Our recent journey through Puerto Rico was more than just a vacation; it was an immersion into the vibrant tapestry of nature, culture, and community that defines this enchanting country and its people. Our trip was incredible, filled with warm-hearted people, vibrant music, delicious food, and, of course, plants, plants, plants, and MORE PLANTS. Easily one of the most sacred places I’ve ever been, and deep deep gratitude to its tenders for the opportunity. Read on to discover some of the beautiful medicinal plants and trees I encountered!
Before sharing our experiences, I need to address the impact of neoimperialist capitalism and constant resource extraction on local communities and ecosystems, especially in regions like Puerto Rico. It’s crucial for us as visitors to be aware of these dynamics and to approach a healthy relationship with respect and mindfulness towards the local community and the sociocultural and natural environment.
No more chachara, let’s start with our virtual trip to Puerto Rico & see some plants!
El Yunque
We explored El Yunque National Park for days: incredible hiking through the mountains, swimming in rivers and waterfall pools deep in the rainforest, and high-altitude panoramic views to the ocean–once even with beautiful RAINBOW in the valley all the way to San Juan!–along with literally hundreds of new-to-me plants. It’s a lush paradise filled with tall trees draped in vines and bromeliads, hidden waterfalls, and twisting paths that stole our hearts as soon as we got there.
I photographed 300-350 plants during this adventure. That may not sound like a lot, but it’s a lot. Hiking with someone taking that many pictures requires a lot of patience—luckily the kids agree that Science Is Cool! Here is a small sampling of the particularly interesting ones, with an emphasis on herbal medicines of Puerto Rico. All the information shared here is solely informative. Remember to always consult with a qualified professional before taking or using any home natural remedy.
- Narrow-lobed Orchid Epidendrum angustilobum: so well named for a narrow-lobed orchid (angus=narrow, lobum=lobed) growing on the side of trees (epi=on, dendrum=tree…don’t you love scientific names sometimes?). I saw several orchid species but this was my favorite, it was huge and dramatic.
- Firespike, Odontonema cuspidatum. There are a number of Odontenema species but this was the most common one I found.
- Raintree, Brunfelsia, reminded me of mountain laurel in terms of the glaucous leaves, but also in how it acted—kind of a midsize shrub embracing the air above the trails, some of the larger ones arching over into a tunnel.
- Mexican primrose-willow, Primula vulgaris: a tree covered in primroses, fantastic!
- Hibiscus: This one is an old familiar friend to many of us, as a beloved and iconic symbol of beauty and tropical paradise throughout the tropics and subtropical biomes! Hibiscus tea is a popular refreshing drink served cold with ice and sweetened with honey or sugar (often called Agua de Jamaica or red drink, if you’re familiar). Rich in antioxidants and anti inflammatory compounds, hibiscus offers many potential health benefits such as boosting immunity, protecting against oxidative damage, decreasing high blood pressure and blood sugar as well as cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and alleviating headaches, as well as many other traditional uses throughout its widespread habitat.
Parts of El Yunque felt like an episode of “house plants gone wild!”…which is a show I wish someone would make. Philodendrons draped from high tree branches like beaded curtains, too many species of begonias for me to keep track and simultaneously keep my children on the trails, orchids, lobsterclaws and gingers, elephant ears, hibiscus, ficus, golden pothos, bromeliads, tree ferns, palms…it was great seeing them in their natural habitat, and also made me question how easily I’ve adopted some of these relatives into my home without a real reflection on their homeland.
1. My favorite begonia was this one, Corazon de Poeta, what a name! There were wild begonias everywhere though.
2. Pariparoba: Kava’s sister! Piper peltatum. We also saw Piper auritum. Amazing how much the leaves, flowers, and growth habit look so much like P. mythisticum, even my kids recognized it right away! Properties include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and diuretic effects. It is a versatile medicinal plant used for various conditions such as liver and gallbladder diseases, digestive issues, cold and flu, skin problems, and urinary tract infections. Pariparoba can be take as tea, infusion, poultice, capsules, or tincture, offering flexibility in its application.
3. Yautia blanca or elephant ear, Xanthosoma (for the yellow root/corm)—9 feet tall in real life! Not the cutesy little filler plant we’re used to in Vermont. The corms are edible if cooked properly, but the plant can make you sick if you do it wrong.
Some of the other plants are very rare, and it was an honor to meet them in person. Tortugo prieto (Ravenia urbanii) is a rare medicinal tree, not blooming when I met it but very cool!
