A couple of weeks ago we were asked by Belcampo Lodge (an eco-lodge in Toledo) to assess their foraging tour.  We were accompanied by their guide, Jose Vellos and we went on a two hour trek around Belcampo grounds.  We would like to share with you some of the plants and trees that we came across…we probably saw up to about sixty plants mostly noted for their edibility, medicinal or useful purposes. All in all, the tour reinforced the diversity of plants in the rainforest and it was very educational for everyone involved.  I will probably write about this tour in wee instalments since I have so many pictures to show you.

This is a picture of a Strangler Fig of the Ficus sp.; the seeds end up dropping in crevices of other trees and as they grow, they form roots which bind around the host tree, eventually killing it.

This one is the Central American Rubber Tree, also known as Castilla elastica and Panama Rubber Tree.  Here is a picture; if you look carefully, you can see some latex dripping out from the multiple scores on the bark.  During the heyday of the rubber industry in Central America, these trees were tapped for their valuable latex.  As an historical aside, the rubber from this tree was used to make the ball used for the famous Mesoamerican ballgame Ollamaliztli.

Close-up picture of the foliage:

These are the fruit of the rubber tree; Gnome took some home to start a rubber plantation…he wants to make his own thigh high rubber boots one day (for walking about the farm in the wet season).  NOT a cosplay fetish!

This one has many names…we have heard of the following: Bull’s Eye, Deer’s Eye and Horse’s Eye.  Gnome suggested re-naming it ” Some Sort of Ruminant’s Eye” as a catch-all term.  I don’t know…mmmm…not a very catchy name?!

Picture of the seed with the dried pod:

The locals tell us that this seed is used in childrens’ games where it is rubbed very quickly against the pod and then transferred onto somebody else’s skin to cause a scalding effect.  This is done for fun and laughs in the bush!  It happens less now that everyone has Galaxy phones 😉