Medicinal Plants and Animals in the Peruvian Amazon
This list is for reference purposes only. Some but not all are found at the Blue Morpho Center.
Medicinal Plants
This is a short list of the
hundreds of plants that are used in the amazon basin for their medicinal
properties.
| Local Name |
English Name |
Scientific Name |
Uses |
| Abuta |
Velvet leaf |
Cissampelos pareira |
Fever, diabetes, malaria, menstural cramps, ulcers, pain killer, dental pain killer etc. |
| Achiote |
Lipstick tree |
Bixa orellana |
Body paint, liver disease, kidney disease, skin ailments, prostate cancer |
| Ai curo, Iporuro |
Iporuro |
Alchornea castaneifolia |
Rheumatism, cough, male fertility, colds |
| Ajo |
Garlic |
Allium sativum |
Flu, colds, high blood pressure |
| Ajo Sacha |
Garlic of the Jungle |
Mansoa alliacea |
Flu, colds, body aches, fever, saladera (bad luck) hunting and fishing |
| Ajos kiro, Ajos caspi |
Laurel or Clammy Cherry |
Cordia alliodora |
Shaman medicine for protection and strength |
| Albahaca |
Basil |
Ocimum basilicum |
Colds, coughs, body aches, food spice |
| Amargo |
Bitter wood |
Quassia amara |
Antimalaria, antiparasitic, fever, cancer |
| Amasisa |
Swamp immortelli |
Erythrina poeppigiana |
Skin infection, fever, cold |
| Ayahuasca, Yage |
Vine of the Soul |
Banisteriopsis caapi |
Visionary medicine used with a shaman, physical, spiritual, emotional illnesses |
| Ayahuma |
Cannonball tree |
Couroupita guianensis |
Shaman medicine of protection, saladera (bad luck), medicinal baths |
| Bala Huayo |
Yellow mombin |
Spondias mombin |
Emetic, hemorrhoids, stomach, eye/throat inflammation |
| Bellaco Caspi |
|
Plumeria tarapotensis |
Rheumatism |
| Bombinsana |
|
Calliandra angustifolia |
Shamanic strength, protection, rheumatism, uterine cancer |
| Camu-camu |
Rumberry |
Myrciaria dubia |
Colds, flu, vitamin C, potassium |
| Cana brava |
Giant reed |
Arundo donax |
Arthritis, hair loss, joint pain |
| Capinuri |
Capinuri |
Macruira coriaceae |
Sprains, cuts, magic |
| Capirona, Mulaterio |
Canary wood |
Calycophyllum spruceanum |
Anti-bacterial, diabetes, antioxidant, antifungal stomach, shamanism |
| Castana |
Brazil Nut |
Bertholletia excelsa |
Food source, oil |
| Catahua |
Possumwood, sandbox tree, dinamite tree |
Hura crepitans |
Purgative, diuretic, shamanism, fish toxin |
| Chacruna, Batsikawa, Pishikawa |
Chakruna |
Psychotria viridis |
Visionary admixture of Ayahuasca |
| Chanca piedra |
Stone breaker |
phyllanthus niruri |
Kidney stones and gall stones, anti spasmodic, diuretic |
| Chiricsanango, Shiricsanango |
Fever tree |
Brunfelsia grandiflora |
Visionary, colds, chills, nervous system, arthritis, kidney disease, lung disease, rheumatism |
| Chontaquiro |
|
Aspidosperma capitatum |
Shamanim |
| Chuchuhuasi |
Chuchuhuasi |
Maytenus macrocarpa |
Anti-diarrheic, anti-tumor, anti-arthritic, menstruation, stomach pain |
| Chullachaqui Caspi |
Chullachaqui Tree |
Tovomita sp. |
Shamanism, energetic body ailments |
| Clavo Huasca |
Clove vine |
Tynanthus panurensis |
Aphrodisiac, tooth ache, rheumatism |
