Appearance
The plant can be described as a shrub or a liana since it produces numerous woody shoots from the root and reaches a height of 2 to 3 m. The stems are almost bare and slightly scaly.The short-stalked leaves are opposite and trifoliate. The petiole is up to 3 centimeters long. The slightly leathery, short-stalked, egg-shaped to elliptical leaflets are almost glabrous, slightly scaly, entire and rounded, pointed to pointed with a pointed, rarely rounded to truncated base.
The middle leaflet is often replaced by a long, usually three-part, often falling tendril. The slightly glandular leaflets are 10 to 27 centimeters long. The leaflet stalks are up to 3 centimeters long. The pseudo stipules are inconspicuous.
Distribution
It is native to tropical South America, where it can be found growing wild in the tropical rainforests of Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and also in Costa Rica.
Uses
It is a plant remedy in the Amazon for pain and inflammation from arthritis and rheumatism, as well as colds, flu, fever, diarrhea and skin ulcers. The bark is used in ayahuasca preparations. Some capsule and leaf products are sold in stores in Brazil and Peru, and can be found as an ingredient in several other multi-herb formulas for cold, flu, and pain.References:
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