Additional file 1.

Medicinal plants used by Haitian immigrants and their descendants in the Province of Camagey, Cuba Botanical taxon (voucher specimen) Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench Botanical family Cuban phytonyma quimbomb Haitian (Creole) phytonyma kalalou Parts usedb se fr Acalypha alopecurioides Jacq. (8455) Euphorbiaceae degonfl le Preparationc and way of used 7 or 21 seeds mac in rum, ing mac in rum, ing dec or inf with salt, ing mix 18 tr, ing mix 14 tr in water, bath dec or soaked in rum, ing ing vaginal suppository Aloysia triphylla (L'Her) Britton (8267) Alpinia speciosa Schum (8600) Verbenaceae Zingiberaceae yerba luisa colonia fey canel le le ro le le le ba le dec, ing dec, bath dec, ing boiled and eaten as vegetables dec, ing dec, ing dec, ing dec, ing Medicinal use Quotation frequencye

Malvaceae

aphrodisiac refreshing and diuretic empacho, stomach pains and digestive problems mix 18 intestinal parasites mix 14 to clean and refresh the skin to take away the evil from the person internal infections, hepatitis vaginal infections diarrhea to clean the skin, ritual bath catarrh, fever intestinal parasites intestinal parasites cough, empacho menstrual disorders empacho I

Allium sativum L. Allophyllus cominia (L.) Sw. (8603)

Liliaceae Sapindaceae

ajo palo caja, palo monte

lay tw padol

bu le st

Aloe vera L. (8270)

Aloaceae

sabila

lalw

le (inner part)

Amaranthus spp. (5198) Ambrosia peruviana Willd. (8468) Anacardium occidentale L.

Amaranthaceae Asteraceae Anacardiaceae

bledo artemisa maraon

zepin

pm

Annona cherimolia Mill. (7702)

Annonaceae

chirimoya

Annona muricata L. (8259)

Annonaceae

guanabana

kogosol

le

inf, ing

dec with leaves that already fell from the tree, ing Annona squamosa L. (8261) Annonaceae ann le ro ap dec, ing mix 16 mix 17 dec or mac in rum, ing

stenghten the children, for stomach problems of children, catarrh, sedative high pressure

Artemisia absinthium L. (8617)

Asteraceae

incienso ajenjo

tifey, lapsnt

dec, bath

Bidens pilosa L. (8404)

Asteraceae

romerillo

le

inf, gargles inf, ing mix 1 mix 4 smashed and heated with oil, applied as a plasture dec, ing dec, ing mix 19 ing at fast in the morning after leaving the fruit some days outside without the peel picked up and put under the pillow

Bixa orellana L. (8279)

Bixaceae

bija

woukou

se

empacho mix 16 mix 17 aphrodisiac, it gives strenght to men, intestinal parasites, stomachic to clean people and houses for the end of year throat ache fever, catarrh, stomach ulcera mix 1 mix 4 burns

Boldoa purpuracens Cav. (8395) Brachiaria purpurascens (Raddi) Henrard (8280) Bromelia pinguin L.

Bignoniaceae Poaceae

nitro paran

le ro

diuretic intestinal parasites mix 19 intestinal parasites

Bromeliaceae

pia raton

pengw

fr, inner part

Bursera simaruba L. (8295)

Burseraceae

almacigo

gomy

le

colds, influenza II

Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam. (8292) Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (8615)

Fabaceae Fabaceae

brasilete frijol gandul, gandul pwa cong

sh ba ap

dec, bath mix 17 mac in rum, ing dec, two or three times per day mix 19 three shoots, dec with salt as collar for children

measle mix 17 diuretic intestinal parasites mix 19 empacho It protects against the evil eye and helps dentition stomach pains, colds mix 14 colds, inflammations, ovaries pains mix 20 intestinal parasites

sh Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. (7864) Canella winterana (L.) Gaertn Fabaceae mate pwa maldjk canel se

Canellaceae

canela

ba

Capraria biflora L. (8458)

Scrophulariaceae

magiro

sh

dec or mac in rum, ing mix 14 dec, ing

Carica papaya L. (2704)

