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Useful Tropical Plants

Petrea bracteata

Steud.

Verbenaceae

+ Synonyms

Petrea candolleana Schauer

Petrea martiana Schauer

Petrea schomburgkiana Schauer

Common Name:

Petrea bracteata
Drawing of the flowering branch (Fig I only)
Photograph by: Martius, C., Eichler, A.G., Urban, I., Flora Brasiliensis, vol. 9: fasicle 10, t. 46 (1851)
Creative Commons License

General Information

Petrea bracteata is a deciduous, climbing shrub, supporting itself by twining around other plants.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of fuel.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Riverine and secondary forests formations, roadsides; climbing to just below the canopy in forests[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Climber
Height10.00 m
PollinatorsBees
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves are soaked in water until the liquid is black, and this is then applied to snakebites[
954
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 81
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
0026-6493
Description
A botanical journal with various articles, including a revision of the genus Petrea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Ash from the burned leaves is rubbed on the legs to make them stronger[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

A decoction of the bark is used to cure an illness of Surinam Tirio children, which is believed caused by the act of killing an armadillo by the child's father[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

Other Uses

The leaves have a texture somewhat like sandpaper. They are used to clean out guns[
954
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 81
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
0026-6493
Description
A botanical journal with various articles, including a revision of the genus Petrea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The wood is poorly resistant to decay and without any commercial value[
954
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 81
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
0026-6493
Description
A botanical journal with various articles, including a revision of the genus Petrea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The wood is very hard to cut when dry and seems to be good as firewood, burning fast, without much smoke[
954
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 81
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
0026-6493
Description
A botanical journal with various articles, including a revision of the genus Petrea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Petrea+bracteata>

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