cultivated plant is known by a number of indigenous names in the 
northwest Amazon (Schultes et Romero-Castafieda: Bot. Mus. 
Leafl., Harvard Univ. 19 (1962) 249-250). 
Solanum mammosum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. (1753) 187. 
CotomsiA: Comisaria del Putumayo, Rio Putumayo, Puerto Ospina. “Ku- 
ku-na; tetilla. March 23-25, 1942. R. E. Schultes 3450. Comisaria del 
Amazonas, Rio Karaparana, between El Encanto and the mouth. May 22-28, 
1942. Schultes 3808. 
Ecuapor: Napo, Dureno, Rio Aguarico. February 28, 1966. “Kofan = ko-ko 
-no-cho.” H. V. Pinkley 172. 
The pulp and seeds of Solanum mammosum are employed by 
the Kofan Indians to alienate cockroaches which often constitute 
a plague in their houses. This use is widely known, and the fact 
that the two names of the plant amongst the Kofans are obviously 
borrowed from Spanish indicates that the plant has been a rather 
recent importation from elsewhere. 
The Kofans report the use of this plant as a “pacifier for small 
children” (Pinkley 172). 
Solanum ovalifolium Humboldt et Kunth ex Dunal, Solan. Syn. 
(1816) 37. 
Cotomsia: Comisaria del Putumayo, Valley of Sibundoy, “Medicinal. Used 
for soap. Gujaco; ujaco.” October 30, 1962. M. L. Bristol 321. 
Bristol indicates that this plant is employed as a medicine in 
Sibundoy, but no specific illness has been cited. 
Solanum platyphyllum Humboldt et Bonpland ex Dunal, Solan. 
Syn. (1816) 38. 
CoLomBIA: Comisaria del Vaupés, Rio Vaupés, Miraflores. January 29, 1944. 
G. Gutiérrez et R. E. Schultes 706. Comisaria del Putumayo, Rio Sucumbios, 
Quebrada Conejo. “Fruit edible.” April 2-5, 1942. Schultes 2494. Comisaria del 
Putumayo, road between Pepino and Mocoa, 700 m alt. July 28, 1960. Schultes 
22556. 
The fruit of this widespread species is edible. The plant is found 
semi-cultivated in all parts of the northwest Amazon. 
Solanum scabridum Duna/ in De Candolle, Prodr. 13, No. 1 
(1852) 360. 
38 
