heepeena. These names all suggest that the plant may serve as a 
substitute for Erythroxylon Coca var. Ipadu or that it may be one 
of the additives used with coca leaves in the region. 
LOGANIACEAE 
Strychnos Erichsonii R. Schomburgk Fauna FI. Brit. Guian. 
(1848) 1082; in Martius, Fl. Bras. 6, pt. 1 (1868) 274, t. 82, fig. 2. 
COLOMBIA: Comisaria del Vaupés, Rio Vaupés, at mouth of Rio Kubiyu. 
“Flowers white, fragrant. Fruit orange. Extensive vine.” September 27—October 
30, 1966. R. E. Schultes, R. F. Raffauf et D. Soejarto 24248. 
The Indians of the lower Rio Vaupés formerly employed this 
species in preparing an arrow poison. With a Dragendorff test, 
the leaves were strongly positive, the bark doubtfully so. 
POTALIACEAE 
Potalia Amara Aub/et, Hist. Pl. Guian. Frang. | (1775) 394, t. 
ISE, 
BRAZIL: Estado do Amazonas, Rio Negro basin. Rio Uneiuxi. Maku Indian 
village 300 km above mouth. “Treelet, 3 m tall. Root bark scraped, mixed with 
Menispermaceae /5560 as ingredient for Maku snake-bite cure. Awuibiden 
(awa = “snake”).” October 23, 1971. G. T. Prance et al. 15559. 
COLoMBIA: Comisaria del Vaupés, Rio Vaupés, Cerro Mitu. “Flowers yellow. 
Used against snake bite. Five feet tall. Martiguaje.”” August 20, 1960. R. E. 
Schultes 23708. 
Peru: Departamento Loreto, Provincia Mayna. Rio Yaguasyacu, Brillo 
Nuevo. “Shrub 2 min front; fresh leaves chopped with water taken internally for 
snake bite or against any poisonous animal (vaya, insulo). Calms the body and 
eliminates pain.” April 12, 1977. 7. Plowman, R. E. Schultes et O. Tovar 6803 
(Alpha Helix Amazon Expedition 1976-1977; Phase VII). 
Potalia Amara, perhaps because of a “Doctrine of Signature” 
effect, is widely valued as a snake bite remedy in South America. 
The extent of this esteem is indicated by the reports connected 
with the material cited above—reports on four herbarium 
specimens from four different Amazonian countries. The use of 
this plant to combat snake bite could easily by greatly expanded 
by citing scores of reports in the literature. 
Notwithstanding the important place held in folk medicine of 
tropical America by Potalia Amara, little is known of the active 
constituents of the plant. 
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