Tico Ethnobotanical Dictionary

P

Pacaya: Chamaedorea (CR,S)

Pacaya de caballo: Geonoma (CR)

Pacaya de dante: Chamaedorea (CR)

Pacaya de raton: Euterpe (CR)

Pacha: Andropogon (C)

Pachaca: Capparis (C)

Pachar: Piper (Cu); Pothomorphe (Cu)

PACHIRA AQUATICA Aubl.: Provision tree (E); Beno (Cu); Cacao de monte (C); Ceiba de agua (C); Jelinjoche (CR); Quiriguillo (CR); Salero (C); Zapotolongo (C) . Roasted seeds yield a flour for making bread. Young leaves serve as a potherb. The bark is used as a diabetes cure. In Antioquia, the fruits are used only for making totumos (!). Choco witch doctors are said to use the seeds as a narcotic.

Pachiuba: Iriartea (C)

Pachuba: Iriartea (C)

Pachuda: Iriartea (C); Socratea (C)

PACHYRHIZUS EROSUS Urban: Yam-bean (E); Guavita cansa-boca (P); Habilla (CR) (Fig. 222). The roots are eaten raw and cooked in soup.

Pacito: Muntingia (P)

Pacito de montana: Bumelia (C)

Paco: Cespedesia (C); Gustavia (C); Mayna (C)

Pacon: Sapindus (N)

Pacora: Acrocomia (P); Cespedesia (C)

Pacunja: Bidens (C)

Paico: Chenopodium (P); Cordia (P); Eugenia (P)

Paila: ? Myroxylon (Cu)

Paipute: Casearia (CR)

Paiputo: Xylosma (CR)

Paira: Melanthera (CR)

Paishte: Luffa (CA)

Paitilla: Citrullus (C)

Paja de babilla: Sparganium (C)

Paja de empajar: Lilaea (C)

Paja macho de monte: Rhynchospora (P)

Paja de paramo: Calamagrosists (C)

Paja de zorro: Andropogon (C)

Pajaro amarillo: Pavonia (C)

Pajarito: Epidendrum (C); Masdevallia (C); Oncidium (C); Vigna (C)

Pajaritos amarillos: Tropaeolum (C)

Pajaritos azules: Delphinium (C)

Pajito de raton: Andropogon (C)

Pajon: Setaria (P)

Pakaburwi: Picramnia (Cu)

Pakwa: Renealmia (Cu)

Palabra de mujer: Lantana (C)

Palanco: Sapranthus (CR)

Palchavaca: Passiflora (C)

Paleca: Eupatorium (P); Hyptis (P)

Palisandro: Dalbergia (C)

Palitaria: Parietaria (C)

Palito de hueso: Malpighia (C)

Pallars: Phaseolus (C)

Palma de almendron: Attalea (C)

Palma amarga: Welfia (C); Sabal (C)

Palma barnez: Oenocarpus (C)

Palma barrigona: Iriartea (C)

Palma bobo: Cyathea (C)

Palma brava: Bactris (S)

Palma de cera: Ceroxylon (S)

Palma de chascara: Aiphanes (C)

Palma coco: Astrocaryum (C); Cocos (C)

Palma colorado: Euterpe (E); Welfia (C)

Palma conga: Welfia (CR,P)

Palma crespa: Catostigma (C)

Palma cristi: Ricinus (C)

Palma de cuesco: Scheelea (C)

Palma cumare: Astrocaryum (C)

Palma del desierto: Hedyosmum (C)

Palma dulce: Scheelea (C)

Palma enana de cuesco: Cryosophila (C)

Palma escoba: Acanthorrhiza (P)

Palma de stera: Astrocaryum (C)

Palma de gallinazo: Ceroxylon (C)

Palma de guagara: Sabal (P)

Palma helecho: Cyathea (S)

Palma de Jicara: Manicaria (P); Phytelephas (C)

Palma de manteca: Corozo (C)

Palma de marfil: Phytelephas (C,P)

Palma de marrano: Scheelea (C)

Palma mono: Welfia (C)

Palma negra: Astrocaryum (S)

Palma del norte: Xiphidium (P)

Palma de puerco: Scheelea (C)

Palma de ramos: Ceroxylon (C)

Palma real: Attalea (S); Roystonea (S); Dictyocaryum (C); Scheelea (CR,P); Welfia (CR,P)

Palma sara: Copernicia (C)

Palma de sebo: Corozo (C)

Palma de tonillo: Pandanus (C)

Palma de vino: Acrocomia (S); Attalea (C); Scheelea (C)

Palma zancona: Syagrus (C)

Palma zancudo: Iriartea (C); Metasocratea (C); Scheelea (C)

Palm, black: Astrocaryum (E); Bactris (E); Pyrenoglyphis (E)

Palm, grass: Tradescantia (P)

Palm, hat: Carludovica (E)

Palmiche: Corozo (CR); Elaeis (CR); Euterpe (C); Geonoma (C)

Palmiche blanco: Geonoma (C)

Palmiche colorado: Euterpe (C)

Palm, ivory: Phytelephas (E)

Palmilera: Socratea (CR)

Palmilla: Cassia (P); Synechanthus (P)

Palmita: Carludovica (P); Xiphidium (P)

Palmita japonesa: Selaginella (C)

Palmito: Euterpe (CR); Socratea (CR); Welfia (CR); Yucca (P)

Palmito de velas: Gonzalagunia (C)

Palmito dulce: Chamaedorea (CR)

Palm, monkey: Manicaria (E)

Palmo: Euterpe (C)

Palm, oil: Corozo (E); Elaeis (E); Jessenia (E)

Palm, peach: Guilielma (E)

Palm, pinecone: Raphia (E)

Palm, stilt: Iriartea (E); Socratea (E)

Palm, traveler's: Ravenala (E)

Palo de aceite: Pentaclethra (N)

Palo de agua: Bravaisia (CR,N,P); Capparis (C); Ficus (CR); Trichanthera (P)

Palo amarillo: Chlorophora (C)

Palo de aji: Drimys (C)

Palo de anastasiso: Trichilia (N)

Palo de anis: Ocotea (C)

Palo azul: Calatola (CR)

Palo bagre: Coccoloba (C)

Palo de balsamo: Myroxylon (S)

Palo de barril: Jacaratia (C)

Palo blanco: Casearia (C); Symplocos (C); Vernonia (P); Xylosma (C)

Palo bobo: Erythrina (P)

Palo de bojon: Cordia (C)

Palo brasil: Caesalpinia (C); Haematoxylum (C); Sickingia (C)

Palo de buba: Jacaranda (P)

Palo de calabaza: Crescentia (P)

Palo de camaron: Hamelia (CR)

Palo carey: Zanthoxylum (C)

Palo de cera: Astronium (C)

Palo de cerdo: Tetragastris (C)

Palo de chancho: Hieronyma (P); Vochysia (CR)

Palo de chucha: Siparuna (C)

Palo colorado: Octoea (N); Sickingia (P)

Palo criollo: Minquartica (P)

Palo de cruz: Brownea (C,P); Casearia (P); Plumeria (P)

Palo cuadrado: Cornutia (P); Macrocnemum (CR,P)

Palo de danta: Cornutia (CR)

Palo de fierro: Tabebuia (CR)

Palo de guaco: Crateva (P)

Palo guitarro: Citharexylum (C)

Palo hueso: Tecoma (C)