Caricaceae

papaya, fruta bomba

papay

young fr

mix 20 peeled and grated, juice is filtered and drunk for three days with salt mac in water, drunk as common water eaten along with the fruit tr, dec with sugar, ing dec, ing mix 12 mac in rum or dec, ing jex, ing with milk in the morning; dec, ing; tr with coconut

ro se Cassia fistula L. Cecropia schrebiana Miq. (8297) Fabaceae Cecropiaceae caa fistula yagruma (kas dou) tronpt se yl

high pressure to clean kidneys and ovaries anemia asthma, catarrh, cough mix 12 aperitive intestinal parasites

Chamissoa altissima (Jacq.) Kunth (8123) Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (8256)

Amaranthaceae Chenopodiaceae apasote

lyann panye simen kontr

le le

III

milk, ing

sh Chiococca alba L. (8236) Rubiaceae bejuco verraco, palo verraco (kok souri) le ro Chrysophyllum oliviforme L. ssp. oliviforme (8143) Cissampelos pareira L. (8248) Cissus verticillata L. (8244) Sapotaceae Menispermaceae Vitaceae bejuco ub caimitillo ti kaymit pat chwal lyann motel, lyann mol le le le st, ap ap le fr ju sh fr fr peel fr peel fr peel le young fruit fr

roasted, powdered, top dec in water or mac in rum dec in water or mac in rum mix 7 dec of three halves of three leaves, ing dec with sugar, ing as syrup burnt, smoke inhalations mix 1, 2, 3, 5 dec, bath mix 1 mix 8 jex with salt and sugar, ing mix 10 inf, ing dec, ing dec, ing opened, part inside is grated, salt added, ing inner mass is grated and filtered, ing of the resulting liquid for three days at fast in the morning mac in rum mix 7

eczema aphrodisiac aphrodisiac mix 7 fever, stomach pains catarrh, respiratory problems asthma mix 1, 2, 3, 5 bath for children mix 1 mix 8 to clean ovaries mix 10 high pressure high pressure, colds high pressure, colds to clean ovaries

Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle (8284) Citrus aurantium L. (8272)

Rutaceae

limon

sitron

Rutaceae

naranja agria

zoranj si, zoghet vergamot zogai, zoranj kok

Citrus limetta Risso Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Cocos nucifera L.

Rutaceae Rutaceae Arecaceae

lima naranja coco

intestinal parasites

ro Commelina elegans H.B.K. (8398) Commelinaceae canuto le

diuretic mix 7 IV

Corchorus siliquosus L. (8399) Coriandrum sativum L. Costus speciosus Smuts (8257) Crescentia cujete L. (8287)

Tiliaceae Apiaceae Costaceae Bignoniaceae

malva dulce cilantro caa mexicana gira

valed koulant

le le le fr

dec, filtered, washes dec or inf, ing dec, ing cooked with sugar, honey, and rum (miel de gira), ing, mix 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 dec, ing mix 6 mix 9 dec or inf, ing

vaginal washes after delivery fever, vomiting fever catarrh, 'cold uterus', stomach problems, intestinal parasites, mix 12,13,14,15,16 empacho mix 6 mix 9 frialdad (colds), catarrh, stomach problems mix 10, 14 ovaries pains mix 11 diarrhea catarrh, infections to kidneys diuretic, respiratory and venereal infections, oedemas mix 11 catarrh catarrh, cough, fever; mix 1

kalbaz

Cucurbita maxima Duch. (9820) Cuminum cyminum L. Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. (8290)

Cucurbitaceae Apiaceae Poaceae

calabaza comino calentura, caasanta, yerba de limon amor seco, panadillo marab jib

rom

le se le

sitwonel

Desmodium incanum (Sw.) DC. (8431) Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (5816) Erythroxylum havanense Jacq. (8255)

Fabaceae

ws tuas

ap

mix 10, 14 dec, ing mix 11 three leaves, dec, ing dec, ing mac in rum or dec, ing mix 11 dec, ing dec of three shoots with salt, ing; mix 1

Fabaceae Erythroxylaceae

le le ro

Eucalytus sp. Eupatorium odoratum L. (8620)

Myrtaceae Asteraceae

eucalipto rompezaragey

lang chat

le sh

le

dec, bath

Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp. (8403) Gossypium barbadense L. (8425)

