Tico Ethnobotanical Dictionary

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EARACHE: A pain in the ear. Treated with Allium, Citrus, Clematis, Cleome, Cocos, Colocasia, Emilia, Hibiscus, Mirabilis, Moringa, Murraya, Ocimum, Parmentiera, Physalis, Plumbago.

Ear tree: Enterolobium (P)

Ebano: Libidibia (C)

Ebo: Coumarouna (CR,P)

ECBOLIC: A substance used to induce abortion. Achyranthes, Anans, Annona, Aristolochia, Asclepias, Bambusa, Caesalpinia, Calotropis, Carica, Cassia, Casuarina, Ceiba, Crescentia, Delonix, Eclipta, Equisetum, Eryngium, Gossypium, Guarea, Hura, Indigofera, Iresine, Jaquinia, Jatropha, Leucaena, Mimosa, Moringa, Parkinsonia, Pedilanthus, Pentaclethra, Persea, Petiveria, Philodendron, Scutellaria, Sesamum, Waltheria, Zingiber.

ECHINOCHLOA COLONUM Link. Barnyard grass (E); Arrocillo (S). The grain has served as a famine food, usually as a gruel.

Echiti: Maximiliana (C)

Eggplant: Solanum (E)

Egorojono: Leiphaimos (Ch)

EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES Solms. Water hyacinth (E); Lechuga de agua (S); No melovide (C); Taruya (C) . Liquified leaves may be taken as a tonic with no apparent harm. the younger parts serve as a potherb. Swollen leaf bases have been eaten deep-fried. Also eaten by cattle, this makes good organic fertilizer, tons of which are scraped up annually by the Panama Canad dredging division (!).

ELAEIS GUINEENSIS Jacq. Oil Palm (E); Palma african (P); Uruta (Ch). The hard, scarcely edible fruits are a good source of oil, which is used in Darien for cooking and hair dressings. Elsewhere, after the oil is extracted, the dried fibers are used for tinder and the fruit stalks are used for brooms. Tinder is also made from the fluff at the leaf base. The cabbages are eaten raw or cooked. Wine is made from the sap. Felled trees are attacked by edible "palm worms" (beetle larvae of the genus Rhynchophorus). The cabbage is used for menorrhagia and gonorrhea. The pulverized roots are used to treat headaches and are chewed as an aphrodisiac.

ELATERIUM LONGIFOLIUM Cogn. Gallotillo (P); Norbo cimarron (P). the fruits and leaves are edible cooked.

Elder: Sambucus (CR/ROC,E)

Elemi: Protium (C)

Elefante: Pennisetum (C)

Elephant ear: Colocasia (E)

Elephant grass: Pennisetum (E)

ELEPHANTIASIS: A disease in which the lymph vessels are blocked by a parasite. Treated with Carica, Eclipta, Guazuma, Solanum.

ELEPHANTOPUS spp. Lengua de vaca (P). The leaves are regarded as antidysenteric, stimulant, and tonic.

ELEPHANTOPUS MOLLIS H.B.K. Yerba de caballo (C); Suelda-con-suelda (C)

Elequeme: Erythrina (CR,N)

Eleten: Libidibia (N)

ELEUSINE INDICA Gaertn. Goosegrass (E); Hierba de pata (P); Pata de gallina (C); Yerba dulce (C) . The young seedlings serve as a potherb. the plant is a chologogue. Seeds serve as a famine food and for making alcoholic beverages. medicinally it is used for convulsions, diarrhea, and dysentery.

Elkia: Zamia (Cu)

Elotillo: Anthurium (CR)

ELYTRARIA TRIDENTATA Vahl. Coquillo (S). In Salvador, the plant is used for dysentery and stomach afflictions.

Embagatao: Sloanea (C)

Embiande: Pavonia (C)

Embisca: Mucuna (C)

Emblic: Phyllanthus (E)

Embrande: Pavonia (C)

EMETIC: A substance which induces vomiting. Achyranthes, Allamanda, Argemone, Boerhaavia, Cephaelis, Entada, Hibiscus, Jatropha, Luffa, Mimosa, Momordica, Ormosia, Plumbago, Psychortria, Sarcostema, Sesbania, Thevetia.

iEMILIA SONCHIFOLIA DC. ex Wight. Tassel flower (E) . Elsewhere, young leaves are eaten with rice as a vegetable, and in soups.

