Menispermaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Abuta grandifolia

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant is poisonous and is an ingredient of the famous S. American toxin 'curare'[ 461 Title Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil Publication Author Correa M.P. Publisher Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro Year 1926 ISBN Description A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants. ].

Botanical Description

Abuta grandifolia varies in habit according to habitat - in a sunny position it is likely to form a shrub or small tree with a spreading crown and a straight bole uo to 4 metres high and 12cm in diameter; it can grow up to 9 metres tall. In a more shady position the plant will often become a climbing shrub with vigorous, woody stems that can climb quite high into the forest canopy[ 422 Title Fruits of the Guianan Flora Publication Author van Roosmalen. M.G.M. Publisher Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands. Year 1985 ISBN 90-9000988-4 Description Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat. , 434 Title Flora of Peru Publication Author Macbride. J.F. Publisher Field Museum of Natural History Year 1936 ISBN Description An excellent attempt at a Flora of Peru, though it is clear that many of the plants were imperfectly known at that time and so information on them was sketchy. Available for download from the Internet. , 453 Title Woods of Northeastern Peru Publication Author Williams L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Field Museum Press; Chicago. Year 1936 ISBN Description Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is often gathered from the wild for local use as a medicine and also for its edible fruit. The tree is often allowed to remain in cleared pasture in order to provide shade and also for its fruit[ 412 Title Illustrated Guide to the Trees of Peru Publication Author Pennington, T.D.; Reynel, C. & Daza, A. Publisher David Hunt; Sherbourne, England. Year 2004 ISBN 0 9538134 3 6 Description A very terse guide to the trees of Peru, managing to give basic guides to a large number of genera, with more detail on a few species in each genus. ]. Abuta grandifolia has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeNorthern S. America - Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

HabitatRain forests, especially secondary forests[ 422 Title Fruits of the Guianan Flora Publication Author van Roosmalen. M.G.M. Publisher Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands. Year 1985 ISBN 90-9000988-4 Description Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat. ]. Lowland rainforest at elevations below 500 metres[ 412 Title Illustrated Guide to the Trees of Peru Publication Author Pennington, T.D.; Reynel, C. & Daza, A. Publisher David Hunt; Sherbourne, England. Year 2004 ISBN 0 9538134 3 6 Description A very terse guide to the trees of Peru, managing to give basic guides to a large number of genera, with more detail on a few species in each genus. ]. Dry loam in old clearings or along the margins of forests[ 453 Title Woods of Northeastern Peru Publication Author Williams L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Field Museum Press; Chicago. Year 1936 ISBN Description Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet. ].