Plants at the Wilson Botanical Garden

Medicinal Plants and Traditional Healing in Costa Rica
WT 2003 DePauw University

Plants Observed at the Wilson Botanical Garden

A great variety of tropical plants were seen at the Wilson Botanical Gardens (at the Las Cruces Biological Station). A huge benefit
of being at a botanical garden is that one can see many plants, from many countries, in a small area. At right is a species of Asclepia, more commonly known as the milkweed family. Our Guaymi curandero, Alejandro, described many medicinal uses for this plant. In some ways this was not surprising as the milkweed family is full of cardiac glycosides, a rather toxic group of molecules.
Shown below are other medicinally interesting plants. From left to right:

This is Brugmansia suaveolens, a member of the Datura family with mild hallucinogenic properties. It was growing wild in the Rio Jaba canyon, but we also saw it planted as an ornamental at homes around San Vito (and I've seen related species used the same way in S. California). Rodo told us that people were taking hot irons to the flowers in the hopes of getting high off the fumes. It is actually similar to a species here in Indiana, where the difference between getting mildly high and very sick is slim.

A detail of the very large and attractive Brugmansia flower.

The next two pictures are of Banisteriopsis caapi, a liana from Peru that is one of two major ingredients in a hallucinogenic mixture called Ayahuasca. Banisteriopsis is the small vine growing on the tree.

The small woody plant closest to the viewer in this picture is "Hombre Grande" or Quassia amara. We first encountered it as one of the few medicinal plants available in the general market place in San Isidro del General. It is found world-wide in tropical regions, and has many folk medicinal uses. Scientists have studied it in great detail as well for all sorts of uses such as AIDS treatment.

The beautiful red passionflower, Passifolia grandiflora, presents an interesting case of co-evolution of plants and insects. Normally, it is pollinated by hummingbirds sticking their beaks through the white "grate" at the center of the flower. They are seeking nectar, but in the process pollen from the anther (anthers, stigmas and the grate are clearly visible in the photos at right) attaches to the top of their head* Later, the stigmas move downward and the next hummingbird transfers pollen to it, and voila! cross-pollination. Note the bee in the upper lefthand corner of the lower photo.
* On our last day, a hummingbird flew into a window and died :-( but we did get to see the pollen cap it was wearing.
It turns out there is a devilish little bee that has discovered the passionflower's nectar. This species of bee cuts an opening into the white grate and proceeds to go in and steal nectar (We observed up to four bees fighting for at turn to go in the entrance hole at one time). It does get some pollen on it, but it turns out it doesn't often pollinate another flower. So the bee has stolen both nectar and pollen. Thanks to our new friend Botanist John Cozza of Florida and New York for explaining this story to us!
The blue arrow in the first picture below shows a bee exiting the hole cut into the grate. The second picture belows a bee entering, and nearby, another pollen-laden bee in flight. Very very cool.

As our last installment, we offer photos of interesting plants we came across that don't fit in the categories above.
1st row, left to right:

Shampoo (Champu) ginger, every bit as beautiful as it looks

A cycad flower. Cycads are a specialty at the garden.

A legume pod with urticating (stinging) hairs*; the seeds of this species are known as "ojo de buey" or ox-eye

Two kinds of heliconias, another speciality at the garden.

Two lianas or woody vines (lianas are often medicinally interesting)

Lichens on a rock at Cerro de la Muerte at 11,000' ft (Costa Rica has a central mountain range that we crossed on the way to Las Cruces).

The spines* of the marimba palm, which make music when you give 'em a twang.

* tropical plants need to defend themselves against insects and chewing animals. Spines and hairs are one approach, and chemicals, some of which become human medicines, are another.
2nd row, left to right:

A plam flower (The Wilson Botanical Garden has one of the largest colletions of palms anywhere).

An orchid blooming on a tree right by our cabins

A stilt palm

A view up the strangler fig that tried to eat Diane

The beautiful walking iris. We watched all the blossoms open within a space of 15 minutes.

