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.

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.