Abuta


Abuta is a genus in the flowering plant family Menispermaceae, of about 32 species, native to tropical Central and South America.

Description

It consists in dioecious climbers or rarely erect trees or shrubs 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.
It is in the tropical rain forest.

Taxonomy

Abuta is usually classified in the tribe Anomospermeae Miers, together with Anomospermum Miers.

Synonymy

The genera Anelasma Miers and Batschia Thunb. have been brought into synonymy with Abuta.

Uses

Abuta is one of the components of the arrow poison curare of some indigenous tribes of South America. Roots of Abuta rufescens are used as medicinal in diseases of the urogenital tract, but it is dangerous.
The dichloromethane extracts of Abuta grandifolia and Minthostachys setosa demonstrated high larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, the most active being the dichloromethane extract of A. grandifolia.

Selected species