Common Name:

General Information

Clidemia setosa is a sparsely-branched, perennial plant with more or less woody stems. It can grow up to 100cm tall, sometimes much lower. The abundant hairs of the stems are almost spine-like, making the plant a disagreeable one to handle[].
The plant has a high reputation in Guatemala as a treatment of sterility in women[].

Known Hazards

The abundant hairs of the stems are almost spine-like, making the plant a disagreeable one to handle[].

Botanical References

,

Range

C. America - Panama to southern Mexico.

Habitat

Usually in dense, wet or moist, mixed forest at elevatios up to 1,600 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant has a pair of bulb-like formicaria at the base of the leaf blades. These "formicaria," so far as we know, are not inhabited by ants, but they look as if they should be, and similar organs in other South American plants of this family are occupied by ants that bite severely[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

This species is a fine example of the doctrine of signatures in the practice of domestic medicine, since a decoction of the leaves, sometimes prepared almost ceremonially, is a favorite remedy for sterility in women in parts of Central America. Dieseldorff remarks that its effect is doubtful, but in Guatemala perhaps as much faith is placed in it as in a pilgrimage to Esquipulas[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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