Tico Ethnobotanical Dictionary

D

DACTYLOCTENIUM AEGYPTIUM P.Beauv. Crowfoot grass (E); Tres dedos (C); Yerba egipcia (C). The seeds serve as a grain source.

Daguilla: Philodendron (CR)

Daguillo: Yucca (CR)

DAHLIA LEHMANNII Hieron. Dalia de huertas (C)

DAHLIA VARIABILIS L. Dalia amarilla (C)

Dalia: Dahlia (CR)

Dalia amarilla: Dahlia variabilis (C)

Dalia de huertas: Dahlia lehmannii (C)

Dalienze: Terminalia (CA)

Dama: Citharexylum (CR)

Damagua: Ochroma (C); Pachira (C)

Damajagua: Poulsenia (Ch)

Dandelion: Taraxacum (E)

Dantiace: Talisia (CR)

Dantisco de montana: Mauria (S)

Danto: Roupala (CR)

Dasheen: Colocasia (E)

DATURA spp.: Borachero (Ch); Floripondio (P); Reina de la noche (P); Tonga (D) . The pith is used by Choco witch doctors to induce comas (!). The plants are used in folk "cures" for asthma, rheumatism, worms, inflammation, colds, fever, erysipelas, cramps, and infections.

DAUCUS CAROTA L. Carrot (E); Zanahoria (S) . Carrots fare badly in the lowland tropics, but do better in the cooler parts of Central America. Parched carrots have served as a coffee substitute. The seeds have considered aphrodisiac and nervine.

DAVILLA sp. Bejuco tome (C) . This species is a source of water and cordage used to tie bohios together.

Dayflower: Commelina (E)

Dedos de plata: Celosia (C)

DEMULCENT: A soothing substance to reduce irritation. Abrus, Adansonia, Argemone, Bambusa, Cardiospermum, Ceiba, Clitoria, Corchorus, Gossypium, Hibiscus, Musa, Ocimum, Pistia, Portulaca, Raphanus, Saccharum, Sesamum, Sida.

DENDROPANAX ARBOREUS Decne. & Planch. Vaqauero (P). Leaves and roots of this honey tree are used in domestic medicine.

DEOBSTRUENT: A substance to clear stoppage to passages or pores in the body. Cardiospermum, Eclipta, Indigofera, Melia, Morinda, Phyllanthus.

DEPILATORY: A substance for the removal of hair, Bertholletia, Bursera, Calotropis, Couroupita, Euphorbia, Hernandia, Lecythis, Leucaena.

DEPRESSANT: A substance which retards any function. Phoebe.

DEPURATIVE: A substance tending to purify or cleanse. Achillea, Asclepia, Bambusa, Byttneria, Cassia, Centella, Chamissoa, Chiococca, Cissampelos, Cleome, Commelina, Cornutia, Crescentia, Davilla, Desmodium, Drymaria, Gouania, Guazuma, Jatropha, Lepidium, Paspalum, Paullinia, Pedilanthus, Pentagonia, Petiveria, Piper, Pothomorphe, Pseudelephantopus, Renealmia, Solanum, Stachytarpheta, Tamarindus, Trichilia, Zizyphus.

Desbaratador: Tussacia (D)

Desbasatabaile: Cleome (C)

Descanse: Alternanthera (C)

Desjarretadera: Passiflora (C)

Desdicha: Cleome (C)

DESMODIUM ADSCENDENS DC. Beggarlice (E); Pega-pega (P). A leaf decoction is drunk for consumption. Pounded leaves are applied with lime juice to wounds. A leaf infusion is used for convulsions and venereal sores.

DESMODIUM PARVIFOLIUM DC. Beggarlice (E); Pega-pega (P). This plant is eaten as a green vegetable by Indians.

DESMODIUM spp. Ilina caiba (Cu); Pega-pega (P). The fruits are macerated in Ailigandi and given to the object of one's affection to induce a reciprocal affection (!).

DESMONCHUS spp. Albarico (C); Bejuco alcalde (C); Matamba (P); Yasitara (C) . The stems, reputed to be a water source, are good for basketry and cordage, but are hard enough to nick a machete if not soaked in water for some time.

Detsi: Ficus (CR)

DIABETES: A disease in which the body is unable to metabolize sugar properly. Treated with Acrocomia, Anacardium, Capraria, Cecropia, Equisetum, Eugenia, Euphorbia, Musa, Pachira, Parmentiera, Pistia, Sweetia, Tecoma, Trophis.

