: Mollugo (S)
Alfombrillo hediendo: Lantana (C)
Alforjon: Fagopyrum (C)
Algalia: Abelmoschus (C)
Algarrobo: Cassia (C); Ceratonia (S); Hymenaea (P); Pithecellobium (CR); Prosopis (P)
Alagodon: Cochlospermum (P); Gossypium (S)
Algodoncillo: Baccharis (C); Hibiscus (P)
Algodon lechero: Calotropis (C)
Algodon de monte: Leuhea (C); Thespesia (C)
Algodon de seda: Calotropis (S)
Algofar: Scleria (C)
ALIBERTIA EDULIS (L.Rich.) A.Rich. Guayabita de monte (D); Lagartillo (P); Madrona de comer
(P); Torompito (P); Trompo (P); Wild guava (J). The fruits are eaten by all frugivores, including
humans.They are also used by children to make tops.
Alicito: Toxicodendron (CR)
Aligo: Alnus (C); Tessaria (C)
Alisito: Toxicodendron (C)
Aliso: Alnus (C); Vernonia (C); Tessaria integrifolia (C)
Alita: Albizia (C)
Allagua: Phytelephas (C)
Alligator apple: Annona (E)
Alligator pear: Persea (E)
Alligator weed: Philoxerus (E)
ALLIUM spp. Garlic (E); Onion (E); Agu (Cu); Aguakalat (Cu); Ajo Cebolla (S); Dawawat (Cu);
Palu (cu); Pida (Ch) (Fig. 13). Presently unknown in the wild, onion has been used more than 4000
years. Garlic, A. sativum L., is regarded as antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, cordiment,
diaphoretic, emmenagogic, expectorant, rubefacient, stimulant, stomachic, and vermifugal; it is used
in home remedies for bronchitis, colds, earaches, hysteria, nervous conditions and toothache. The
juice can be used to mend china. Oil from the seeds is applied externally to rheumatics. Garlic oil,
mixed with cebo de Cuba, is used like a mustard plaster in Panama. Onions are eaten raw or cooked
and used for seasoning pickles, curries, stews, "sancochos", etc.(!). They are used as a home remedy
for bronchitis, catarrh, colic, dropsy, fever, flatulence, hangover, and scurvy. They are regarded as
aphrodisiac, carminative, emmenagogic, and soporific when used internally. They are used
externally to treat earaches and insect bites. Maje Choco women, having difficulty delivering,
receive a stomach massage with cooking oil mixed with oniion, garlic, oregano, and hierba poleo
(perhaps Kallstroemia). Some Indians believe they also repel snakes; the odor repels some humans,
so it might actually repel snakes. My Cuna guide from Nargana rubbed his legs with sliced onion
to "prevent snakebite" (!). In Western Panama, onions are placed in the eaves of bohiuos as a bat
repellent (!); a bat and snake repellent would be useful morale builders for the newcomer in
Panama.
Almacigo: Bursera (P)
Alma negra: Bertholettia (C); Dussia (C); Sweetia (C); Swartzia (C)
Almendro: Andira (CR) Buchenavia (C); Dipteryx (P,C); Terminalia (S)
Almendro americano: Terminalia (C)
Almendro de la India: Terminalia (C)
Almendron: Attalea (C); Caryocar (C)
Almirajo: Patinoa (Ch)
Almizcle: Hedyosmum (C)
Almizclillo: Hibiscus (C)
Almond: Dipteryx (E); Terminalia (E)
Almoradua: Eupatorium (C)
Almoraduz: Eupatorium inulaefolium (C)
Almorrana: Alternanthera (C)
ALOE VERA (L.) Burm. F. Barbados aloe (E); Sabila (C). The yellow juice is a famous burn remedy.
Crushed leaves are used as a cataplasm for boils and ulcers; its yellow resin is cathartic,
emmenagogic, insecticidal, vermifugal; used by mothers to make their nipples distasteful to weaning
children. Plant used for asthma and ulcers.
ALOPECIA: The state of being bald. Treated or prevented with Achras, Calocarpum, Capraria,
Cocos, Colocasia, Giricidia, Guazuma, Gynerium, Persea, Stachytarpheta, Sterculia.
Alousia: Lippia (C)
Alpiste: Phalaris (C)
ALSOPHILA RUFA Fee. Tree Fern (E); Tasi (C). The pith, like a slimy potato, is used as a survival
food in the Choco.
Altamica: Chrysanthemum (CR)
Altamisa: Ambrosia cumanensis (C)
Altasara: Phytolacca (C)
ALTERATIVE: A substance used empirically to alter the course of a disease favourably. Calotropis,
Centella, Erechtites, Guaiacum, Lepidium, Musa, Phytolacca, Portulaca, Rumex, Solanum,
Thespesia, Tragia.
ALTERNANTHERA SESSILIS (L.) R.Br. Sanguinaria (S) (Fig. 14). the leaves serve as a famine food.
Alucema: Artemisia sodiroi (C)
Aluk: Cedrela (CR)
Alum: Alnus (CR)
Alumbre: Tabebuia (C)
Alverja: Pisum (C)
Amamor: Zanthoxylum (C)
Amancal: Thevetia (C)
Amancay: Thevetia (P)
Amancayo: Plumeria (C)
Amansa mujer: Prioria (C,P)
Amansapeon: Psoralea (C)
Amapola: Lycoseris crocata (C); Malvaviscus (CR); Papaver (C); Tagetes (P)
Amapola amarilla: Hibiscus (P)
Amapola mexicana: Argemone (C)
Amapolilla: Malvaviscus (CR)
Amaranth, blood: Amaranthus (E)
AMARANTHUS spp. Amaranth (E); Pigweed (E); Bledo (C,P); Calalu (P) (Fig. 15). the seeds serve
as a grain, and the leaves as a potherb (3-6% protein). The plant finds its way into home cures for
venereal diseases.
Amargo: Aspidosperma (C); Centrolobium (P); Coussarea (C); Coutabea (C); Palicourea (C);
Psychotria (C); Simaba (C); Simarouba (P); Vatairea (P); Welfia (C)
Amargon: Taraxacum (CR)
Amargoso: Eupatorium angustifolium (C)
Amarillo: Aniba (C); Bucida (P); Centrolobium (D); Lafoensia (P); Nectandra (C); Terminalia (P)
Amarillo carbonero: Oncoba (P)
Amarillo fruto: Lafoensia (P)
Amarillo guayaquil: Centrolobium (P)
Amarillo negro: Lafoensia (P)
Amarillo real: Terminalia (P)
Amarillon: Terminalia (CR)
Amarrabollo: Meriania (C)
Amarradiablo: Schnella (C)
Amata: Ficus (S)
Ambuca: Piptadenia (C); Poponax (C)
Ame: Inga (C)
AMBEICIDE: A substance which kills ameba. Anacardium, Carica, Cephaelis, Chenopodium,
Couma.
Amolao: Acrocomia (C)
Amores casados: Asclepias (P)
Amor seco: Acaena (C)
AMYRIS ELEMIFERA L. Torchwood (E); Tea (S). The wood is highly flammable; good for
torches. (Fig. 16)
Anabaptista: Vismia (C)
ANACARDIUM EXCELSUM (B.&B.) Skeels. Wild cashew (E); Caracoli (C); Espave (P); Pinuwala
(Cu). The fruit is eaten by most frugivores, including man. The bark is used as a fish poison; a
favorite wood for dugouts in Darien and San Blas (!). Patino notes that the fruits are consumed as
a bread stuff, and the trees are used for cacao shade trees.
ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE L. Cashew (E); Maranon (S); Uaipinu (Cu); Merey (C) (Fig. 17).
The cashew, an excellent food source, is widely cultivated and naturalized in the savannahs of
Panama. The swollen stalk of the cashew nut, termed the "apple", is more in demand among Latins
than the nut. The antiscorbutic "apple" may be eaten raw, but the hull is astringent, and the nut must
be avoided until after it has been roasted (!). Cashews belong to the poison oak family, and
hypersensitive people might be wary of the whole cashew plant. The wood was responsible for the
"swizzle-stick epidemic" in Georgia in 1958. When roasting the nut, one should carefully avoid the
smoke, as it is very caustic. The nuts, once roasted, are very nutritious, having high fat, protein, and
vitamin A content. Roasted nuts in Asia are mixed with palm sugar and coconut meat to form a
sweetmeat. In Indonesia, the nuts are fried in coconut oil. In Africa, they are boiled in soups. The
"apple" juice may be fermented to form alcoholic beverages or vinegars, or made into jelly. The
young leaves are eaten raw with rice in Java and Malaya. Cuna Indians shave bark from this and
Spondias to make a tea, sweetened to taste, for asthma, colds, and congestion. This is followed by
drinking the juice from banana stems to restore strength (Perrin, p.c. 1968) and contain 4-5%
protein. The bark of some species of Anacardium is used as a fish poison, and the flesh of the fish
is not rendered toxic by the process. The juice exuding from incisions in the bark is used as an
indelible ink. An acrid oil in the hull of the fruit has served as an anesthetic. The seed oil is
believed to be amebicidal and alexeritic, and is used to treat gingivitis, malaria, and syphilitic ulcers.
The fruit is reputedly antiscorbutic. The juice of the fruit is used to treat haemoptysis. The sap is
said to be discutient, fungicidal, and repellent. A gargle of the leaf decoction is used for sore throat.
Gum from the bark is said to be obnoxious to insects. Similar uses are reported for cardol. the oil
has been used to kill mosquito larvae in Los Santos. A tea is made from the pinkish inner bark,
effective in diabetes (!). In Cuba, resin used in cold treatments.
Anaco: Erythrina (C)
Anaja: Maximiliana (C)
ANALGESIC: A substance for killing pain. Bocconia, Indigofera, Piscidia, Tabebuia, Thevetia,
Zanthoxylum.
Anamu (o): Petiveria (P)
ANANAS BRACTEATUS (Lind.) Schult. Pina de Playon (C). The sweet fruits are edible.
ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) Merr. Pineapple (E); Osi (Cu); Pina (S); Shiju (Ch). Pineapple is
cultivated in various parts of the lowlands of Panama, those from Taboga Island having been highly
praised. Darien negroes cook the rind with rice, cream and sugar to make 'chicha de pina'. The rind
is also an ingredient in 'mazamoro de platano'. Pineapples produced at Curiche in the humid Choco
Department are excellent(!), although pineapples are probably adapted better to semiarid areas such
as the Pearl Islands(!). Pineapple fares best in acid, organic, and well-aerated soils. the juice of the
fruit is regarded as antiscorbutic, Cholagogic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogic, refrigerant, and
useful in jaundice. The juice of the leaves is regarded as anthelmintic, ecbolic, emmenagogic, and
purgative. Young vegetative buds are an ingredient in a medicine for respiratory ailments in Choco
children. An excellent long-lasting fiber is obtained from the leaves.
ANAPHRODISIAC: A substance to reduce sexual desire. Coffea, Dieffenbachia, Nymphaea,
Peperomia.
Anatto: Bixa (E)
Anbuque: Poponax (C)
ANDIRA INERMIS L. Cabbagebark (E); Almendro (CR); Arenillo (P); Carne asado (CR); Cocu (P);
Congo (C); Dividive (C); Pilon (P); Quira (P) (Fig. 18). The poisonous seeds of this honey tree are
anthelmintic, febrifugal, purgative, and vermifugal. The bark is used as a barbasco, narcotic,
purgative, and vermifuge. Smoke from the wood is said to be injurious to the eyes. The wood is best
suited for heavy construction.
ANEMIA: A deficiency in red corpuscles. Musa.
Angarilla: Chloroleucon (C)
Angela: Moringa (C)
Angelina: Andira (C); Genipa (C)
Angelito: Caesalpinia (C); Genipa (C)
Angel trumpet: Datura (E)
Angero: Enterolobium (C)
Angolito: Ziziphus (C)
Angucha: Bejaria (C)
Anguito: Rauvolfia (C)
Angustora del Brasil: Esenbeckia (C)
ANIBA PERUTILIS (Jim ?Authority?) Chachajo (C); Comino (C). An esteemed fine-grained timber
species in Colombia, very resistant to termites.
Anil: Indigofera (S)
Anileto: Hamelia (CR)
Anime: Casearia (C); Dacryodes (C); Protium (C,P); Polymnia (C); Tetragastris (P)
Anime blanca: Protium (C)
Aninga: Montrichardia (C)
Anis: Pimpinella (S)
Anise: Pimpinella (E)
Anisillo: Hedyosmum (C); Pectis (CR); Piper (CR); Tagetes (CR)
Anjera: Enterolobium (C)
Annatto: Bixa (E)
ANNONA CHERIMOLIA Mill. Bichichinejo (Ch); Chirimoya (C); Usisuti (Cu). Once classified as
one of the three best tropical fruits, they take from five or more years to bear fruit.
ANNONA GLABRA L. Pond apple (E); Anon de puercu (P); Corazon cimarron (C) (Fig. 19). The
fruits are edible, raw or preserved. Light wood, especially of the roots, is used for cork and floats.
ANNONA MURICATA L. Soursop (E); Guanabana (S); Nejo (Ch); Suiti (Cu) (Fig. 20). The edible
ripe fruits, a good source of vitamins B and C and phosphorus, are made into jellies, preserves, and
a delicious beverage (!). Some people chew them up and expectorate the plp in soups. The seeds are
insecticidal and piscicidal. A leaf decoction is used to expel head lice. The leaves are made into a
tea consumed by the negroes of Darien and Puerto Obaldia. The flowers and leaves are used in the
Truando sector to combat kidney problems.
ANNONA PURPUREA Moc. & Sesse. Guanabana torete (P); Guanacona (C). The fruits, with the
flavour of pawpaw, are believed by some Indians to induce fever. Darien Negroes insert leaves in
their beds to keep spirits of the dead from molesting them.