Palo de lagarto: Sciadodendron (N); Zanthoxylum (CR)

Palo de leche: Brosimum (P); Sapium (CR)

Palo lechero: Euphorbia (C)

Paloma: Citharexylum (P); Dendropanax (P); Lafoensia (CR)

Palo machete: Erythrina (N)

Palo malin: Vochysia (P)

Palo de marfil: Amyris (C)

Palo de Maria: Casearia (CR); Ixora (CR)

Palo de marrano: Bursera (C)

Palo de mayo: Vochysia (CR,P)

Palo de miel: Satyria (CR)

Palomita: Asclepias (C); Gonolobus (C)

Palomita morada: Securidaca (N)

Palo negro: Hybanthus (N); Miconia (P)

Palo ortiga: Urera (P)

Palo papa: Calatola (CR); Panopsis (CR)

Palo paraiso: Couroupita (P)

Palo de piedra: Minquartia (CR)

Palo prieto: Terminalia (C)

Palo quadrado: Macrocnemum (CR)

Palo de requeson: Triplaris (C)

Palo de rosa: Brownea (C)

Palo sabre: Erythrina (P)

Palo de sal: Avicennia (CR); Ficus (CR); Laguncularia (CR); Pelliceria (P)

Palo de sangre: Brosimum (C); Lonchocarpus (C); Virola (N)

Palo de sano: Bulnesia (C)

Palo de santamaria: Trixis (P); Triplaris (C)

Palo santo: Cedrela (C); Eriodendron (C); Erythrina (P); Triplaris (P)

Palo de seca: Andira (C)

Palo de soldado: Waltheria (P)

Palo de tigre: Guarea (C)

Palo de vaca: Brosimum (S)

Palo de velas: Parmentiera (P,C)

Palto: Persea (C)

Palu: Allium (Cu)

Pambil: Iriartea (C)

Pambotano: Calliandra (C)

Pamo: Perebea (C)

Pamplemusa: Citrus (C)

Pana: Artocarpus (C)

Panal: Buddleja (CR)

Panama: Jatropha (C); Sterculia (S); Wercklea (CR)

Panama berry: Muntingia (E)

Panama redwood: Platymiscium (E)

Panama tree: Sterculia (E)

Panamena: Jatropha (C); Nephrolepis (C); Tredescantia (C)

Panchuchapa: Hamelia (Cu)

Panchuismas: Hamelia (Cu)

Pany cacao: Trophis (C)

PANDANUS spp.: Screw pine (E); Palma de Tornillo (C). Screw pines are rarely cultivated in Panama. Ripe fruits may be eaten raw, or cooked for storage and later use. Uncooked fruits are quite tasty; to extract the juice and pulp from the tough fibers is difficult (!). Boiled fruits are a squash-like vegetable often mixed with grated coconut meat. Pandanus flour and paste enveloped with Pandanus leaf-rolls may be stored for years. Fruits to be made into paste are cooked for a long time in an earth oven and then scraped. The pulp is collected on leaves, dried to a sticky consistency, and then rolled into the leaves. To make flour, fruits are cooked for only one hour, pounded, sun dried, and further dried over heated rocks. The resulting dry cakes are pounded to a coarse consistency. The flour has more fibers and more calories than the paste. Calcium oxalate crystals present in some varieties are destroyed by cooking. Apical meristems of tender white developing leaves are edible, like the stems and leaves, when white and tender. Green leaves are used to wrap fish to be cooked. Root tips have sustained fiber for temporary cordage, as do leafe strips. During World War II, American Armed Forces in the Gilbert Islands used Pandanus trunks, split down the middle for temporary construction. All parts of Pandanus are combustible when dry, but the apical ends of discarded drupes provide a very hot and relatively smokeless fuel, like coconut shells. A substitute for cigarette paper is provided by the thin eipdermis of the leaves. Male inflorescences are used to scent coconut oil.

Pan del norte: Artocarpus (C)

Panecito: Malvaviscus (C)

Panel: Leucaena (C); Senegalia (C)

Pangana: Raphia (C)

Pangola: Digitaria (E)

Panic grass: Panicum (E)

PANICUM spp.: Panic grass (E) . Many species of Panicum may serve as grain sources. Their greatest importance in Panama is for forage, guinea grass and para grass being most important. Smutty looking grains may be poisonous due to a fungus.

Panika: Ceiba (N)

Panque romero: Senecio abietinus (C)

Pantano: Hieronyma (P)

Pantriba: Artocarpus (Ch)

Panya: Ceiba (N)

Papa: Panopsis (S); Solanum (S)

Papa china: Colocasia (C)

Papa del aire: Dioscorea (CR)

Papa dulce: Ipomoea (S)

Papa guasca: Bomarea (C)

Papa miel: Combretum (C); Hamelia (N); Solandra (CR)

Papamo: Vismia (C)

Papaturro: Coccoloba (C,CR); Solandra (CR)

Papaturro agrio: Bellucia (CR)

Papaturro blanca: Coccoloba (P)

Papaturro de media luna: Passiflora (N)

Papa de venado: Bomarea (CR)

Papaya: Carica (S); Jacaratia (P)

Papayelo: Xanthosoma (P)

Papayero: Capparis (C)

Papayilla: Jacaratia (CR); Jatropha (P)

Papayillo: Solanum (CR)

Papayillo de venado: Carica (CR); Jacaratia (CR)

Papayo: Sciadophyllum (CR); Terminalia (CR)

Papayo calentano: Carica (C)

Papayo del monte : Jacaratia (CR)

Papayote: Cochlospermum (C)

Papayueldo: Jacaratia (C); Jatropha (C)

Papelillo: Miconia (P); Senecio (CR)

Papelillo macho: Hieracium (CR)

Papito de monte: Malvaviscus (P)

Papo: Hibiscus (P)

Papo de la reina: Hibiscus (P)

Papo de zamba: Lonchocarpus (C)

Papunga: Bidens pilosa (C)

Papunga falsa: Aspilia tenella (C)

Papyrus: Cyperus (E)

Para: Panicum (CR)

Para grass: Panicum (E)

Paraguay: Scoparia (C)

Paraguita china: Hibiscus (P)

Paraguita de sapo: Hydrocotyle (C)

Paraiso: Melia (C)

Paralejo: Curatella (C)

Paraman: Moronobea (C); Symphonia (C)

Paran: Spondias (CR)

Parapara: Sapindus (S)

Para palo: Frittonia (C)

Para rubber tree: Hevea (E)

Parasita: Odontoglossum (C)

Parasitos: Tillandsia (S)

Paratodo: Aristolochia (C)

Parcha: Passiflora (C)

Pardillo: Cordia (C)

PARIANA LUNATA Nees: Canutillo (C). Leaves are used in wrapping gold or platinum dust.

Parimonton: Cupania (C); Hasseltia (D)

PARMENTIERA STENOCARPA Dug. & L.B.Smith: Arbol de la jujias (P); Candletree (E); Palo vela (C). The pulp of the fruits and the seeds are eaten and used to prepare beverages. P. cerifera serves as a fodder.

