Criascf. Neuberthii Macbr. in Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Scr. I I 

 (1931)30. 



Collect.: Davis & Yost 973. 



Waorani Informant: Tomo (m). Upriver dialect: n.v. win^aca 



ThecauliHorous fruits of this 30 m. forest tree are highl\ valued 

 as an emergency food by all Waorani. During spearing raids, 

 when chonta {Bactris Gasipaes) was out of season and the Wao- 

 rani were forced to Hee and live away from their gardens, they 

 relied heavily upon this fruit. 



Waorani hunters recogni/e that virtually all forest animals also 

 eat it, including the spider monkey {A teles helzebuth). squirrel 

 monkey {Saimiri sciurea)^ woolly monkey {La^ofhrix lagoiricha) 

 and both peccaries {Tayassu pecan' iind T, tajacu). 



Myrtacfae 



Calyptranthes plicata McVaugh in Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bot. 



Ser. 13. pt. 4, no. 2(1958)607. 

 Collect.: Davis & Yost 944. 



Waorani Informant: Geque (m). Downriver dialect: n.v. cowa- 

 clew^ 



When ripe, the fruit of this 4 m. forest tree is valued as a food. It 

 is also thrown into streams and back eddies to attract fish. 

 Because the wood is extremely tough and can be hardened, it was 

 cut with stone axes and fire-hardened to make hunting and raid- 

 ing spears before the arrival of metal tools. It is still used in an 

 emergency to improvise hunting spears. 



MELASTOMATACnAI: 



Loreya collatata Wurdack in Phytologia 18(1969) 162. 

 Collect.: Davis & Yost 937. 



Waorani Informant: Geque (m). Downriver dialect: n.v. lii^m^- 

 neca 



The fruit of this tall (30 m.) forest tree is eaten. The Waorani 

 name, meaning ''tapir's wild cacao'\ highlights recognition of the 

 fact that the fallen fruits are browsed by tapir ( Tapirus terrestris) 

 and wild peccary {Tayassu pecari, T. tajacu). 



200 



