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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.
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