Fabaceae

pion

mezni

le sh sh st

crushed and mixed with honey, ing dec, ing mix 8 dec, ing heated at one extreme, collect with a feather the foam at the other extreme and apply topically tr, water is poured on it, and foam is applied topically dec, ing three shoots and five seeds, or three seeds, dec with salt, ing dec, ing dec, left to cool, baths for children mix 12 mac in rum or dec, ing mix 14

bath for children (for end of the year, with a stem of Artemisia absinthium) and for measle; to clean from bad spirits the house asthma catarrh mix 8 galactogen, catarrh, cough to eliminate scars left from burns

Malvaceae

algodn

koton

Gouania polygama (Jacq.) Urb. (8197) Guarea guidonia (L.) Sleumer (8278) Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (6277)

Rhamnaceae

bejuco de indio

lyann savn

st

burns

Meliaceae Sterculiaceae

yamagua guasima, guasima macho

maj bwa dm

fl sh, se

catarrh, colds empacho

Hamelia patens Jacq. (8274)

Rubiaceae

ponas

fey koray

le le

catarrh to clean the skin, for skin eruptions and measle mix 12 stomachic mix 14 VI

Hibiscus elatus Sw. (8277) Illicium verum Hook. F.

Malvaceae Illiaceae

majagua anz estrellado

an etoil

fl fr

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Isocarpha atriplicifolia R. Br. (9568)

Convolvulaceae Asteraceae

boniato manzanilla

patt, duz patt manzan

sh ap

dec, ing dec is filtered and applied topically in drops dec, bath dec or inf with salt, ing; mix 18 dec, ing as common water mix 11, 21 dec, three shoots for three times per day, ing mix 22 dec, ing mix 22 dec, ing

galactogen eyes infections, conjuntivitis skin eruptions empacho, stomach problems; mix 18 colds, inflammations mix 11, 21 intestinal parasites

Jatropha gossypifolia L.

Euphorbiaceae

tuatua, tubatuba

timap

le ro sh

Jatropha urens L. (8265)

Euphorbiaceae

kiaya, chaya

Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (8607) Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. Lawsonia alba L. (9567) Lepidium virginicum L. (7699)

Acanthaceae Crassulaceae Lythraceae Brassicaceae

tilo hoja de viento, prodigiosa resed mastuerzo

spantye (lou garou) (resed) kreson

ap le le le

mix 22 fever mix 22 intestinal parasites, carminative, diuretic, menstruation pains to expell gases, carminative catarrh, colds, stomach pains, menstrual pains scabies stomach pains mix 7 fever, catarrh, stomach problems

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. (8239)

Verbenaceae

quitadolor, menta americana estropago mejorana mango

fey melis

ap

heated and applied top on the stomach dec, ing

Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. (8633) Majorana hortensis Moench (8433) Mangifera indica L.

Cucurbitaceae Lamiaceae Anacardiaceae

fey koscin

fr ap le le already fallen from the tree

mang

boiled, washes with the dec inf, ing mix 7 dec or inf, ing

VII

yl

ba

dec of three yl, in three different cups, ing cut in pieces, dec, ing tr, top appl dec or mac in water, bath

empacho

gastritis, ulcera, refreshing and depurative fractures, bruises to clean (both ritually and skin cleaning), and take away bad influence catarrh stomachic, catarrh pains intestinal parasites, blood cleansing, fever, stomach problems refreshing, to clean the skin

Maranta arundinacea L. (8222) Melia azederach L.

Marantaceae Meliaceae

yuquilla paras

(paras)

rh le

Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq. (8258) Mentha piperita L. var. citrata (Ehrh.) Brig. (8613) Mirabilis jalapa L. (8266) Momordica charantia L. (8432)

Sapindaceae Lamiaceae Bignoniaceae Cucurbitaceae

anoncillo yerba buena maravilla cundeamor

kenp

le le fl le

asoros, yesk

dec, ing inf in water or mac in rum, ing rubbed top jex or dec, ing fasting in the morning (sometimes with sugar) dec, or leaves put directly in the water of the bath, baths for children dec, add water, ing juice applied topically to the skin

Morinda royoc L. (8235) Mucuna pruriens (Stickm.) DC. ssp. deeringiana (Bort) Hanelt (8471) Mucuna urens (L.) DC. (8343) Musa x paradisiaca L. Myristica fragrans Houtt.

