COMPOSITAH 



riibadium asperum DC, Prodr. 5 (1836) 506. 



Collect.: Davis & Yost 924. 



Waorani Informant: Taadc (m). Ridge dialect: n.v. coonci 



The Waorani use the crushed leaves of this cultivated shrub as a 

 very effective fish poison. Fifteen pounds of crushed leaves 

 released into a stream 0.5 m. deep and 5 m. wide will stun the fish 

 in a full kilometer downstream; when cast into a small oxbow 

 lake, the plant material is effective for three to four hours. The 

 Indians assert that this was not a fish poison of the ancestors, but 

 that they received it from their neighbors, the Lowland Quichua. 



This species is known throughout the northwest Amazon as a 

 fish poison. 



Family Undi:ti:rminI:D 



Collect.: Davis & Yost 950. 



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



netacl^ 



This unidentified forest liana has a star-shaped fruit with yel- 

 low seeds covered by an orange aril. The latex of the stem is 

 applied to the exposed nerve of a decayed tooth to deaden the 

 pain. 



Collect.: Davis & Yost 996. 



Waorani Informant: Oncaye (0- Downriver dialect: n.v. contaca 



The fruits of this 25 m. tree of the forest have a yellow rind and 

 white flesh; the pulp is eaten. 



*** 



Collect.: Davis & Yost 1042. 



Waorani Informant: Tomo (m). Upriver dialect: n.v. anaw^nta 



The Waorani shave the inner bark of this 60 m. forest tree and 

 squeeze the shavings in water mixed with Bixa Orellana pulp to 

 brighten the color from dull to bright orange. 



^n ^F ^F 



208 