Terciopelo was also an interesting plant to meet. The fruits reminded me of dolls eye, if you know that plant. The Latin name is Miconia racemosa, which draws a picture—the racemes were dramatic, as with dolls eye of course. Miconia sentenisii is a rare native shrub in the same genus, also sometimes called camasey (but that’s also Henriettea).
We learn so much about an ecosystem from the disturbed edges and pioneer species—and there are important object lessons in bearing witness to the impact of colonization, deforestation, globalization, and environmental degradation on local plant populations. I love rare native plants, but I always pay attention to the weeds & invasive flowers when I travel. Here are a few of the more interesting ones:
1. Pink lady/Spanish shawl: introduced, very weedy, but apparently not invasive per iNaturalist, please correct me if I’m wrong
2. Sentro, obviously a legume, grown for high protein livestock forage—and the species name is pubescens, which I’ll declare accurate!
3. Pinkfringe/Arthrostemma with gorgeous pink flowers. Seeing its growth habit, I was nervous it was invasive, but happily it’s a native weed that’s just really excited to get around
4. Climbing day flower is common weed, sometimes just in the ground cover, other times getting about knee-high on the hillsides
5. Tropical kudzu, just as invasive as you think, but the drama is scaled up, like everything else in the rainforest
6. Morivivi (Mimosa pudica) AKA shy or sensitive plant, a small mimosa relative that is invasive basically everywhere tropical EXCEPT the Caribbean. It was really cool to see this plant that I have always met as an aggressive invasive on other adventures, here on its home turf where it belongs. Sister of Mimosa julibrissin, the famed Chinese Medicine nervine, this plant possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antibacterial, analgesic, sedative, and antidepressant effects. Traditionally, its roots have been used to treat conditions such as leprosy, dysentery, and inflammation. Some consumption methods include infusions and dried leaf smoking, often combined with other substances, like Cannabis. Its effects include increased energy, altered body perception, and decreased sensory acuity. This plant is being analyzed for a risk for abuse, emphasizing the need for awareness and respect around its consumption. I don’t recommend working with it unless you have traditional training with this species.
Unsurprisingly, a lot of plants have developed fascinating self-protective mechanisms. Here are my top 2 favorites:
1. Of course, here’s our old friend Prickly Ash, except it’s Zanthoxylum martinicense, AKA espino rubial, which was so cool! Sister of our more northerly species, its bark has proven anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and it’s used to relieve a wide range of conditions, from toothaches to venereal ulcers. My husband has a serious relationship with trees and got very excited about this one in particular, like running into a dear old friend on the other side of the world.
2. Scratchbush—check out those spikes! This is a shrub in the nettles family. I said SHRUB then I said URTICACEAE seriously it’s so intense! Apparently this is one of the first plants to produce fruit after hurricanes, which makes it really important for birds after storms.
As we hiked in El Yunque, each turn in the trail revealed a new botanical treasure, from the towering Kapok or Ceiba tree (L. Ceiba pentandra), the Mayan Tree of Life, to the sprawling Banyan tree with its intricate aerial roots.
In sunnier parts of the forest, and in the surrounding area, there was a great diversity of Ficus species, the majestic Monkeypod trees (Samanea saman) casting dappled shadows, and the delicate Orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata) and its branches adorned with delicate blooms. Though the Magnolia, known locally as Jaguilla, eluded us in full bloom, it is still always nice to see an old friend.
Another beautiful medicinal tree native to Puerto Rico is the Cecropia schreberiana, commonly known as Yagrumo or Trumpetwood. With its towering height and broad, lush foliage, the Yagrumo is a prominent feature of tropical forests. Its large leaves and distinctive trunk make it easily recognizable in its natural habitat. Yagrumo plays a vital role in the ecosystem and also local communities, as it is used for medicinal purposes, and it has a really interesting ant symbiosis process, similar to peonies. Various parts of this tree are traditionally used as medicine for a wide variety of ailments such as digestive issues, respiratory, and skin conditions.
There were Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia), with its fiery red-orange flowers, and Wild Mango (Mangifera indica), which is a close relative of the cultivated mango and is known for its small, flavorful fruits. Did you know mango is medicinal? This is especially true of wild trees, which have to survive their environments so make stronger phytochemicals in response. Mango fruit, rich in carbohydrates, minerals, antioxidants and vitamin C, is widely consumed fresh, cooked, or used in desserts and beverages globally. In addition to culinary uses like chutneys and preserves, mango parts such as leaves, flowers, seeds, and bark are medicinally utilized. These components are employed all over the world for skin ailments, digestive and respiratory disorders, with reported antibacterial and antifungal properties.