Emir: Clerodendrum (C)

EMMENAGOGUE: A substance which stimulates the menstrual flow. Adiantumn, Allium, Aloe, Ananas, Aristolochia, Argemone, Aretmisia, Bambusa, Bidens, Brysonima, Caesalpinia, Capparis, Carica, Cassia, Casuarina, Cecropia, Chicococca, Cissampelos, Cochlospermum, Costus, Crescentia, Delonix, Eryngium, Gossypium, Guarea, Hibiscus, Lantana, Leucaena, Melia, Mikania, Momordica, Passiflora, Pedilanthus, Persea, Phaseolus, Plantago, Polygonum, Pothomorphe, Psidium, Psychotria, Renealmia, Schultesia, Scoparia, Sesamum, Sesbania, Simaba, Simarouba, Stachytarpheta, Thevetia, Urera.

EMOLLIENT: A substance which soothes irritated surfaces, internal or external. Acrostichum, Annona, Arundo, Basella, Borago, Bryophyllum, Buddleja, Byrsonima, Canna, Ceiba, Chiococca, Cissus, Commelina, Corchorus, Cordia, Crescentia, Cucumis, Cucurbita, Dendropogon, Eclipta, Euphorbia, Helicteres, Heliotropium, Hibiscus, Hippocratea, Jussiaea, Mammea, Melochia, Muntingia, Passiflora, Peperomia, Philoxerus, Pistia, Plantago, Pothomorphe, Scoparia, Sechium, Sesamum, Sida, Sterculia, Thespesia, Tillandsia, Triumfetta, Urena.

Emperatriz: Thunbergia (C)

Encaje: Pilea (C)

Encinillo: Weinmannia (C)

Encino: Quercus (CR)

Endurece mais: Capparis (N)

Enea: Ochroma (CR); Typha (C)

Eneldillo: Apium (CR)

Eneldo: Foeniculum (CR)

Enredadera: Antigonon (P)

Enredadera de monte: Psychotria (C)

Ensiva: Ocotea (P)

ENTADA SCANDENS Benth. St. Thomas bean (E); Sea bean (E); Javilla (P); Pirkok (Cu) (Fig. 139). The leaves are used as barbasco, the bark as a soap substitute. the seeds, edible after soaking and roasting, are regarded as anodyne, carminative, emetic, febrifuge, and stomachic. The mainland Cuna use them as a soap substitute.

ENTERITIS: Inflammation of the intestinal tract by infectionor irritating foods. Treated with Carica, Cassia, Centrosema, Coleus, Elytraria, Lantana, Lippia, Peperomia, Pseudelephantopus, Sida, Spigelia, Tecoma, Terminalia, Zingiber.

ENTEROLOBIUM CYCLOCARPUM Griseb. Ear tree (E); Anjera (C); Carito (C); Caro (C); Corotu (P); Dormilon (C); Oreja (C); Orejero (C); Oviero (C); Pinon (C); Pinon de oreja (C); Tusipono (Ch) . The young pods are sometimes cooked as vegetables; the mature pods, relished by cattle, are used as a soap substitute. The seeds are also cooked as food. The trunks are used to make piraguas (!) . The bark is used in cold syrups.

Epacina: Petiveria (N)

Epazote: Chenopodium (S)

EPIDENDRUM STENOPETALUM Hook. The inflorescence is mashed with Genipa and applied to the hands to improve a Choco fisherman's luck (!).

EPILEPSY: A convulsive disorder. Treated with Calocarpum, Indigofera, Moringa.

EPIPHYLLUM PHYLLANETHUS Haw. Cagaguala (C); Rabo de iguana (C). The fruits are edible. The flowers are employed as a cardiac tonic.

Eporro: Cecropia (Ch)

EQUISETUM BOGOTENSE H.B.K. Horsetail (E); Cola de caballo (C); Canutillo (C); Cola de mula (C). The plant is used in Chiriqui for liver and kidney ailments (!). Elsewhere, it is used for every problems, dysentery, gonorrhea, diabetes, hemorrhage, and pyorrhea.

ERAGROSTIS spp. Grains of species of Eragrostis have served as famine food.

ERECHTITES HIERACIFOLIA Raf. Fireweed (E); Tabaquillo (P). The species serves as a potherb in Asia.

ERECHTITES VALERIANIFOLIA DC. Bolador (C); Tachushiash (C); Venadillo (C) (Fig. 141).

Erefa: Theobroma (CR)

Erepe: Calatola (CR)

ERYNGIUM FOETIDUM L. False coriander (E); Fit-weed (E); Cilantro (C); Culantro (S); Kawawat (Cu); Spiritweed (J). This favorite leaf for flavoring soups in Latin America is eagerly collected by Darien natives. It is a highly regarded remedy for high blood pressure and fits. Around Sautata, an infusion with salt is take for colic and gas.

