Pacaya Palm, Chamaedorea tepejilote, is a common native species in Central America. It was heavily used by the Maya, so it is especially associated with past and current human sites. […]

Cojón de Perro is a commonly used Maya remedy for botfly (beefworm) infestation in tropical locals (and visitors who use local medicinal treatments). As in other members of the Apocynaceae, […]

Photo by Bob Thomas, Refugio Amazonas Lodge, Tambopata National Park, Peru, November 2007. If leaves had no mechanisms to shed water in the rainforest, they would be incessantly covered with […]

A Above two photos taken by Bob Thomas, Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Belize, May 2004. Ziricote is a common tree in Central America.  The wood carves nicely and polishes […]

  Photo by Bob Thomas, taken at Bacob Eco-park, near Ladyville, Belize, March 2005. Everyone knows the wonderful taste of vanilla. The beans (not shown here) are produced by this […]

Photos by Bob Thomas, Aripo Agriculture Station, Trinidad, June 1988. A most interesting species of Solanum.  Can you see why they are called Cow’s Udder, among other similarly focused names? […]

Photo by Bob Thomas, Grand Rivere, Trinidad, November 2004. Photo by Bob Thomas, Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad, June 2012. Photo by Bob Thomas, Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad, June […]

All photos by Bob Thomas, Tikal, Guatemala, May 2008. Ramon has food value for many forms of wildlife, as well as humans.  It was a staple starch source for cereal […]