| Coca |
Cocaine Bush |
Erythroxylum coca |
Hungar, thirst, altitude sickness, mild stimulant |
| Copaiba |
|
Copaifera officinalis, paupera |
Lung disorders, skin disorders, fungus, scars, STD's |
| Cumala |
Virola |
Virola sp. |
Visionary, shamanism |
| Cumaseba |
Cumaseba |
|
anti-arthritic, shamanism, aphrodisiac |
| Curare |
|
Chondrodendron tomentosum |
Animal poison, brusies, edema, kidney stones |
| Escobilla |
Sweet broom |
Scoparia dulcis |
Skin, toothache, bronchitis, STD's, diabetes |
| Guatillo, Borrachera |
|
Lochroma fuchsioides |
Shamanism |
| Guayusa |
Bartling holly family, mate |
Ilex guayusa |
Stimulant |
| Heliconia |
Heliconia,Lobster claw |
Heliconia sp. |
Ornamental |
| Huacapu |
Manwood |
Minquartia guianensis |
Shamanism, aphrodisiac, construction |
| Huacapurana |
Huacapurana |
Campsiandra sp |
Shamanism, aphrodisiac, construction |
| Huairacaspi, Tornillo |
Tornillo |
Cedrelinga catenaeformis |
Gastro intestinal ailments |
| Icoja |
|
Unonopsis Floribunda Diels |
Arthritis, lung disorders, diarrhea, malaria, rheumatism |
| Ipomoea |
Morningglory |
Ipomoea purpurea |
Diuretic, laxative, visionary |
| Ishpingo, Roble americano |
Ishpingo |
Amburana cearensis |
Asthma, internal bruising |
| Jergon sacha |
|
Dracontium loretense |
Snake bite prevention, Anti-viral, Anti-bacterial |
| Lupuna |
White floss silk |
Chorisia speciosa |
Shamanism |
| Maca |
Pepperweed |
Lepidium meyenii |
Stimulant |
| Micura, Mucura |
Gully root |
Petiveria alliacea |
Immune system booster, pain, memory enhancer, abortive |
| Murure |
|
Pistia stratiotes |
Shamanism, arthritis |
| Oje |
Fig tree |
Ficus insipida |
Purgative, anti-parasite |
| Palo Santo |
Saint wood, Sacred wood |
Burserea graveolens |
Burned as inscence to purify the body |
| Patiquina |
Dumbcane |
Diffenbachia alba |
Medicinal baths, saladera (bad luck), witchcraft |
| Pinon |
|
|
Oral sores, medicinal baths, saladera (bad luck), witchcraft |
| Pinon colorado |
|
|
Shamanism, tooth ache, |
| Piripiri |
Umbrella flat sedge |
Cyperus articulatus |
Dysentery, aphrodisiac, stomach ache, contraception |
| Puca Lupuna |
|
|
Shamanism |
| Quinilla Blanca |
Powder puff |
Calliandra angustifolia |
Shamanism |
| Remo Caspi |
|
Pithecellobium laetum |
Shamanism |
| Renaco |
Strangler fig |
Ficus sp |
Female reproductive health, shamanism |
| Sanango |
Hibiscus |
Tabernaemontana spp |
Visionary, colds, chills, nervous system, arthritis, kidney disease, lung disease, rheumatism |
| Sangre de Grado |
Dragon's blood |
Croton lechleri |
Cuts, anti-diarrhea, vaginal baths, skin, cancer |
| Suelda con Suelda |
|
Phthirusa adunca |
Fractures, dislocations, cuts |
| Tabaco, Mapacho |
Tobacco |
Nicotiana tabacum |
Shaman protection, visionary, purgative, to remove skin worms |
| Tahuari |
|
Tabebuia serratifolia |
Diabetes, cold, cough, flu, fever |
| Tamshi |
|
Heteropsis jenmanii |
Rope or string |
| Tangarana |
|
Triplaris surinamensis |
Skin |
| Toe |
Datura, Angel's Trumpet |
Brugmansia suaveolens |
Shamanism |
| Toe Negro |
Datura, Angel's Trumpet |
|
Shamanism |
| Uchu-Sanango |
