Bignonia hyacinthina
(Standl.) L.G.Lohmann
Bignoniaceae
Mussatia hyacinthina (Standl.) Sandwith
Tynanthus hyacinthinus Standl.
Common Name: Chamairu
General Information
Bignonia hyacinthina is a vigorous climbing shrub with stems that can be up to 18 metres long and 18cm in diameter[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for its bark, which is used medicinally and as a euphoric often in combination with coca leaf. The bark is sold in local markets in Bolivia and Peru.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
S. America - Bolivia, Peru, northern Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana; C. America - Panama to Guatemala and central Mexico
Habitat
Moist or wet forest; at elevations up to 300 metres[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].Semideciduous to evergreen lowland forest.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 15.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The stem bark is added to coca leaf (Erythroxylum spp.) in order to sweeten the flavour[
1438- Title
- Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
]. It is used as a masticatory with coca and is also chewed on its own, being said to have euphoric and medicinal benefits[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
The bark is often used as an admixture with coca (Erythroxylum spp.), being said to improve the actions of the coca leaf and to give a sense of well-being and tranquility. When chewed with coca, it serves to sweeten the leaf and make it more digestive[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
A decoction of the bark is drunk as a treatment for diarrhoea[
2100- Title
- Medicinal plants uses of the Tacana, an Amazonian Bolivian ethnic group
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology 70 (2000) 87-109
- Author
- Bourdy G. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. When drunk as an infusion, the bark eliminates fatigue from the body. It is known as a stomachic and tonic and is much employed for treating colic and flatulence[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Coca leaf chewed with the bark is applied in a cataplasm to treat wounds, bruises, blows and sprains[
2100- Title
- Medicinal plants uses of the Tacana, an Amazonian Bolivian ethnic group
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology 70 (2000) 87-109
- Author
- Bourdy G. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The ash (of the bark?) is used to dust wounds which then heal easily[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The dried bark is powdered, then mixed with urine and saliva, and applied topically to wounds[
2100- Title
- Medicinal plants uses of the Tacana, an Amazonian Bolivian ethnic group
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology 70 (2000) 87-109
- Author
- Bourdy G. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
An infusion of the leaves is drunk in the treatment of stomach ache and abdominal pain[
2100- Title
- Medicinal plants uses of the Tacana, an Amazonian Bolivian ethnic group
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology 70 (2000) 87-109
- Author
- Bourdy G. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The stems are used in basket making[
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
-
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
