Pito

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Panama(Cuna), Guatemala

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Female, Narcotic, Piscicide, Poison

Science studied: ASH, CARBOHYDRATES, ERYSODINE, ERYSOTHIOPINE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Fabaceae

Scientific name: Erythrina berteroana

Common names: Pito, Cosquelite, Immortelle, Machete, Poró, machete, pito

POWO: 96559-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Panama(Cuna), Guatemala, Elsewhere.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Female
• Narcotic
• Piscicide
• Poison
• Dysmenorrhea
• Soporific

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Panama(Cuna)
• Guatemala
• Elsewhere

Documented cultural uses

• Female
• Narcotic
• Piscicide
• Poison
• Dysmenorrhea
• Soporific

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Female · Panama(Cuna) · "
• Narcotic · Guatemala · "
• Piscicide · Elsewhere · "
• Poison · Elsewhere · "
• Poison · Guatemala · "
• Dysmenorrhea · Elsewhere · "
• Soporific · Guatemala · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• A new antifungal prenylated flavanone from Erythrina berteroana. · 1987 source ↗
• An Antifungal Isoflavanone and a Structure Revision of a Flavanone from Erythrina berteroana. · 1989 source ↗
• Antifungal flavonoids from the leaf surfaces of Helichrysum nitens and from the stem bark of Erythrina berteroana. · 1988 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ASH
• CARBOHYDRATES
• ERYSODINE
• ERYSOTHIOPINE
• ALPHA-ERYTHROIDINE
• BETA-ERYTHROIDINE
• FIBER
• IRON
• NIACIN
• RIBOFLAVIN
• WATER
• CALCIUM
• ERYSOPINE
• ERYSOVINE
• FAT
• KILOCALORIES

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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