3

1 Mata Bejuco, Suncho hembra

2 Barbascu, Soliman, Chilca

3 Monte Linaza, Beso de Novia, Coca, Oj, Matapalo, Wasawi, Uva

4 Piqui Pichana, Charcot, Masasambo

5 Mocco Mocco, Amor Seco, Yanawacta, Chanca Piedra

6

7 Corta Corta, Hierba Luisa, Zarza Parrilla

8 Kuchi Muchu, Camote, T, Malva

9 Amargo, Limn

10 Pampa Yahuar Chonca, Miram pero no me Toques, Botoncillo, Pampa Hierba de Cancer

11 Suncho macho, Pjaro Bobo,Yawar Piri Piri, Tobacco, Manka Paki

12 Palo Santo or Tangarana, Ayawaskha, Chuchuhuasi, Sano Sano, Pan de rbol, Corisacha or Bobinsana, Guayaba Blanca, Hierba de Cncer

Plants Present in Each Bed

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6

Chilca Asteraceae - Baccharis sp.

There are many species of Chilca in the Amazon, which have a variety of dierent important uses. Famously the plant was sent to the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, by Bolivan president, Evo Morales .

on taking the magical herb he was apparently cured. Locally this variety of Chilca is used in an infusion of the leaves to treat a variety of

- -externally for use as a pain killer.

Herb. Stem angular. Leaves opposite, ovate, with serrate margin.

2

Monte Linaza* Malvaceae - Heliocarpus americanus

Tree. Leaves alternate, hirsute, broadly ovate with acuminate

In Quechua this plant is called Llausa pancho. The wood is light and

3

7

Beso de Novia Rubiaceae - Psychotria poeppigiana

Herb to 1.5m tall. Leaves opposite.

visible along leaf margin. Inorescence

conspicuous red bracts. Flowers with yellow petal tube.

Known as hot lips in English for obvious reasons; its Spanish name translates as wedding kiss. Beso de Novia has long been used for medicinal purposes. The crushed, boiled plant is used as pain relief for a variety of aliments. The stem is rubbed on skin rashes. The sap from the owers is used as ear drops to treat ear ache. Finally the owers are used to treat colds and coughs.

3

8

marked by two lines parallel to leaf midrib.

vitally important crop in the Peruvian Amazon. Indeed one of the theories for why Machu Picchu was built was to grow Coca and therefore reduce dependency on the Coca grown by the tribes in the rainforest which the Inkas were never able to fully conquer. It is the

consumed in a tea, mashed, chewed, or made into a powder and drank

Coca Erythroxylaceae - Erythroxylum coca

3

9

Oj Moraceae - Ficus insipida

A g present across South America, but most commonly found in the

powder and exported all over the world. If not prepared properly however the latex is toxic.

3

-oblong leaves (12 - 25 cm long and 5 - 10 cm wide). Leaves dark green above with pale veins.

10

Matapalo Moraceae - Ficus paraensis

Tree. Very large leaves (up to 40 cm long -oblong, with

prominent veins darker than leaf.

A member of the g family, which is hemi-

Most importantly in the local area the resin is used to hold homemade

powdered ash of burned young stems is ingested as a treatment for children's diarrhea. Matapalo can also be used for the removal of parasites.

3

11

Uva Vitaceae - Vitis vinifera

Woody vine, aky bark. Tendrils bifurcate. Leaves palmate with toothed edges.

over the world. Uvas (grapes), have been thought to have medicinal value for thousands of years. Several ancient Greek philosophers praised the healing power

support of uvas healing power is lacking, except for seed extract, proven to treat chronic venous insuciency and edema.

3

Wasai Arecaceae - Euterpe precatoria

Palm. Stems solitary, 3-20 m tall. Pinnate leaves, leaets lanceolate, glabrous, pendulous. Fruits black, spherical, diameter ca.1.5cm.

fruits is rare but they can be used to make juice. Wasai is used to treat

very popular remedy and so can be expensive to get hold of. The liquidized roots are also used to treat malaria in Northern Peru.

3

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12

4 Piqui Pichana Scrophulariaceae - Scoparia dulcis

Small, weedy herb. Leaves small, ovate, with

Raceme of small white owers.