Parque: Acalypha (C)

Parra: Vitis (S)

Parra rosa: Entada (CR)

Parsisagoa: Inga (Cu)

Parsley: Petroselinum (E)

Parsu: Erythrina (Cu)

Partridge-pea: Cassia (E)

Paru: Davilla (C)

Pasacarne: Marathrum (CR,P)

Pasarin: Lantana (P); Wedelia (P)

Pascua: Euphorbia (P)

Pascualito: Garcia (C)

Pashcuana: Calea (CA)

Pasionaria: Passiflora (CR)

Pasita: Brosimum (C); Hirtella (C); Muntingia (P)

Pasito: Muntingia (C)

Pasmo: Monstera (P); Siparuna (P)

Pasmo de sol: Tetracera (P)

Pasmo tetano: Siparuna (P)

Pasorin: Asclepias (P)

PASPALUM spp.: Paspalum (E); Cabezona (D). Many species serve as emergency food sources and as forage plants.

PASSIFLORA QUADRANGULARIS L.: Giant granadilla (E); Badea (C); Granadilla (C,P); Nutsulet (Cu); Sirsirsijo (Ch) . Ripe fruits of this and other species are edible; green fruits are cooked as a vegetable. The roots are said to be edible after baking or roasting. Most species of this genus have edible fruits, but the seeds should not be consumed. Seeds of several species are considered insecticidal.

PASSIFLORA SEEMANNII Griseb.: Guate-Guate (P). The fruits, edible raw, are sometimes mixed with milk to make a fresco.

PASSIFLORA VITIFLORA H.B.K.: Kusep (Cu) . The fruits are edible.

Passionflower: Passiflora (E)

Paste: Luffa (CR,P)

Pastelillo: Coccoloba (C)

Pastelilla: Coccoloba (C)

Pastilla: Styrax (C)

Pasto argentina: Cynodon (C)

Pasto azul: Dactylis (C)

Pasto bahia: Paspalum

Pasto elefante: Pennisetum

Pasto gallina: Agrostis (C)

Pasto gordora: Melinis (C)

Pasto mexicana: Ixophorus (C)

Pasto micay: Axonopus (C)

Pasto de olor: Anthoxanthum (C)

Pastora: Euphorbia (N)

Pata: Musa (Ch)

Pataba: Jessenia (C)

Pataco: Phaseolus (C)

Pata de chulo: Mediola (C)

Patacon: Cissampelos (C); Phyllanthus (C)

Pata de conejo: Paspalum (C)

Pata de gallina: Cordia (C); Eleusine (C)

Pata de gallo: Jacobina (CR)

Patahua: Jessenia (C)C

Pataiste, Pataste, Patashte: Theobroma (CR)

Patata: Solanum (C)

Pataua: Jessenia (C)

Pata de vaca: Bauhinia (C); Pithecellobium (C); Trichilia (C)

Pate: Chamissoa (N)

Pategallina: Didymopanax (C); Oreopanax (C); Schefflera (C)

Paterno: Inga (P); Swartzia (P)

Patilla: Citrullua (C)

Patillo: Crotalaria (CR)

Patinegra: Eupatorium acuminatum (C)

PATINOA ALMIRAJO Cuatr.: Almirajo (Ch). the fruit is described as delicious. In Panama, the tree is cultivated at Manene, but it is commonly cultivated along the Atrato in Colombia.

Patriota: Musa (P)

Patudo: Coussapoa (C); Liabum vulcanicum (C)

Patza: Piper (Cu); Pothomorphe (Cu)

Pauche: Polymnia (C)

Pauji: Anacardium (C)

PAULLINIA FUSCESCENS H.B.K.: Hierba de alacran (P). Although the white aril is said to be edible, seeds should be avoided. The plant serves as a fish poison and alleviates bug bites. The stems substitute for rope. Darienitas believe that animals and birds who eat the fruits have bitter meat.

PAULLINIA PINNATA L.: Apgi (Cu); Barbasco (P). The powdery pulp of the fruits is sometimes eaten by Africans. The plant can be used as a fish poison; the seeds are poisonous. the stems are used as cordage. The roots are chewed for coughs. Crushed leaves are used as a cataplasm in Latin America. Powdered roots are added to leaves and rice to cure sterility in Ghana women.

Pava: Didymopanax (CR,P)

Pavillo: Cornutia (CR); Didymopanax (CR); Lonchocarpus (CR)

Pavito: Jacaranda (C)

Pavon: Jacobinia (CR)

Pavon amarillo: Jaconbinia (CR)

Pavoncillo: Centropogon (CR); Cestrum (CR); Jacobinia (CR)

Pavoncillo rojo: Scutellaria (CR)

PAVONIA FRUTICOSA Fawcett & Rendle: Pegapega (D); Tabadillato (Ch). The roots are used in Choco cough medicines (!).

Paxte: Luffa (CR)

Payanca: Pontederia (C)

Payama: Bejaria (C)

Payande: Pithecellobium (C)

Payva: Hyptis

Pe: Zea (Ch)

Pea: Pisum (E)

Peach Palm: Guilielma (E)

Pea, congo: Cajanus (E)

Peanut: Arachis (E)

Pebetera: Vernonia (C)

Pecosa: Bomarea (C)

PECTIS spp.: Hierba de limon de China (D); Hierba te (P). this aromatic plant is cultivated by the Choco aloong Rio Pirre, for making teas. In Venezuela, mashed leaves and flowers are used instead of the spice comino.

PECTIS ELONGATA H.B.K.: Comino silvestre (C)

PECTORAL: Pertaining to or alleviating conditions of the chest. Acacia, Achyranthes, Allium, Annona, Argemone, Bambusa, Bidens, Calophyllum, Calotropis, Carica, Cecropia, Cedrela, Chiococca, Chrysophyllum, Clusia, Cochlospermum, Cocos, Commelina, Coriandrum, Crescentia, Eclipta, Enallagma, Erythrina, Gossypium, Guazuma, Hibiscus, Hippocratea, Lantana, Lepidium, Linum, Mangifera, Melochia, Moringa, Myroxylon, Ocimum, Pedilanthus, Plumeria, Psychorita, Sesamum, Sterculia, Terminalia, Turnea, Zizyphus.

PEDILANTHUS TITHYMALODIES Poit.: Grosella (P); Pie de nino (P). the caustic emetic milky sap is used for umbilical hernias among the Chepigana Negroes. The plant is also regarded as an emmenagogue.

Pedro Hernandez: Spondias (C); Toxicodendron (C)

Pedronoche: Datura (C)

Pegadera: Desmodium (S)

Pega mosco: Befaria (C)

Pega-pega: Aeschynomene (P); Cenchrus (P); Desmodium (P); Pharus (P); Triumfetta (P); Pisonia (C); Priva (D)

Pegle: Vochysia (P)

Pegojo: Tabernaemontana (N)

Pegosa: Befaria (C)

Peinecillo: Apeiba (P)

Peine de mico: Apeiba (CR,P); Pithecellobium (CR)

Peine de mono: Apeiba (C)

Peineton: Monstera (C)

Peipute: Casearia (C)

Peji: Banisteriopsis (C)

Pejibaye: Astrocaryum (CR); Guilielma (CR)

Pejibayito: Chimarrhis (CR)

Pela: Acacia (C)

Pelamanos: Daphne (C)

Pelican flower: Aristolochia (E)

Pelicano: Cycnoches (C); Delphinium (C); Stanhopea (C)

Peligalo: Aphelandra (C)

Pelo de angel: Calliandra (C)

Pelo de Indio: Hirtella (N)

Pelolica: Phyllanthus (C)

Pelo de paton: Bulbostylis (CR)

Pelotillo: Weinmannia (C)

Peloto: Andira (C); Casearia (C)

PELTOGYNE PURPUREA Pittier: Purple heart (E); Morado (P); Nazareno (P) . The very attractive wood is a favorite for Choco carvings, and for fine furniture construction.

