If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Tachia guianensis

Aubl.

Gentianaceae

+ Synonyms

Tachia pavonii Gilg

Common Name:

Tachia guianensis

General Information

Tachia guianensis is a slender-stemmed shrub or small tree growing up to 4 metres tall[
631
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 56
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1975
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany, including a treatment of the genus Tachia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The stems are usually hollow and subligneous[
631
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 56
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1975
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany, including a treatment of the genus Tachia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
A very bitter medicinal herb, it is highly valued amongst native peoples and commonly harvested from the wild for local use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

434
Title
Flora of Peru
Publication
 
Author
Macbride. J.F.
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent attempt at a Flora of Peru, though it is clear that many of the plants were imperfectly known at that time and so information on them was sketchy. Available for download from the Internet.
,
631
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 56
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1975
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany, including a treatment of the genus Tachia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana.

Habitat

Rainforests at low to middle elevations[
631
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 56
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1975
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany, including a treatment of the genus Tachia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *  *
HabitShrub
Height3.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Tachia guianensis is a very bitter herb that is highly valued by indiginous peoples for its beneficial effect upon the digestive system, and as a treatment against fevers. All parts of the plant can be used, though the root is most commonly employed.
The very bitter root is antiinflammatory, antipyretic, appetizer, cholagogue, febrifuge, stomachic and tonic[
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
,
526
Title
An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences.
Publication
 
Author
Gould G.M.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; Philadelphia.
Year
1907
ISBN
 
Description
A major work at the time, though very dated now. Contains quite a lot of information about medicinal plant uses.
,
528
Title
Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
Publication
 
Author
Fonseca E. T. De
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. A powerful and very effective herb, it is used to treat intermittent fevers[
528
Title
Indicador de Madeiras e Plantas Uteis do Brasil.
Publication
 
Author
Fonseca E. T. De
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Officinas graphicas Villas-Boas & Co.; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details of some of the uses of Brazilian plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is also used like gentian to improve the appetite, strengthen the digestive system, relieve abdominal pain and rid the digestive tract of parasites[
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
,
518
Title
Plants used traditionally to treat malaria in Brazil.
Publication
 
Author
Botsaris A.S.
Publisher
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details of plants that have traditionally been used to treat malaria.
,
526
Title
An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences.
Publication
 
Author
Gould G.M.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; Philadelphia.
Year
1907
ISBN
 
Description
A major work at the time, though very dated now. Contains quite a lot of information about medicinal plant uses.
]. It is said that there is no better remedy for 'sore stomach' than a tea made from the root[
558
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 30
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University, Boston.
Year
1984 - 1986
ISBN
 
Description
A series of botanical articles. It contains an article on the medicinal and toxic plants of the northwest Amazon. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The powdered leaves are to the coca preparation 'to make it taste better'[
558
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 30
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University, Boston.
Year
1984 - 1986
ISBN
 
Description
A series of botanical articles. It contains an article on the medicinal and toxic plants of the northwest Amazon. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tachia%20guianensis>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.