Piqui Pichana is a Quechuan word meaning ea away, although we can nd no reference of it being used for ea removal. It is a very important

menstrual disorders and fever; the leaf juice is employed externally for wounds and hemorrhoids. The plant has shown promise in a number of

contain some chemicals previously unknown to science .

when crushed. Flower pink, ca.1 cm wide, with two oval side petals.

Charcot Polygalaceae - Polygala violacea

4

13

Masasambo Annonaceae - Rollinia mucosa

Small, bushy tree. Leaves alternate, folded inwards along mid-rib. Flowers with three wings. Large fruit, green

Found all over the Amazon, this tree is in the same family as Cherimoya. The fruit is similar being of a creamy or slimy texture (depending on who you ask) and with a hint of lemon. Masasambo can also be used to make juices, ice cream, milkshakes and wine. The seeds of the fruit are

Mocco Mocco* Piperaceae - Piper hispidum

Shrub. Nodes swollen. Leaves and stem covered in ne indumentum,

Spikes erect and straight.

-

5

4

14

Amor Seco (Pirca) Asteraceae - Bidens pilosa

Amor Seco is used to avour food in many countries and is very important in Chinese folk medicine. In Peru the leaves are rubbed on wounds to disinfect them. The whole plant is also used to induce labour

Erect herb, up to 1 m. Leaves opposite, serrate, subdivided into 3 - 5 leaets. Capitulum to 1 cm wide, yellow owers, no ray orets. Black spiky fruit, each seed with three

A common plant throughout the tropics of the Americas. Some consider it a weed while others grow it for ornamental reasons. Yanawacta is a very important medicinal plant to indigenous people of the Amazonian. It is used to treat a variety of dierent ailments. In Peru it is used for lowering a fever in children and to treat diabetes.

Yanawacta Verbenaceae - Stachytarpheta cayennensis

Herb. Leaves opposite, ovate with serrate margin and

- 30 cm long). Flowers small, tubular 5-lobed petals, purple.

5

5

15

Chanca Piedra Phyllanthaceae - Phyllanthus niruri

Small oval leaves (0.5 cm long), appear pinnate. Flowers on underside of stem, 5 pale green petals with white margin. Fruit spherical.

throughout the world. It is a very important medicinal plant in Chanca

indigenous peoples, including diabetes, malaria, dysentery, fever, u,

documented history of use in the region, the plant is generally

5

16

Palta Lauraceae - Persea americana

6

- 30 cm long, 5 - 15 cm wide. Small owers (

18

Rata Rata is a Quechua name. A tea made of the seed capsule is used to

combat hair loss. Rata Rata is also used in a cold tea to facilitate childbirth and in a bath to lower fevers.

Rata Rata Malvaceae - Triumfetta abutiloides

Bushy small shrub to 1.5 m Alternate leaves, pubescent stellate hairs, young leaves red-Fruit in pendulous racemes, spiky capsules.

Matico Matico or Cordoncillo* Piperaceae - Piper aduncum

Shrub. Nodes swollen. Leaves

Inorescence spikes pendulous.

also a very important medicinal plant with a variety of uses. The Spanish

learned that applying the leaves to his wounds stopped them from

6

6

19

Caf Rubiaceae - Coffea arabica

The worlds most popular drink and second most valuable commodity. It

about 2% of GDP. Medically the top leaves of the shrub are taken to combat depression and fevers. A mixture of the leaves and the beans are also used to facilitate births.

Small shrub. Leaves opposite, wavy margin

Spherical fruit up to 2 cm long.

Corta Corta* Cyperaceae

Grass-like herb. Stems

The name in Quechua is Cocho Cocho. Medicinally the roots are taken (with other plants) to treat menstrual cramps. Another species of Corta Corta is also present in bed 8.

7

6

20

Hierba Luisa Poaceae - Cymbopogon citratus

Compact grass. Leaves light green, linear, 20 -100 cm long and ca.1 cm wide. Lemon scent when crushed. Abrasive if run nger down the leaves.