Blue Star Amsonia |
Tabernaemontana sp |
Visionary, colds, chills, nervous system, arthritis, kidney disease, lung disease, rheumatism |
| Una de Gato |
Cat's Claw |
Uncaria tomentosa |
Cancer, HIV/AIDS, cough, colds, flu, fever, ulcers, tumors |
| Uvilla |
|
Puorouma cecropiaefolia |
Female reproductive system |
| Verbena |
|
Verbena littoralis |
emetic, febrifuge, vermifuge |
| Wira-wira |
|
Gnaphalium vira-vira |
Antibiotic, asthma, sterorid |
Animals of the Peruvian Amazon
Fish
These are just some of the fish that are in the Ayucayacu River
Common English Name
|
Scientific Name
|
Common Spanish Name
|
Tambaqui
|
Colossoma macropomum
|
gamitana
|
Tilapia
|
Prochilodus nigricans
|
boquichico
|
Pirapu tanga
|
Brycon sp
|
sábalo
|
Small mouth bass
|
Plagioscion auratus
|
corvina
|
Peackock Bass
|
Cichla acellaris
|
tucunaré
|
Tiger catfish
|
Pseudoplatystoma fascium
|
doncella
|
Dorado
|
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
|
dorado
|
Sting ray
|
Potamotrygon histrix
|
raya
|
Giant catfish
|
Pseudoplatistoma tigriinum
|
Zungaro
|
Piranha (black)
|
Serrasalmus spilopleura
|
piraña negra
|
Piranha (red)
|
Serrasalmus nattereri
|
piraña roja
|
Piranha (white)
|
Serrasalmus rhombeus
|
piraña blanca
|
Silver dollars
|
Mylossoma duriventris
|
palometas
|
Carp
|
Triportheus angulatus
|
sardina
|
Red bellied pacu
|
Piaractus brachypomun
|
paco
|
Lisa
|
Schyzodon fasciatus
|
Lisa
|
Electric Eel
|
Electrophorus multivalvulus
|
Anguila Electrica
|
Arapaima
|
Arapaima gigas
|
Paiche
|
Dolphins:
Pink River Dolphin
|
Inia geoffrensis
|
Bufeo Colorado
|
Grey River Dolphin
|
Sotalia fluviatilis
|
Bufeo Negro
|
Birds
There are over 800 species of birds in the amazon. Here we have listed but a few that are possible to observe on our tours.
Sungrebe
|
Heliornis fulica
|
Pato pompom
|
Muscovy duck
|
Cairina moschata
|
Sacha pato
|
Canary winged parakeet
|
Brotogeris versicolorus
|
Ala blanca
|
Wattled jacana
|
Tuqui tuqui
|
Jacana jacana
|
Large billed tern
|
Phaetusa simples
|
Tibe
|
Scarlet macaw
|
Ara macaw
|
Guacamayo rojo
|
Blue and yellow macaw
|
Ara ararauna
|
Guacamayo azul y amarillo
|
Blue gray tanager
|
Tharaupis episcopus
|
Sui sui
|
Russet-backed oropendola
|
Psarocolius angustifrons
|
Páucar
|
Yellow-hooded blackbird
|
Agelaius icterocephalus
|
Arrocerillo
|
Yellow rumped cacique
|
Cacides cela
|
Pauscarsillo
|
Brown-chested martin
|
Phaeoprogne tapera
|
Glondrina
|
White winged swallow
|
Tachycineta albiventer
|
Glondrina
|
Lesser kitskadee
|
Pitangus lictor
|
Victor Días
|
Great kiskadee
|
Pitangus sulphuratus
|
Victor Días
|
Woodpecker
|
Camphylorhemphus pusillus
|
Escaladores
|
Strong billed woodpecker
|
Xiphocolaptes promeropinhynelus
|
Escaladores
|
Chestnut woodpecker
|
Celeus elegans
|
Pájaro carpintero
|
Amazon King Fisher
|
Chloroceryle amazona
|
Martín Pescador
|
Ringed king fisher
|
Ceryle torquata
|
Catalán
|
Black nunbird
|
Monasa nigrifrons
|
Tibicuro
|
Mealy parrot
|
Amazona farinose
|
Loro
|
Anhinga
|
Anhinga anhinga
|
Sharara
|
Olivaceus cormorant
|
Phalacroconax olivaceus
|
Cushuri
|
