Abuta

Abuta
Abuta selloana: Illustrations A-F from A. Engler, Das Pflanzenreich 46
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Menispermaceae
Genus:	Abuta Aubl.
Species
See text

Abuta is a genus in the flowering plant family Menispermaceae, with thirty-four species, native to tropical Central and South America.

Description

The genus consists of dioecious climbers or rarely erect trees or shrubs (Abuta grandifolia) with simple leaves. The flowers are in composed panicles. Male flowers have six sepals, in two whorls, no petals , six stamens (which are connate or free, and introrse), and anthers with a longitudinal or transverse dehiscence. Female flowers have sepals and petals as in the male, six staminodes, three carpels, ovoid drupes, a woody endocarp, a septiform condyle, a ruminate endosperm, a curved embryo, and appressed cotyledons. It inhabits tropical rain forests.

Taxonomy

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

Uses

Abuta is one of the components of the arrow poison curare of some indigenous tribes of South America (especially Abuta imene from Colombia). Roots of Abuta rufescens are used as medicinal in diseases of the urogenital tract, but it is dangerous.

Species

Species accepted by Plants of the World Online as of March 2024:

References

Further reading

• Diels, L. (1910). "Menispermaceae". In Engler, A. (ed.). Das Pflanzenreich (in Latin and German). Vol. IV.94 (Fasc. 46). Leipzig (Germany): Engelmann. [monographic revision of the genus]
• Barneby, R. C.; Krukoff, B. A. (1971). "Supplementary Notes on American Menispermaceae VIII. A Generic Survey of the American Triclisieae and Anomospermeae". Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden. 22 (2): 30–52. ISBN 978-0-89327-075-9.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link) [taxonomic partial revision]
• Kessler, P. J. A. (1993). Kubitzki, K. (ed.). Flowering plants, dicotyledons : magnoliid, hamamelid, and caryophyllid families. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. 2. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 3-540-55509-9. LCCN 93019190.

External links

• Images of Abuta panamensis from La Flora Digital de La Selva, Costa Rica