ANNONA RETICULATA L. Custard apple (E); Anon (S); Anon injerto (C); Anon pelon (C);
Corazon (C) (Fig. 21). The fruits are edible; attract turtles and fish when they fall into swamps. The
roots are used against epilepsy. The bark is tonic and astringent.
ANNONA SQUAMOSA L. Sugar apple (E); Anon (S) (Fig. 22). The edible fruits are applied to
contusions as a cataplasm. The leaves serve as a barbasco, as a poultice to heal ulcers and boils, and
to kill lice and extract guinea worms. Crushed leaves, applied to a fainted person's nostrils, are said
to hasten revival. On the other hand, in Colombia, leaves are placed under children's pillows so they
will sleep better(!). The seeds are insecticidal, and said to kill lice.
ANODYNE: A substance for killing pain. Bocconia, Carica, Coleus, Datura, Etada, Jessenia,
Myroxylon, Persea, Piscidia, Tamarindus, Zanthoxylum.
Anon: Annona (P); Rollinia (CR)
Anona: Annona (P); Rollinia (P)
Anon de azucar: Annona (C)
Anoncito: Rhamnus (C)
Anoncito de tierra firma: Psychotria (C)
Anon domestico: Annona (C)
Anonillo: Desmopsis (B); Guatteria (CR); Rollinia (CR)
Anonillo de cerro: Annona (CR)
Anon pelon: Annona (C)
Anon de puerco: Annona (P)
ANREDERA BASELLOIDES (H.B.K.) Baill. Maderia vine (E); Arroz con coco (C). The leaves are
eaten as a potherb. The tubers are edible.
Anta: Corozo (C); Phytelephas (Ch)
ANTHELMINTHIC: Killing certain types of worms. Achras, Allamanda, Allium, Ananas, Andira,
Annona, Asclepias, Carapa, Carica, Cassia, Chenopodium, Coffea, Cyperus, Lawsonia, Mammea,
Mangifera, Melia, Momordica, Musa, Passiflora, Pentaclethra, Plumeria, Portulaca, Punica,
Sechium, Simarouba, Spigelia, Vernonia.
ANTHEMIS NOBILIS L. Manzanilla de Castilla (C)
ANTHURIUM ACUTANGULUM Engl. A tea of the plant is used by the Choco for whooping cough.
ANTHURIUM RIGIDULUM Schott. Maicillo (CR). The purple fruits are said to be edible.
ANTIBILIOUS: A substance used to treat disorders of the gall bladder. Ananas, Annona,
Caesalpinia, Cecropia, Cicer, Desmodium, Eclipta, Euphorbia, Imperata, Momordica, Musa,
Polypodium, Solanum, Terminalia, Urera, Vetiveria.
ANTICYSTITIS: Clitoria, Hymenaea.
ANTIDIARRHETIC: A substance for counteracting diarrhea. Acacia, Adenathera, Anacardium,
Annona, Avicennia, Bidens, Brownea, Bursera, Byrsonima, Capraria, Carapa, Casuarina, Celosia,
Chrysobalanus, Coccoloba, Cocos, Coffea, Crescentia, Cupania, Drepanocarpus, Elephantopus,
Emilia, Erechtites, Euphorbia, Faramea, Haematoxylum, Hernandia, Hymenaea, Hyptis, Ipomoea,
Jacobinia, Laguncularia, Mangifera, Melia, Mucuna, Musa, Nectandra, Piscidia, Pistia, Pitcairnea,
Psidium, Psoralea, Quassia, Randia, Scoparia, Sida, Simarouba, Spathodea, Spondias,
Stachytarpheta, Terminalia, Tourneforita, Triumfetta, Trophis, Waltheria, Wigandia, Ximenia,
Zornia.
ANTIDOTAL: A substance used to counteract a noxious substance. Clitoria, Coffea, Colocasia,
Gustavia, Maranta, Musa, Saccharum.
ANTIDYSMENORRHEIC: A substance used to relieve painful menstruation. Chrysobalanus,
Cissampelos, Dieffenbachia, Mangifera, Morinda, Musa, Ocimum, Persea, Turnera.
ANTIECBOLIC: A substance to counteract an abortifacient. Cissampelos.
ANTIEMETIC: A substance to prevent vomiting. Cocos, Ximenia.
ANTIEPILEPTIC: A substance to prevent or alleviate convulsive seizures. Achras, Andira, Annona,
Bixa, Caesalpinia, Calocarpum, Cedrela, Cestrum, Coleus, Cordia, Echinodorus, Eugenia,
Indigofera, Parkinsonia, Pothomorphe, Sapindus.
ANTIGONON LEPTOPUS Hook. & Arn. Coral vine (E); Bellisimia (C); Cadena de Amor (P);
Colacion (S); Coralillo (P); Coralito (P); Enredadera (P) (Fig. 23). The tubers are said to be edible
when cooked.
ANTIHEMORRHAGIC: A substance used to prevent excessive bleeding. Brownea, Caesalpinia,
Cajanus, Cecropia, Chrysophyllum, Cissampelos, Citrus, Coccoloba, Cocos, Commelina, Cyathula,
Dendropogon, Entada, Equisetum, Eryngium, Gossypium, Guarea, Guazuma, Mangifera, Melochia,
Momordica, Mucuna, Musa, Pithecellobium, Psidium, Psychotria, Punica, Rhizophora, Scoparia,
Sechium, Solanum, Swietenia, Tamarindus, Terminalia, Turnera, Urera, Vernonia, Waltheria.
ANTIHEPATITIC: A substance for the diseases of the liver. Achras, Ananas, Annona, Bursera,
Carapa, Cassia, Cecropia, Ceratonia, Citrus, Cochiospermum, Desmodium, Eleusine, Equisetum,
Escobedia, Guazuma, Hymenaea, Jatropha, Lepidium, Nasturtium, Ophioglossum, Paullinia,
Pothomorphe, Pseudelephantopus, Psidium, Quassia, Rheedia, Tamarindus.
ANTINEPHRITITIC: A substance used to ameliorate infection of the kidney. Abrus, Cassia, Citrus,
Cucurbita, Cyperus, Equisetum, Guaiacum, Guazuma, Moringa, Paullinia, Poeppigia, Renealmia,
Rheum, Solanum, Tabebuia.
ANTINEURALGIC: A substance used to alleviate the pain associated with irritated nerves. Allium,
Moringa.
ANTIPERODIC: A substance used to counteract malaria or periodic fever (see also MALARIA).
Caesalpinia, Cassia, Coffea, Lucuma.
ANTIRHEUMATIC: A substance used to alleviate rheumatism (pain, swelling, and deformity of
the joints). Abrus, Adenanthera, Allium, Aniba, Annona, Apeiba, Aristolochia, Bramia, Bursera,
Cannabis, Carapa, Cardiospermum, Cassia, Chiococca, Chlorophora, Cissus, Clematis, Clusia,
Cocos, Coix, Croton, Dendropogon, Dieffenbachia, Dioscorea, Echites, Eupatorium, Guaiacum,
Hamelia, Hura, Hymenaea, Hyptis, Ipomoea, Lantana, Melia, Mikania, Moringa, Myroxylon,
Ocimum, Parmentiera, Plumbago, Porophyllum, Pothomorphe, Psychotria, Ricinus, Salvia,
Siparuna, Steculia, Tamarindus, Trichilia, Urera, Wigandia, Ximenia.
ANTISCORBUTIC: A substance used to prevent scurvy. Allium, Anacardium, Ananas, Batis,
Bramia, Celosia, Citrus, Hymenaea, Lycopersicon, Mangifera, Moringa, Musa, Nasturtium, Oxalis,
Portulaca, Pothomorphe, Psidium, Sesuvium, Tamarindus.
ANTISEPTIC: A substance used to kill germs. Allium, Anacardium, Cocos, Faramea, Piper,
Spondias, Tamarindus, Theobroma.
ANTISPASMODIC: A substance used to alleviate sustained, often painful, contractions of the
muscles. Abelmoschus, Adansonia, Annona, Aristolochia, Bocconia, Boerhaavia, Bursera,
Calotropis, Cannabis, Capparis, Cassia, Ceiba, Cestrum, Chenopodium, Clavija, Croton, Datura,
Dipteryx, Echinodorus, Eclipta, Indigofera, Justicia, Lawsonia, Melia, Moringa, Muntingia,
Pandanus, Passiflora, Peperomia, Petiveria, Spondias, Swietenia, Tournefortia, Vernonia.
ANTISPLENITIC: A substance used to alleviate inflammation of the spleen. Carapa, Carica,
Cissampelos, Luffa.
ANTITETANIC: A substance used to counteract or alleviate the condition tetanus (tonic spasm of
voluntary muscles). Carapa, Enallagma, Swietenia.
ANTIVENEREAL: A substance used to counteract venereal diseases. Amaranthus, Anacardium,
Aristolochia, Arrabidaea, Bauninia, Bocconia, Bursera, Calotropis, Capparis, Capraria, Casearia,
Cassia, Cecropia, Chamissoa, Chiococca, Cissus, Clematis, Commelina, Conocarpus, Copaifera,
Corchorus, Costus, Crescentia, Drepanocarpus, Eichhornia, Elaeis, Entada, Equisetum, Genipa,
Geonoma, Gouania, Guaiacum, Hippomane, Ipomoea, Isotoma, Jacaranda, Jatropha, Luffa,
Mangifera, Mikania, Musa, Myroxylon, Parsonia, Petiveria, Piper, Piscidia, Pistia, Plumeria,
Polypodium, Pothomorphe, Prioria, Protium, Pseudelephantopus, Ricinus, Sabicea, Scoparia,
Serjania, Smilax, Solanum, Spondias, Tagetes, Tephrosia, Tetracera, Thespesia, Tournefortia,
Trichilia, Turnera, Waltheria, Ximenia.
Anum: Spondias (C)
Apamate: Tabebuia (C)
Apazote: Chenopodium (S)
APEIBA TIBOURBOU Abul. Monkey comb (E); Burio (CR); Cadillo (C); Cortezo (P); Erizo (C);
Fruta de piojo (P); Guacimo (C); Majagua (CR); Malgano (C); Peinecillo (CR); Peine de mico
(P,C). The fruits, with their numerous oil=rich seeds, are a favorite with frugivores, and might serve
as a famine food for man. The bark contains a rough fiber used for rope making. The plant is
regarded as a rheumatism cure. It is said to be used for making rafts in Colombia, and has been used
for tinder in primitive fire-making.
APERIENT: A mild laxative. Argemone, Clitoria, Hibiscus, Sesamum, Sesbania, Tamarindus.
Apgi: Paullinia (Cu)
APHRODISIAC: A substance which stimulates sexual desire. Abrus, Aegiphila, Allium,
Anacardium, Aristolochia, Avicennia, Bambusa, Bixa, Byrsonima, Cannabis, Capsicum, Ceiba,
Celosia, Centella, Cocos, Daucus, Desmodium, Dieffenbachia, Drepanocarpus, Elaeis, Eryngium,
Gossypium, Hibiscus, Hyptis, Lepidium, Lippia, Momordica, Moringa, Mucuna, Musa, Myristica,
Ocimum, Pandanus, Passiflora, Persea, Petiveria, Peperomia, Rhynchosia, Seasmum, Turnera,
Typha.
APHTHOSIS: Hoof and mouth disease. Bidens, Byrsonima, Citrus, Euphorbia, Lagerstroemia,
Spondias, Tournefortia.
Apio: Apium (S)
Apior: Dieffenbachia (Cu)
Apompo: Pachira (C)
APOPLEXY: A loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion as a result of obstruction of
arterial flow to the brain. Treated with Tamarindus.
Aporromia: Musa (Ch)
Apotocaum: Diffenbachia (Ch)
APPENDICITIS: Inflammation of the appendix. Erythrina.
Aqui: Blighia (P)
Arabian Jasmine: Jasminum (E)
ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L. Peanut (E); Cacahuate (C); Mani (P) (Fig. 24). The seeds are edible, raw
or roasted; seedlings are also edible. Few, if any, peanuts are cultivated along Route 17. They are
cultivated on the Azuero Peninsula and around Unguia for food and oil production.
Aramillo: Lysiloma (W)
Arana: Hibiscus (C); Dalechampia (C); Epidendrum (C); Maxillaria (C).
Arana-gato: Solanum (P); Zanthoxylum (C)
Arara: Capparis (C)
Arbol de amor: Gliricidia (C)
Arbol de balsamo: Myroxylon (P)
Arbol de la Cruz: Brownea (C)
Arbol de la Brujas: Parmentiera (P)
Arbol de diablo: Morisonia (C)
Arbol de fuego: Delonix (S)
Arbol de lluvia: Samanea (CR)
Arboloco: Montanoa (C); Polymnia (C)
Arboloco bogotano: Polymnia pyramidalis (C)
Arboloco de Bogota: Montanoa (C)
Arboloco hueco: Polymnia pyramidalis (C)
Arbol de pan: Artocarpus (S)
Arbol de paraiso: Melia (C)
Arbol de las perlas: Moringa (S)
Arbol de sal: Avicennia (S)
Arbol Santo: Jatropha (P)
Arbol de seda: Calotropis (C)
Arbol de viajero: Ravenala (C)
Arbolito: Phyllanthus (C)
Arcabuco: Cupania (C)
Archucha: Cyclanthera (C)
Arco: Tabebuia (C)
ARDISIA sp. Fruta pava (P); Iskarmas (Cu); Margarita (P); Tucuico (CR); Uvito (P). The fruits,
with a grape-like flavor, are often gathered and eaten by woodsmen (!). Bayano Cuna use the plant
medicinally and the berries to stain their bodies (!).