Peluda: Clidemia (C); Miconia (C)

Peluso: Sloanea (D)

Pena blanca: Coccoloba (S)

Penca: Guzmania (C)

Pendaga: Costus (C)

Penda morada: Securidaca (C)

Pendare: Mimusops (C)

PENNISETUM spp.: Elephant grass (E); Hierba elefante (P). The grains may serve as food. Around Singapore, this forage, cut once a month, yields an annual forage crop of 225 tons of fresh grass per hectare.

Pensamiento: Duranta (N); Viola (CR)

Pensamiento de pobre: Browallia (C)

PENTACLETHRA MACROPHYLLA Benth.: Gallinazo (D). The seeds, used to poison fish and arrows and eaten with red ants to induce abortion, are edible after careful processing. Expressed oil is used for candle making, cooking and soap. Ashes of the pods are used as salt. The anthelmintic bark is pounded and applied to leprosy sores.

PENTAGONIA BRACHYOTIS Sandl.: Biruchichiho (Ch); Cumtulo (Cu); Murcielago (C) . The fruits have a scanty, edible pulp (!). Choco take the leaves and fruits in a tea as a blood purifier (!).

Peona: Castilleja (C)

Peonia negra: Lantana (C)

Peonia: Abrus (S)

Pepa de cruz: Thevetia (C)

Pepa de culbra: Rauvolfia (C)

Pepa del oro: Zizyphus (C)

Pepa de sabalo: Crateva (C)

Pepe guara: Grias (C)

Pepenance: Ximenia (CR)

PEPEROMIA GLAIOIDES H.B.K.: Cuyanguilla (C); Quereme (C). This aromatic herb is a famous love charm in Colombia.

PEPEROMIA PELLUCIDA H.B.K.: Hierba de Sapo (P). The plant is reputed to be an ashtma cure.

PEPEROMIA QUADRIFOLIA H.B.K.: Retono (S). The plant is said to be eaten raw or cooked.

PEPEROMIA VIRIDISPICA var. PERJIL Trel.: Perejil (C,P). A Panama song is based on this spice, "A la lora hay quedarle perejil." The leaves, eaten like a salad, are a constituten of recado verde, and taken as a tea for stomach upsets.

Pepinillo: Cyphomandra (CR); Momordica (CR,CR/ROC)

Pepino: Cucumis (S); Cyclanthera (CR); Solanum (C)

Pepino crespo: Cyclanthera (C)

Pepino diablito: Cyclanthera (C)

Pepino lloron: Solanum (C)

Pepino mango: Solanum (C)

Pepino morado: Solanum (C)

Pepo: Sapindus (C)

Pepo de cruz: Thevetia (C)

Pera: Couma (C)

Peralejo: Byrsonima (C); Curatella (C)

Peraman: Symphonia (C)

PEREBEA sp.: Pacuru (Ch). Most probably a component of an important arrow poison for the Colombian Choco.

Perefuetano: Parnarium (C)

Perejil: Carum (C); Peperomia (P); Petroselinum (CR)

PERESKIA ACULEATA Mill.: Bladeapple (E); Barbados Gooseberry (J); Bledo (C); Guamacho (C); Naca (C); Naju de espinas (P). The fruit is eaten raw or preserved, or cooked in soil. The leaves serve for potherbs and salads.

PERSKIA BLEO DC.: Clarol (C); Naju de culebra (P); Naju de espinas (P); Pipchuelo (C) . The red flowers of this armed leafy cactus are followed by yellow edible fruit (!). The leaves may be eaten raw with no bad effects (!). In Colombia, the cactus is used for living fences.

PERFUME: An aromatic substance, pleasing or attractive to ones associates. Abelmoschus, Acacia, Cyperus, Myroxylon, Petiveria, P:rotium, Renealmia, Sicana, Tetragastris, Warszewiczia.

Pergamela: Clerodendrum (C)

Perico: Amphilophium (N)

Perilejo: Myrcia (C)

Perillo: Brosimum (C); Couma (C)

Perillo blanco: Himatanthus (C)

Periquito: Muntingia (D); Trema (D)

Perita: Alibertia (C); Eugenia (C)

Pernilla de casa: Erythrina (P)

Pernilla de monte: Ormosia (P)

Pero: Couma (C)

Peron: Passiflora (C)

Peronil: Clitoria (P)

Peronilla: Erythrina (C); Ormosia (C); Pithecellobium (C); Rhynchosia (C); Vitex (C)

Perquetano: Moquilea (C)

Perrero: Aiphanes (C)

Perrito: Tribulus (C)

PERSEA AMERICANA Mill.: Avocado (E); Aguacate (S); Ashue (Cu); Bego (Ch) . Avocados are eaten with rice, in salads, and in soups. The avocado has vitamin and oil-rich fruits relished by man, all domestic, and most wild animals, including carnivores. It may be eaten right off the tree and contains more protein than any other fruit. Some Latins regard the fruit as aphrodisiac. Lactating Saliqui Choco are supposed to abstain from avocado. The seed has a sap used for marking clothing indelibly. Many medicinal virtues are attributed to the seeds. Powdered, they may be used with cheese or tallow to poison mice and other noxious animals. The oil is sometimes used for grooming the hair. In Los Santos, the roots and leaves, made into a decoction, are drunk as te de aguacate, to lower the blood pressure (!). Te de aguacate is drunk instead of water by Chepigana Negroes with liver ailments. Breakfast in Puerto Obaldia frequently consists of a tea of avocado leaves sweetened with cane juice.

Persian lilac: Melia (B)

Pesacarne: Marathrum (P)

Pestano de mula: Heliocarpus (C,N)

PESTICIDE: A substance used for killing pests, e.g., mice. Combretum, Coriaria, Dieffenbachia, Drepanocarpus, Gliricidia, Hura, Jatropha, Persea, Rourea.

Petipoa: Cajanus (CR)

PETIVERIA ALLIACEA L.: Ajillo (CR/ROC); Anamo (Ch); Anamu (C,P); Jasmincillo (C); Mapurito (C); Raiz de congo (C); Raiz de pipi (C); Urgat (Cu); Zorrillo (CR/ROC) . The roots are chewed to alleviatge toothache, and sniffed to relieve headache. In the Choco a leaf infusion is used for parturition in women and in cattle. It is used also as a febrifuge, and aerial parts are used to cure pulmonary ailments. It is elsewhere placed among woolens to protect them from insects. It is administered to induce menstruation and by some is considered aphrodisiac and ecbolic. Sabana Choco and La Nueva Negroes use it as a vampire repellant (!). Salaqui Choco, however, wear it as a perfume (!). Mixed with lemon, anamu is used by La Nueva Negrows as a snakebite remedy.

PHASEOLUS: Beans (E). Several types of beans are cultivated for food and fodder in Panama. Beans are known to the Cuna as inua, but Choco call them frijol. The most important for food are the lima bean or haba , Phaseolus lunatus, the mung bean, Phaseolus aureus, the black bean or frijol, Phaseolus vulgaris , and the hyacinth bean or chicharro (Dolichos lablab). Among the Mayas, three kinds of beans are eaten, native black beans being most commonly boiled in salt water and eaten with tortillas. Lima beans are eaten similarly but less frequently. A smaller white bean is cooked with squash seeds which have been toasted and mixed with chopped oniion leaves. Indians rarely use the unripe fruits of beans or corn for vegetables, as does white man. Black beans, Phaseolus vulgaris, are second only to corn in Central American diet, but about the Canal Zone, they are little used. Medicinally, beans are regarded as emmenagogue, used for dysentery, tenesmus, sore eyes, hiccups, and as a poultice on burns.