Pauraque
|
Nyctidromus albicolis
|
Tuhuayo
|
Great potoo
|
Nyctibius grandis
|
Ayaymama
|
Yellow headed caracara
|
Milvago chimachima
|
Shihuango
|
Turkey vulture
|
Cathartes aura
|
Rinaui
|
Black vulture
|
Comagyps atratus
|
Gallinazo
|
Black-collared hawk
|
Busarellus nigricollis
|
Mama vieja
|
Horned screamer
|
Anhima cornuta
|
Camungo
|
Hoatzin
|
Opisthocomus oatzin
|
Shansho
|
Smooth billed ani
|
Crotophaga major
|
Locrero
|
Boat-billed heron
|
Cochlearius cochlearius
|
Huapapa
|
Partridge
|
Cypturellus undulates
|
Panguana
|
Hummingbird
|
Galbula dea
|
Picaflor
|
Osprey
|
Pandion haliaetus
|
Gavilan pescador
|
Snail kite
|
Rostramus sociabilis
|
Gavilan churero
|
Plumbeous kite
|
Ictinia plumbea
|
Gavilan cenizo
|
White necked heron
|
Ardea cocoi
|
Garza ceniza
|
Great egreet
|
Casmerodius albus
|
Garza blanca grande
|
Toucan
|
Pterglossus aracari
|
Pinshilla
|
Common black hawk
|
Buteogallus anthracinus
|
Gavilán cangrejero
|
Great black hawk
|
Buteogallus urubitinga
|
Águila negra
|
Green and rufous kingfisher
|
Cholroceryle inda
|
Martín pescador verde
|
Little tinamou
|
Crypturellus Saui
|
Tinamou pequeño
|
Red and green macaw
|
Ara chloroptera
|
Guacamayo rojo y verde
|
Red bellied macaw
|
Ara manilata
|
Guacamaya bandera
|
Red capped cardinal
|
Paroaria gularis
|
Cardenal de frente rojo
|
Roadside hawk
|
Buteo magnirostris
|
Gavilán chapulinero
|
Purple Martin
|
Progne subis purple
|
Martín azul
|
Bat falcon
|
Falco rufigularis
|
Halcon negro chico
|
Anhinga
|
Anhinga anhinga
|
Pato aguja
|
Blue head parrot
|
Pionus menstruus
|
Loro de cabeza azul
|
Cuvier’s toucan
|
Ranphastus cuvier
|
Tucan
|
Gray tinamou
|
Tinamus tao
|
Perdiz azul
|
Green ibis
|
Mesembinitis cayenensis
|
Ibis verde
|
Orange cheeked parrot
|
Pionopsitta barrabandi
|
Lorito de mejillas amarillas
|
Orinoco goose
|
Neochen jubata
|
Pato carretero
|
Painted parakeet
|
Pyrrhula picta
|
Camachuelo
|
Snowy egret
|
Egreta thula
|
Garza blanca chica
|
Tropical kingbird
|
Tyrannus melancholicus
|
Suiriri real
|
Reptiles
Iguana
|
Iguana iguana
|
Iguana iguana
|
Black caiman
|
Melanosuchus niger
|
Lagarto negro
|
White caiman
|
Caimán crocodilus
|
Lagarto blanco
|
Turtles:
Yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle
|
Podocnemis unifilis
|
Taricaya
|
Mata mata
|
Chelus fimbriatus
|
Mata mata
|
Jungle Tortoise
|
Geochelone denticulate
|
Motelo
|
Arrau turtle
|
Podocnemis expansa
|
Charapa
|
Six-tubercled river turtle
|
Podocnemis sextuberculata
|
Cupiso
|
Mud turtle
|
Kinosternon scorpioides
|
Ashna charapa
|
Poisonous Snakes:
Red tree viper
|
Chironius scurrulus
|
Aguaje machacuy
|
Common lance-head viper
|
Bothrops atrox
|
Jergon
|
Coral
|
Coral Micrurus spp
|
Naca-naca
|
Fer-de-lance
|
Bothrops spp
|
Cascabel
|
Whip snake
|
Spilotes pullatus
|
Iguana machacuy
|
Green tree viper
|
Bothrops bilineatus
|
Loro machacuy
|
Giant Amazon viper
|
Lachesis muta
|
Shushupe
|
Non-poisonous Snakes:
There are more than 60 species.
The following gensus are the most common:
Chironius sp.; Pseustes sp.; Leimadophis sp.; Liophis sp.;
Atractus sp.; Oxybelis sp.