Arebalo: Cupania (C)
Areng-kra: Clusia (CR)
Arenillero: Hura (C)
Arenillo: Andira (P); Catostemma (C); Dipterodendron (C); Hura (C); Leonia (C); Ternstroemia (C); Weinmannia (C)
Arepito: Ampelocera (C)
Arepo: Piscicia (C)
Argelina: Solanum (C)
ARGEMONE MEXICANA L. Prickly poppy (E); Cardosanto (C). The narcotic weeda are
demulcent, emetic, expectorant, laxative, and are used for cancer, itch, and scabies, and applied
externally for headache. The seed-oil is used for illumination and soap-making.
Argentina: Cynodon (C)
Arguaco: Pera (C)
ARISTOLOCHIA ARBORESCENS L. Dutchman's pipe (E); Snakeroot (E); Flor de culebra (D); Mato
(C). This is a favorite snakebite medicine in Darien. the leaves and/or roots are abortifacient;
emmenagogic, febrifugal, sudorific, and are used for chills, colds, dysentery, and venereal disease.
ARISTOLOCHIA MAXIMA L. Cuajilote (CR). The fruits are edible.
Arito: Phyllanthus (C)
Ariza: Brownea (P); Maytenus (C)
Armanga: Baccharis decussata (C)
Arnica: Miconia (C); Senecio formosus (C); Taraxacum (CR)
Arnica ceniza: Senecio niveo-aureus (C)
Arnica de monte: Trixis radialis (C)
Aroma-ieron: Acacia (C)
Aromo: Acacia (S); Calliandra (P); Prosopis (C)
Aromo real: Poponax (C)
Arponcito: Bidens (P)
ARRABIDAEA CHICA (Humb. & Bonpl.) Verlot. Bija (S). The vine yields a pink dye popular with
the island Cuna.
Arracacha: Arracacia (C)
Arracache: Vochysia (C)
Arracacho: Montrichardia (C)
Arracachuelo: Rumex (C); Spananthe (C); Ranunculus (C)
ARRACACIA XANTHORRHIZA Bancroft. Arracacha (C); Sacarracacha (C). The rhizomes are eaten
in stews and soups; also boiled or fried, used to make chichas. The petioles are boiled to make a
medicine for a microbe between the toes.
Arracheche: Mouriri (P)
Arraclan: Rhamnus (C)
Arrapau: Triplaris (Ch)
Arrayan: Eugenia (C); Malpighia (C); Myrcia (P); Myrica (CR); Myrtus (C); Psidium (P); Satyria (CR); Vaccinium (CR); Weinmannia (CR)
Arrayancito: Malpighia (C); Myrcia (C)
Arrecachillo: Myrrhidendron (CR)
Arrocillo: Echinochloa (C); Oryza (C)
Arrowhead: Sagittaria (E)
ARROW POISON: A substance used to poison arrows. Calotropsis, Dioscorea, Diospyros,
Drepanocarpus, Euphorbia, Hippomane, Hura, Lonchocarpus, Mucuna, Paullinia, Pedilanthus,
Pentaclethra, Perebea, Petiveria, Piscidia, Strychnos.
Arrowroot: Maranta (E)
Arroz: Oryza (S)
Arroz con coco: Anredera (C)
Artemisia: Ambrosia (C)
ARTEMISIA SODIROI Hieron. Alucema (C)
Artera: Cassia (C)
ARTHRITIS: Inflammation of the articulating surfaces of the joints. Treated with Achras, Bramia,
Chiococca, Dioscorea, Ipomoea, Oryza, Polygonum, Trichilia.
ARTOCARPUS ALTILIS (Parkinson) Fosberg. Breadfruit (E); Breadnut (E); Arbol de pan (S); Fruta
de pan (S); Madupura (Cu); Pan de Pepita (S); Pantriba (Ch) (Fig. 25). Breadfruits, the main cargo
of the H.M.S. Bounty, are still cultivated in Panama. The seeded varieties are capable of natural
regeneration (!). Breadfruits of good quality rarely produce seeds and the fruits are eaten, picked
before they are ripe, while the pulp is still white and mealy. They are baked, boiled or sliced and
"french-fried". Occasionally they may be eaten raw. For storage, it is best to bake or roast, then slice
and sun-dry. In some Pacific Islands, they are fermented to form a malodorous paste baked into
cakes. Seeds of the seeded varieties are boiled or roasted like chestnuts by the Darien Negroes (!).
A fiber can be obtained from the bark and thge latex is used for caulking boats. The leaves may be
fed to livestock.
ARTOCARPUS INTEGRIFOLIA L. Jackfruit (E); Jaca (S) (Fig. 26). The jackfruit or jaca has dozens
of sectors, each with one seed, surrounded by a yellow, pulpy mass with a strong odor. The pulp is
eaten raw or cooked; or may be fermented to yield an alcoholic beverage with a strong odor and
peculiar flavor. The seeds are usually more palatable to the Yankee than the fruits and when roasted
have the flavor of chestnuts. Seeds are often ground into flour, each fruit yielding more than a pound
of flour. Unripe fruits may be cut up and cooked in stews and soups. Flowering shoots and very
young fruits of the jackfruit are also eaten in salads and spicy stews. Young flower clusters are eaten
with syrup and agar-agar in java. A milky juice especially prevalent in the fruits, may be used as
birdlime to ensnare birds. The juice also is used as a cement. In the Philippines, slices of the ripe
fruit are placed in beds to discourage bedbugs.
Arunagatro: Pisonia (C)
Arvejas: Pisum (C)
Arvellano: Garcia (C)
Asca: Styrax (CR)
Ascae: Desmodium (Cu)
ASCLEPIAS CURASSAVICA L. Bencenuco (C); Malcasada (P); Milkweed (E); Nino muerto (P);
Pasorin (P); Quiebraejo (C); Viborana (CR); Yuquillo (P) (Fig. 27). In Honduras, the milky sap is
used as a vermifuge; dried latex is said to induce sneezing. In Panama, it is reported to be a leprosy
cure and a vermifuge. The inflorescence is used as a hemostatic and to cure gonorrhea.
Asnaludo: Thibaudia (C)
ASPILIA TENELLA (H.B.K.) Blake. Papunga falsa; Guasquilla (C)
Assa: Euterpe (C)
ASTER LAEVIS L. Hortensis (C)
ASTER MARGINATUS H.B.K. Cerrajita cimarnona, Tavera (C)
ASTER SINENSIS L. Montenegro (C)
ASTHMA: Condition of the respiratory system associated with continuous difficulty in breathing.
Treated with Aegiphila, Allium, Aloe, Bixa, Boerhaavia, Brosimum, Calotropis, Carica, Cassia,
Cecropia, Chenopodium, Cissampelos, Coccoloba, Cocos, Coffea, Coleus, Cornutia, Curatella,
Datura, Drymaria, Eclipta, Erythrina, Euphorbia, Hymenaea, Isotoma, Lantana, Lecythis, Lippia,
Luffa, Mangifera, Manicaria, Moringa, Mucuna, Musa, Myroxylon, Petiveria, Plumbago,
Rhizophora, Sapindus, Solanum, Sterculia, Tamarindus, Terminalia.
Astillo: Cedrela (C)
ASTRINGENT: A mildly binding substance. Acacia, Anacardium, Annona, Bixa, Crescentia,
Hesperomeles, Mangifera, Musa, Myrcia, Portulaca, Psidium, Punica, Sapindus, Terminalia, Zea.
ASTROCARYUM STANDLEYANUM Bailey. Black palm (E); Chonta (P); Chunga (P); Guerregue
(C); Pejibaye (CR) (Fig. 28). The fruits, cabbages, and seedlings are edible (!). The spines are
flammable, even in wet weather (!). The hard wood is used for making bows, arrows, canes, etc. A
good fiber is obtained from the leaves.
Astromelia: Lagerstroemia (C)
ASTRONIUM GRAVEOLENS Jacq. Conzalo alves (E); Ronron (CR); Tibigaro (C); Yamato (C);
Diomate (C); Gusanera (C); Potrico (C); Quebracha (C); Zorro (P) (Fig. 29). The lumber is exported
to the United States for plywood; it polishes and works well, and is weather and moisture resistant.
Astrominica: Lagerstroemia (S)
Asue: Persea (Cu)
Aswe: Persea (Cu)
Atadero: Carludovica (P)
Ataja sanhgre: Bedsleria (C)
Atana: Inga (CR)
Ate: Protium (C)
ATTALEA AMYGDALINA H.B.K. Almendron (C); Milpesos (C); Taparo (C). The oily seeds are
edible. Young fruits yield a pipa-like beverage (!).
ATTALEA COHUNE Mart. Cohune palm (E). The cabbage is edible; the fruits are made into
sweetmeats, also used for livestock fodder. Seed oil is used for cooking, illumination, and
soapmaking. Sap is used for winemaking. The leaves are used for thatch.
Atusara: Phytolacca (C)
Auoso: Capparis (C)
Auree: Campnosperma (P)
Auso: Capparis (C)
Australian pine: Casuarina (E)
Auyama: Cucurbita (C)
Avellana: Eupatorium (C); Carica (C)
Avelluelo: Vochysia (C)
Avena: Avena (S)
AVENA SATIVA L. Oats (E); Avena (S). The oats make an excellent cereal, rarely, if ever, cultivated
in lowland Panama.
AVERRHOA BILIMBI L. Bilimbi (E); Grosella carambola (C) (Fig. 30). Fruits are edible (!). Flowers
are made into preserves; fruit juice removes stains from linens.
AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA L. Carambola (E,S); Grosella caranbola (C); Tiriguro (CR) (Fig. 31).
Occasionally cultivated in lowland Panama, the acid fruits are edible and are used for jellies and
drinks. The tart juice is used to remove rust and tarnish from metals.
AVICENNIA GERMINANS L. Black mangrove (E); Aili (Cu); Calumate (CR); Mangle salado or
negro (P); Palo de sal (CR). the seeds are toxic until germinating, then they are edible cooked. The
leaves are coated with salt. The bark is used for tanning. The flowers are much visited by bees. Gum
from the trunk is used for throat infections. Smoke from the wood is said to be an effective mosquito
smudge. Ashes are added to water for washing clothes. The tree is used for charcoal, fuel,
construction, and tanning.
Avichuri: Brosimum (C); Couma (C)
Avicur: Couma (C)
Avinge: Andira (C); Geoffroya (C)
Avinje: Chlorophora (C)
Avispilla de canastilla: Hibiscus (N)
Avispo: Eurya (C)
Avispon: Hibiscus (CR)
Avocado: Persea (E)
Ayahuasca: Banisteriopsis (C)
Ayote: Cucurbita (C)
Ayuelo: Dodonaea (C); Erythroxylum (C)
Azabuche: Pithecellobium (C)
Azafran: Bocconia (C); Crocus (C); Curcuma (C)
Azaharcillo: Hillia (CR)
Azari: Cornutia (CR)
Azota-caballo: Luehea (C); Phytolacca (CR); Pithecellobium (CR,P); Xylopia (C)
Azota-cabeza: Philodendron (P); Syngonium (P)
Azote: Hampea (P)
Azucarerito: Paullinia (C)
Azucarero: Miconia (C)
Azucena: Cattleya (C); Lilium (C,CR); Plumeria (C); Thevetia (C)
Azuceno: Elaeagia (C); Plumeria (C); Saurauia (C); Thevetia (C)
Azufaifa: Ziziphus (C)
Azufre: Curatella (C); Roupala (C)
Azul: Jacobinia (CR)
Azulejo: Centaurea (C)
Azulina: Petraea (C); Plumbago (C)
Azulito: Petraea (C)
Azullillo: Hamelia (CR)
Azul de mata: Jacobinia (CR); Justicia (CR/ROC)
Baba: Gliricidia (P)
Babaco: Carica (C)
Bacaba: Oenocarpus (C)
Bacao: Theobroma (C)
BACCHARIS spp. Chilca (C); Chilco (C); Ciro (C)
Bachelor's button: Gomphrena (E)
Baco: Gustavia (C)
BACTERICIDE: A substance used to kill bacteria. Allium, Genipa, Neurolaena.
BACTRIS MINOR Jacq. Black Palm (E); Cana brava (C); Lata (C); Lata hembra (C); Lata de playon
(C); Uvero de lata (C). The pulp of the fruit is edible (fruits of Bactris species are edible). The
leaves furnish forage during the dry season.
BACTRIS sp. Black palm (E); Mongololo (D). The young fruit is edible, with the flavor of coconut.
At maturity it is nearly as hard as the ivory palm (!).
Badea: Magnolia (P); Passiflora (C)
Badu: Xanthosoma (C)
Bagala: Renealmia (C)
Bagamani: Tapirira (P)
Bagari: Piptadenia (C)
Bagata: Dussia (C)
Bagre: Adelia (C); Trichilia (C)
Baguar: Hamelia (CR,N)
Baho: Platymiscium (C)
Bailador: Guarea (C)
Bajagua: Cassia (C)
Bala: Gliricidia (P); Spondias (CR)
Bala de canon: Couroupita (C)
Balata: Manilkara (C,P)
Balaustre: Centrolobium (C)
Balazo: Monstera (C)
Ballico: Lolium (C)
Balloon vine: Cardiospermum (E)
Ballotica: Calliandra (C)
Balsa: Bombax (CR); Heliocarpus (N); Ochroma (S)
Balsa blanca: Hampea (C)
Balsam Capivi: Copaifera (J); Myroxylon (J)
Balsam copaiba: Copaifera (P)
Balsaminito, Balsamito: Momordica (S); Myrospermum (C)
Balsamo: Momordica (S); Myroxylon (N)
Balsamo de Malagalpa: Myroxylon (N)
Balsamo de Maracaibo: Copaifera (C)
Balsa Montanero: Trema (C)
Balsam Pear: Momordica (E)
Balsam of Peru: Myroxylon (E)
Balsillo: Croton (S)
Balso: Apeiba (C); Heliocarpus (C)
Baltran: Phragmotheca (C)
Balu: Erythrina (C)
Bambali: Scabiosa (CR)
Bambito: Nectandra (P); Ocotea (P)
Bambito colorado: Ocotea (P)
Bamboo: Bambusa (E); Guadua (E)
Bamboo palm: Oenocarpus (E)
Bambu: Bambusa (P); Guadua (E)
Bambudo: Pterocarpus (C); Pachira (C)
BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA Willd. Bamboo (E); Bambu (S); Chogro (Ch); Nala (Cu). In Latin
America, bamboos are used mostly for construction, not for the culinary role that they play in the
Orient. Various bamboos are cultivated, but mostly for ornamental and construction. Most bamboo
species produce shoots, or "spears", which are edible. Bitterness (and poisonous principles?) is
removed by changing the water several times during cooking. Toughness can be ameliorated by
cutting the shoots into thin slices. Shoots about 15 inches tall and 3 inches in diameter are at a good
stage for cooking, but Panamanian Chinese prefer them before they have emerged from the soil (!).
