Edible Prickly Pear
The Nopal is a cultivated variety of prickly pear cactus having much reduced spines. It is used as a vegetable and is a medicinal plant.
Medicinal Plants at BIB
Leishmaniasis,
Don’t let the thought of getting leishmaniasis scare you away from coming to BIB. People live here year-around and few ever experience chiclera.
Poisonwood Peril
The poisonwood tree, called che-chem by the Mayans, can give you a serious itch, a bad rash, and weeping sores that can last up to three weeks.
Gumbo Limbo
The gumbo limbo tree is also known as Indio des nudo, or naked indian tree because of how the sunburned skin peels from the smooth bark.
Jackass Bitters
Used on infection, intestinal parasites, malaria, fungus and ringworm, colds, flu. all-over pain reliever and headaches.
Wire Wis
Wire wis grows at the edges of forest openings, and in disturbed areas, and if it finds anything to climb it will do so, twining around its host until it reaches a height of several yards. Interestingly, the wiry “vine” part is actually the mid-rib of a single hugely long leaf.
Achiote or Annatto
Also known as the Annatto and Lipstick Tree, this evergreen shrub grows 6’-24’ tall, with fragrant pink flowers between November – January, which become heart-shaped fruits about 2” long filled with bright orange-red seeds.
Cecropia, Trumpet Tree
The cecropia (see-CROW-pee-uh) tree, with its giant (up to 20″ across!) hand-like leaves is one of the more recognizable tropical trees in the Better in Belize Eco Community. The locals call it guarumo (gwah-ROO-mo) or trumpet tree. It is an important “pioneer tree species” in the rainforest, being one of the first trees to sprout up after a fire or where the earth is disturbed.