Abuta

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Abuta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ranunculales Family: Menispermaceae Genus: Abuta Aubl.
Species
See text.

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.

Abuta acutifolia Abuta amara Abuta antioquiana Abuta aristeguietae Abuta barbata Abuta boliviana Abuta brevifolia Abuta brunnescens Abuta bullata Abuta candicans Abuta candollei Abuta chiapasensis Abuta chocoensis Abuta colombiana Abuta concolor Abuta convexa Abuta duckei Abuta dwyerana Abuta ecuadoriensis Abuta fluminum Abuta froesii Abuta grandifolia Abuta grisebachii Abuta guianensis Abuta heterophylla Abuta imene Abuta klugii Abuta limaciifolia Abuta longa Abuta macrocarpa

Abuta macrophylla Abuta manausensis Abuta mycetandra Abuta negroensis Abuta oblonga Abuta oblongifolia Abuta obovata Abuta pahni Abuta panamensis Abuta panurensis Abuta parvifolia Abuta platyphylla Abuta pullei Abuta racemosa Abuta rufescens [ type species of genus] Abuta sadwithiana Abuta scandens Abuta seemanni Abuta selloana Abuta solimoesensis Abuta soukupi Abuta spicata Abuta splendida Abuta steyermarkii Abuta tomentosa Abuta toxifera Abuta trinervis Abuta umbellata Abuta vaupesensis Abuta velutina

Abuta verruculosa Abuta wilson-brownei

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