Rubiaceae Fabaceae

palo garaon nescaf

(pwa grate)

ro se hair of the fruit se le se

Fabaceae Musaceae Myristicaceae

ojo de buey platano macho nuez moscada

bann mizk

mac in rum, ing dec, also as coffee substitute, ing mixed with guava jam, ing kept in the pocket dried, dec, ing dec or mac in rum, ing

drink for diabetic people carbuncles, eruptions of measle and herpesvirus diuretic, aphrodisiac stomach problems intestinal parasites against the evil eye empacho stomach pains, carminative, colds VIII

Ocimum basilicum L. (8443) Ocimum gratissimum L. (8445)

Lamiaceae Lamiaceae

albahaca blanca albahaca cimarrona o mondonguera tuna

fey bazilik (fonbazen)

le le

mix 14 inf, ing inf, ing

mix 14 colds, influenza catarrh

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.

Cactaceae

rakt

le

Oxalis violacea L. (8743) Parthenium hysterophorus L. (8255) Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit. (8251) Persea americana Mill. (8457)

Oxalidaceae Asteraceae Euphorbiaceae Lauraceae

trebol escoba amarga itamo real aguacate zabok (lapsnt)

le ro le le, collected dry from the soil le se

a piece of the size of a foot is peeled and hanged above the fire, the liquid produced is thrown away, and leaf is then opened and applied topically in front and behind the liver dec, mixed with animal fat, ing mix 20 jex, top application in drops dec with salt, ing; mix 6

liver problems

asthma mix 20 skin ulcera, earache empacho; mix 6

dec, drank as water grated, dec, applied as shampoo dec, ing mix 5 mac in rum, ing

arthritis, rheumatic pains lice colds, catarrh, kidney infection mix 5 aphrodisiac

Petiveria alliacea L. (8248)

Phytolaccaceae

anam

malpugh, mal pourri uu

le

Phoradendron quadrangulare (H.B.K) Kr. et Urb. (8355)

Loranthaceae

palo caballero

ro

IX

Phyla scaberrima (Juss. ex Pers.) Moldenke (8474) Phyllanthus procerus Wr. ex Sauv. (8288)

Verbenaceae Euphorbiaceae

oro azul deed

le ap

dec, ing dec, three times per day before fever raises, ing mix 2 inf, ing mix 14 dec, ing heated and applied top on the forehead for one hour mix 3 heatede on the fire and then applied top on the stomach dec, ing

fever, ovaries pains fever, malaria

Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. (8289)

Myrtaceae

pimienta dulce

pwa dus, pim duz fey lesan

le

Piper aduncum L. (8247)

Piperaceae

platanillo

le

mix 2 stomach problems, colds mix 14 catarrh headache

Piper auritum Kunth (8436)

Piperaceae

anisn

le

mix 3 to expell intestinal gases fever, kidney problems, ovaries pains earache, ear infections catarrh, headache respiratory problems (frialdad), headache measle mix 1 empacho intestinal parasites stomachic, carminative

Plantago major L. (8478)

Plantaginaceae

llantn

plantn

le

Pluchea carolinensis (Jacq.) G. Don (8282)

Asteraceae

salvia de playa

tabak mau

le

jex, top application in drops dec, ing dried and rolled, smoked dec, bath mix 1 dec or inf, ing boiled and eaten dec, ing

Portulaca oleracea L.

Portulacaceae

verdolaga

kupy

le

Priva lappulacea (L.) Pers. (8599)

Verbenaceae

usev, kusev

sh

Protium cubense (Rose) Urb. (8130)

Burseraceae

copal

kopl

le

Pseudelephantopus spicatus (Juss.) Rohr. (8601) Psidium guajava L.