Indonesia but is now grown in tropical regions all over the world. It has long been

used in cooking, herbal medicine and more recently the oil has been extracted for perfumes. The stem is used as a popular tea avour,

Zarza Parrilla Smilaceae - Smilax sp.

Woody vine. Pairs of thorns on stem at

A woody vine that can grow to 50 m long, climbing high into the rainforest canopy. Zarza Parrilla has been used for centuries by the indigenous people of the Amazon. Tribes in Peru use it to treat headaches, joint pain and the common cold. Many shamans also use it

7

7

21

Kuchi Muchu Asteraceae - Pseudelephantopus spicatus

Low growing, spreading herb. Leaves alternate, very hairy. Flowers in terminal inorescence spike. Petals pale pink/purple.

Camote Convolvulaceae - Ipomoea batatas

Creeping or climbing herb. Dark purple stem. Leaves 3 palmate with cordate base. Flowers campanulate, purple or white.

years ago and has since become popular worldwide. The name Camote comes from nhuatl, an Aztec language, and means protector of

not have sucient milk for their babies can eat the leaves to increase

8

name meaning pig neck, due to the leaves rough texture. This species has been used to treat various health problems all over the world, especially in south-east Asia. In the Amazon, fresh roots of Kuchi

8

22

T Theaceae - Camellia sinensis

Shrub. Leaves alternate, thick and glabrous, margin

5 thick white petals and many yellow stamen.

The origin of tea is not clear but we do know that it originated somewhere in South-East Asia. It is now grown all over the world. Tea

the Amazon region it is taken for heart disease and heart pressure

Malva* Malvaceae - Malachra alceifolia

Herb or small shrub.

indumentum. Stellate hairs. Leaves palmate, 3 - 5 lobed, elongated, margin toothed. Flowers yellow.

stomach ache or a hangover. It is also used to cool a fever .

8

8

23

Ua de Gato Rubiaceae - Uncaria guianensis

Woody shrub. Pair of claw-like thorns at leaf base, curved to curled. Leaves

the South American rainforest. Its Quechua name is Meche Sillo, Cats Claw in English. The bark and roots have been used for centuries to treat a range of medicinal problems. In Peru, Ua de Gato has been

immune system, help relax internal muscles, dilate blood vessels and

studies have suggest it may kill tumor and cancer cells. Ua de Gato is

in clinical trials. A second species, Uncaria tomentosa, also grows locally and has similar

9

24

Palo de la Quina Rubiaceae -

Tree. Opposite pairs of branches spiral around trunk. Leaves opposite, glabrous, very large (up to ca.50 x 30 cm).

- 3000

rainforests most famous and most important discoveries. It is the -malarial which, legend has it, was

introduced to the West by the countess of Chinchon (the wife of a Peruvian viceroy) who was cured of malaria by it. It quickly spread

-malarial drug. Iquitos

are widely used, although the natural form is being revisited as it has

in poorer regions around the world today, but it must be prepared carefully as large doses are toxic.

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25

Ortiga Macho Urticaceae - Urera carcasana

Woody stem with ne spines in rows. Leaves large, long-ovate, serrate, covered in hairs with

A very common plant in the Amazon, it is know as Kisa Orcco in Quechua. The thorns are used to prick tumors and

Also present in this bed is which is a related species (with smaller leaves, white underside). It has the same uses.

Jayapa Solanaceae - Brugmansia sp.

raised on underside. Large campanulate owers.

Jayapa are an exceedingly important group of Amazonian plants, eclipsed only by Ayawaska in their spiritual importance. They are known as Angels Trumpet in English. Jayapa are very

powerful and dangerous hallucinogens. One species (B. insignis) is used

heal illness and divine the future. Other tribes use it to contact the spirit

However overuse is believed to cause insanity and there have been a few reported deaths. The boiled leaves are also used to treat snakebites.

9

9

26

Limn Rutaceae - Citrus limonum

Small thorny shrub or tree. Leaves

Oval fruit, yellow when ripe. Thorns up to 1 cm. Citrus scent.

medicinal purposes. The oil and juice of the fruit is used globally for

juice is used as a disinfectant.

