Waa: Roystonea (Cu)
Waipinnu: Anacardium (Cu)
Waitutu: Hibiscus (Cu)
WALTHERIA INDICA L.: Friega plato (P); Hierba de soldado (P); Mala sombra (P); Palo de soldado
(P). The roots are used as a chewstick and the leaves for washing dishes. A root decoction, used for
eye baths and for children's diarrhea, is said to cause abortion in Ghana. Regularly drinking a
decoction is supposed to impart immunity to syphilis. The pulverized plant with hot water is taken
morning and night for coughs. The leaves are used against giddiness. It is a favorite remedy for
haemoptysis in Panama.
Wandering jew: Commelina (E)
WARSZEWICZIA COCCINEA Klotzsch: Ebecara (Ch); Guna (D); Pastora de montana (CR)
. The anise-odored roots, said to be aphrodisiac, are often worn by the Choco as love
charms. They are also used as a general house perfume (!). In Colombia, the bark is said to be
hemostatic.
Warwawa: Ricinus (Cu)
Wasika: Cephaelis (Cu)
Waskagat: Alternanthera (Cu)
Water chestnut: Trapa (E)
Watercress: Nasturtium (E)
Water fern: Ceratopteris (E)
Water hyacinth: Eichhornia (E)
Water lettuce: Pistia (E)
Water lily: Nymphaea (E)
Watermelon: Citrullus (E)
Water mimosa: Neptunia (E)
WATER SOURCES: Plants used to quench the thirst. Bambusa, Casuarina, Cavanillesia, Ceiba,
Cocos, Coffea, Combretum, Costus, Cymbopogon, Davilla, Desmoncus, Doliocarpus, Heliconia,
Raphanus, Ravenala, Spondias, Tetracera, Theobroma, Vitis.
Water vine: Combretum (E); Curatella (E); Doliocarpus (E); Vitis (E)
WEDELIA FRUTICOSA Jacq.: Dos de Oros (C)
West Indian elm: Guazuma (E)
West Indian gooseberry: Phyllanthus (E)
West Indian satinwood: Zanthoxylum (E)
Wheat: Triticum (E)
White broom: Cassia (E)
White buttonwood: Laguncularia (E)
White cacique: Eugenia (B)
White cedar: Dialyanthera (E); Hura (E)
White sage: Lantana (E)
White sapote: Casimiroa (E)
WIGANDIA CARACASANA H.B.K.: Borrajon (P). This stinging plant is regarded as a diaphoretic
and antidysenteric.
Wild balsam apple: Momordica (CR/ROC)
Wild banana: Heliconia (E)
Wild bay cedar: Trema (E)
Wild calabash: Enallagma (E); Parmentiera (E)
Wild cashew: Anacardium (E)
Wild cherry: Byrsonima (B); Casearia (E); Citharexylum (B)
Wild cocoa: Herrania (E); Theobroma (E)
Wild coffee: Colubrina (B); Pososqueria (E); Siparuna (E)
Wild cucumber: Carica (B); Melothria (E)
Wild fig: Clusia (B); Ficus (E); Sapium (B)
Wild grape: Pentagonia (B)
Wild guava: Alibertia (E)
Wild jasmine: Aegiphila (B)
Wild licorice: Abrus (E)
Wild lime: Citharexylum (B)
Wild marjoram: Lippia (E)
Wild mint: Lantana (J)
Wild nutmeg: Ocotea (B); Virola (E)
Wild okra: Abelmoschus (J); Hibiscus (E)
Wild olive: Pera (E)
Wild orange: Tabernaemontana (B)
Wild palm: Quararibea (B)
Wild pear: Licania (B)
Wild peppermint: Hedeoma (E)
Wild pigeon plum: Ouratea (B); Duranta (E)
Wild plum: Spondias (E)
Wild sage: Buddleia (CR/ROC) Lantana (J)
Wild sapote: Lucuma (B)
Wild sorrel: Oxalis (E)
Wild tamarind: Pithecellobium (B)
Wilkwa: Tussacia (Cu)
Willow: Salix (E)
Winepalm: Acrocomia (E); Scheelila (E)
WINE SOURCES: Plants used in wine production. Acrocomia, Attalea, Cocos, Elaeis, Raphia,
Scheelia, Vitis.
Wispi: Heisteria (Cu)
Woman's tongue: Albizia (E)
Wonderberry: Solanum (E)
Wormgrass: Spigelia (E)
Wormseed: Chenopodium (E)
WULFFIA BACCATA Kuntze: Guasquilla (C)
Wytil: Sickingia (B)