A really weird flower that I don't have the name for.

Last updated February 2003
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This page maintained by Bryan Hanson of the Dept of Chemistry at DePauw University

A great variety of tropical plants were seen at the Wilson Botanical Gardens (at the Las Cruces Biological Station). A huge benefit of being at a botanical garden is that one can see many plants, from many countries, in a small area. At right is a species of Asclepia, more commonly known as the milkweed family. Our Guaymi curandero, Alejandro, described many medicinal uses for this plant. In some ways this was not surprising as the milkweed family is full of cardiac glycosides, a rather toxic group of molecules. Shown below are other medicinally interesting plants. From left to right: This is Brugmansia suaveolens, a member of the Datura family with mild hallucinogenic properties. It was growing wild in the Rio Jaba canyon, but we also saw it planted as an ornamental at homes around San Vito (and I've seen related species used the same way in S. California). Rodo told us that people were taking hot irons to the flowers in the hopes of getting high off the fumes. It is actually similar to a species here in Indiana, where the difference between getting mildly high and very sick is slim. A detail of the very large and attractive Brugmansia flower. The next two pictures are of Banisteriopsis caapi, a liana from Peru that is one of two major ingredients in a hallucinogenic mixture called Ayahuasca. Banisteriopsis is the small vine growing on the tree. The small woody plant closest to the viewer in this picture is "Hombre Grande" or Quassia amara. We first encountered it as one of the few medicinal plants available in the general market place in San Isidro del General. It is found world-wide in tropical regions, and has many folk medicinal uses. Scientists have studied it in great detail as well for all sorts of uses such as AIDS treatment.

The beautiful red passionflower, Passifolia grandiflora, presents an interesting case of co-evolution of plants and insects. Normally, it is pollinated by hummingbirds sticking their beaks through the white "grate" at the center of the flower. They are seeking nectar, but in the process pollen from the anther (anthers, stigmas and the grate are clearly visible in the photos at right) attaches to the top of their head* Later, the stigmas move downward and the next hummingbird transfers pollen to it, and voila! cross-pollination. Note the bee in the upper lefthand corner of the lower photo. * On our last day, a hummingbird flew into a window and died :-( but we did get to see the pollen cap it was wearing. It turns out there is a devilish little bee that has discovered the passionflower's nectar. This species of bee cuts an opening into the white grate and proceeds to go in and steal nectar (We observed up to four bees fighting for at turn to go in the entrance hole at one time). It does get some pollen on it, but it turns out it doesn't often pollinate another flower. So the bee has stolen both nectar and pollen. Thanks to our new friend Botanist John Cozza of Florida and New York for explaining this story to us! The blue arrow in the first picture below shows a bee exiting the hole cut into the grate. The second picture belows a bee entering, and nearby, another pollen-laden bee in flight. Very very cool.

As our last installment, we offer photos of interesting plants we came across that don't fit in the categories above. 1st row, left to right: Shampoo (Champu) ginger, every bit as beautiful as it looks A cycad flower. Cycads are a specialty at the garden. A legume pod with urticating (stinging) hairs; the seeds of this species are known as "ojo de buey" or ox-eye Two kinds of heliconias, another speciality at the garden. Two lianas or woody vines (lianas are often medicinally interesting) Lichens on a rock at Cerro de la Muerte at 11,000' ft (Costa Rica has a central mountain range that we crossed on the way to Las Cruces). The spines of the marimba palm, which make music when you give 'em a twang. * tropical plants need to defend themselves against insects and chewing animals. Spines and hairs are one approach, and chemicals, some of which become human medicines, are another. 2nd row, left to right: A plam flower (The Wilson Botanical Garden has one of the largest colletions of palms anywhere). An orchid blooming on a tree right by our cabins A stilt palm A view up the strangler fig that tried to eat Diane The beautiful walking iris. We watched all the blossoms open within a space of 15 minutes. A really weird flower that I don't have the name for.