Piper darienense C.DC.

Dear Dr« Xuncker,
I a» a senior dental student who has been working at Missouri Botanical Garden
for the past five years* last summer I had the privledge of accompanying Dr* Janes
A* Duke on a collecting trip to Darien, Panama* While there, we collected a Piper,
the fruit of which the Indians used for dental pain* Naturally I became very
interested and tried chewing on this fruit, which made my lips and tongue numb for
some twenty to thirty minutes* This effect has captured ray interest and as a senior
research project I am trying to learn as much about this plant and its effects as I
possibly am able*
Dr* Woodson suggested that I send a specimen of the plant to you for determination
and to ask if you know if any work has been done to determine what causes the
anesthetic effect and where I might find reference to this work*
I am sure that Dr* Duke will request further assistance from you in determining
some of the other specimens, but I am taking the liberty to send this one particular
specimen in hopes that you will find time to help me with my project*
Thank you for any effort you make in ray behalf*
Sincerely
tack L* Wasinger
Herbarium Assistant
Missouri Botanical Garden
“SHAW’S GARDEN"
2315 TOWER GROVE AVENUE
ST. LOUIS 10, MISSOURI
October 13, 2962
Dr* T* G* Xuncker
Director of the Herbarium
DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana
TRUMAN g. yuncker herbarium
OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY (OPU)
PURCHASED BY NY IN 1987	coix. ^ & Wasinger
Herbarium of DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana
Piper dariense C.DC.
PANAMA: Darien. Summer 1962.
04128466