We also saw plenty of American Muskwood (Guazuma ulmifolia), which emits a pleasant odor from its leaves, giving it its distinctive name. It’s prized for its durable wood and is used in various traditional and modern applications, including furniture-making and herbal medicine. The leaves are brewed into tea, thought to possess antidiabetic properties and aid in stomach protection. It’s an astringent, so decoctions made from the fruit and bark are used for a range of ailments, including urinary problems, diarrhea, bronchitis, and fever. Additionally, studies have demonstrated antibacterial activity against harmful bacteria.
Near the waterfalls were African Tulip Trees (Spathodea): a majestic and eye-catching species. Its large, trumpet-shaped flowers in vibrant shades of orange, red, or yellow create a stunning contrast against the lush greenery of its surroundings. Huge flowers littered the ground–it was quite a treasure hunt for the children!
Bioluminescent Laguna Grande
Laguna Grande, the bioluminescent lagoon, was more touristy—not that el Yunque isn’t thronged with tourists, but the lagoon is an actual tour…but amazing and absolutely worth it. It’s a nighttime boat through 2.5 miles of mangrove swamp (with iguanas, bats the size of blue jays, and fish that glow in the water) to a bay where the water glows where you touch it because of bioluminescent plankton.
If you’re a student of mine, you’ve heard me say many times that science is proof of magic, and this…this was that. This was one of the most magical thing I’ve ever witnessed other than childbirth (definitely bypassing highly magical-feeling experiences like Mauna Kea erupting and waves of fiddler crabs moving in unison in the salt flats and eclipses and other moments of the sacred&beautiful). A friend said it was like being kissed by fairies, which feels accurate…and to have it on the heels of a rip-roaring science lesson on the mangrove swamp biome and the social and environmental impact of hurricanes Maria and Fiona was such a contrast, it was a simultaneous left&right brain glow.
I was too busy being in the midst of sacred magic to take pictures other than this one of mangrove aerial roots in the darkness, so you’ll have to just imagine running your arms through glowing fairy-water in a bay held in a bowl made of stars and air-bound tree roots yourself.
Creatures
My kids wanted to make a contribution to this piece, as I’m over here busily tap-tapping away at the keyboard and they’re seeing our trip pictures go by, so they’ve instructed me to post pictures of the anoles and giant tree snails. They were totally obsessed with the small creature life–especially the coquis but sadly I didn’t get a picture!–and it was really fun to watch them grow as tiny scientists studying the world around them.
Ethical Practice
If you love place-based herbalism and want to practice it, here are just a few of the best practices you can keep in mind in order to be safe and respectful for you, your loved ones, the community, and the environment:
- Honor your Harvest: Acknowledge the land stewardship practices of local people and pay respect to the environment. Practice mindful foraging by leaving areas undisturbed and seeking permission from both humans and plants before harvesting. As a general rule, I do not recommend wild-crafting when traveling without local connections and explicit permission, as it could be very disrespectful or have significant detrimental effects on local ecosystems that you are not familiar with. Here is more about Ethical Wild-Crafting in your local area.
- Get Educated: Stay informed about endangered and at-risk plant species in your region through educational programs and organizations. Contribute to conservation efforts by spreading awareness and participating in conferences and workshops. United Plant Savers is a great place to start.
- Find Ways to Give Back: Engage in rewilding efforts, transplant endangered plants, or support habitat restoration projects to contribute to biodiversity conservation. Support local indigenous-led plant restoration and land rematriation projects (such as Bomazeen Land Trust in my area). Explore your ancestral rituals of reciprocity and gratitude.
- Be the Educator: Share your knowledge and enthusiasm for respectful, place-based herbalism within your community to inspire collective action. Engage in collaborative projects, planting initiatives, and educational outreach to promote environmental stewardship.
For more information on Puerto Rican medicinal plants, check out the many deeply rooted, amazing Herbalists working in Puerto Rico and as part of diaspora. Three I recommend are:
- Maria Benedetti’s BotaniCultura https://www.botanicultura.com/
- Marcos Cappa www.botanicacriolla.com
- Brandon Ruiz’s Caribbean Herbalism offerings https://www.instagram.com/yucayekefarms/
For more (MANY more) pictures of plants, trees, and wildlife, dig into my Instagram or Tiktok where I’ve posted a ton of plant adventures.
All the information shared here is solely informative. Remember to always consult with a qualified professional before taking or using any home natural remedy.