Sterculia Apetala

Karst.

Panama tree (E); Camajonduro (C); Kupu (Cu); Panama (P); Pinon (C) . The seeds of this honey plant are edible roasted (!). These were a standby with the conquistadores during hard times in the early days of Panama. They are a favored pig food. Ground seeds are mixed with water to form a beverage. The hairs inside the fruit are very irritating. The bark is used in a home remedy for malaria, and the leaves are said to prevent falling hair. A beverage prepared from the bark is said to be similar to the morure used by the natives around Iquitos.