Botany
A climbing shrub, 5 to 6 meters high. The younger and lower surfaces of the leaves are hairy, with rusty short hairs. Leaves are borne on very short stalks, oblong-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 8 to 16 cm long, with pointed tips and rounded or heart-shaped bases. Flowers are extra-axillary, solitary, two or three in depauperate cymes, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter. The fruit is fleshy and red when mature.

Chemical constituents
• The bark contains an alkaloid. The active principle is parasympathetic of the atropine group with activity similar to artabotrine of Marañon.
• Study yielded an oil rich in sesquiterpenes in which the principal component was alpha-humulene (50%). Also, benzyl benzoate (5%), (Source)

Distribution
In thickets in low and medium altitudes.

Parts utilized
Roots

Folkloric uses
Alcoholic tincture of the roots used as an ecbolic (promoting labor by increasing uterine contractions).

Availability
Wild-crafted.