PERU: Departamento de Loreto, Provincia Maynas, Rio Ampiyacu, Puca 
Urquillo and vicinity. *‘Tree 65 m. tall with large buttresses, forming inter- 
woven props at base. Growing in upland primary forest. Latex white, sparse. 
Fruit green. Seeds brilliant, smooth, red-brown.”’ April 22, 1977. T. Plow- 
man, R.E. Schultes et O. Tovar 6951. — Pebas and vicinity. Trail north from 
town. ‘Fruits and seeds found on ground under large buttressed tree in 
chacara.”’ April 10, 1977. T. Plowman, R. E. Schultes et O. Tovar (Alpha- 
Helix Amazon Expedition 1976-1977, Phase VII) 6735. 
Notwithstanding intensive study of Micrandra (including 
Cunuria) over a large area of the northwest Amazon, I have not 
encountered a medicinal use of the plant, until recent research 
amongst the Witotos and Boras now residing in the vicinity of 
Pebas in Amazonian Peru. Both Indian tribes employ the 
sparse latex of this tree, which they recognize as “‘cousin”’ of 
Hevea, known by the Peruvian name of conoco, for treating 
sores of the gums and mucous membranes of the mouth and to 
staunch the flow of blood following severance of the umbilical 
cord. Upon questioning, the Indians assured me that not any 
latex—i.e., latex from Hevea (which is locally much more 
abundant) and from the numerous moraceous trees of the area 
— would serve the same purpose, since they were more caustic 
and failed to effect rapid congealment of the blood. 
STERCULIACEAE 
Theobroma grandiflorum ( Wil/d.) K. Schumann in Martius, FI. 
Bras. 12, pt. 3 (1886) 76, t. 17. 
COLOMBIA: Comisaria del Amazonas, Rio Amazonas, near mouth of Rio 
Loretoyacu and Puerto Narino. *‘Tree. Cultivated. Leaves pale beneath. 
Staminodes deep red. Alkaloid-negative.”’ September 13-15, 1966. R.E. 
Schultes, R.P. Raffauf et D. Soejarto 24165. 
PERU: Departamento de Loreto, Rio Amazonas, Iquitos. Fruit purchased 
in market. May 7, 1977. T. Plowman, R.E. Schultes et O. Tovar 7301. 
During Phase VII of the Alpha-Helix Amazon Expedition 
1976-1977, an examination of the seeds of Theobroma grandi- 
florum — the cupuassu of Brazil — was carried out. Gas 
chromatography - mass spectrometry indicated a single com- 
pound which was identified as tetramethyluric acid, probably a 
new alkaloid. 
In view of this analysis, it is of interest that a spot test with 
Dragendorff reagent on Theobroma grandiflorum leaves 
186 