PHASEOLUS ADENANTHUS G.Meyer: Habichuela cimarrona (S). The tuberous roots have served as food.

PHASEOLUS LUNATUS L.: Lima bean (E); Cachas (C); Habas (S); Huevo de piche (C); Pallars (C); Zaragosa (C) . Lima beans are well-known vegetables, but the purple seeds should be avoided. The leaves and young shoots contain about 7.5% protein.

PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.: Common bean (E); Habichuela (S); Inua (Cu) . The seeds are edible cooked.

PHILOXERUS VERMICULARIS Nutt.: Beach carpet (E); Hierba de sal (S). Tender parts serve as a presalted potherb.

PHOEBE MEXICANA Meissn.: The depressant leaves are used for heart ailments.

PHRAGMITES COMMUNIS Trin.: Common reed (E); Cana de Indio (S). The young shoots sserve as a potherb. The seeds are edible cooked. Rhizomes may be eaten raw or ground into flour. Heating this flour oftne yields a taffy-like food-stuff. A sweet edible gum oozes from punctures caused by insects. The stems are used for thatching.

PHYLLANTHUS ACIDUS Skeels: Star gooseberry (E); Grosella (C); Murusol (Cu) . The fruits are used for preserves, and are also eaten raw or pickled.

PHYLLANTHUS ACUMINATUS Vahl: Chirrinchao (C). Used by the Choco as a fish poison.

PHYSALIS spp.: Ground cherry (E); Topeton (P); Uchuva (C); Uvilla (C) . The fruits are eaten raw or cooked, especially as an additive to stews. They are sometimes made into preserves by cooking in palm syrup. the leaves are cooked as a potherb in parts of Africa.

Physic nut: Jatropha (E)

PHYTELEPHAS SEEMANNII Cook: Ivory palm (E); Allagua (C); Anta (Ch); Cabeza de Negra (C,P); Palma de marfil (C,P); Sagu (Cu); Tagua (C,P). The young nuts have a potable jelly-like liquid (!). This gradually hardens into vegetable ivory used for making buttons and other ornaments. A thin crust around the ivory is occasionally brought into the market in San Blas as a food (!). The leaves are occasionally used for thatch in Colombia (!).

PHYTOLACCA RIVINOIDES Kunth & Bouche: Pokeberry (E); Atusara (C); ; Jaboncillo (S). Leaves and new shoots serve as a potherb. The inedible root is used as a soap substitute.

Piasaba: Leopoldinia (C)

Picamano: Cissampelos (N)

Picante: Polygonum (C)

Picantillo: Polygonum (C)

Picapica: Mucuna (S)

Picep: Ocimum (Cu)

Pichana: Scoparia (C)

Pichicango: Scleria (C)

Pichichinchivo: Solanum (CR)

Pichichio: Solanum (CR,CR/ROC)

Pichiguao: Guilielma (C)

Pichinche: Machaerium (C)

Pichinde: Pithecellobium (C,P); Pseudoraupea (C)

Pichipang: Colubrina (P)

Pickerel weed: Pontederia (E)

PICKLES: Plant parts used as food after preserving in vinegar or brine. Abelmoschus, Capparis, Capsicum, Crescentia, Cucumis, Genipa, Hibiscus, Moringa, Phyllanthus, Solanum, Spondias.

Pico de caspe: Anibe (C)

Pico de flamenco: Sesbania (S)

Pico de loro: Machaerium (C)

Pico de pajaro: Cassia (CR)

Pico de pato: Amphilophium (N); Xanthosoma (CR)

PICRAMNIA LATIFOLIA Tul.: Corajillo (CR). Leaves and bark of the honey tree are febrifugal.

Pida: Allium (Ch)

Pidua: Pithecellobium (Ch)

Pie de nino: Pedilanthus (P)

Pie de paloma: Axonopus (CR)

Pie de venado: Rinorea (C)

Pigeon pea: Cajanus (E)

Pigeon plum: Hirtella (E)

Piginio: Byrsonima (C); Sickingia (C)

Piginio amarillo: Genipa (C)

Pigweed: Amaranthus (E)

Pijibay: Guilielma (N)

Pilapisep: Salvia (Cu)

Pilde: Banisteriopsis (C)

PILEA INVOLUCRATA Urban: Carianabo (C). Among the Sibundoy, wounds are healed with the mashed and salted leaves. Mixed with Brownea, it is used to cure floja, a menstrual ailment. It also finds a way into inflammation and tuberculosis treatments.

Pilon: Andira (P); Hieronyma (CR,P)

Pimientilla: Cyperus (P)

Pimiento: Capsicum (E); Myrcia (P); Schinus (C,CR)

Pimiento oloroso: Pimenta (N)

Pilota: Paphliopedilum (C)

Pilpe: Angelonia (C)

Pimpa: Iriartella (C)

Pimpi: Iriartella (C)

Pimpin: Rivina (C)

Pina: Cyperus (Cu)

Pina: Ananas (S)

Pina anona: Monstera (CR,C)

Pina blanca: Podocarpus (P)

Pinanona: Monstera (P)

Pinapina: Astrocaryum (P)

Pina de playon: Ananas (C)

Pindoba: Orbignya (C)

Pineapple: Ananas (E)

Pine, Australian: Casuarina (E)

Pinecone palm: Raphia (E)

Pingwing: Ananas (P)

Pinico: Sapium (C)

Pinnuwala: Anacardium (Cu)

Pino: Laetia (C); Podocarpus (P)

Pino: Pinus (CR,C)

Pino amarillo: Lafoensia (P)

Pino blanco: Podocarpus (P)

Pino bobo: Pithecellobium (C)

Pino chaquiro: Podocarpus (C)

Pino hayuelo: Podocarpus (C)

Pinon: Albizia (C); Enterolobium (C); Gyrocarpus (C); Jatropha (P); Sterculia (C)

Pinon amoroso: Gliricidia (C)

Pinon de oreja: Enterolobium (C)

Pino de pacho: Podocarpus (C)

Pino romeron: Podocarpus (C)

Pinpurekwat: Costus (Cu)

Pintadilla: Clibadium surinamense (C)

Pintamora: Solanum (P)

Pintamora de monte: Capsicum (P); Cestrum (P)

Pinta mozo: Vismia (P)

Pinta pava: Randia (C)

Pintapinta: Rivina (C)

Pinturero: Phyllanthus (C)

Pinu: Anacardium (Cu)

Pinuelo: Pelliceria (C)

Pinupuruiwat: Costus (Cu)

Pinuela: Ananas (P)

Piojo: Acaena (C)

Pipa: Cocos (S)

Piper: Piper (B)

PIPER ADUNCUM L.: Wild pepper (E); Gusanillo (S) . The peppery fruits are used to season food; it is sometimes eaten as a potherb.

PIPER AURITUM H.B.K.: Cowfoot (E); Cordoncillo (S); Anisillo (CR); Hoja de ajan (CR); Hoja de Santamaria (CR); Hoja de anis (CR); Hoja de la estrella (CR); Hierba santa (CR); Santamaria (CR); Santilla de comer (CR). The leaves, with the aroma of sarsaparilla, are used to flavor tamales.