DIALIUM DIVARICATUM Vahl. Tamarindo (P). The pulp of the fruit is edible.

DIALYANTHERA OTOBA Warb. Bogamani verde (P); Kino (Cu); Mano (C); Kulbur (Cu); Ocobo (C); Otoba (C); Malagueta de montana (P); Roble (CR); Saba (CR); Sebo (CR). The seed oil, considered anthelminthic and insecticidal, is used to allay itching and rheumatism. It is also used with butter for frying foods, especially those of tuberculosis patients. The species is strung by inland Cuna as a candlenut.

Diankra: Guazuma (CR)

DIAPHORETIC: A substance that promotes perspiration. Allium, Ananas, Argemone, Arundo, Asclepias, Boerhaavia, Borago, Bursera, Calophyllum, Calotropis, Capraria, Cardiospermum, Cassia, Cecropia, Cedrela, Clitoria, Cordia, Crescentia, Cyperus, Dalea, Dendropanax, Dipteryx, Dorstenia, Elephantopus, Eryngium, Erythrina, Guaiacum, Guazuma, Hibiscus, Hippomane, Isotoma, Lantana, Mangifera, Mikania, Ocimum, Parkinsonia, Petiveria, Phyllanthus, Piscidia, Polygonum, Sesamum, Solanum, Tetracera, Vernonia, Waltheria, Wigandia, Zanthoxylum.

Dictamo: Pedilanthus (N)

Dictamo real: Ranunculus (C); Pedilanthus (C)

DIDYMOPANAX MOROTOTONI Decsne. &Pl. Gargoran (P); Mangabe (P); Pava (CR); Probado (CR). The wood is used for matchsticks in Colombia and in carpentry and interior construction.

DIEFFENBACHIA SEQUINE Schott. Dumbcane (E); Apior (Cu); Apotocanum (Ch); Cucaracho (C); Cana muda (C); Oto de lagarto (P); Rabano (S); Retamo cimarron (C). The latex is caustic. One cultivated species is known in Panama as the lottery plant because lottery addicts believe they can read the upcoming number in the unfolding leaves (!). One species enters Bayano Cuna cold remedy (!). Cervantes was perhaps the first to divulge its use as a stinging ramrod to teach cattle to stay away from unwelcoming pastures.

Diente de leon: Taraxacum (CR,CR/ROC); Trixis (N); Sonchus oleraceus (C)

DIGESTIVE: A substance which aids digestion. Myristica, Tamarindus.

Digital: Digitalis (CR)

DIGITARIA SANGUINALIS Scop. Crabgrass (E); Cebadilla (C) . The seeds are used as a rice substitute.

Dildoe: Acanthocereus (E)

DILLENIA INDICA L. Indian dillenia (E); Dilenia (S) . This species is cultivated in Panama. The fleshy calyces are eaten raw, cooked, or jellied, and mixed with sugar to make a fresco.

Dinde: Chlorophora (C); Clarisia (C); Pithecellobium (C)

Diomate: Astronium (C)

DIOSCOREA ALATA L. Winged yam (E); Name de agua (S) . Roots of this and other species are edible, but should be carefully processed, as some are poisonous raw.

DIOSCOREA BULBIFERA L. Air potato (E); Name (S). Cultivated in Panama, this is one of the easier species to recognize because of its aerial bulbs. These, and the underground tubers, are usually poisonous raw, but may be peeled, sun dried, and then cooked (!). Underground tubers are best dug when the plant is dying back for the dry season. Some species of Dioscorea have a juice that induces itching (!). .

DIOSCOREA spp. Yam (E); Name or Yampi (S); Pogo (Ch). Three or more species of yams are extensively cultivated in Panama. D. alata L., with winged stems and unlobed leaves; D. trifida L.f., with unwinged stems and lobed leaves; and D. cayenensis Link, with unwinged stems and unlobed leaves. Their large, edible roots look like elongated sweet potatoes. None of the native species are supposed to have edible roots, but they might be judiciously sampled after cooking. The roots are baked, boiled, or ground into flour to make breadstuffs. Three types are marketed in Darien and San Blas: name (D), uagup (Cu), uasup (Cu); nampi morando (D), uari (Cu); and nampi blanco (D), pukua (Cu). Peeled name is soaked in water in Darien and Panama, and the water is then drunk for rheumatism and arthritis.