Corallus canius boa verde o boa arboricola
Terrestrial boa
|
Boa constrictor
|
Mantona
|
Anaconda
|
Eunectes murinus
|
Yacumama, anaconda, o boa negra
|
Mammals:
Monkeys and Tamarins:
Black-mantled tamarin
|
Saguinus nigricollis
|
Pichico
|
Saddle back tamarins
|
Saguinus fuscicollis
|
Pichico boca blanca
|
Black-chested moustached tamarin
|
Saguinus mystax
|
Pichico barba blanca
|
Cotton-top tamarin
|
Saguinus imperator
|
Leoncillo
|
Goeldi’s monkey
|
Callimico goeldii
|
Pichico negro
|
Pigmy marmoset
|
Cebuella pygmaea
|
Leoncito
|
White-fronted capuchin monkey
|
Cebus albifrens
|
Mono blanco
|
Brown capuchin monkey
|
Cebus apella
|
Mono negro
|
Common squirrel monkey
|
Saimiri sciureus sciureus
|
Boliviensis fraile
|
White-bellied spider monkey
|
Ateles belzebuth belzebuth
|
Maquisapa pecho amarillo
|
Black spider monkey
|
Ateles paniscus chamek
|
Mono araña
|
Yellow-tailed wooly monkey
|
Lagothrix flavicans
|
Choro de cola amarilla
|
Wooly monkey
|
Lagothrix lagothricha
|
Choro
|
Mon Saki
|
Cacajao calvus rubicundus
|
Huapo colorado
|
Mon Saki
|
Pithecia hirsute
|
Huapo negro
|
Red howler monkey
|
Alouatta seniculus
|
Coto
|
Black titi monkey
|
Callicebus torquatus
|
Tocón negro
|
Dusky titi monkey
|
Callicebus moloch moloch
|
Tocón colorado
|
Night monkeys
|
Aotus spp.
|
Musmuqui
|
Cats:
Ocelot
|
Felis paradalis
|
Tigrillo
|
Puma
|
Felis concolor
|
Puma
|
Jaguar
|
Felis yagouaroundi
|
Yanapuma
|
Jaguar/Otorongo
|
Felis onca
|
Otorongo
|
Other Mamals:
Grey brocket deer
|
Mazama gouazoubira
|
Venado cenizo
|
White-tailed deer
|
Odocoileus virginiaus
|
Venado gris
|
Red brocket deer
|
Mazama americana
|
Venado colorado
|
Collard peccary
|
Tayassu tajacu
|
Sajino
|
Collared anteater
|
Tamandua tetradáetila
|
Oso hormiguero
|
Amazon weasel
|
Mustela africana
|
Comadreja
|
Anteater
|
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
|
Oso hormiguero
|
Southern river otter
|
Lutra longicauda
|
Nutria
|
Giant river otter
|
Pteronura brasiliensis
|
Lobo de río
|
White lipped peccary
|
Tayassu pecari
|
Huangana
|
Lowland tapir
|
Tapirus terrestris
|
Tapir o sachavaca
|
Capibara
|
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
|
Ronsoco
|
Aguti
|
Agouti paca
|
Majaz
|
Tree squirrel
|
Sciurus spp.
|
Ardillas
|
Brown agouti
|
Dasyprocta variegata
|
Añuje
|
South American coati
|
Nasua nasua
|
Achuni
|
Giant Armadillo
|
Priodontes maximus
|
Carachupa mama
|
Armadillo
|
Dasypus novencinctus
|
Carachupa
|
Three-toed sloth
|
Dradypus variegates
|
Perezoso
|
Tayra
|
Eira barbara
|
Tayra
|
Striped spear-nosed bat
|
Mimon crenulatum
|
Murciélago
|
Greater bulldog or fishing bat
|
Noctilio leporinus
|
Murciélago pescador
|
Long-nosed bat
|
Rhynchonycteris naso
|
Murciélago
|
Large fruit-eating bat
|
Artibeus jamaicensis
|
Murciélago
|
Short-tailed fruit bat
|
Carollia perspicillata
|
Murciélago
|
Common long-tongued bat
|
Glossophaga soricina
|
Murciélago
|
Red-tailed squirrel
|
Sciurus granatensis
|
Ardilla
|
Yellow-crowned brush tailed rat
|
Isothrix bistriata
|
Ratón
|
Amazon bamboo rat
|
Dactylomys dactylinus
|
|
Dark tree rat
|
Echimys semivillosus
|
|
Giant tree rat
|
Echimys grandis
|
|
|
|
|
|