Leaf sheaths should be peeled away, as should be parts of the shoot that were in contact with the
ground, especially if they have turned gray. The thin core should be cut into small disks, at least
eight to the inch, and boiled for at least 20 minutes, changing the water. They are ready for eating
then, but can be much improved by frying in coconut oil or butter. In times of scarcity, bamboo
grain has saved the lives of thousands of Asian Indians, and the grains have sold at higher prices
than rice. when other grains are plentiful, those of bamboo are rarely eaten. It is said to be a
somewhat unsafe food, being apt to produce diarrhea and dysentery. Crops of grain in some species
are produced only at intervals of about 30 years. Seeds of Bambusa arundinaceae usually appear
when drought occurs, at least in India. Fluids in bamboos are often accumulated in the joints,
especially in the hollow kinds. Water in these culms is potable. Young, vigorously growing stalks
may have a considerable amount of liquid in each hollow internode, which can be located by
shaking the stalk and listening for splashing. Some of the Darien species have water with much the
flavor of a pipa (!). Old, dry, and cracked stems also tend to accumulate potable rainwater. In India,
pieces of hollow bamboo 3 to 6 feet long, with the partition perforated so as to form long pails, are
carried by hill watermen, suspended over the back by a bamboo string that passes over the forehead.
The water stays cool for a number of days. One entire section about a foot long is cut out, and a
small hhole is bored in one of the joint partitions with the machete point to make an effective
canteen. then sand and water are put in the hole and shaken around to clean out the interior. A plug
is fashioned from some softwood tree. the flange on the bamboo stem forms a handle to which a line
is tied to fashion a strap (!). Rice and water are placed inside and covered. The primitive waterproof
pot is placed on the fire until the rice is done. A simple ladle is made by cutrting one end of a joint
down to a handle leaving a few inches of the bottom as a ladle. With the ladle the rice is served, and
the meat course may be cut up with bamboo knoves. Milk pails and churns are also made of bamboo
in India. without too much imagination, one can fashion anything from a barbecue grill to a smoking
pipe from bamboo. Bamboos are not only used for fishing poles; the fishermen of Bengal have one
of tghe most curious fish-hooks in the world. It consists of a short sliver of well-seasoned bamboo
cane, 3x1/8 inch. the string (which can be made from bamboo fibers) is attacdhed near the middle
of the sliver, which is then bent into a U-shape. A green grasshopper's head is plucked off and the
two ends of the U are insesrted in the open end of the body. The upper end of the string is attached
to a piece of bamboo about a foot long, which is left floating in the water. When the fish cuts the
bait, the bamboo sliver is extended in its mouth, the ends being caught in its gills. Large fish are
often caught this way, the pain more or less inactivating the fish. boats are sometimes caulked with
shavings of bamboo mixed with lime and tung oil. The common and characteristic harpoon of
Bengal consists of a piece of Dendrocalamus strictus about 6 feet long, split apically into eight or
ten long pieces, about as thick as the little finger. These are smooth and rounded up to within a foot
of the top, where the bamboo is firmlybound to keep it from further splitting and metal points are
inserted. The fisherman rattles this against the side of the boat to alarm the fish from their hiding
places in the weeds. The harpoon is then hurled, the prongs opening out on hitting the water and
greatly enhancing the fisherman's chance by expanding the area of coverage with the metal points.
Pointed bamboo stakes have been used to spear lobsters. Fish traps are also made of bamboo slivers.
Split bamboo, heated in a fire to harden the wood, will take an edge. Some people shave with
bamboo knives. Bamboo knives are superior to pocket knives for removing leeches, since they
scrape rather than cut them off. Nagas and other hill tribes in India use the hardened outer portions
of spiny bamboos as knives and spears. Jungles and forests about villages are often covered for
miles with these formidable weapons. Short, sharp bamboo knives called pangis are vburied along
the footpath so as to go right through the foot of the unwary traveler approaching the village. The
foot is by accident placed between these, and being cut by the one in front, is rapidly withdrawn,
only to have the other two violently driven in from behind. Sometimes thousands of these surround
a village. Pits are also dug and lined with spears so that the unwary animal or traveler falls to a
certain death. Cuna Indians are reported to line animal snares with bamboo slivers (!). Emergency
footwear has been devised from beaten and flattened bamboo stalks. The "Malayan Gate" consists
of a cut sapling about 3 inches in diameter sprung horizontally between two trees with one end
projecting a few feet. The end is armed with bamboo spears and triggered so that someone tripping
on a string will release the sapling and be impaled with bamboo. On festive occasions, Malays put
green bamboo in specially prepared fired. The air enclosed in the joint gets heated and the joints
burst with a heavy report, like a small pistol. To remove worms from ulcers, some people place a
poultice, made by pounding the leaves of Bambusa arundinacea on the ulcer, after first pouring the
juice on the vermin. In the interior of the hollow stems of some bamboos, e.g., Bambusa
arundinacea, is found a siliceous and crystalline substance known in India as tabashir. Tabashir is
considered aphrodisiac, demulcent, emmenagogic, expectorant, febrifugal, and pectoral. It is used
to combat flatulence and jaundice. leafe sheaths have been used as splints, and bamboo joints have
served as peg legs, the stumps of the leg being merely inserted at the open end of the culm.
Toothbrushes are fashioned by chewing at the ends of a sliver until they are soft and the fibers
separated. Bamboo has been fashioned into needles by some people who used threads stripped from
fibrous bark or coconut leaves.
Banak: Virola (N)
Banana: Musa (E)
Banco: Dendropanax (C); Gyrocarpus (C)
Bandera espanola: Canna (P)
Bandera de uribe: Canna (C)
Banderita: Masdavallia (C)
Banyan: Ficus (E)
Bao: Campomanesia (C); Platymiscium (C)
Baobob: Adansonia (E)
Baquero: Croton (P)
Bara: Spondias (CR)
Baraboja: Tithonia (S)
Barajo, Baraja, Barajillo: Cassia (P)
Baranca: Dugandia (C)
Barano: Caesalpinia (C); Senegalia (C)
Barbabisco: Erythrina (C)
Barba chele: Vochysia (N)
Barbadina: Passiflora (C)
Barbados aloe: Aloe (E)
Barbados gooseberry: Pereskia (E)
Barbados pride: Caesalpinia (E)
Barba gallo: Warszewiczia (C)
Barba de jolote: Pithecellobium (P)
Barbancito: Phyllanthus (C)
Barba de palo: Grimmia (C)
Barba de rey: Gynandropsis (S)
Barbarito: Trophis (C)
Barbascillo: Daphne (C)
Barbasco: Bidens (CR); Clibadium sylvestre (C); Ichthyothere scandens (C); Jacquinia (C); Paullinia (C,P); Phyllanthus (C); iPolygonum (C); Rumex (C); Serjania (CR); Salmea (C)
Barbasco de agua: Lonchocarpus (C)
Barbasco de fruto: Muelleria (C)
Barbasco montero: Croton (C)
Barbasco de pua: Jacquinia (C); Zanthoxylum (C)
Barbas de viejo: Tillandsia (C)
Barbas de mono: Triplaris (C)
Barbas de guasco: Acalypha (C)
Barba de viejo: Clematis (S); Tillandsia (CR)
Barbatuco: Erythrina (C)
Barbon: Caesalpinia (S)
Barbudo: Piptocarpha (CR)
Barcino: Calophyllum (C)
Barenillo: Croton (S)
Barillo: Symphonia (P)
Baripozo: Sesbania (S)
BARK CLOTH: Primitive clothing made from the inner bark of plants. Brosimum, Castilla,
Cecropia, Ficus, Hibiscus, Muntingia, Poulsenia, Pseudolmedia.
Barley: Hordeum (E)
Barniz de Pasto: Elaegia (C)
Barnyard grass: Echinochioa (E)
Barrabas: Euphorbia (CR)
Barredera: Tessaria (C)
Barrigon: Pseudobombax (P)
Barsalito: Baccharis (C)
BASELLA RUBRA L. Ceylon spinach (E); Bretana (S). This excellent potherb is rarely cultivated
in Panama.
Bashful plant: Mimosa (E)
Basil: Ocimum (E)
Basquin: Senecio guicanensis (C)
Bastard cacique: Prunus (B)
Bastard cedar: Guazuma (E)
Bastard mahogany: Carapa (E)
Bataba: Jessenia (C)
Batatilla: Cucurma (C); Ipomoea (P); Rivea (S)
Batatilla amarilla: Ipomoea (P)
Batatilla macho: Jacquemontia (P)
Bateita: Pithecoctenium (CR)
Bateo: Carapa (P)
BATIS MARITIMA L. Saltwort (E); Barilla (S). The leaves serve as a presalted salad, potherb, or
pickle.
Baura: Piscidia (C)
Bayeto antioquena: Albizia (C)
Bayra: Ichthyothera terminales (C)
Beach carpet: Philoxerus (E)
Beak-sedge: Rhynchospora (E)
Bean: Phaseolus (E)
Beardgrass: Andropogon (E)
Becerra: Antirrhinum (C)
Beefsteak: Heliconia (E)
Beefwood: Casuarina (E)
Beet: Beta (E)
Beggarlice: Desmosium (E)
Beggartick: Bidens (E)
Bego: Persea (Ch)
BEILSCHMIEDIA ANAY (Blake) Kosterm. The fruit is edible and oily.
Bejucillo: Vanilla (C)
Bejuca agraz: Tetracera (C)
Bejuco de agra: Cissus (C); Davilla (P); Pisonia (C); Vitis (P)
Bejuco de aja: Petraea (P)
Bejuco alcalde: Desmoncus (C)
Bejuco amarillo: Liabrum megacephalum (C)
Bejuco amarrar: Securidaca (S)
Bejuco azul: Cissampelos (CR)
Bejuco de bruja: Cuscuta (C)
Bejuco caballuno: Rhynchosia (C)
Bejuco de cadena: Bauhinia (P)
Bejuco de canjura: Tontelea (P)
Bejuco carare: Aristolochia (C)
Bejuco Carleno: Bauhinia (C)
Bejuco castana: Smilax (CR)
Bejuco castro: Cissus (C)
Bejuco catebrero: Cydista (C)
Bejuco de cerca: Cissampelos (C)
Bejuco chaparro: Tetracera (C)
Bejuco chinche: Philodendron (C)
Bejuco chirrador: Cissus (C)
Bejuco clavellino: Mutisia clematis (C)
Bejuco colorado: Muehlenbeckia (CR)
Bejuco comemano: Cissus (CA)
Bejuco de corral: Serjania (S)
Bejuco curamuelas: Manettia (C)
Bejuco de culebra: Bauhinia (CR,P)
Bejuco deshinchador: Philodendron (P)
Bejuco escalera: Bauhinia (C)
Bejuco de garza: Entada (C)
Bejuco espinosa: Serjania (CR)
Bejuco esquinero: Cydista (C)
Bejuco de estrella: Anthodon (P); Marcgravia (C)
Bejuco de garrote: Rourea (C)
Bejuco de gloria: Ipomoea (P)
Bejuco guaco: Mikania guaco (C)
Bejuco de hierro: Entada (N)
Bejuco iasu: Cissus (CR)
Bejuco juriso: Serjania (S)
Bejuco de leche: Funastrum (C)
Bejuco lengua de vaca: Philodendron (P)
Beujco loco: Aristolochia (P); Cissus (P)
Bejuco de mono: Bauhinia (S)
Bejuco mulatto: Securidaca (S)
Bejuco de murcielago: Monstera (P)
Bejuco negro: Smilax (C)
Bejuco de panume: Entada (S)
Bejuco pedorro: Chamissoa (S)
Bejuco picador: Gurania (P)
Bejuco de pipa: Marcgravia (P)
Bejuco de puerco: Calonyction (S)
Bejuco quemador: Davilla (C)
Bejuco real: Anthurium (CR)
Bejuco de reuma: Gouania (C)
Bejuco de sangre: Machaerium (C)
Bejuco de saina: Dioscorea (P)
Bejuco de salud: Cissampelos (C)
Bejuco de San Juan: Allamanda (CR)
Bejuco de sapa: Bomarea (C); Marsdenia (CR)
Bejuco de sengra: Cnestidium (C)
Bejuco tome: Davilla (C); Doliocarpus (C); Tetracera (C)
Bejuco trompeta: Calonyction (CR)
Bejuco de vaca: Calonyction (S)
Bejuco de volantin: Muehlenbeckia (C)
Bejuquillo: Vanilla (C)
Bek: Byrsonima (CR)
Bekira: Manihot (Ch)
Belacho: Helosia (C)
Belladama: Incidium (C)
Bellisima: Antigonon (S)
Bellorita: Bellis (C)
BELLUCIA spp.: Coronillo (CR); Papaturro agrio (CR) (Fig. 33). The fruits are edible.