Naranja Amargo Rutaceae - Citrus aurantium

Thorny shrub or tree. Leaves alternate, glabrous, with pellucid dots, margin crenate. Leaves ca.5 x 10 cm. Thorns at leaf base, just above

orange when ripe. Very strong citrus scent.

avouring and as a solvent. Worldwide it has been popular as an

excessive use has been linked to a number of deaths and considered

9

9

27

Pampa Yawar Chonqa

10

Low growing herb. Leaves alternate, ovate, margin serrate, veins raised on upper

hairs. Flower stalks equal to leaf length. 5 pale pink petals.

Mrame pero no me Toques Fabaceae - Mimosa pudica

Spreading herb. Pinnate leaves fold when touched. Hairy pinkish stems. Inorescence pink/purple and spherical.

10

This Quechuan name translates literally as oor blood suck, possibly due to the plant drawing nutrients out the soil. Medicinally the leaves are taken in a tea to treat internal injuries and as an

-inammatory.

Mrame pero no me Toques is very common in the

the shy leaves. Its Quechua name is Ama llamichikuq. The plant has

mouth and throat. The leaves have also been used in a tea, which is

28

Botoncillo Asteraceae - Acmella ciliata

-

10

Pampa Hierba de Cncer Lamiaceae - Marsypianthes chamaedrys

10

Ground-cover herb. Stem square. Leaves ovate, crenate margin. Hairs on leaves with swollen base, visible as ne dots. Inorescence a spherical cluster of owers.

Low growing herb, stems erect to 30 cm. Stems dark purple. Leaves opposite, ovate, serrate. Capitulum yellow, slightly conical. Petals of ray orets to 0.5

Pampa Hierba de Cncer is used for washing infected wounds and

indigenous uses, compounds in the plant have been shown to be

-venoms.

29

Sprawling shrub. Square stem with small thorns. Leaves opposite, coarse texture. Cluster of tubular owers with variable colours, red-orange-yellow.

Suncho Macho Verbenaceae - Lantana camara

11

-lanceolate. Upper and lower surfaces

ne hairs.

Pjaro Bobo usually grows on the banks of rivers. The bark is chewed to relieve toothache. A drink is also made of the bark and leaves to treat

11

range as a result of its use as an ornamental plant in gardens. The leaves are boiled and applied to swelling and painful areas. The bark of Suncho Macho is used to treat ulcers. Current medical studies have shown that the species may reduce blood pressure.

Pjaro Bobo Asteraceae - Tessaria integrifolia

30

Tobacco Solanaceae - Nicotiana tabacum

Upright herb. Leaves

leaf surrounding stem. Feels

11

Yawar Piri Piri Iridaceae - Eleutherina bulbosa

Grass-like herb. Long, lanceolate leaves with 6 - 7 parallel nerves strongly ridged. White owers with 6 petals,

below ground, ca. 4 cm long.

11

The red bulb of Yawar Piri Piri has many medical uses. It is crushed and mixed with water to create a drink to kill

plasters, and mixed with cockroaches to treat infected wounds caused by rusty nails. Locally the bulbs are taken fresh in a tea to treat

Grown and smoked all over the world the plant

originated in North America. Locally the leaves of Tobacco are rubbed on the skin to cure rashes caused by allergies. Ironically the Quechua name qhalaste is related to the word for healthy.

31

Manka Paki* Asteraceae - Ageratum conyzoides

Herb. Pubescent leaves and long hairs on stem. Leaves ovate with crenate margin. Cluster of lilac owers in

leaves.

The name is Quechuan name meaning broken pot alluded to the use of

woodpeckers carried the leaves of this plant in their beaks to dissolve

stone in their architecture. Spanish chroniclers also recorded its use by

11

Palo Santo or Tangarana Polygonaceae - Triplaris surinamensis

Tree, grows to 30 m tall. Leaves alternate, large, ca. 20 cm long. Ring scars on stem. Pointed bud. Dusky pink owers in large panicles.

