Abuta
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Abuta is a genus in the family Menispermaceae, of about 32 species, native to tropical South America.
It consists in climbers or rarely erect trees (Abuta concolor) with simple leaves. Flowers in composed panicles. Male flowers: sepals 6, in 2 whorls, petals absent, stamens 6, ± connate or free, introrse, anthers with a longitudinal or transverse dehiscence. Female flowers: sepals and petals as in male, staminodes 6, carpels 3, drupes ovoid, endocarp woody, condyle septiform, endosperm ruminate, embryo curved, cotyledons appressed.
[edit] Uses
Abuta is one of the components of the arrow poison curare of some indigenous tribes of South America (especially Abuta imene from Colombia). Roots of Abuta rufescens are used as medicinal in diseases of the urinogenital tract, but it is dangerous.
[edit] Species
Source: Index Kewensis (at IPNI)
Note: this list includes synonyms.
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Abuta rufescens, white pareira, in Brazil is known as buta, abutua, abutinha, abutua-grande, butua, butinha, caapeba, parreira-brava, cipó-de-cobra, grão-de-galo.
[edit] References
- Barneby, R. C. & B. A. Krukoff (1971):Supplementary Notes on American Menispermaceae VIII. A Generic Survey of the American Triclisieae and Anomospermeae.Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 22(2):30-52. [taxonomic partial revision]
- Kessler, P.J.A. in Kubitzki, K.(Editor) (1993): The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Vol.2: K. Kubitzki, J. G. Rohwer & V. Bittrich. Springer-Verlag Berlin ISBN 3-540-55509-9