PIPER DARIENENSE C.DC.: Duermeboca (P); Kana (Cu). The fruits are very effective toothache cures (!). Choco use the plant as a fish poison (!). Cuna use it as a bath, for snakebites and colds (!).

PIPER sp.: Pachar (Cu); Patza (Cu). the roots are used to facilitate bleeding from contusion, perhaps anticoagulant. Cooked roots are used as an expectorant in Ailigandi.

Pipewort: Aristolochia (E)

Pipi: Petiveria (C)

Pipian: Maranta (C)

Pipichuelo: Pereskia (C)

Pipilacha: Ruprectia (N)

Pipilongo: Piper (C)

Pipire: Guilielma (C)

PIPTADENIA PEREGRINA Benth.: Niopo (C); Yoco (C) . Toasted seeds are used as a narcotic snuff by Colombian Indians; Choco witch doctors use them to induce comas. The snuff is taken nasally and anally.

Piraju: Bromelia (Ch)

Piria: Cassia (Cu)

Pirijao: Guilielma (C)

Piripucho: Phaseolus (C)

Piriquitera: Doliocarpos (C)

Piriquitoya: Canna (CR)

Piro: Bromelia (CR,P)

Pisabed: Cassia (CR)

Pisamo: Erythrina (C)

Pisano: Erythrina (C)

Pisba: Guilielma (D)

PISCICIDE: A substance to kill or stupefy fish. Anacardium, Andira, Annona, Aspidosperma, Byrsonima, Cassia, Centrosema, Cissampelos, Citharexylum, Cleome, Clibadium, Crysophila, Dioscorea, Diospyros, Dodonaea, Dntada, Erythrina, Euphorbia, Furcraea, Hippomane, Hura, Jacquinia, Jatropha, Lonchocarpus, Mammea, Melia, Muellera, Pachyrhizus, Paullinia, Pentaclethra, Phyllanthus, Piper, Piscidia, Randia, Saccharum, Salmea, Sapindus, Selenipedium, Serjania, Smilax, Tephrosia, Tephrosia, Thevetia, Vismia.

PISCIDIA PISCIPULA Sarg.: Fish poison tree (E); Matapez (C) . the branches are used to poison fish. the alkaloid pisciden is poisonous or narcotic to man, but in small doses is sedative and suporific.

Pisep: Ocimum (Cu)

Pisquin: Albizia (C)

Pistachero: Pistacia (C)

PISTIA STRATIOTES L. Water lettuce (E); Buchona (C); Hodropica (C); Lechuga de agua (S); Sirena (C) . The leaves are mixed with soups but they should be parboiled to remove oxalate crystals. They are used to combat colds, dysentery. The ashes may be used as salt. Crushed leaves serve to dress abscesses, hemorrhoids, and ulcers. The roots are laxative and emollient, and used in cures for asthma, diabetes, dysnetery, and tuberculosis.

Pissi: Hamelia (CR)

PISUM SATIVA L.: Pea (E); Alverja (C); Arveja (C); Guisante (C) . Peas, edible cooked, are rarely, if ever grown, grown in lowland Panama.

Pit: Enterolobium

Pita, Pita floja: Aechmea (C); Ananas (P); Carludovica (CR); Viburnum (C)

Pitahaya: Acanthocereus (C); Cereus (CR)

Pitanga: Eugenia (C)

PITHECELLOBIUM DULCE Benth.: Chininango (D); Dinde (C); Gallinero (C); Mochiguiste (CR); Tiraco (C) . The pulp around the seeds is edible and also made into a beverage (!).

PITHECELLOBIUM RUFESCENS Pitt.: Coralillo (P); Flor de Indio (P); Harino (P); Inapisu (Cu); Jarino (P). Bayano Cuna Indians use the bark in medicine baths for female troubles.

PITHECELLOBIUM UNGUIS-CATI Benth.: Black bean (E); Pidua (Ch); Una de gato (S) (Fig. 241). The fruits are sometimes consumed as food.

Pitilla: Sporobolus (CR)

Pito: Erythrina (P)

Pito gigante: Erythrina (C)

Pito de peronilla: Erythrina (C)

Pivijay: Ficus (C)

Pizzara: Persea (CR,P)

PLANTAGO MAJOR L.: Plantain (E); Llanten (CR/ROC)

Plantain: Musa (E); Plantago (CR/ROC)

Plantain, wild: Heliconia (E)

planta del soldado: Hedyosmum (C)

Platanaria: Sparganium (C)

Plantanillo: Calathea (P); Canna (P); Helilconia (P); Nasturtium (CR); Renealmia (C); Scutellaria (CR)

Plantanillo de monte: Epiphyllum (CR)

Plantanito: Adipera (C); Cassia (C); Chamaefistula (C); Oxalis (C); Tabernaemontana (C)

Plantano: Chimarrhia (P); Hieronyma (CR); Minquartia (N); Musa (S)

Plateado: Croton (C)

PLATYMISCIUM PINNATUM Dugand: Cachimbo (CR); Cristobal (CR); Quira (P); Sangrillo (P); Trebol (C) . Roasting corn meal in the leaves is supposed to impart a good flavor. The timber is durable and highly suitable for cabinet work.

Plegadera: Alchemilla (C)

Plomillo: Caryocar (CR)

Plomo: Belotia (CR); Mollinedia (C); Tachigalia (CR)

PLUCHEA PURPURASCENS DC.: Tabaco cimarron.

Plum: Spondias (B)

Pluma de Indio: Codiaeum (D)

Pluma de la reina: Buddleja (CR); Petrea (C)

Plumaria: Iresine (C)

Pluma venus: Rhoeo (S)

PLUMBAGO SCANDENS L.: Hierba del pajaro (S); Umbela (S). Leaves are applied externally for "itch" and leprosy, internally as an emetic or purgative.

PLUMBAGO ACUTIFOLIA Poir.: Frangipani (E); Amancayo (C); Canchu (Cu); Caracucha (P) (Fig. 243). The sap yields rubber, or is used to coagulate rubber, and is used to treat venereal diseases. the flowers are considered pectoral. Jamaicans belileve that just applying the latex to the nevel serves as a purgative. Principles thought useful in the control of pathogenic fungi and tuberculosis has been extracted from species of Plumeria.

Plumilla: Iresine (C)

Plumito: Petrea (C)

Poaja: Cephaelis (C)

Pochote: Bombacopsis (CR); Ceiba (S); Pseudobombax (CR)

Pococa: Passiflora (CR); Ocotea (CR)

PODOCARUPS MACROSTACHYA Parl.: Pino blanco (P); Romeron (C). Pericarps of the fruits are edible.

Pogo: Dioscorea (C)

Poinciana: Delonix (E)

Poinsettia: Euphorbia (E)

Poison: Hyptis (P)

Poison dogwood: Clusia (B)

Pokeberry: Phytolacca (E)

Pokeweed: Phytolacca (E)

Polak: Ochroma (N)

Poleo: Peperomia (P); Satureia (C)

POLLALESTA COLOMBIANA Aristeguieta: Cenizo (C)

Polvillo: Tabebuia (C)

Polvo de monte: Malvaviscus (S)

Polvotutu: Cestrum (Cu)

POLYGALA sp.: Sarpoleta (C). Aromatic roots are used as a febrifuge.