Asteraceae

lengua de vaca

lambef (lang vach) guayav

le

Myrtaceae

guayaba

sh

inhalations, vapours (in the night, without going out afterwards) mix 4 rubbed on the skin, top dec with salt, ing dec, three shoots with salt, ing dec, left to cool, baths for children ing mix 8 dec, ing top appl mix 9 oil, ing dec, vaginal steam bath by sitting above the pot with the decoction one leaf is tied to the forehead for one night dec or jex, bath

catarrh, fever

mix 4 itching, insect bites empacho, fever diarrhea, stomach problems, stomach pains to clean the skin and treat skin infections intestinal parasites mix 8 asthma, catarrh to take out spines mix 9 laxative, clean the interior, empacho problems of uterus, ovaries pains

le young fruit sh le re ba se le

Rheedia aristata Griseb. (8273)

Clusiaceae

manaj

Ricinus communis L.

Euphorbiaceae

higuereta

masket

Senna alata (L.) Roxb. (8275)

Fabaceae

palo santo

le

headache ('the leaf absorbs the headache while getting dry') to clean (both ritually and skin cleaning), and to take away bad influence

XI

Senna obtusifolia (L.) Roxb.

Fabaceae

guanina, platanillo

pwa pian

se

dec, toasted and milled, as substitute of coffee, ing

good for blood, headache, stomach pains, anemia, in the morning fasting for diabetes colics of infants skin ulceras aperitive, stomach ulcera mouth infections and inflammations blurred vision

ro Solanum americanum Mill. (5174) Solanaceae yerba mora lam le

grated in a spoon of breast milk, ing triturated, juice applied topically chewed juice mixed with honey, mouth washes

Solanum erianthum D. Don. (8628)

Solanaceae

pendejera

zamoght

le

tr, jex, top application in the eyes jex, ing three shoots and three flowers, dec, ing three leaves, dec, drunk as decoction or as common water at fast in the morning dec, or leaves put directly in the water of the bath, baths for children and infants dec, ing

Solanum melongena L.

Solanaceae

berenjena

berenjen

sh, fl

stomach problems, good for kidneys stomach pains

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl (8249)

Verbenaceae

verbena

vevn

le

intestinal parasites, to clean the blood

refreshing, to clean the skin, for carbuncles and eczemas catarrh, to help dentition high pressure high pressure fever, catarrh; mix 3

Tamarindus indica L. Terminalia catappa L. (7003)

Fabaceae Combretaceae

tamarindo almendra

tomagu zamnd

le fr le

dec, ing chewed dec, ing; mix 3

XII

Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum. (2820) Tradescantia discolor L'Hr. (7833) Tradescantia spathacea Sw. (8614) Trichilia glabra L. (8233) Turnera ulmifolia L. (8252) Urera baccifera (L.) Gaud. (8300) Vitex trifolia L. (8308) Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott Zingiber officinale Rosc. (8298)

Apocynaceae Commelinaceae

cabalonga cordoban

fey sez

se le

kept in the pocket dec of two leaves with sugar, ing at fast in the morning heated and applied on the forehead dec, bath dec, ing dec, ing dec or jex, bath cooked without salt and eaten with milk dec, ing

high pressure tonic

Commelinaceae Meliaceae Turneraceae Urticaceae Verbenaceae Araceae Zingiberaceae

barquillo, cordobn siguaraya marilope chichicate yo puedo mas que tu malanga genjibre

sanglori

le le le le

headache to clean and take away bad influences diarrhea diuretic, good for kidneys to clean and take away bad influences stomach ulcera

kapapase malang, kalaib gengin

st, le tu rh

colds, catarrh, rheumatic pains mix 10, 16 mix 10, 16 a Non-recorded names are missing from the table. Names within parenthesis are uncorrect names reported by informants, usually a translation of the Spanish name to Creole. b Part( s) used: ap, aerial part; ba, bark; bu, bulb; ep, fruit epicarp; fl, flowers; fr, fruits; ft, flowering tops; la, latex; le, leaves; ls, leaf stalks; re, resin; rh, rhizome; ro, root; se, seeds; sg, stigma; sh, shoots; st, stems; tu, tuber; uf, unripe fruits; wh, young whorls; wo, wood; wp, whole plant. c Preparation: dec, decoction; fr, frying; inf, infusion; jex, juice extraction; mac, maceration; tr, trituration. d Way of use: ing, ingestion; top, topical application e Quotation frequency: : quoted by less than 10% of the informants; : quoted by more than 10% and less than 40% of the informants; : quoted by more than 40% of the informants.

XIII