Bencenuco: Asclepias (C)
Benju: Styrax (C)
Beo: Persea (Ch)
Berba: Helicostylis (P)
Berbequi santo: Helicteres (P)
Berbiqui: Helieteres (C)
Berenjena: Croton (C); Cucurbita (C); Solanum (CR,S)
Berenjena cimarrona: Solanum (S)
Berenjena espinuda: Solanum (S)
Berenjena silvestre: Solanum (S)
BERIBERI: A disease due to thiamin deficiency. Treated with Hymenaea.
Bermudagrass: Cynodon (E)
Bernabe: Cordia (CR)
Berraco: Brunellia (C); Celtis (C); Roupala (C); Trema (C)
Berraquillo: Ryania (C)
Berros: Nasturtium (S)
BERTHOLLETIA EXCELSA H.&B. Brazil nut (E); Nuez de para (C). The seeds are edible and yield
a cooking oil. the bark is used for caulking boats.
BETA VULGARIS L. Beet (E); Remolacha (S). The beet is rarely cultivated in Panama.
Betsura: Ficus (CR)
Bi: Helicostylis (CR)
Bichichinejo: Annona (Ch)
Bicho: Adipera (CR); Cassia (C)
Bicutema: Cassia (C)
BIDENS CYNAPIIFOLIA H.B.K. Cadillo menudo (C)
BIDENS PILOSA L. Beggartick (E); Arponcito (P); Cadillo (P); Chipaca (C); Cadillo de huerta (C);
Masiquia (C); Duarte (C); Papunga (C); Pacunja (C); Cadillo de perro (C); Sirvulaca (P). The young
shoots serve as a potherb not really requiring salt. They are sometimes mixed with half-boiled rice
grains and fermented to make a kind of saki. Warm juice of the plant is styptic. Leaves are
vulnerary, and used to wash wounds in the choco. A heated infusion of the plant is used as a bath
to relieve pains of rheumatism. Flowers cooked with sugar are taken internally for colds. The root
is used in Antioquia for hepatic infections.
BIDENS PILOSA var. RADIATA Sch.-Bip. Masiquiara (C); Papunga (C); Papunga de arbolito (C)
Bienmesabe: Blighia (C)
Bien-te-veo: Gurania (P)
Bien vestido: Gliricida (C)
Bigari: Poponax (C)
Bigure: Campomanesia (C)
Bija: Arrabidaea (C); Bixa (C,Ch); Bursera (C)
Bijagua: Calathea (CR); Canna (CR)
Bijao: Calathea (P)
Bitter wood: Quassia (E)
Bolador: Erechtites valerianifolia (C)
Bogamani: Virola (P)
Bogamani verde: Dialyanthera (P)
Bogum: Symphonia (CR,P)
Cojon: Cordia (CA)
Bola: Chamaedorea (P); Synechanthus (P)
Bolador: Erechtites valerianifolia (C); Persea (CR)
Bolao: Ruprechtia (C)
Boldo: Peumus (C)
Bolita de perro: Bunchosia (C)
Bollo blanco: Pterocarpus (C)
BOMAREA sp. Bejuco sapo (C); Papa-guasca (C). The vine, used in house construction, produces
a tuber, edible when roasted. Some species are eaten to overcome sterility.
BOMBACOPSIS QUINATA (Jacq.) Dugand. Spiny cedar (E); Cedro espinoso (P); Ceiba colorado
(C); Ceiba tolua (C); Tolu (C) (Fig. 37). This lulmber tree is favored for making dugouts in Darien.
Bombillo: Chamaefistula (C); Passiflora (C)
Bombito: Cassia (C)
Bombon: Cochlospermum (N)
Bombona: Iriartea (C)
Bombonaza: Carludovica (C)
Bonche: Hibiscus (C)
Bonewood: Faramea (E)
Bongo: Cavanillesia (P); Ceiba (D)
Boniato: Ipomoea (C)
Boquiabierto: Antirrhinum (C)
Borajo: Posoqueria (P)
Borboro: Scaveola (CR)
Bore: Colocasia (C)
Borla de San Juan: Lobelila (C)
Borla de San Pedro: Begonia (C)
Borlas: Acalypha (C)
Borlitas: Emilia (C)
Borojo: Borojoa (Ch)
Borojo de monte: Duroia (C)
BOROJOA PATINOI Cuatr. Borojo (Ch) (Fig. 38). This favorit fruit tree, one fruit making a bowl
of chicha, has followed the Choco into Panama. (I am called "Borojo" among the Darien Choco,
because, for a while, I was distributing borojo seedlings like "Johnny Appleseed".) Nursing Salaqui
Choco mothers avoid the fruit in the belief it will cause colic in the infant.
Borrachero: Datura (C)
Borracho: Piscidia (C)
Borraja: Malachra (P)
Borrajon: Wigandia (P)
BORRERIA LATIFOLIA (Aubl.) Schum. Hierba dulce (C). Used as a diuretic in the Choco.
Botoncillo: Borreria (C); Spilanthes (C)
Boton morado: Hyptis (C)
Boton de oro: Helichrysum (C); Spilanthes (C)
Boton de plata: Helichrysum (C)
Botonsillo: Spilanthes (C)
Bototo: Cochlospermum (C)
Box-briar: Randia (E)
Bracino: Styrax (CR)
Brasil: Chlorophora (CR); Mora (CR); Tara (C)
Brasilete: Sickingia (C); Guilandina (C)
Brasil nut: Bertholletia (E)
BRASSICA spp. To this genus belong several leafy vegetables, which are not in demand in Darien,
e.g., Brussels sprouts, cabbage (repollo), cauliflower (coliflor), collards, kohlrabi, mustard
(mostaza), rutabaga, and turnips (nabo). These are rarely, if ever, seen on Darien tables (!). In
Colombia, rebanca is an equivalent of turnip greens (Fig. 39).
BRAVAISIA sp. Naranjilo bobo (P). This ant-infested small tree is considered to be an expectorant.
Brazilian rose: Cochlospermum (E)
Brazilian tea: Stachytarpheta (E)
Brazo de tigre: Cordia (C)
Brea: Parkinsonia (C)
Bread and cheese: Paullinia (E)
Breadfruit: Artocarpus (E)
Breadnut: Brosimum (E); Trophis (E)
Bretana: Basella (S)
Breva: Ficus (C)
Brevo de monte: Ficus (C)
Bribri: Inga (P)
Bribri guavo: Inga (P)
Brinca-brinca: Blechum (S)
Brir: Genipa (CR)
Broad bean: Vicia (E)
Broma, Broma real: Pitcairnia (CR)
BROMELIA NIDUS-PUELLAE (Andre) Andre ex Mez. Piraju (Ch); Piro (C); Pinuela (C). Used for
living fences, this produces a good antiscorbutic fruit.
BROMELIA PINGUIN L. Chibe-chibe (C); Oa (Cu); Pinuela (S); Piro (CR) (Fig. 40). The acid
antiscorbutic fruits are edible and good for making beverages (!). The fried inflorescence is eaten
in El Salvador. Shoots at the base of the plant are eaten raw or cooked. they are supposed to curb
stomach pains suffered by women in menstruation, by causing the blood to flow more freely.
BRONCHITIS: Inflammation of the bronchial tubs. Treated with Allium, Cicer, cocos, Hymenaea,
Mangifera.
Broom: Sida (E)
Broom Sweep: Scoparia (E)
Broom weed: Cassia (E)
BROSIMUM ALICASTRUM Sw. Breadnut (E); Ojoche (S). The fruits are boiled and eaten; the leafy
branches are cut and fed to livestock. Seeds are boiled and eaten as a vegetable or dried and ground
into flour.
BROSIMUM TERRABANUM Pittier. Breadnut (E); Ojoche (S). The latex is sweet; the fruits are
edible, made into toritllas in Nicaragua. The wood is said to burn green.
BROSIMUM UTILE (H.B.K.) Pittier. Cowtree (E); Arbol de leche (P); Guaimaro (C); Lechero (CR);
Mastate (CR); Palo de leche (C); Palo de vaca (CR); Sande (C); Vaco (CR). The copious latex is
mixed with balsa charcoal to make embil, which, wrapped in Manicaria leaves, serves as a torch.
The latex is potable, sometimes made into a cheese. The fruits are edible raw or cooked and can be
used as a breadstuff. Their resin is used for candles and for adulterating chicle. The latex is used to
cure asthma and inflammation. The bark is used to make cloth and the wood is supposed to burn
green. The bark of other species is regarded as a galactagogue. (Illustrating the Doctrine of
Signatures: the bark of the tree produces milk; superstitiously perhaps, it is used by the people to
induce lactation.) The tree is used to make dugouts called potros in Colombia.
BROWALLIA AMERICANA L. Chavelita de monte (P). This common weed is used to treat various
skin diseases.
BROWNEA spp. Ariza (C); Palo de cruz (P); Palo rosak (C); Rosa de monte (P). The trees are
considered antidysenteric.
Brucha: Cassia (C)
Bruja: Rubia (C)
Brujito: Lagenaria (P); Posadaea (P); Abrus (C)
Brukra: Erythrina (CR)
Brusca: Cassia (C)
Brussels sprouts: Brassica (E)
BRYOPHYLLUM PINNATUM (Lam.) Kurz. Air plant (E); Colombiano (C); Hoja de aire (P); Hoja
santa (S). The leaf decoction is regarded as emollient, hemostatic, vulnerary, good for ulcers and
boils.
Buaibinu: Anacardium (Cu)
Bucare: Erythrina (C)
Bucaro: Erythrina (C)
Buche: Pithecellobium (C)
Buchon: Eichhornia (C)
Buchona: Pistia (C)
Bucida: Bucida (C)
Buckwheat: Fagopyrum (E)
BUDDLEIA AMERICANA L.: Salvia santa (C); Salvia virgen (CR/ROC); Wild sage (CR/ROC)
Buena mico: Pisonia (C)
Buenas tardes: Bradburya (P); Mirabilis (P)
Bufa: Guilielma (P)
Buira: Petrea (P)
Buk-oro-mo: Inga (P)
Buk-udra: Inga (P)
Bullet-tree: Bucida (E)
Bullet-wood: Mimusops (E)
Bullhorn acacia: Acacia (E)
Bully tree: Hieronyma (E)
BUNCHOSIA spp. Ciruela (S). The fruits are edible (Fig. 41).
Buquet de novia: Ixora (P)
Burikri: Gliricidia (CR)
Burilico: Xylopia (C)
Burillo: Apeiba (N); Guatteria (CR); Hampea (P)
Burio: Apeiba (CR); Guatteria (CR); Hampea (B,CR); Heliocarpus (CR)
Burio extrangero: Hibiscus (P); Wercklea (CR)
Burio falso: Heliocarpus (N)
Buriogre: Cordia (CR); Hampea (CR); Heliocarpus (CR)
Buriogre amarillo: Cordia (CR)
Buriogre de montana: Cordia (CR)
Burriada: Cecropia (C)
Burriquita: Jacaquinia (CR)
BURSERA SIMARUBA (L.) Sarg. Naked Indian (E); Almacigo (P); Carana (CR); Carate (P);
Caratero (C); Gumbolimbo (C); Indio desnudo (P); Jinocuavo (CR); Jinote (CR); Resbalamono (C)
(Fig. 42). Tea is made from the leaves. This may be used to treat venereal diseases and obesity. The
gum is used to mend dishes and to caulk dugouts, preventing worm damage. The Choco say that a
decoction of the bark applied to the body three times and not washed for a week is depilatory (!).
Experiments to prove this failed (!). Some say that this only works when applied before puberty (!).
The resin is used to treat wounds, to apply to the navel of the newly born, and to bring boils to a
head. Water put in a piece of the wood is used the following day to cure renal afflications (!).
Among the Maje Choco, cuts are washed with an infusion of the bark and then ashes of the bark are
applied to the wound. The tree is often used as a living fence post (!). Wood of this and related
species is supposed to burn green.
Burukra: Erythrina (CR)
Busu: Manicaria (C)
Butago: Musa (C)
Buttercup: Allamanda (E)
Butterfly orchid: Oncidium (E)
Button mangrove: Conocarpus (E)
Buttonwood: Conocarpus (E)
BYRSONIMA CRASSIFOLIA (L.) H.B.K. Goldon spoon (E); Wild cherry (E); Manteco (C); Nance
(P); Noro (C); Peraleja (C) (Fig. 43). Rich in vitamin C, the fruits are used for a fermented drink,
which ismuch better cold than tepid. Often the Chicha is frozen on a stick (!). Edible butter is
extracted from the fruits with hot water. The fruits are eaten by domestic and wild animals. The bark
is used as a fish poison. The flowers are much visited by bees. The epidermis and green frujits are
used to stain cotton. The bark is also used for tanning; the wood is used for charcoal, fuel, and the
extraction of a red dye; further it is used as a remedy for skin afflictions.
BYTTNERIA ACULEATA Jacq. Espina hueca (P); Rabo de iguana (P); Rangay (P); Zarza (P). The
plant is regarded as antivenereal and depurative.
