Photo by Bob Thomas, May 2010.

This plant is important in Maya herbal medicine and was growing in Aurora Saqui’s herbal garden in Maya Centre, Stann Creek District, Belize.  For many years we were not there when it was flowering, and we couldn’t identify the species.  Finally, Dr. Mac Alford, University of Southern Mississippi, accompanied us and we found it flowering.

Aurora uses ixtuculil to treat sadness, stress, and other psychological problems.