ERYSIPELAS: An infection of the skin with streptococci. Treated with Bixa, boerhaavia, Browallila, Caesalpinia, Calophyllum, Dorstenia, Gliricidia, Hamelia, Hibiscus, Hura, Indigofera, Iresine, Jacaranda, Pedilanthus, Plumbago, Porophyllum, Portulaca, Pothomorphe, Solanum, Thespesia, Vitis.

ERYTHRINA BERTEROANA Urban. Machete (E,J); Cresta de gallo (S); Elequeme (N); Gallito (S); Parsu (Cu); Pernilla de casa (P); Pito de peronilla (C) . The Colombian name pito reflects a children's use of the plant. The corolla of this tree, placed in a hollow leaf stalk, serves as a whistle. The light wood of this living fence post has served as a cork substitute. Crushed branches are said to intoxicate fish. The leaves, flower buds, and young pods have served as a dangerous vegetable, containing about 4.4% protein. The Bayano Cuna use the plant for female infirmities (!). The Choco are said to use E. corallodendron as a remedy in appendicitis, avoiding many operations.

ERYTHRINA EDULIS Triana ex Micheli. Balu (C); Chachafruto (C); Poroto (C). The seeds, edible after preparation, are an excellent hog food, rendering the lard very white.

Escalera de mico: Bauhinia (C)

Escalera de mono: Bauhinia (CR)

Escambron: Drepanocarpus (C)

Escancel: Alternanthera (C)

Escandalosa roja: Hibiscus (C)

Escanjocote: Melicoccus (N)

Escanser: Alternanthera (C)

Escarcha: Mesembryanthemum (C)

Escoba: Eugenia (CR,P)

Escoba de castilla: Scoparia (CR)

Escoba dulce: Scoparia (P)

Escoba negra: Cordia (CR)

ESCOBEDIA SCABRIFOLIA Ruiz & Pav. Azafran (C). The roots are used to color foods. A concoction is drunk to combat hepatitis.

Escobila : Acisanthera (C,P); Calea (P); Conostegia (CR); Corchorus (P); Elephanbtopus (CR); Malvastrum (P); Pseudelephantopus (P); Sida (P); Waltheria (P); Xylopia (C)

Escobilla amarga: Scoparia (P)

Escobilla blanca: Waltheria (CR)

Escobo: Alchornea (C); Eugenia (CR)

Escolito: Cassia (C)

Escorzonero de Bogota: Polymnia (C)

Escremento: Capparia (N)

Eslo: Chrysophyllum (Cu)

Esmeraldo: Miconia (C)

Esmerelda: Psychotria (C)

Espada de Judas: Sansevieria (CR)

Espadero: Myrsine (C); Rapanea (C)

Espandana: Typha (CR)

Esparrago: Asparagus (CR)

Espartillo: Dendrobium (C); Eleusine (C)

Esparto: Spartina (C)

Espave, Espavel: Anacardium (CR,P)

ESPELETIA CONGESTIFLORA Cuatr. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA GLOSSOPHYLLA Mattfeld. Tabaco de la sierra (C)

ESPELETIA GLANDULOSA Cuatr. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA GRNADIFLORA H.&B. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA HARTWEGIANA Cuatr. Frailejon, lana de oveja (C)

ESPELETIA HARTWEGIANA var. BRACHYPHYLLA Cuatr. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA JIMENEZ QUESADAE Cuatr. Frailejon negro (C)

ESPELETIA LOPEZII Cuatr. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA MURILLOI Cuatr. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA PETIOLATA Cuatr. var ESCOBENSIS Cuatr. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA PHANERACTIS A.C.Smith. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA PLEIOCHASIA Cuatr. Frailejon (C)

ESPELETIA SCHULTESIANA Cuatr. Frailejon ush (C)

Espigadilla: Panicum (P); Scleria (P)

Espina corona: Smilax (N)

Espina hueca: Byttneria (P)

Espina de paloma: Duranta (P)

Espinero: Yucca (P)

Espinillo: Calyptocarpus (CR)

Espino: Barnadesia (C); Guettarda (W); Machaonia (P); Piptadenia (C); Pithecellobium (C)

Espino amarillo: Chloroleucon (P)

Espino blanco: Acacia (N); Bauhinia (N); Bumelia (CR); Guettarda (P); Machaonia (P); Randia (CR); Xylosma (CR)

Espino de brujo: Bumelia (C); Ximenia (C)

Espino corona: Smilax (S)