DIOSCOREA TRIFIDA L.f. Yam (E); Name (P); Yampi (P). This another of the cultivated yams.

Diosme: Coleonema (C)

DIOSPYROS EBENASTER Retz. Black sapote (E); Zapote negro (S). The fruits are edible. They are also made into preserves and brandy-like ferments. The bark is probably piscicidal. Green fruits are used as a barbasco.

DIPLOSTEPHIUM BACCHARIDEUM Blake. Romero de Monte (C)

DIPLOSTEPHIUM CINERASCENS var. CENTRALE Cuatr. Guasguin (C)

DIPLOSTEPHIUM FLORIBUNUM ssp. PUTUMAYENSE Cuatr. Chilca rusia (C)

DIPLOSTEPHIUM REVOLTUM Blake. Reomero (C)

DIPLOSTEPHIUM ROSMARINIFOLIUM Benth. Romero (C)

DIPTERYX PANAMENSIS Record & Mell. Tonka Bean (E); Almendro (C,P); Choiba (C); Igua (Cu); Sarrapia (C); Tonga (C); Yapo (C) . The roasted seeds are eaten. Raw seeds are used as candlenuts (!). Raw, germinated cotyledons taste like green string beans (!). The aroma of the seed is probably due to coumarin, which is often used to flavor tobacco. The coumarin in the seeds is considered antispasmodic, cardiac, and diaphoretic. Uala Cuna prohibit the fellilng of this tree, perhaps because of mystical properties ascribed to it (!). They eat the nuts at breakfast with chucula.

Disciplina: Chamaedorea (CR); Rhipsalis (C)

DISCUTIENT: A substance for removing skin or growths on the skin. Abrus, Allium, Anacardium, Bocconia, Caesalpinia, Carica, Cecropia, Jatropha, Mirabilis, Moringa, Pedilanthus, Plumbago, Tamarindus, Thespesia, Zebrina.

Diura: Machaerium (C)

DIURETIC: A substance which increases the flow of urine. Abrus, Acalypha, Achras, Aegiphila, Allium, Alternanthera, Ananas, Arundo, Axonopus, Bambusa, Borago, Bramia, Buddleja, Bursera, Calocarpum, Canna, Capparis, Capsicum, Cardiospermum, Casearia, Cassia, Ceiba, Cereus, Chaetolepis, Chiococca, Chrysophyllum, Cissampelos, Clematis, Clitoria, Cocos, Coffea, Coix, Commelina, Costis, Crataeva, Cucumis, Cynodon, Cyperus, Davilla, Dolichos, Doliocarpus, Eichhornia, Equisetum, Erythrina, Guaiacum, Gynerium, Heliconia, Hibiscus, Hippomane, Indigofera, Jatropha, Kallstromia, Lantana, Lepidium, Lycoseris, Mangifera, Mikania, Moringa, Mucuna, nasturium, Ocimum, Panicum, Parietaria, Parmentiera, Paspalum, Passiflora, Petiveria, Philoxerus, Physalis, Piper, Portulaca, Pothomorphe, Raphanus, Renealmia, Ricinus, Saccharum, Sechium, Sesamum, Sesbania, Sida, Solanum, Spondias, Tabebuia, Tagetes, Tecoma, Tetracera, Tournefortia, Urera, Vitis, Zanthoxylum, Zea, Zornia.

Dividivi: Andira (C); Caesalpinia (C)

DODONAEA VISCOSA Jacq. Chanamo (C); Hopbush (E); Hayuelo (C) . The plant and seeds are said to be piscicidal. The leaves are chewed as a stimulant or for toothache. The wood is easily ignited. Crushed leafy twigs are used for torches. Leaf infusions are used for fevers and hemostatics.

Dogwood: Lonchocarpus (E)

Dola-marimba: Macrolobium (C)

DOLICHOS LABLAB L. Hyacinth bean (E); Cacha (C); Chicharos (S); Frijol calentano (C) (Fig. 134). The pods are eaten like green beans.

DOLIOCARPUS spp. Water vine (E); Bejuco de agua (P); Bejuco tome (C) . This is a source of water.