12

Easily visible in the forest canopy due to its panicles of pink owers, Palo Santo is also grown for ornamental purposes in tropical gardens. The

to give o a pleasant aroma.

ant

32

Ayawaskha Malpighiaceae - Banisteriopsis caapi

Spreading, herbaceous vine. Leaves opposite, vivid green, glabrous, spaced on stem.

spelling), is the name given to both the plant and the drink made from it. This is an extremely important plant for indigenous tribes throughout

your whole spiritual self. It contains the alkaloid harmine which is a

variety of other ingredients, and used by shamans throughout the

the shaman, elsewhere, like in Iquitos, it is drank by everyone taking part in the ceremony. The drink is known as Yag in Colombia as is very important for the Tukanoan people of the north-west Amazon. Their art is based on the geometric shapes experienced on taking the drug. Taking the drug has become popular on the gringo trail but has caused the deaths of a number people who have reacted badly to taking it. This danger was well known to indigenous people and the name means liana of death in Quechua.

12

33

Chuchuhuasi* Hypericaceae - Vismia sp.

Shrub. Leaves opposite, large,

rusty-brown.

the mature bark turns the water the colour of red wine.

Sano Sano Cyatheaceae - various species*

Tree fern. Trunk-like stem raises fronds above ground level, fronds usually compound pinnate. Young fronds emerge in curls that uncoil. Spores on leaf underside. Scales on stems.

Sano Sano is the general common name for tree ferns in Peru, Sano meaning healthy. The

Quechuan name is Qhali Qhali with the same meaning. Tree ferns have a variety of medicinal uses, primarily the resin is used to treat wounds

-

12

12

34

Pan del rbol Moraceae - Artocarpus altilis

Tree. Milky latex in braches and leaf veins. Leaves palmate, over 30 cm long, lobes pointed. Monoecious. Round, large fruit (ca. 30 cm diameter) with bumpy texture.

Corisacha or Bobinsana Fabaceae - Calliandra angustifolia

Corisacha is commonly used to treat pain and prevent colds. The roots are used, along with those of oranges, to prevent the onset of diabetes.

12

12

grown all over the tropics. Pan de Arbol (Breadfruit) is most commonly used as food, named due to the fruits taste. It is the staple diet of many pacic islanders. The latex is

material. In Peru the roots have been used in a mouthwash to treat toothache and the resin to treat internal injuries and leishmaniasis.

-present. Inorescence a feathery cluster. Stamen white to pink and fused at base. Fruit leguminous pod.

35

Guyaba Blanca Myrtaceae - Psidium guajava

Shrub or tree up to 5 m tall.

stem square and winged. Leaves

owers in leaf axil, white petals. Fruit yellow when ripe, ca. 4 cm diameter.

of years ago, as seeds have been found on archeological sites along with

toothache.

12

36

Hierba de Cncer Asteraceae - Smallanthus sonchifolius

hairs, ne indumentum above. White sap. Long inorescence stems, branched with many small owers.

with a candle and put on the wound. Hierba de Cncer is used in Brazil as a treatment for diabetes; current clinical trails have shown it to lower

themselves.

12

37

38

Glossary

Alternate

Bract a modied leaf adjacent to a ower or inorescence,

Campanulate bell-shaped ower.

Composite/ a disk of owers with a supercial appearance of a Capitulum single ower, like a daisy. Marginal owers with enlarged petals are the ray orets.

Cuspidate

Frond compound leaf of a fern.

Glabrous without hairs.

Herbaceous -woody stem.

Hirsute

Inorescence aggregated owers on a single stem e.g. spike, raceme or capitulum.

Indumentum ne covering of hairs.

Monoecious plant with separate male and female owers.

Opposite

Panicle inorescence structure with many branches o a main axis.

Pellucid dots specks on leaf, character of Rutaceae (orange family).

Pinnate

Pubescent

Raceme owers arranged along an unbranched stem, each

39

Spike individual stalks.

character of Rubiaceae.

Tormentose

Whorled leaves or owers arranged in a circle around a central axis.

Alternate Opposite Cordate

Palmate Lanceolate

Ovate Acuminate Cuspidate

Crenate Serrate

40

Endnotes and Comments

the guide marked with an asterisk. We have also included plants that

The use of macho and hembra in plant names - macho means male and

are dierent species.

Chuchuhuasi - back of bed 12 next to Corisacha. This common name which Leonidas gave usually refers to Maytenus krukovii, Celastraceae but this is not the plant that is present.