POLYMNIA PYRAMIDALIS Tr.: Arboloco bogotano (C); Arboloco hueco (C)

POLYMNIA RIPARIA H.B.K.: Pauche cumana (C); Jiquimilla (C)

POLYPODIUM AUREUM L. The rhizomes are edible.

Pomarrosa: Eugenia (P)

Pamarossa de Malaca: Eugenia (C)

Pomegranate: Punics (E)

Pome: Eugenia (C)

Pompolluda: Coleus (P)

Ponatotu: Brownea (Ch)

Pond apple: Annona (E)

PONTEDERIA CORDATA L.: Pickerel weed (E). The seeds are edible raw, dried, or boiled, and can be made into flour.

Popa: Couma (C); Lacmellia (C)

Popo: Bambusa (C)

Poponjoche: Huberodendron (CR)

Poro: Erythrina (CR)

Poro colorado: Erythrina (CR)

Poro espinas: Erythrina (CR)

POROPHYLLUM MACROCEPHALUM DC.: Yerba de chulo, PUrranga, Chipaca (C)

POROPHYLLUM RUDERALE Cass.: Venadillo (C); Ruda de gallina (C); Chucha (C); Gallenaza (C)

Poroporo: Cochlospermum (CR,N,P); Passiflora (C); Gallenaza (C)

Poroto: Erythrina (C); Phaseolus (P)

Poro trinidad: Erythrina (CR)

Porterweed: Stachytarpheta (E)

Portia tree: Thespesia (E)

Porto Bello: Angelonia (N)

Porotorico: Carludovica (P); Cyclanthus (P)

Portulaca: Portulaca (C)

PORTULACA OLERACEA L.: Purslane (E); Verdolaga (S). The leaves are edible raw or cooked. The seeds serve as a grain. The plant is regarded as diuretic, cataplasmic, galactogogic, and vermifuge. The seeds, said to be anthelmintic, antidysenteric, astringent, demulcent, diuretic, and vermifugal, are used in dysuria, harmaturia, haemoptysis, and strangury. They are also applied to burns.

Portulaca de playa: Talinum (C)

POSOQUERIA LATIFOLIA Roem. & Schult.: Monkey apple (E,J); Wild coffee (E,J); Boca vieja (P); Borojo (P); Churumbelo (C); Fruta de mono (CR); Fruta de murcielago (P); Guavito de mico (CR); Huevo de mono (P). The fruits are edible (!).

Posui: Oenocarpus (C)

POTHERB: A plant part edible after cooking. Achyranthes, Acrostichum, Adansonia, Amaranthus, Anredera, Bambusa, Basella, Batis, Bidens, Boerhaavia, Bromelia, Calathea, Calonyction, Cardiospermum, Carludovica, Cassia, Cecropia, Ceiba, Celosia, Centella, Ceratopteris, Chamaedorea, Chenopodium, Cocos, Colocasia, Commelina, Corchorus, Cosmos, Crescentia, Crotalaria, Cucurbita, Cyathea, Desmodium, Eichhornia, Elaeis, Elaterium, Eleusine, Emilia, Erechtites, Eryngium,

Erythrina, Fagopyrum, Gliricidia, Guadua, Hibiscus, Hydrocotyle, Hydrolea, Ipomoea, Jatropha, Kallstroemia, Lagenaria, Lepidium, Leucaena, Limnocharis, Manihot, Marathrum, Marsilea, Mirabilis, Mollugo, Momordica, Morinda, Moringa, Musa, Nasturtium, Neptunia, Oxalis, Pachira, Peperomia, Pereskia, Philoxerus, Phragmites, Physalis, Phytolacca, Piper, Pistia, Portulaca, Psophocarpus, Pteridium, Quisqualis, Raphanus, Rumex, Sechium, Sesbania, Sesuvium, Solanum, Sonchus, Spathiphyllum, Spilanthes, Spondias, Struchium, Talinum, Tamarindus, Thespesia, Triumfetta, Typha, Ullucus, Vernonia, Vitis, Xanthosoma, Ximenia, Yucca.

POTHOMORPHE PELTATA Miq.: Inojo (D); Patza (Cu); Santa Maria (P) . The leaves are rubbed on the body as a tick repellent or, among the Bayano Cuna, to kill lice (!). Those of P. umbellata are eaten and used for toothache. The Bayano Cuna use Pothomorphe stems as a cold cure. The leaves of P. peltata are cooked with zapallo leaves in salt water and poulticed overnight on erysipelas and leishmanniasis sores (!). The following day the wound is dried with heat, washed with the decoction, and then a Pothomorphe leaf, dried over a flame, is pasted on with cacao butter (!). For pain, a tea of the leaves is drunk or mixed with alcohol for a massage. Los Tablas witch doctors claim the leaves are an effective external sudorific (!). Species of Pothomorphe are also used to treat venereal disease, and in Darien as an aromatic toilet paper substitute (!) and to facilitate parturition.

Potra: Cassia (C)

Potrico: Astronium (C)

POULSENIA ARMATA Standl.: Cocua (P); Damajagua (C); Matagua (P); Mastate (C); Namagua (C) . This was a primary source of bark cloth among the Choco. The fruits and buds are edible.

POUROUMA ASPERA Trecul.: Mangabe (P); Uva (C); Viranjo (Ch). The fruits are eaten by Indians, those of other species are used to make wine. Hollow petioles are used to make popguns.

POUTERIA MAMMOSA Cron.: Mamey sapote (E). The fruits are edible.

POUTERIA MULTIFL ORA Eyma: Jacana (S) . Thr fruits taste like dry persimmons (!).

Powder puff: Pseudobombax (E)

Poxot: Ceiba (N)

Pozolillo: Cupania (CR)

Prickly ash: Zanthoxylum (B)

Prickly chaff flower: Achranthes (E)

Prickly holly: Zanthoxylum (B)

Prickly palm: Acrocomia (E)

Prickly pear: Opuntia (E)

Prickly poppy: Argemone (E)

Pride of Barbados: Caesalpinia (E)

Prieto: Lonchocarpus (E)

Primavera: Acalypha (N)

Primrose malanga: Xanthosoma (E)

Princesa: Vinca (C)

Pringamosca: Loasa (CR)

Pringamoa: Jatropha (P); Loassa (CR); Urera (C); Wigandia (C)

PRIORIA COPAIFERA Griseb.: Spanish walnut (E); Amansa mujer (C,P); Camibar (CR); Canime (C); Cativo (C,P); Copachu (C); Trementina (C) . Some Panamanians apply the gum to maggots. Gum from the trunk is used by Choco to caulk piraguas. This is a favorite veneer lumber, the Atrato River belching forth about 1,000,000 bd ft per month.

PRIVA LAPPULACEA Pers. Cadillo (P); Pega pega (D) . The plant is used in Choco cough medicine (!).

Probado: Didymopanax (CR)

Pronto alivio: Lantana (C)

Prontolivin: Guarea (N)

PROSOPIS JULIFLORA DC.: Mesquite (E); Aroma (P); Manca-caballo (C,P); Trupilla (C) . Elsewhere, Indians grind the pods into a flour used for baking and gruels. The fruits are eaten by cattle, and the flowers are attractive to bees. The bark is used for roofing in Guajira.

