Abuta rufescens
Aubl.
Menispermaceae
Abuta convexa (Vell.) Diels
Abuta scandens Barrère
Abuta splendida Krukoff & Moldenke
Abuta wilson-brownei R.S.Cowan
Cocculus abuta (Lam.) Kostel.
Menispermum abuta L.
Common Name:
General Information
Abuta rufescens is a large climbing shrub with vigorous woody stems that can climb high into the trees in the forest[
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.
].
The plant is often gathered from the wild for local medicinal use. In the 1700's this plant was exported from French Guiana to Europe, under the name 'White Pareira Brava', for a preparation used to rid the liver, kidneys and bladder of obstructions such as mucus, grit and sand[
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
].
Abuta rufescens has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified.The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
The plant is poisonous and is an ingredient of the famous S. American toxin 'curare'[
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
,
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
,
1783- Title
- Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador
- Publication
-
- Author
- de la Torre, L., Navarrete H., P. Muriel M., Macía M.J. & Ba
- Publisher
- Herbario QCA de la Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas de la Pontific
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 978-9978-77-135-8
- Description
-
].
Botanical References
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.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.
Habitat
Upland rain forest and mountain savannah forest[
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
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of mainly lowland areas in the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to about 1,000 metres.
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The large root is acrid and bitter[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
]. It has a high reputation as a digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, stomachic and tonic[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
]. It is used in the treatment of liver complaints; bladder complaints; digestive complaints such as flatulence and colic; oedema and snake bites[
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
,
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
].
The plant is used as a substitute for Chondrodendron platyphyllum, and is often mixed with that species[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
].
A decoction of the stem bark is used to treat frequent micturition and bladder diseases[
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
].
The leaves are used to make a poultice that is applied to ulcers[
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
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