Hango Chuta - absent.

Sangre de Grado - Croton lecheri Euphorbiaceae. A very important medicinal plant. Hopefully it will be replanted.

Pajugeillo macho/hembra - only hembra present.

Monte Linaza - this common name generally refers to a dierent plant but this name seems to be used locally for the

Ajucsillo - present adjacent to Monte Linaza, strong scent. We have been

Huajo macho - absent, the species of Thalia geniculata is generally associated with this common name.

Jaya Jaya - absent. Its name in Spanish is Pika Pika.

Runa Manayupi - absent.

Awaymanto - absent, should be Physalis angulata Solanaceae.

Arca Paicco/Paikco - absent, should be Dysphania ambrosioidos Amarathaceae.

Huaji - present, a species of Aristolochia Aristolochiaceae.

41

Costus guanaiensis - common name seem to be given to Costus species without consistency.

Achiwa -

Monte Alucima - unknown.

Huajo hembra - species dierent to Huajo macho. Present but

Ua de Gato - Uncaria tomentosa mostly grows in primary forest, it has U. guianensis is in

Corta Corta - Setaria tenax and Cyprus luzulae but neither of these species are present

Malva - not Malva ocinalis, the species associated with this common name in Europe.

Albahaca - absent.

Llanten - absent should be Plantago lanceolata or P. major.

Berros - absent.

Manka Paki - has currently been removed from the bed. Leonidas Ageratum conyzoides as as Manka Paki but this disagrees with

other sources which name it as about the plant is scarce.

Mayo Maicha -

Papaya - absent.

Sano Sano - the two species present are Cyathea leucolepismata and Alsophila cuspidata.

Santa Maria - absent.

Piper hisipidum and P. aduncum - Mocco seem to be used interchangeably as the common name for

adjacent to each other in bed 6.

43

Malachra alceifolia Malva 24

Manihot esculenta Yuca 19

Marsypianthes chamaedrys Pampa Hierba de Cncer 30

Mimosa pudica Miram pero no me Toques 29

Tobacco 32

Persea americana Palta 18

Phyllanthus niruri Chanca Piedra 17

Piper aduncum 20

Piper hispidum Mocco Mocco 15

Polygala violacea Charcot 14

Pseudelephantopus spicatus Kuchi Muchu 23

Psidium guajava Guayaba Blanca 37

Psychotria poeppigiana Beso de Novia 9

Rollinia mucosa Masasambo 15

Scoparia dulcis Piqui Pichana 14

Smallanthus sonchifolius Hierba de Cncer 38

Smilax sp. Zarza Parrilla 22

Stachytarpheta cayennensis Yanawacta 16

Tessaria integrifolia Pjaro Bobo 31

Tilesia baccata Suncho Hembra 6

Triplaris surinamensis Palo Santo or Tangarana 33

Rata Rata 20

Uncaria guianensis Ua de Gato 25

Urera carcasana 27

Vismia sp. Chuchuhuasi 35

Uva 13

M

44

References

Raintree Tropical Plant Database, www.rain-tree.com

Discover Plants and Fungi, Royal Botanic Garden Kew, kew.org/science--fungi

Tropicos, Missouri Botanical Garden, tropicos.org

Research and Clinical Trials, University of Maryland Medical Center, umm.edu/research

ntbg.org/plants

-ethnobotany/agroforestry-ethnobotany/

Useful Tropical Plants Database, tropical.theferns.info/

Wanamey, wanamey.org/plantas-medicinales-2

Guia de plantas medicinales del valle de ksnipata Yngrid Vera Ferchau, Magaly VillenaTejada, Deyvis A. Baca Caldern, Herbal Ramirez Ordoez, Comnet 2008.

Plantas Medicinales de Uso Popular en la Amazonia Peruana, Kember Mejia, Elisa Rengifo, Agencia Espaola de Cooperacin

Publicacion/L017.pdf

Diccionario: Quechua - Espaol - Quechua, Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua (2nd ed.) Cusco 2005. Available at: illa-a.org/cd/diccionarios/DicAMLQuechuaOrig.pdf

Photographic Field Guides, eldguides.eldmuseum.org/guides

E.