PROTIUM sp.: Carana hediondo (S); Carano (P); Chutra (P); Ruda (C). The aril of the seeds is eaten by most frugivores, including man (!). One of Panama's most valued suppuratives, the gum from the tree is used in two ways. When you will not be getting wet for a while, you heat and apply to screw worms. It apparently suffocates them and when the carano gum is pulled off, out come the dead worms. Cool, it is applied to torsalo, and to spine-induced wounds to prevent infections (!). Also it is applied externally for headaches. The plant is also used to cure asthma. The heartwood kindles easily.

Provision tree: Pachira (E)

PSEUDELEPHANTOPUS SPICATUS Rohr.: Canasacanga (Cu); Candeabsurguit (Cu); Chicoria (P); Escobillo blanco (P); Suelda con suelda (C). In Panama, it is used to make a febrifugal cough syrup; in San Blas, it is used for stomach aches. Elsewhere, the plant serves for venereal diseases. Ailigrandi Cuna take it believing it is vitamin-rich (!).

PSEUDOBOMBAX SEPTENATUM Dugand: Bottle tree (E); Square tree (E); Barrigon (P); Cartageno (C); Ceiba de majagua (C); Ceibo barrigon (C); Majagua (C); Urtuwala (Cu) . The cotton around the seeds is used to stuff pillows and mattresses. Formerly the bark furnished cordage.

PSEUDOGYNOXYS BOGOTENSIS Cuatr.: Amapola del camino (C)

PSEUDOLMEDIA SPURIA Griseb.: Bloodwood (E); Cacique (P); Cucua (P); Ojoche (CR) . The bark is used tomake cloth. The fruits are edible. the branches are sometimes cut for oxen forage in Costa Rica. The latex is occasionally used to adulterate chicle. In Western Panama, the bloodwood is esteemed by the Indians, with both medicinal and supernatural properties. A small chip placed over a wound is said to relieve the pain and stop the bleeding. If placed behind the ears and secured by a cord, it is said to stop headaches. Chips or shavings are placed in rum for a malaria treatment.

PSIDIUM GUJAVA L.: Guava (E); Guayaba (C,P); Nulu (Cu); Purijo (Ch) . The edible fruit, often laden with maggots, is said to make the eater smell like a bedbug. It is used to make wines and jellies. The roots are eaten in soup. The leaves are chewed to relieve toothache and are used as a cataplasm, astringent, anticholeric, antidiarrhetic, and anticatarrhic. Wild fruits are supposed to expel phlegm, cut cholera, and improve jaundice. It is one ingredient for respiratory ailments among Choco children (!). It is also used to fatten pigs.

PSOPHOCARPUS TETRAGONOLOBUS DC.: Goa bean (E) . Green pods are eaten like string beans; roasted ripe seeds are also eaten with rice. the leaves and young sprouts, containing about 5% protein, are used in soups; A fungus in certain parts of the world causes swelling or galls which are eaten after steaming.

PSORIASIS: A chronic skin disease in which red scaly patches develop. Treated with Anacardium, Carica, Cassia, Thespesia.

PSYCHOTRIA COOPERI Standl.: Amarga (C). Used as a decoction in the Choco for rheumatism.

PSYCHOTRIA EMETICA L.f.: False ipecac (E); Raicilla (S). The roots, gathered as an emetic and purgative (!), are probably used as an adulterant of ipecac.

PTERIDIUM AQUILINUM Kuhn: Bracken fern (E); Helecho (S); Helecho de aguilo (C) (Fig. 254). Rootstocks and very young plants are edible after cooking to remove a toxic principle abundant in older plants. they are used to destroy tapeworm. Underground stems contain mucilage and starch, which by washing and pounding, yields a dough for making breadstuffs. The fern may cause stomach cancer of organisms, including Japanese, who ingest it. Cows who ingest it may pass on the carcinogen in their milk.

PTEROCARPUS OFFICINALIS Jacq.: Bloodwood (E); Dragon blood tree (E); Eterreva (Ch); Huevo de gato (P); Kanirabe (Cu); Sabroso (C); Sangre drago (S) . Seeds and flowers of some Asian species are eaten. The wood has served as floats for fishnets. The resin is considered astringent and hemostatic.

PTEROCAULON ALOPECUROIDES DC.: Venadillo grande (C)

Pu: Conostgegia (CR)

Pudreoreja: Ipomoea (CR)

Pudreoreja de playa: Ipomoea (CR)

Puero: Ochroma (P)

Puesilde: Quassia (P)

Puipute: Casearia (CR); Forestiera (CR); Xylosma (CR)

Pujaguito: Cornutia (N)

Pujamo: Aiphanes (C)

Pulatar: Pereskia (Cu)

Pulguera: Dalea (CR)

Pulisa: Eupatorium (C)

Pulque: Agave (S)

Pumbo: Satureja (CA)

Pumpkin: Cucurbita (E)

Pumpum juche: Pachira (N)

Punch berry: Myrcia (E)

PUNICA GRANATUM L.: Pomegranmate (E); Granada (S) . The fruit, edible and easily fermented, is good for stopping bleeding. The seeds are astringent, refrigerant, and stomachic. The bark, esepcially of the root, is good for expelling tapeworm.

Punta de lanza: Vismia (C)

Punta de sarvia: Miconia (C)

Punte candado: Pouteria (C)

Punte cascarillo: Minquartia (C)

Puntero: Andropogon (C); Haparrhenia (C)

Punua: Dioscorea (Cu)

Punula: Quararibea (D)

Punur: Stromanthe (Cu)

Puppur: Montrichardia (Cu)

Pupuchiru: Vitex (P)

Pupuna: Guilielma (C)

Pupuna brava: Bactris (C)

Pupuna silvestre: Syagrus (C)

Purca: Polymnia (CR)

Purga: Andira (C)

Purgacion: Lonchocarpus (C)

Purga de huane: Jatropha (C)

Purga Perro: Hyptis (P)

Purijo: Psidium (Ch)

PURGATIVE: A substance to relieve constipation. Aleurites, Allamanda, Aloe, Ananas, Andira, Annona, Argemone, Artemisia, Asclepias, Bocconia, Caesalpinia, Carapa, Cassia, Chlorophora, Clematis, Clitoria, Clusia, Costus, Crescentia, Davilla, Drepanocarpus, Eclipta, Eugenia, Euphorbia, Fevillea, Genipa, Hernandia, Hippomane, Ipomoea, Isotoma, Jatropha, Luffa, Melia, Mimosa, Mirabilis, Moringa, Ophioglossum, Pedilanthus, Phyllanthus, Plumbago, Psychotria, Ricinus, Rumex, Solanum, Spigelia, Tamarindus, Thevetia, Trichilia, Zamia.

Purple heart: Peltogyne (E)

Purple mombin: Spondias (E)

Purple nutsedge: Cyperus (E)

Purple wreath: Petrea (E)

Purra: Clidemia (CR)

Purre: Conostegia (CR)

Purslane: Portulaca (E)

Purua: Cyperus (Cu)

Pusley: Portulaca (E)

Pusui: Oenocarpus (C)

Putalar: Pereskia (Cu)

Putarra: Smilax (CR)

Puta vieja: Mimosa (CR)

Puyon: Xylosma (C)

PYRENOGLYPHIS MAJOR Karst.: Black palm (E); Chonta (C,D); Lata (P); Palma Brava (P). the acidulous fruits are occasionally eaten. The leaflets are used for making hats on the Azuero Peninsula.