Caapi: Banisteriopsis (C)
Caballera de Venus: Adiantum (C)
Caballeros: Souroubea (C)
Caballito: Gyrocarpus (N); Jacaranda (C); Tecoma (C)
Caballocup: Caryocarp (CR)
Cabalonga: Fevillea (CR); Thevetia (C)
Cabazuelo: Stachytarpheta (P)
Cabbage: Brassica (E)
Cabbagebark: Andira (E)
Cabecita: Ammandra (C)
Cabellos de angel: Clematis (CR); Cuscuta (CR)
Cabeza de leon: Coccoloba (C)
Cabeza de loro: Eugenia (C)
Cabeza de negrito: Guazuma (P)
Cabeza de negro: Ammandra (C); Bulbostylis (C); Dioscorea (C,P); Guazuma (D); Manicaria (P); Phytelephas (P)
Cabeza de toro: Stanhopea (C)
Cabeza de vaca: Calytocarpus (CR)
Cabezona: Calea (C); Paspalum (D)
Cabi: Coffea (Cu)
Cabismo: Copaifera (D)
Cablote: Guazuma (S)
Cabo de Indio: Iryanthera (C)
Cabuya: Furcraea (CR)
Caca: Bursera (S); Cariodendron (C)
Cacahuanance: Gliricidia (S)
Cacahuate: Arachis (C)
Cacaloguiste de flor quemada: Godmania (N)
Cacalojiche: Plumeria (CR)
Cacama: Bidens (C)
Cacao: Theobroma (S)
Cacao de ardilla: Herrania (CR)
Cacao blanco: Theobroma (P)
Cacao calabacillo: Theobroma (CR)
Cacao cimarron: Herrania (P); Morisonia (C); Theobroma (P)
Cacao de Costa Rica: Herrania (C); Theobroma (C)
Cacao criollo: Theobroma (CR)
Cacao mani: Herrania (CR)
Cacao de mico: Theobroma (CR)
Cacao de monte: Herrania (CR); Pachira (C,N)
Cacao de playa: Pachira (N)
Cacao silvestre: Enallagma (CR); Theobroma (CR)
Cacao volandor: Virola (S)
Cacha: Dolichos (C); Phaseolus (C)
Cachaco: Musa (C); Posoqueria (C)
Cachanhula: Swietenia (Cu)
Cachas: Phaseolua (C)
Cachimbo: Erythrina (C); Platymiscium (CR); Posoqueria (C)
Cachimolivo: Thevetia (C)
Cachipay: Guilielma (C)
Cachito: Acacia (P); Myrmecodendron (P); Tabernaemontana (N)
Cachito de aromo: Acacia (N)
Cachitor: Tabernaemontana (CR)
Cacho de venado: Dendropanax (CR); Lycopodium (C); Xylosma (C)
Cachu: Iriartea (C); Socratea (C)
Cachuda: Iriartea (C); Socratea (C)
Cacin: Mimosa (Ch)
Cacique: Brosimum (P); Diphysa (P); Eugenia (CR,P); Pseudolmedia (P)
Cacique blanco: Eugenia (P)
Cacique carey: Piratinera (P)
Caco: Jacaranda (C)
Cadanari: Mauritiella (C)
Cadena de amor: Antigonon (P)
Cadenilla: Schnella (C)
Cadenillo: Banara (C)
Cadeno: Albizia (S)
Cadi: Phytelephas (C)
Cadillo: Bidens (P); Cenchrus (P); Cyathula (P); Priva (P); Triumfetta (P)
Cadillo blanco: Acaena (C)
Cadmia: Cananga (C)
CAESALPINIA CRISTA L. Nickernut (E); Seabean (E); Calentura (P); Mato (P) (Fig. 44). The seeds,
sometimes used in necklaces are considered febrifugal, periodic, tonic, and vesicant. they are used
to treat colic, convulsions, hydrocele, leprosy, and palsy. The oil from the seeds is said to soften the
skin and remove pimples. The bark is antiperiodic and rubefacient. the plant is used to counteract
toothache. A leaf decoction is used a a collyrium. In Colombia the seeds are used to make maracas
(!).
CAESALPINIA PULCHERRIMA (L.) Sw. Barbados pride (E); Bird of Paradise flower (E); Angelite
(C); Flor de Pavo (C); Flower fence (E): Clavellina (C,CR); Gallito (P). Widely cultivated, the plant
is purgative and is used for epilepsy. (Fig. 45)
Cafe: Coffea (S)
Cafecillo: Psychotria (CR); Trophis (N)
Cafe cimarron: Canna (P)
Cafecito: Inga (N); Zygia (N)
Cafe del diablo: Casearia (C)
Cafe de Liberia: Coffea (S)
Cafe de pobre: Cassia (C)
Cagajon: Zuelania (P)
Cagalero: Celtis (C); Clethra (C); Randia (C); Ximenia (C)
Cagalero comestible: Celtis (N)
Caguaso: Paspalum (C)
Cagu: Caryocar (C); Mayna (C)
Caguimo: Erythroxylum (C)
Cai: Saccharum (Cu)
Caiba: Cyclanthera (CR)
Caidata: Ocotea (C); Ouratea (C)
Caifa: Cyclanthera (CR); Elateriopsis (CR)
Caimancillo: Agonandra (C)
Caimaron: Pourouma (C)
Caimillo: Miconia (CR)
Caimitillo: Bumelia (P)
Caimito: Crysophyllum (CR,P,C); Vismia (C)
Caimito cimarron: Chrysophyllum (S)
Caimito de monte: Ximenia (C)
Caimito-pumarejo: Lacmellia (C)
Caimo: Chrysophyllum (C); Lucuma (C); Pouteria (C)
Caimo blanco: Lucuma (C)
Cainca: Chiococca (C)
Cainillo: Miconia (P)
Cainillo de cerro: Miconia (P)
Caja: Capsicum (Cu)
CAJANUS CAJAN (L.) Millsp. Pigeonpea (E); Chicharos (S); Frijol de palo (P); Guandu (C,P);
Gungo Peas (J); Quimbo lillo (CR); Timbolillo (CR) (Fig. 46). The young seeds are eaten like green
peas, a Panama favorite called arroz con guandu. Around La Nueva, Colombia, the leaves are used
as a remedy for bat bites. The leaves and shoots contain about 9% protein.
Cajetajo: Inga (Ch)
Cajeto: Trichanthera (C)
Cajon: Platypodium (C)
Cajuaya: Mauritiella (C)
Cala: Zantedeschia (CR)
Calaba: Calophyllum (P)
Calabacero: Capparis (C); Crescentia (CR)
Calabacillo: Capparis (C); Morisonia (C); Sterculia (CR)
Calabacillo de la playa: Enallagma (CR)
Calabasa (o): Crescentia (S); Cucurbita (P); Lagenaria (CR); Luffa (P)
Calabash: Crescentia (E)
Calabash, black: Enallagma (E)
Calabash gourd: Lagenaria (E)
Calabash tree: Crescentia (E)
Calabash vine: Drymonia (B)
Calabasuero: Morisonia (C); Steudelia (C)
Calabazuelo: Pachira (C)
Calabomba: Iresine (C)
Calaguala: Polypodium (C)
Calalu: Amaranthus (P); Phytolacca (P)
Calambuca: Calophyllum (C)
CALATHEA ALLOUIA (Aubl.) Lindl. Sweet cornroot (E); Bijao (P); Faldita morada (P); Irwa (Cu);
Kakiska (Cu); Sal (P) (Fig. 47). The tubers and young flower heads are eaten cooked. The leaves
are used for wrapping food by Cuna, Choco, and Negro, and judging from the name "sal", impart
some flavor. They are sold in the markets in Turbo (!). This was once described as the most
necessary plant in Panama (1) to cover newly born babies, (2) to make blankets, mattresses, and
pillows, (3) for umbrellas, (4) to cover cargo and keep water from bouncing out of water jugs, (5)
to make baskets, and (6) to wrap "bollos". One can rarely pass a Choco hut without finding a few
plantains, wrapped in bijao, roasting over the ashes in the fireplace (!). In colombia, the bijao often
envelops a mixture of corn and rice (!). The bijao also plays a role in Choco witchcraft. the blood
of a freshly decapitated nequi is hidden in the leaf of bijao with another "secret" leaf. The witch
doctor returns in 7 days and finds a special breed of wasps which he carefully collects. He can then
command them to sting a victim near the heart, inflicting an incurable malecia (hex) (!).
CALATOLA sp. The fruits are edible.
Calavera: Acineta (C); Peristeria (C)
CALEA PRUNIFOLIA H.B.K. Escobilla (P). The leaves are used for treating itch, dandruff, and
hives. Other species are considered sudorific.
CALEA GLOMERATA Klatt: Carrasposa, Chicharron
CALEA PENNELLII Blake: Cabezona, Carrosposa
CALEA TERNIFOLIA H.B.K. Carrasposa
CALEA YURUPARINA Cuatr. Kubeo
CALENDULA OFFICINALIS L. Calendula, Maravillosa
Calentura: Asclepias (C); Caesalpinia (P); Chloroleucon (C)
Caliguate: Heliconia (CR)
Calingueiro: Mellinis (P)
CALOCARPUM MAMMOSUM (L.) Pierre. Sapote (E); Mamey (C,P). The fruits are edible raw (!)
or made into preserves. Ground seeds are used to flavor chocolate. The diuretic seed oil is used in
epilepsy, cold remedies, and for hairdressing, said to restore fallen hair. The large seeds were once
used in iron linens. Empty seed testae were formerly used as snuff boxes.
CALONYCTION ACULEATUM (L.) House. Moonflower (E); Bejuco de vaca (S); Galan de noche
(C). The leaves and calyces are used as a potherb, and young seeds are eaten. Contact with the plant
may cause itching. The latex is used for coagulating rubber.
CALOPHYLLUM BRAZILIENSE Camb. Maria (S) (Fig. 48). This is an important timber tree
exported from Darien (!). The fruits are eaten by hogs and an oil is extracted from the seeds. The
latex is used for caulking and medicine (!).
CALYCOPHYLLUM CANDIDISSIMUM (Vahl) DC. Lemonwood (E); Alazano (P); Conejo (CR);
Harino (P); Madrono (D); Salamo (CR,P); Surra (CR) (Fig. 49). This is a fine lumber, used for
everything from combs to charcoal. the bark is used to treat stomach ulcers.
Calzoncillo: Passiflora (P)
Camacalarta: Passiflora (S)
Camajon: Sterculia (C)
Camajondura: Sterculia (C)
Camajuru: Sterculia (C)
Camanguchi: Mauritia (C)
Camargo: Chaenocephalus (C); Montanoa (C)
Camargo chico: Verbesina crassiramea (C)
Camarin: Clerodendrum (C)
Camaron: Annona (P); Iresine (CR); Maytenus (C)
Camaroncillo: Hirtella (P)
Camaroncito: Myrica (D)
Camasey: Miconia (C)
Camasey amarillo: Miconia (C)
Camasey esquinado: Miconia (C)
Camasey morado: Miconia(C)
Camasey negro: Henriettelia (C)
Camasey peludo: Henriettelia (C)
Cambulo: Erythrina (C)
Camelia: Clerodendrum (P)
Camella: Clerodendrum (P)
Camfine: Trichilia (B)
Camiba: Copaifera (P)
Camibar: Copaifera (P); Prioria (CR,N)
Caminadera: Lycopodium (C)
Camote: Ipomoea (S)
Camotillo: Curcuma (CR)
Campana: Laplacea (CR); Loasa (CR)
Campanilla (o): Bradburya (P); Centrosema (P); Enterolobium (C); Thevetia (P)
Campano: Enterolobium (C); Guarea (CR); Pithecellobium (C); Samanea (C)
Campanola: Ipomoea (S)
Campanula: Cobaea (CR)
Campeche: Haematoxylon (C)
CAMPELIA ZANONIA (L.) H.B.K. Coyontura (S). This plant is used for venereal diseases.
CAMPNOSPERMA PANAMENSIS Stand. Sajo (C) (Fig. 50). An economically important plant is
said to occupy 97,000 hectares on the Choco.
CAMPOMANESIA LINEATIFOLIA Ruiz & Pav. Michinche (C). the fruit is edible raw, but the seeds
should be avoided. The pulp makes jelliles and marmalades on par with guava jelly.
Cana de azucar: Saccharum (S)
Cana blanca: Gynerium (P)
Canaboba: Gynerium (C)
Cana brava: Anrira (C); Arundo (C); Bactris (P); Chusquea (CR); Gynerium (C,P)
Canac: Cannabis (S)
Cana caijino: Bactris (W)
Cana de castilla: Gynerium (CR)
Cana de danta: Geonoma (S)
Cana de danto: Vernonia (CR)
Canadonga: Cassia (C); Pithecellobium (C)
Cana dulce: Licania (C)
Cana fistula: Brasilettia (C); Cassia (P); Tachigalia (CR)
Cana fistula macho: Cassia (C)
Cana fistula de monte: Leucaena (C)
Cana flecha: Gynerium (C)
Canagria: Costus (CR,P)
Canaguate: Tabebuia (C); Tecoma (C)
Cana de la India: Taetsia (CR); Tripsacum (CR)
Canajira: Geonoma (C)
Canajo: Spondias (Cu)
Canaleao: Paullinia (C)
Canalete: Cordia (C)
Canalua: Platypodium (D)
Cana de mico: Costus (P)
Canamo: Cannabis (C)
Cana de molinillo: Chamaedorea (C); Geonoma (C)
Cana muda: Dieffenbachia (C)
Cana de muela: Piper (CR)
Canana: Geonoma (C)
Canadonga: Cassia (C)
Cananga: Cananga (C)
Canangucha: Mauritia (C)
Canasacanja: Pseudelephantopus (Cu)
Cana de San Pablo: Bactris (C); Morenia (C)
Canastilla: Aristolochia (CR); Hibiscus (C)
CANAVALIA ENSIFORMIS (L.) DC. Jack bean (E); Coca (D); Quemasusu (Ch); Sia (Cu) (Fig. 51).
The pods may be eaten boiled. Unripe seeds are reputely poisonous; ripe seeds are roasted as a
coffee substitute.
Cana verde: Chamaedorea (P)
Cana de vibora: Chamaedorea (C); Morenia (C)
Canaza: Bambusa (P); Guadua (P)
CANCER: A malignant tumor of any type. Treated with Adenanthera, Argemone, Carica,
Haematoxylon, Hamelia, Piper, Renealmia, Tussacia.
