Collect.: Davis & Yost 941. 



Waorani Informant: Gcquc (m). Downriver dialect: n.v. oyon- 



c 



aho 



Because the leaves of this common species are flexible and do 

 not split when bent or rolled, they are used to wrap cooked meat, 

 fish, \'uca and other foods. 



Some species of Calaihca have been employed as medicine in 

 the northwest Amazon. The Kofan of Ecuador boil the leaves of 

 Calathea roseo-picta Regel to prepare a medicine for treating 

 mouth sores (Schultes in prep.). Calathea Veitchiana Veitch ex 

 Hooker fil. is often added to Banisteriopsis Caapi (Spv. ex Gris.) 

 Morton in preparing an hallucinogenic drink in the northwest 



Amazon. 



Ischnosiphonobliquus(Rudgc) Koern. in Nouv. Mem. Soc. Nat. 



Mosc. 1! {1859)341. 

 Collet.: Davis & Yost 1045. 

 Waorani Informant: Tomo (m). Upriver dialect: n.v. gaya- 



cjuewcncagi 



The Waorani use the stems of this common herb of the season- 

 ally inundated bottomlands as peace spears at festivals. The 

 guests thrust the pliable 'spear' into the ground in front of the 

 host, demonstrating their intent to be peaceful during their visit. 



OrC HIDACI-AF- 



Selenipedium sp. 



Davis & Yost 1048. 



Woarani Informant: Tomo (m). Upriver dialect: n.v. menega- 



gowi 



This terrestrial orchid is said to attain 5 m. in height. The erect 

 hollow stem is utilized as a training blowgun for young Waorani 

 boys, and in an emergency may also be used by adults as an 

 improvised blowgun. 



181 



