locality. “Lengua de vaca.” February 20, 1963. P. J. Chindoy B. 97.— Same 
locality. “Garden and waste places, very frequent. One or two most persistent, 
most frequent weeds in valley.” April 1, 1963. M. L. Bristol 704.— Same 
locality. “Lengua de vaca. Open pasture; infrequent.” May 8, 1963. M. L. 
Bristol 969. 
The Kamsa Indians of Sibundoy employ the roots of Rumex 
obtusifolius in decoction as a strong laxative. 
The roots contain 1,8-dihydroxynaphthaline (Hesse, O.: Ann. 
Chem. 305 (1896) 291). 
M YRICACEAE 
Myrica parvifolia Bentham, Pl. Hartw. (1846) 251. 
CoLomsBIA: Departamento de Cundinamarca, Bogota, Cerro above La Cita. 
May 10, 1946. R. E. Schultes 7111. 
Bundles of the leaves and stems of this shrub are burned in huts 
of people living in the cool, humid highlands around Bogota for 
the aromatic smoke which is believed to relieve congestion 
caused by the frequent pulmonary troubles of these people. This 
folk medicine use may perhaps be based on the presence of 
essential oils in the plant. 
Leucoanthocyanines have been detected in one species of 
Myrica (Gibbs: Chemotaxonomy of Flowering Plants 3 (1974) 
1396). 
MENISPERMACAE 
Abuta splendida Krukoffet Moldenke in Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 68 
(1941) 241. 
CoLomsBiaA: Comisaria del Amazonas, Rio Miritiparana, affluent of Rio 
Guacaya, uppermost reaches. May 21, 1952. R. E. Schultes et I. Cabrera 16569. 
The bark of the stem of this liana is the principal component of 
one of the arrow poisons prepared by the Yukuna Indians. The 
name of the plant in Yukuna is wy-ya-pee ’-ta, in Tanimuka nee- 
koo '-pa-roo. 
Curarea tecunarum Barneby et Krukoff in Mem. N. Y. Bot. 
Gard. 22 (2) (1971) 12. 
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