Cancer de loma: Acanthospermum australe (C)
Cancha: Phaseolus (C)
Canchalagua: Erythrina (C); Euphorbia (C)
Canchi: Bixa (Ch); Metteniusa (S)
Canchu: Corioria (C)
Candeabsurguit: Pseudelephantopus (Cu)
Candela: Antirrhea (P)
Candelabro: Lemaireocereus (S)
Candelero: Oreopanax (C)
Candelillo: Cassia (CR); Cupania (P); Magnolia (CR); Tecoma (CR)
Candelito: Chamaesenna (CR)
Candelo: Hieronyma (C); Pittoniotis (P); Rondeletia (P,C)
Candia: Abelmoschus (C)
Candil: Amyris (C)
Candelnut: Aleurites (E)
CANDLENUTS: Seeds or fruits which are strung and burned like candles. Aleurites, Ceiba,
Chrysobalanus, Cocos, Corozo, Dialyanthera, Dipteryx, Jatropha, Licania, Virola.
Candle tree: Parmentiera (E)
Candlewood: Gynerium (E)
Cane: Gynerium (E)
Caneja: Costus (C)
Canela: Cinnamomum (P); Platypodium (P)
Canelillo: Ocotea (CR)
Canelito: Isertia (P)
Canellito: Miconia (CR)
Canelo: Drimys (C); Nectandra (C,CR); Ocotea (CR)
Canelo de Parmo: Drimys (C)
Canelon: Cephalocereus (C); Lemaireocereus (C); Peperomia (C)
Caney: Maytenus (C)
Cangrejo: Anemopaegma (C); Clytostoma (C)
Canguil: Zea (C)
Canilla de mula: Hyptis (CR); Miconia (CR); Triplaris (CA)
Canilla de pollo: Justicia (P)
Canilla de venado: Hamelia (N); Miconia (C)
Canillito: Conostegia (P); Miconia (CR)
Canillo: Miconia (P)
Canillo de cerro: Miconia (CR)
Canime: Copaifera (C); Prioria (C)
Canirico: Xylosma (Cu)
Caniva: Copaifera (P)
Canizo: Hymenachne (C)
Canjaro: Cordia (C)
Canjura: Strychnos (P)
CANNA spp. Canna (E); Achira (C); Achiva (S); Bandera de uriba (C); Cafe cimarron (P); Capacho
(C); Chisgua (C); Chumbima (C); Maraca (Ch) (Fig. 52). The roots of some species serve as a
source of starch allowed to diabetics (!). The seeds are used in necklaces, rattles, and popguns. the
leaves are used for wrapping food. Leaves and tubers serve as fodder. In certain parts of Colombia,
cakes are made from the flour extracted from the roots. the plant is considered diuiretic and
emollient. Necklaces of the seeds, sometimes accompanied with the teeth of the fish payara, are
supposed to drive off the "mal de ojo" and to make the teeth grow strong. The leaves and rhizomes
are considered refrigerant and rubefacient, and are recommended for epilepsy. The leaves are used
as cataplasm fo0r hernias.
CANNABIS SATIVA L. Hemp (E); Canac (J); Canamo (C); Ganja (J); Marijuana (S) (Fig. 53). The
parched, oily seeds are highly nutritious. The oil is used for illumination and rheumatism. Only
recently, the leaves, which are used as a tobacco substitute, have been linked with cancer,
emphysema, or heart disease.
Canoeto: Platypodium (C)
Canotillo: Piper (CR)
Cansa cerro: Margyricarpus (C)
Cansa mozo: Borreria (P)
Cansamuela: Inga (C)
Cansa Perro: Salvia (P); Margyricarpus (C)
Cantagallo: Erythrina (C)
Cantarillo: Conostegia (CR); Cupania (CR)
Canteloupe: Cucumis (E)
Canuela trepadora: Lasiacis (S)
Canutillo: Campelia (CR); Ewuisetum (C); Melampodium (CR); Pariana (C); Zebrina (CR)
Canyack: Cannabis (P)
Caoba: Guarea (CR); Spathodea (C); Swietenia (S)
Caoba africana: Trichilia (C)
Caoba americana: Swietenia (C)
Caobillo: Carapa (CR); Guarea (CR)
Caobono: Cariniana (C)
Capa: Cordia (S)
Capacho: Canna (C)
Capacunga: Potentilla (C)
Caparrapi: Aniba (C); Nectandra (C); Ocotea (C)
Caparrosa: Vismia (C)
Cape: Clusia (C)
Capecito: Ternstroemia (C)
Caper: Capparis (E)
Capera: Sterculia (Cu)
Capesillo: Clusia (C)
Capilote: Miconia (CR)
Capirote: Bellucia (N); Miconia (CR)
Capirote Blanco: Miconia (CR)
Capitana: Desmodium (C); Neurolaena (CR)
Capitana de corazon: Aristolochia (C)
Capitancillo: Pentaclethra (C)
Capote: Machaerium (C)
Capotillo: Anthurium (C)
CAPPARIS SPINOSA L. Caper (E); Alcaparras (S) (Fig. 54). Pickled flower buds are the capers of
commerce, much used in Colombia, but rare in Panama. In Colombia, buds of species of Cassia,
pickled in sour vinegar with cloves, have been falsely sold as capers. Some Capparis spp. are
reported to have poisonous fruits, but those of C. pittieri taste like Solanum quitensis (!).
CAPRARIA BIFLORA L. Cola de gallo (P); Hierba te (P) (Fig. 55). the leaves, used in treating
uterine disorders and diabetes, are said to prevent falling hair.
CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS L. Red pepper (E); Aji (P); Aji picante (S); Caja (Cu); Chile (P); Kapur
(Cu); Rocoto (C) (Fig. 56). Red pepper, commonly cultivated and escaped, is not so much used in
Panama as it is in Mexico. In Africa, the fruits or leaves are taken as antidotes after eating poisonous
fish. In San Bas, Indians string hot peppers behind their boats as shark repellents (!). Powdered and
dried, the pimento is converted into paprika. The leaves are used to flavor stews or as a potherb,
with 4-6% protein. Red pepper has many medicinal attributes. Some South American Indians use
a pepper collyrium to improve the sharpness of their vision. The fruit is regarded as stimulant,
stomachic, and rubefacient. It is taken internally in cholera, for sore throat, phthisis, given with
cinchona for malaria, prescribed in ague, cholera, dropsy, dyspepsia, gout, malaria, snakebite, and
typhus; used externally for giddiness, earache, and hemorroids. In Panama, a poultice of pepper
leaves is used for softening boils. The following story would suffer in translation: "Friede ha sacado
a luz el episodio de la mujer e un encomendero del alto Magdalena, que por celos de una India, en
un gesto larguiano le metio un platano untado de aji por la natura." In Ailigandi, pepper and cacao
are burned for 7 or 9 days to ward off evil spirits (!). Elsewhere the fruits are burned to drive off rats.
The "ajillo", Capsicum baccatum, is also common. The green fruit is pickled and the ripe fruit is
used in salads and sauces. The green pepper is cultivated among the Cuna, who call it caja.
Capuchino: Tropaeolum (CR)
Capulamate: Ficus (CR)
Capuli: Ardisia (C)
Capulin: Mutingia (S); Trema (S)
Capulin blanco: Mutingia (S); Trema (S)
Capulincillo: Trema (S)
Capulin macho: Dicraspidia (CR); Trema (P)
Capulin sabanero: Belotia (N)
Caqui: Caryocar (C)
Caraco: Coussapoa (C)
Caracol: Gynandropsis (C)
CAracola: Achimenes (C); Kohleria (C)
Caracoli: Anacardium (C)
Caracolito: Lithospermum (C)
Caracucha: Bradburya (P); Centrosema (P); Plumeria (P)
Caracuru: Arrabidea
Carago: Cassia (C)
Caragra: Lippia (CR)
Caragre: Lippia (CR)
Caraguala: Epiphyllum (C)
Caraguata: Tillandsia (C)
Carajito: Eugenia (C)
Caramano: Cassia (N)
Carambano: Cassia (N)
Carambola: Averrhoa (E)
Carana (o): Bursera (CR); Carpotroche (CR); Casearia (P); Dacryodes (C); Protium (C,CR,P); Trattinnickia (P); Zuelania (P)
Carana: Mauritia (C); Mauritiella (C)
Caranganito: Cassia (C)
Caranon: Zuelania (P)
Carao: Cassia (CR,P); Lonchocarpus (CR)
CARAPA GUIANENSIS Aubl.: Bastard Manogany (E); Crabwood (E); Cedro bateo (P); Huino (C);
Masabolo (C); Tangare (D). the poisonous seeds of this timber species, are considered anthelmintic,
antihepatic, antirheumatic, antisplenitic, antitetanic, insecticidal, and purgative. Oil from the seeds
is used for soap, illumination, and insect repellent. Arount La Nueva, the fruits are used to combat
acute arthritis. the wood is used for dugouts in Colombia.
Caraapato: Hirtella (P)
Carare: Aristolochia (C)
Carasola: Boerhaavia (P)
Carate: Bomarea (C); Bursera (P); Diphysa (C); Vismia (C)
Caratero: Bursera (C)
Caratosa: Bursera (C)
Carbasuela: Terminalia (P)
Carbon: Calliandra (P); Prosopis (CR)
Carboncillo: Acacia (CR); Calliandra (CR); Swartzia (CR); Sweetia (CR); Tecoma (CR); Terminalia (P)
Carboncillo blanco: Calliandra (CR)
Carboncillo rojo: Bejaria (C); Calliandra (C,CR)
Carbonero: Abarema (C); Acacia (C); Befaria (C); Byrsonima (D); Calliandra (C); Guarea (CR); Licania (C); Lindackeria (P); Marila (C); Mayna (C); Mosquitoxylum (P); Oncoba (P)
Carbonero de amunicion: Colubrina (P)
Carbonero de sombrio: Albizia (C)
Carcanapire: Croton (C)
Carcuera: Platypodium (P)
Carda: Dipsacus (C)
Cardenal: Euphorbia (C)
Cardenillo: Ilex (C)
CARDIAC: A substance supposed beneficial to the heart. Achras, Citrus, Coffes, Gomphrena,
Persea, Phoebe, Polypodium, Tamarindus
Cardinal flower: Lobelia (E)
CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM L. Balloonvine (E); Farolito (C) (Fig. 57). The young foliage
is used as a potherb. The seeds are tonic, febrifugal, and diaphoretic.
Cardo: Cirsium (CR)
Cardo espinoso: Silybum marainum (C)
Cardo Santo: Silybum marianum (C)
Cardon: Cereus (CR); Cirsium (CR); Lemairocereus (C)
Cardon morado: Silybum marianum (C)
Cardosanto: Argemone (C,CR); Coccoloba (C)
Caregre: Picramnia (CR)
Carey vegetal: Zanthoxylum (C)
Cargadero: Guatteria (C); Rollinia (C); Trema (C); Unonopsis (C)
Cargadita: Zornia (C)
Cargamanta: Phytolacca (C)
Cargarrocio: Alchemilla (C)
Carianabo: Pilea (C)
Cariaquita: Lantana (C)
CARICA PAPAYA L. Papaya (E,S); Kwarkwatta (Cu); Papanajo (Ch) (Fig. 58). Food comes from
the papaya in many forms. When ripe, the fruit may be as large as a watermelon, and the pulp is
sweet and orange. It consists of about 90% water, but is righ in vitamin A. The flavor is quite
peculiar, and it may not be acceptable to some Yankees, who relegate it to the survival rather than
the luxury category it enjoys among tropical people. Fruits are usually eaten with salt and pepper.
The seeds, pleasantly mustard flavored, may be eaten, although they may have medicinal properties.
Some speculate that they may be the mustard seeds referred to in the Bible. Papaya fruits are
preserved as a candy or confection, a paste, a puree or syrup, and a canned juice. Green fruits serve
as vegetables. Boiled in slices, they may be mashed and mixed with lime juice and sugar to make
a substitute for applesauce. They are also cooked in curries and pickled. The green fruit, peeled,
boiled, cut into small pieces, and served with sweet oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, serves as a potable
vegetable. Some ethnic groups like a beverage made of cooked, mashed, green fruits. Younger parts,
such as leaves and flower buds, are eaten raw in salads, or more frequently, cooked as a vegetable.
They contain 5-8% protein (Terra, 1964). The presence of digestive enzymes might render this
practice dangerous. Water should be changed a couple of times before these vegetables are eaten.
Raw latex is said to induce itching and blistering. Nonetheless, the Ailigandi Cuna apply the latex
to infected sores, one application of which clears up the infection (!). The pith of young stems has
also served as a famine food in the East Indies. Papaya leaves are used to tenderize meat. Natives
frequently wrap meat overnight in papaya leaves, cook in the leaves, or drop a little latex in the
cooking vessel. Meat so tenderized may have a peculiar flavor. Some people claim that animals, fed
the seeds before slaughter, have more tender meat. Leaves are employted iin washing clothes. PUlp
of the ripe fruit has served in shampoos and face creams. Leaves may serve as a tobacco substitute.
The latex is widely used to remove warts, freckles, and other blemishes. Other uses are as an
anthelmentic, discutient, fungicide (including ringworm), stomachic, suppurative, and as a treatment
for hemoptysis, internal ulcers, psoriasis, and scorpian stings, as well as diptheria. In Cuba, it is
prescribed for the removal of cancerous growths. The leaves are considered amebicidal and
antiasthmatic, and a decoction is used as an application to elephantoid growths and ulcers, as
emmenagogue, febrifugal, and pectoral. Hot leaves are applied as an anodyne for nervous
headaches. They are bound over ulcers (New Guinea). Green fruits are recommended for enteritis
in Cuba. Ripe fruits are chologogue; eaten daily at breakfast, they are the tropical "apple a day" to
promote regularity. Dried fruits are said to improve enlarged spleens. The seeds are considered
anthelmintic, ecbolic, and emmenagogic. Among the Salaqui Choco, lactating mothers avoid
papaya, believing it will cause colic in the infant. Some believe it will induce abortion. The wild
papaya is known to the natives as tapaculo. They claim that the seeds germinate in acid media, as
found in the stomach. Another "superstition" may have some factual basis. Some papays are strictly
male and naturally bear no fruit. Native believe they can make the tree fertile by inscribing the cross
in the trunk. Such trees, in some documentated cases, become bisexual. The tree appears to be like
the avocado, one that needs to be beaten occasionally to continue bearing. The scientific explanation
for this "superstition" is termed "traumatic reversion". One wild papaya, whose trunk had been
severed about 2 weeks earlier, was observed in full flower.
