Calathea Allouia

Lindl.

Sweet cornroot (E); Bijao (P); Faldita morada (P); Irwa (Cu); Kakiska (Cu); Sal (P) . The tubers and young flower heads are eaten cooked. The leaves are used for wrapping food by Cuna, Choco, and Negro, and judging from the name "sal", impart some flavor. They are sold in the markets in Turbo (!). This was once described as the most necessary plant in Panama to cover newly born babies, to make blankets, mattresses, and pillows, for umbrellas, to cover cargo and keep water from bouncing out of water jugs, to make baskets, and to wrap "bollos". One can rarely pass a Choco hut without finding a few plantains, wrapped in bijao, roasting over the ashes in the fireplace (!). In colombia, the bijao often envelops a mixture of corn and rice (!). The bijao also plays a role in Choco witchcraft. the blood of a freshly decapitated nequi is hidden in the leaf of bijao with another "secret" leaf. The witch doctor returns in 7 days and finds a special breed of wasps which he carefully collects. He can then command them to sting a victim near the heart, inflicting an incurable malecia (!).