Cordobán

Cordobán, is a principal plant used in Omiero, baños and many other applications.

Scientific Name: Rhoeo spathacea
Spanish Name: Cordobán
English Name: Moses-in-the-Cradle, Boat Lily, Oyster plant

Care: Can grow in full sun or full shade, water regularly. Note: leaves can produce a irritating secretion

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Algodon

Algodon, Cotton in English (leaves) is widely used in Omiero, Banos and many other applications

These are three Cotton seedlings, will update photo with growth

Update: 7/10/12

Two Cotton Bulbs

42 Seeds from those two bulbs

Pure Cotton

Scientific Name: Many species of Cotton (Gossypium barbadense)
Spanish Name: Algodon
English Name: Cotton
Lukumi Name: Oun

Care: Full sun, regular watering

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Fruta Bomba

Fruta Bomba, Papaya in English, is a tropical fruit bearing tree. Fruta Bomba is used for Rogacion and Addimu.

Scientific Name: Carica papaya

Spanish Name: Fruta Bomba, Papaya

English Name: Papaya 

Care: Full sun, moist soil

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Atiponla

Atiponla

Scientific Name: Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia Diffusa

Spanish Name:  Toston

English Name: Hog Weed, Red Spiderling

Lucumi Name: Ewé Atiponla

Orisha: Eleguá, Ọbàtálá, Chàngó

Odù: Iwori Ojuani, Odi Meji, Odi Irosun, Iroson Ka, Irosun Trupon, Okana Irosun, Osa Fun, Ofun Nalbe

Uses: Another principal plant used in Omiero, Inche Osaín, Ebomisi, Carga and Paraldo.

Medicinal: Infusion of this plant can be used to treat stomach pain. 

A transplanted Atiponla (not very easy to do).

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Seso Vegetal

Seso Vegetal, Akee in English is a tropical evergreen tree native to west Africa know for its brain shapped fruit. Seso Vegetal is used for Ebo Leri (rogation), Ebo, Inche Osain and many other applications.

Scientific Name: Blighia sapida
Spanish Name: Seso Vegetal
English Name: Akee, Akee Apple, Vegetable brain

Care: full sun, regular watering. Note: only certain portions of the fruit are edible others are poisonous. 

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Helechos

Helechos, or Fern in English is another principal plant used in the creation of Omiero.

Scientific Name: Depends on the Fern and application
Spanish Name: Helechos
English Name: Fern

Care: Indirect Sunlight, Moist soil conditions, if potted frequent watering. 

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Higo

Higo, or Fig in English is another common plant/tree used for Banos and Ebo.

Scientific Name: Species is too wide spread, many variations
Spanish Name: Higo
English Name: Fig Tree
Lukumi Name: Opoto

Care: Full Sun, regular watering, regular fertilization if potted or soil lacks basic nutrients. 

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Artemisa

Artemisa, a very common plant utilized for baños and spiritual cleanings. This plant grows in almost all warm climates from Miami to Main.

Scientific Name: Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Spanish Name: Artemisa
English Name: Wormwood, Ragweed


Care: Its a weed, need I say more. If you wish to transplant, take care not to damage the roots this will cause this plant to die very quickly. Also protect the root ball by taking as much dirt with it as possible when removing it from the ground.

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Pata De Gallina

Pata De Gallina, Everyone has seen this little weed at some point. It grows just about everywhere from Miami to Main. This weed is utilized for Inche Osain's rare baños and Ebo.

 

Scientific Name:Dactyloctenium aegyptium

Spanish Name: Pata De Gallina
English Name: Egyptian crowfoot grass, hens foot 

Lukumi Name: Anatikekere

Care: Its a weed, need I say more. It may die if you attempt to transplant it.  

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Marpacifico

Marpacifico, a beautiful plant used within the Lukumi tradition. Marpacifico is used for everything from baños, Paraldos, Rompimientos, house cleanings, Eggun rituals and Ebo. Marpacifico is an evergreen shrub that will bloom in Spring, Summer and Fall while keeping green in the winter. I personally have this plant growing in front of my home because of its beauty.

Scientific Name:Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Spanish Name: Marpacifico
English Name: Chinese Hibiscus or Rose of China
Lukumi: Atori

Care: Direct Sunlight and regular watering. Light fertilization monthly....

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Malanga

Malanga, a widely used plant within the realm of Lukumi.

Scientific Name: Colocasia esculentum
Spanish Name: Malanga
English Name: Elephant Ear

Care: Malanga does well growing wild, as a house plant or outdoor plant full to partial shade is recommended. If in full sun, water regularly.

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Romerillo

Romerillo, can be used in specific omieros as well as Baños and Ebo.

Scientific Name: Bidens pilosa
Spanish Name: Romerillo
English Name: Spanish Needle, broom stick, Black Jack
Lukumi Name: Abere, Ñoño (Wild Romerillo)


Care: this plant is considered a weed, It requires no care. It will grow year after year.

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The Avocado experiment #1

Okay so we just finished enjoying a nice ripe Avocado, yum. Being the plant freak that I am, I've decided to see if I can get the Avocado pit to sprout. There are two different ways to sprout an Avocado; first method involves suspending the Avocado pit over a glass of water using tooth picks. Second method, the old fashioned way, is to sow the seed directly in dirt leaving just the top portion of the pit exposed. Being that I have a ton of potting soil in garage I've decided to go with the old fashion method in conjunction with my secret weapon. Hopefully in a few weeks I should see some results....