Caricia: Spigelia (C)
Carillo: Phyllanthus (N)
CARINIANA sp. Abarco (C); Chibuga (C) (Fig. 59). Choco Indians use the hardwood for dugouts,
and claim the seeds are edible (!). The inner bark is used for cordage (!). The fruits are usesd for
making pipes.
CARIODENDRON ORINOCENSE Karst. Inche (C); Tacay(C). The seeds are edible roasted.
Caripacunga: Alchemilla (C); Potentilla (C)
Carita: Albizia (C)
Carito: Enterolobium (C); Pithecellobium (C)
Carleya: Cattleya (C)
CARLUDOVICA OERSTEDII Ruiz & Pav. Hat palm (E); Atadero (P); Iraca (C); Jipijapa (P);
Kuskin (Cu); Naguala (D); Guachivan (P); Lucatero (C); Lucua (C); Oropo (Ch); Porto Rico (P);
Sabalet (Cu); Soso (Cu); Toquillo (P); Sombonaza (C) (Fig. 60). Young leaves are eaten as a salad
(!). The leaves are used to make hats (!), baskets (!), brooms, fly swatters, etc. the inner portions of
the lower leafstalks and the berries are quite edible (!). Rhizomes are used as a salad and potherb
in various parts of Latin America. In 1538, Juan de Vadillo and his conquistadores lived for days
on nothing but Iraca for food. To this day, the growing points or nacumas are eaten, with a flavor
suggesting asparagus.
Carmana: Chamaedorea (C); Geonoma (C)
Carmen: Trixis (E)
Carmesi: Sickingia (C)
Carmin: Rivina (P)
CARMINATIVE: A substance which relieves flatulence (swelling of the stomach or intestines due
to gases), and alleviates the pain. Achras, Achyranthes, Allium, Caesalpinia, Capraria,
Cardiospermum, Carica, Centella, Centrosema, Chenopodium, Corchorus, Coriandrum, Croton,
Cymbopogon, Drepanocarpus, Entada, Eryngium, Hyptis, Ipomoea, Mikania, Momordica, Ocimum,
Pothomorphe, Psidium, Ricinus, Sida, Spondias, Tamarindus, Terminalia, Xylopia, Zebrina,
Zingiber.
Carne asado (a): Andira (CR); Cassia (C); Cochlospermum (C); Cupania (CR)
Carne de vaca: Vochysia (C)
Carne fiambre: Curatella (C); Panopsis (C); Roupala (C)
Carnestolenda: Cochlospermum (C)
Carnezuelo: Acacia (N)
Carnica en el Peru: Lantana (C)
Caro: Enterolobium (C)
Carob: Ceratonia (E)
Carola: Thunbergia (C)
Carpenter bush: Justicia (E)
Carpetweed: Mollugo (E)
Carra: Hampea (C); Huberodendron (C)
Carraspique: Iberis (C)
Carrasposa: Eupatorium bullata (C); Calea sp. (C)
Carrasavillo: Callea (C)
Carrecito: Aristolochia (CR)
Carretillo: Aspidiosperma (C); Randia (C)
Carreto: Aspidiosperma (P,C); Vismia (C)
Carreton: Trifolium (C)
Carreton de agua: Marsilea (C)
Carretoncito: Medicago (C)
Carricillo: Chusquea (P); Lasiacis (P); Olvra (P)
Carricillo trepador: Lasiacis (CR)
Carrielitos: Calceolaria (C)
Carrizo: Arthrostylidium (CR); Arundo (C); Lasiacis (P); Merostachys (CR); Tabernaemontana (C)
Carro caliente: Coccoloba (CR); Eugenia (CR)
Carrot: Daucus (E)
Carrumio: Ternstroemia (C)
Cartageno: Pseudobombax (C)
Cartagueno: Rudgea (C)
Cartucho: Zantedeschia (CR)
Caruto: Genipa (C)
Caruya: Eichhornia (C)
CARYOCAR AMYGDALIFERUM Mutis: Achiotillo (C); Ajo (P); Almendron (C); Almendron cagui
(C); Mani (C) (Fig. 61). The edible seeds are high in oil content. In Colombia, the oil is called aceite
de piquia and is used for cooking and medicine.
CARYOCAR sp.: Genene. Used for boatmaking. Nuts said to be edible.
Carvu: Sterculia (CR)
Cas: Psidium (CR)
Casabana: Sicana (E)
Cas acida: Psidium (CR)
Casaco: Hieronyma (C); Sloanea (P)
Casa de hormigas: Acacia (C)
Casamarucha: Xanthium catharticum (C)
Casasco: Sloanea (P)
Cascabel: Alonsoa (C); Silene (C)
Cascajero: Miconia (C)
Cascalote: Libidivia (C)
Cascara amarga: Picramnea (P)
Cascara de yuca: Alchornea (C)
Cascara sagrada: Rhamnus (C)
Cascarilla boba: Ladenbergia (C)
Cascarillo negra: Heisteria (C)
Cascarilla roja: Cinchona (C); Ladenbergia (C)
Cascarillo: Clematis (C); Croton (C); Crudia (C)
Casco de marte: Aconitum (C)
Casco de vaca: Bauhinia (C)
Casco de venado: Ampelocera (C); Bauhinia (CR)
Cascha: Mimosa (CR)
Cascua: Cupania (CR)
Cas dulce: Psidium (CR)
CASEARIA sp. Wild cherry (E); Huesito (C): Raspa-lengua (P). The berries are edible but nearly
tasteless (!). They are frequently consumed by bushmen along the trail (!).
CASEARIA SYLVESTRIS Sw. Cortalengua (P); Dondequiera (C); Mahajo (C); Palo de la cruz (D).
The fruits are probably edible, and the flowers are attractive to bees. Macerated roots are used in
decoction to treat wounds and leprosy in Brazil. The seeds yield an oil used to treat leprosy.
Cas extrangero: Psidium (CR)
Cashaw: Prosopis (P)
Cashew: Anacardium (E)
CASIMIROA EDULIS Llave. White sapote (E); Matasano (C,P). The fruit is edible, and the seeds
are said to possess hypnotic properties. Ground into powder the seeds are supposed to cure external
ulcers.
Caspi: Toxicodendron (C); Rhus (C)
Caspicaracha: Rhus (C)
Cassava: Manihot (E)
CASSIA ALATA L. Cure-all (E); Bajagua (C); Dorance (C); Hierba de playa (C); Laureno (P);
Lenguevaca (C); Lucutema (C); Lucutena (C); Majaguilla (C); Majaguillo (C); Mocuteno (C); Wild
Senna (J) (Fig. 62). The leaves are anthelmintic, fungicidal, insecticidal, possibly piscicidal. the
roots are used to treat rheumatism and stomach ache in Almirante (!). The plant is also used to treat
stomach aches, venereal diseases, and snakebite.
CASSIA BICAPSULARIS L. Bicho (C); Bombito (C); Cafe de pobre (C). Toasted seeds are used as
a coffee substitute. The plant is regarded as antiasthmatic, antihemorrhoidic, febrifugal, laxative,
and insecticidal. In Costa Rica, stems and leaves are used with roots of ratania to treat piles.
CASSIA FISTULA L. Golden-shower (E); Cana fistula (P); Marianunut (Cu) (Fig. 63). The flowers
are edible. The pulp of the pods is used to flavor tobacco and as a laxative. Parched leaves are eaten
as a mild laxative with other foods. The bark has been used in tanning.
CASSIA GRANDIS L.f. Stinking toe (E); Cana fistula (P); Carao (CR); Sandalo (CR); Saragundin
(CR) (Fig. 64). The malodorous pulp around the seed is edible but purgative. The leaves, crushed
in lard, are used to treat mange in Guatemala.
CASSIA OCCIDENTALIS L. Senna (E); Bicho (C); Frijolillo (P); Potra (C) (Fig. 65). Young leaves
and pods are edible cooked; roasted seeds are substituted for coffee and the flowers are eaten in
famines. Root bark serves as a quinine substitute and is used to treat gonorrhea. The seeds,
considered poisonous undried, are febrifugal and purgative; they are used to treat ringworm. A
decoction is used for cataracts.
CASSIA RETICULATA Willd. Bicutema (C); Corance (C); Inanabiske (Cu); Laureno (D); Piria (Cu);
Saragundi (CR, CR/ROC); Sorocontil (CR/ROC); Wild Senna (CR/ROC, J); Martingalvis (C).
Choco Indians say they have no use for this tree, but it occurs at many of their home sites. Perhaps
they have a mustical use for the plant. The Bayano Cuna use the plant as a stomach ache remedy (!).
Aleaf ilnfusionis used to treat ringworm elsewhere and they use the plant for liver afflictions in
Colombia. Darien Negros use seven leaves boiled in water for a purgative. They also used the same
tea to wash dogs with mange. Rio Congo Negro women who have not borne children drink a tea of
15 leaves of laureno with a nickel's worth of anis. If still sterile after 6 months of the treatment,
divorce is in order (!).
CASSIA SIAMEA Lam. Siamese senna (E); Casia de Siam (S) (Fig. 66). The leaves have served as
a famine food; flowers sometimes are eaten in curries. The seeds are toxic to hogs.
CASSIA TOMENTOSA L.f. Alcaparro (C). Buds are substituted for capers and leaf infusions are
used for typhus and dysentery.
CASSIA TORA L. Senna (E); Dormidera (S) (Fig. 67). The leaves are piscicidal, and may be applied
to ulcers and other skin ailments. Seeds, eaten during famines, are roasted as a coffee substitute.
They are used to treat cheloid, leprosy, plague, psoriasis, and ringworm. The leaves and young fruits
are boiled as a potherb with rice. Leaves and shoots contain about 6% protein.
Castana (o): Compsoneura (C); Licania (C); Matisia (C); Montrichardia (P); Sterculia (S)
Castana de maranon: Bertholletia (C)
Castaneto: Hura (C); Thevetia (C)
CASTILLA ELASTICA Cerv. Rubber (E); Caucho negro (C); Ibude (Ch); Mastate blanco (P); Ule
(P) (Fig. 68). The latex is used to make balls and bottles, for waterproofing clothing, and caulking
boats. The bark is used to make clothing among the Choco (!).
CASTILLA FALLAX O.F.Cook. Rubber (E); Caucho (P); Ule (P). The bark is used for making cloth
and the latex is used for caulking.
Castor bean: Ricinus (E)
CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA L. Australian pine (E); Beefwood (E); Pino (S); Pino de Australia
(C) (Fig. 69). Potable water may be obtained from the shoots. Its logs will sink, but it is very good
firewood which burns green and makes good charcoal. The fruit is mixed with powdered nutmeg
to treat toothaches. Ashes are used to make soap. the bark is rich in tannin, and is said to be
antidysenteric, emmenagogic, and ecbolic. It is used in gargles for sore throat.
Catalina: Clibadium (D); Dahlia (CR)
Catamericuchye: Cochlospermum (N)
Catapanza: Passiflora (N)
CATAPLASM: A poultice or soft external application. Aloe, Annona, Chenopodium,
Cochlospermum, Commelina, Drepanocarpus, Eclipta, Gliricidia, Gossypium, Jatropha,
Kallstroemia, Mirabilis, Ocimum, Paullinia, Philodendron, Pilea, Pistia, Protulaca, Pothomorphe,
Scoparia, Sesamum, Solanum, Waltheria.
Catarina: Blakea (CR); Dahlia (CR)
CATARRH: A cold or similar malady. Treated with Achras, Achranthes, ageratum, allium,
Anacardium, Ananas, Aniba, Annona, Aristolochia, Bidens, Bramia, Bursera, Cajanus, Calocarpum,
Cardiospermum, Carica, CAssia, Cecropia, Cedrela, Ceratonia, Chaetoptelea, Chiococca,
Chlorophora, Coccoloba, Cocos, Coleus, Conocarpus, Cordia, Crescentia, Cupania, Cynocon,
Dendropogon, Desmodium, Dichromena, Dolichos, Eclipta, Elep;ahntopus, Enterolobium,
Eupatorium, Euphorbia, Hymenaea, Lantana, Lippia, Mangifera, Manicaria, Mimosa, Myroxylon,
Paspalum, Paullinia, Pedilanthus, Peperomia, Petiveria, Piper, Pistia, Pseudelepyhantopus,
Psidium, Rivina, Salmea, Samanea, Scleria, Sesbania, Siparuna, Solanum, Spondias, Sterculia,
Seietenia, Triumfetta, Turnera, Waltheria.
Catbrier: Smilax (E)
CATHARTIC: See Purgative.
Cativo: Cynometra (CR); Prioria (S)
Cattail: Typha (E)
Caucano: Cycnoches (C)
Cauchillo: Chlorophora (C); Sapium (C)
Caucho: Castilla (CR,P); Ficus (C); Perebea (P); Thevetia (C)
Caucho de la India: Ficus (C)
Caucho negro: Castilla (C,P)
Cauliflower: Brassica (E)
CAULK (Or CEMENT or GLUE): Gum of a plant used for caulking, mending, or pasting. Acacia,
Bursera, Calophyllum, Castilla, Clusia,Hymenaea, Protium, Symphonia, Tamarindus.
Caulote: Guazuma (C)
Caunce: Godoya (C)
Cautivo: Prioria (P)
Cavaja: Mauritiella (C)
CAVANILLESIA PLATANIFOL