Donalonsa: Gnaphalium (C)

Dona juana: Adenostemma (C); Ageratum (C); Turnera (C)

Doncel: Zanthoxylum (C)

Doncella: Bumelia (C); Tara (C); Zanthoxylum (C)

Doncenon: Lathyrus (C)

Dondequiera: Casearia (C)

Doquidua: Geonoma (Ch)

Doradilla: Acrostichum (C); Pilea (C); Selaginella (C)

Dorance: Cassia (C)

Dorita: Guarea (P)

Dormidera: Cassia (S); Mimosa (P)

Dormidera de escobilla: Mimosa (P)

Dormilon: Albizia (C); Cassia (CR); Enterolobium (C); Parkia (C); Pentaclethra (C); Vochysia (C)

Dormilona: Cassia (CR); Mimosa (CR)

DORSTENIA CONTRAYERBA L. Contrayerba (C,P); Upsenasapi (Cu); Raiz de resfriado (C). This favorite Latin medicinal is used as a stimulant, diaphoretic, febrifuge, and for skin diseases and fevers. The Bayano Cuna use it as a cold remedy (!). The rootstocks are used to flavor cigarettes. Cataplasms are prescribed for broken bones.

Dos caras: Conostegia (P); Miconia (P)

Dos de Oros: Wedelia fruticosa (C)

Dove orchid: Peristeria (E)

DOXANTHA UNGUIS-CATI Rehder. The plent, used to treat snakebite and Hippomane reactions, is used also for fever and intestinal inflammation.

DRACHONTIUM sp. Chupadera (C). Used as a snakebite remedy in the Choco.

Drago: Croton (C)

Dragon: Antirrhinum (C)

Dragon's blood: Pterocarpus (E)

DREPANOCARPUS LUNATUS G.F.W. May. Escambron (S). The ripe fruits are said to taste like cocoplum, but they may be dangerous. The leafy stems, poisonous to mice, are used as ana aphrodisiac, Cataplasm, purgative, and for venereal diseases, leprosy, and heart trouble. The root infusion is antidiarrhetic.

Dropseed: Sporobolus (E)

DROPSY: A general accumulation of fluid in the body. Treated with Annona, Cecropea, Cissus, Luffa, Moringa, Pistia, Solanum, Spondias.

DRYMARIA CORDATA Willd. Inacuandromas-quit (Cu); Tiurugakwit (Cu). The leaves are used by the Cuna to purify the blood.

Duarte: Senecio americanus (C); Bidens (C)

Duerme-boca: Salmea (C,P)

DUGOUTS: Boats made of hollow logs. Anacardium, Bombacopsis, Cariniana, Cavanillesia, Cedrela, Ceiba, Couroupita, Enterolobium, Helicostylis, Hura, Hymenaea, Lafoensia, Spondias.

Duio: Tephrosia

Duria: Machaerium (C)

Dulumoco: Saurauia (C)

Dulunsoga: Solanum (C)

Dumbcane: Dieffenbachia (E)

Duraznillo: Abatia (C); Calotola (CR); Rhamnus (CR)

Durazno: Prunus (S)

Durra: Sorghum (S)

DYE and INK: Substance used to stain or tint. Anacardium, Arrabidaea, Bixa, Bocconia, Byrsonima, Chlorophora, Curcuma, Diphysa, Hibiscus, Indigofera, Lafoensia, Dichronema, Morinda, Persea, Randia, Rhizophora, Symphonia, Tamarindus, Terminalia.

DYSENTERY: Diarrhea produced by irritation of the bowels. Treated with Acacia, Adenanthera, Anacardium, Annona, Aristolochia, Bidens, Bixa, Brownea, Bursera, Cajanus, Casuarina, Cecropia, Celosia, Chrysobalanus, Chrysophyllum, Clitoria, Coccoloba, Cocos, Crateva, Crescentia, Cupania, Desmodium, Elephantopus, Elytraria, Equisetum, Erechtites, Euphorbia, Haematoxylum, Genipa, Guazuma, Jatropha, Jussiaea, Mangifera, Mimosa, Morinda, Musa, Pachyrhizus, Phaseolus, Piper, Pistia, Pithecellobium, Portulaca, Pseudelephantopus, Psidium, Punica, Randia, Sesbania, Simarouba, Spathodea, Spondias, Swietenia, Tamarindus, Zornia.

DYSPEPSIA: Indigestion. Treated with Acacia, Chenopodium, Coleus, Hibiscus, Moringa, Nymphoides, Musa, Pothomorphe, Rumex, Simarouba.

DYSURIA: Painful urination. Treated with Hibiscus, Portulaca.