Espino negro: Duranta (C); Pisonia (N); Pithecellobium (C)

Espino de oro: Berberis (C)

Espino de paloma: Duranta (P)

Espino de playa: Pithecellobium (N)

Espino real de Espana: Parkinsonia (N)

Espinoso: Bombacopsis (P)

Espinudo: Lacmellea (CR)

Espiritu santo: Aechmea (CR); Peristeria (P,C)

Espuela de galan: Adonis (C)

Esponjilla: Luffa (C)

Espuelo: Berberis (C)

Espuma de mar: Asparagus (C)

Esquijoche: Borreria (CR); Plumeria (CR)

Esquinero: Serjania (C)

Esquitillo: Allophylus (CR)

Estamo real: Hierachloe (C)

Estancadera: Krameria (C); Melochia (C)

Estopa: Luffa (CR)

Estoraque: Styrax (C,CR)

Estrella: Crateva (P); Eucharis (C); Myriocarpa (CR); Piper (CR)

Estrella de Caqueta: Eucharis (C)

Estribo: Torrubia (C)

Estromelia: Cassia (C); Lagerstroemia (C)

Estropajo: Luffa (C)

Eswarguit: Aphelandra (Cu)

Eterreva: Pterocarpus (Ch)

Eucalipto: Eucalyptus (C,CR/ROC)

EUCALYPTUS SPP. Eucalipto (C,CR/ROC).

Eucaristo: Eucharis (CR)

EUGENIA JAMBOS Stokes. Rose apple (E); Manzanito de rosa (C); Pomarrosa (S) . Fruits of this honey tree are edible raw or in jellies. The flowers and fruits are candied, and the boiled leaves serve as medicine for sore eyes.

EUGENIA MALACCENSIS L. Malay apple (E); Manzana de Faiti (P); Maranon de Curasao (P); Pomarrosa de Malaca (C) . Cultivated for flowers and fruits, this tree provides also pink stamens said to be used in salads.

EUGENIA UNIFLORA L. Surinam cherry (E); Cereza de Cayena (C); Cereza cuardrada (C); Pitanga (C) . The fruits are edible (!). The leaves repel insects.

Eupatoria: Stevia (C)

EUPATORIUM ACUMINATUM H.B.K. Patinegra, trebol aromatizador (C)

EUPATORIUM AMYGDALINUM Lam. Santuaria (C)

EUPATORIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM Spreng. Chilca blanco-ceniza (C); Amargoso (C)

EUPATORIUM BULLATUM Klatt. Carrasposo (C)

EUPATORIUM HUMILE Hier. Moradita (C)

EUPATORIUM INULAEFOLIUM H.B.K. Salvia amarga (C); Salvia amarga cimarrona (C); Jarilla (C); Almoraduz (C)

EUPATORIUM LAEVIGATUM Lam. Chilca lunareja (C); Chilco (C); Tabaco (C)

EUPATORIUM ODORATUM L. Christmas bush (J); Hierba de chiva (P); Paleca (P); Salvia (C). Jamaicans in Panama make a tea from the leaves for a cold remedy.

EUPATORIUM PAEZANSE Hieron. Yerba de chivo (C)

EUPATORIUM PYCNOCEPHALUM Less. Chiquilla (C)

EUPATORIUM SCABRUM L.f. Chilquita carrasposa (C)

EUPATORIUM STOECHADIFOLIUM L.f. Vira-vira (C)

EUPHORBIA COTINIFOLILA L. Barrabas (CR); Lorencillo (C); Manzanilla de lindero (C); Manzanilla platero (C); Matarraton (C); Nacedero (C). The caustic latex is used as a fish poison. The flowers are a honey source. The seeds are purgative. The foliage is eaten only by goats and is said to repel leafcutters.

EUPHORBIA HIRTA L. Hierba de pollo (S); Saca teta (S). The latex is applied by Jamaicans and Darienitas alike to the nipples of young girls to induce mammification (!).

EUPHORBIA LANCIFOLIA Schlect. Hierba lechera (CR/ROC).

Excremento: Capparis (N)

EXPECTORANT: A substance supposed to liquify the sputum. Adiantum, Allium, Argemone, Bambusa, Boerhaavia, Bravaisia, Byrsonima, Chrysophyllum, Cissampelos, Clusia, Combretum, Cordia, Crescentia, Cucurbita, Gliricidia, Gossypium, Hippocratea, Hymenaea, Lantana, Lippia, Lucuma, Malpighia, Malvaviscus, Myroxylon, Piper, Rhizophora, Sapindus, Sesamum, Sesuvium, Triumfetta.