DAY 1

DAY 10

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Vinagrillo

Vinagrillo, an uncommon herb used within Lukumi. Vinagrillo can be used in baños, Inche Osain's and ingested as Tea. 

Scientific Name: Oxalis violacea

Spanish Name: Vinagrillo

English Name: violet woodsorrel

Lukumi: Orawe 

Care: This plant grows on its own and can be found growing in cracks in the sidewalk, growing against buildings, in other flower pots and sunny lawns. No care necessary, leave it where you find it, transplanting causes the plant to die.  

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Croto

Croto, is a principle plant used in making an Omiero.

Scientific Name: Codiaeum variegatum
Spanish Name: Croto
English Name: Garden Croton

Care: Croto is an Evergreen plant that survives in most all climates. Regular watering with full sunlight will suffice. Makes a great house plant, thrives outdoors.

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Peonia

Peonia, is a principal plant in Omiero as well as Ebo.

Scientific Name: Abrus precatorius
Spanish Name: Peonia
English Name: Crabs eye, Rosary Pea
Lukumi: Iweriyeye

Care: Peonia is a very simple plant to care for, with regular watering and partial shade to direct sunlight will thrive. Peonia is a climber so it will do well against a fence, a tree or adjacent another plant .

Note: Peonia seeds (half red half black) are extremely poisonous, can be fatal if ingested.

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Higuereta

Higuereta or Castor bean plant is a tropical plant which can be found growing in warmer southern states throughout the US. The plant is indigiounis to the mediteranian and eastern Africa and is typicaly grown as an ornamental piece. This plant is used in the Omiero as well.

Scientific Name: Ricinus communis 
Spanish Name: Higuereta 
English Name: Castor Bean Plant, Castor Oil Plant

Care: The Castor bean plant (which is not a true bean) is flowering plant which produces pinkish red fruit, which turn sgreen when ripe. Once ripened and dry the seeds literally shoot out of the pods to germinate nearby. The plant does well in dry well drained soil but needs regular watering. Note: the fruit and seeds of this plant produce a toxin that in a large enough dose can be lethal. Take care when handling this plants seeds.

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Peregun

Peregun, many people are confused by the true Peregun plant used in Lukumi. Below is a picture of a true Peregun plant growing in my back yard. Notice the new growth on the top middle portion of the plant that is the part we use in Omiero. The Peregun plant (Yucca in English or Bayonetta in Spanish) has 40+ pieces and or variations which contribute to the confusion.

Scientific Name: Yucca
English Name: Yucca plant, bayonet plant
Spanish: Bayonetta
Lukumi: Peregun

Care: Peregun is a desert plant, hence it is very drought tolerant. Regular watering will suffice.This plant does well in full sunlight but can survive in partial shade. Great houseplant, thrives outdoors.

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Itamo Real

My second green friend I found sticking out of my teachers Oggun. A zigzag stemed plant latter introduced to me as Itamo Real. I soon came to realize my teacher had this plant growing in abundance around his home so I asked my teacher if I could have a piece. He kindly provided me with a cutting of both the male and female aspects of this plant. I was previously unaware there even was a difference. I learned something new...and my fascination with plants continued to grow, no pun intended. 

Scientific Name: Pedilanthus tithymaloides
Spanish Name: Itamo Real
English Name: Devil's Backbone, Jacob's Ladder

Care: This plant needs consistently moist soil to thrive, not wet or water logged which will induce disease. Drought conditions will cause this plant to wither and die back. Direct sun exposure will cause the stems and leaves to burn, recommend  partial sun or at least four hours of sun and four hours of shade. Decent house plant, thrives outdoors. Slow growing.


Note: This plant when clipped or cut produces a white milky substance that is toxic. If ingested it will induce vomiting.

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How my green thumb came to be

In 2008 I lived in an apartment complex called Bala Sands on the west side of Orlando. Being new to the area I on occasion I would venture out and explore my surroundings. Being in a new area I needed to make sure I could find a few places; a grocery store, a gas station, a Chinese food spot, hardware store, river and cemetery. So in checking out the  local cemetery, BTW the best I've ever been to, I found it was surrounded by acres of wilderness. I found myself wondering the woods and in doing so I was somehow awakened by my surroundings. The birds, the wild animals the foliage and the sounds of nature. I had never seen an owl up close before, I had never seen so many different birds so many different plants...etc. Walking through the woods I stumbled upon an abandoned house over looking an adjacent lake. The house was a 3 bedroom 2 bath single story home with wood floors and a fireplace, it was beautiful, quite and secluded. Definitely off the beaten path and hard to find. Whomever lived their had created a vast garden that surrounded the entire property. I had never seen so many different types of plants and trees however one plant amongst a sea of other plants stood out, a plant I was actually familiar with. A plant appropriately named "Siempre Viva" came home with me that day. My first plant which gave life to my love of plants not to mention birthing at least a hundred mini "Siempre Vivas". Three years later my wild plant has moved three times, birthed many children, graces at least two homes and has at the moment thirty plus friends. And so my garden begins....

Scientific Name: Kalanchoe pinnata
Spanish Name: Siempre Viva, Prodigiosa 
English Name: Life Plant
Lukumi Name: Ewe Odundun

Care: Easy to care for plant, requires regular watering, very drought tolerant however if left for too long without water leaves will begin to turn yellow. Can survive direct sunlight however frequent watering required. Recommend partial shade with regular watering. Great house plant, thrives outdoors. Fast growing...


Siempre Viva is used in many baños and Ebos. It is also a principal plant used in making Omiero.

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