The plant and this use are well known among all of the Indians 
of the area. The Makuna call it 00-too-mee-ko; the Mirana, 
do-ro-hé; the Tanimuka, ya-poo-moo-ho; the Yukuna, ka-sa-ra 
(‘‘tree of the beetle’’). 
It is probably significant that, according to Pinkley, the Kofan 
Indians consider the aril edible. 
Mayna toxica R. E. Schultes in Rhodora 65 (1973) 16, t. 10. 
COLOMBIA: Comisaria del Amazonas, Rio Caqueta, La Pedrera and vicinity, 
Quebrada Tonina. On high land. ‘‘Small tree, 20 feet tall. Flowers white.” 
October 5, 1952. R. E. Schultes et 1. Cabrera 17731. 
The Mirana Indians of the region of La Pedrera assert that the 
ground up bark and seeds of this species are given to dogs in food 
as a poison. The same use has previously been reported 
(Schultes in Rhodora, loc. cit.) from other Indian tribes living in 
the Colombia Vaupés. At that time, it was indicated that: *“The 
fact that at least two species — Mayna muricida R. E. Schultes 
and M. toxica — are similarly employed by Indians for their 
toxic properties and in far-separated parts of the Colombian 
Amazonia suggests that an investigation into the chemical con- 
stituents of this genus might be of interest.”’ 
VIOLACEAE 
Corynostylis volubilis L. B. Smith et Fernandez in Caldasia 6 
(1954) 143. 
COLOMBIA: Comisaria del Amazonas-Vaupés, Rio Apaporis, Randal 
Yayacopi (La Playa) and vicinity. Alt. about 800 ft. ‘Flowers white. Vine.”’ 
August 18, 1952. R. E. Schultes et 1. Cabrera 16972. 
Comisaria del Vaupés, Rio Piraparana, Cano Oo-moo-na. September 3, 
1952. R. E. Schultes et 1. Cabrera 17155, 17158. 
A tea made by boiling the bark of Corynostylis volubilis for 
three hours is taken over a period of three days to expel intesti- 
nal parasites. That this plant has potent physiologically active 
principles which go beyond the expulsion of intestinal parasites 
is evidenced by the peculiar behavior which I have seen of men 
taking this tea as a cure: they are, for two or three days, nearly 
sleepless; they are nervous and irritable during the treatments; 
they occasionally are subject to violent vomiting. The medicine 
is employed especially amongst the Makuna Indians. This use of 
bzz 
