Chochos, easily recognizable for their bright orange and red colors, are leguminosas found on the jungle floors in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. They come from the family of trees Ormosia spp, and there are many different species of chochos.

Chochos aren’t edible – by humans, animals or birds. They do, however, provide an important source of nitrogen in soils in the jungle. Each tree produces hundreds of thousands of seeds that fall to the ground.

Working with chochos isn’t new. The Amazonian Indians use chochos for their own decorative purposes – necklaces, bracelets, and ceremonial pieces. In Peru, chochos are considered lucky. They are given to newlyweds so the couple will be happy, prosperous, and fertile.

The artist who creates these necklaces, bracelets, and earrings out of chochos lives in a protected zone in the Coffee Region of Colombia, South America. In this area, there is no logging or paper manufacturing plants. She literally collects the chochos from her own backyard. Currently, she is planting and propagating more Ormosia spp in her farm. This will enrich her farm’s soil as well as give her more material with which to work.

 

Ana Maria’s designs have been inspired by her natural surroundings – jungle floors colored like a Seurat painting – dots of red and orange in an impressionist world.