Tico Ethnobotanical Dictionary

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Xacot: Malpighia

XANTHIUM CATHARTICUM H.B.K.: Casamarucha (C)

XANTHOSOMA CARACU Koch & Bouche: Yautia (S); Yautia horqueta (S). Young leaves of this and other species are used as a potherb. Tubers of several other species are edible after processing.

XANTHOSOMA VIOLACEUM Schott: Primrose malanga (E); Badu (P); Coco (P); Oto (P); Tarkwa (Cu); Montogoyo (Ch); Rascadera (C). The oto, a favorite Panama vegetable tends to become naturalized. The tuberous roots are edible cooked with the taro and name constituting the bulk of many of the sancochos of Panama gently seasoned with aji and heavily seasoned with culantro. The young leaves, when boiled and chopped, constitute a satisfactory potherb. Cuna Indians are said to reproduce the faces of criminals on the leaves.

XIMENIA AMERICANA L.: Tallowwood (E); Caimito de monte (C); Ciruelo (C); Espino brujo; Limoncillo (C) Manzanilla (P); Pepenance (CR) . The fruits are edible raw or cooked. They are made into a beer in South America. The seeds are edible roasted but are rather dangerous. They are someticme pulverized and mixed with sago starch to make bread. They are used by some Europeans to make a "sloe gin". Young leaves serve as a potherb. The seed oil is placed on hollow teeth before extraction in Africa. The roots are chewed for toothache and are also used for sleeping sickness, fevers, ringworm, and venereal diseases, and to stop vomiting and diarrhea. In the Antilles, a syrup prepared from the fruits is used for rheumatism and dropsy.

XIPHIDIUM CAERULEUM Aubl.: Palmita (P); Soskia (Cu) . Bayano Cuna use the plant as a cure for female problems (!).

XYLOPIA FRUTESCENS Aubl.: Malagueto chico (P); Malagueto hembra (P). Panama Negroes are said to use the grains in place of pepper. This was formerly used as a cordage source.

XYLOPIA MACRANTHA Triana & Planch.: Azotacaballo (C); Coroba (P); Malagueto (C); Rayado (P). The fruits are greedily eaten by pigs, and have been mixed with chocolate as a beverage. Medicinally the plant is used for toothaches and stomachaches and as a stimulant. Ground fruits are drunk in wine as a counterpoison.

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