Symphonia globulifera Linnaeus fiL, Suppl. (1781) 302. 



Colombia: Comisaria del Vaupes, Rio Piraparana, Cano Oo-mo6-na. Sep- 

 tember 3, 1952. Schuhes ei Cabrera 17 163. 



The Makuna Indians of the Rio Piraparana burn the bark and 

 apply the ashes to wounds. A similar use in the Rio Apaporis has 

 been reported for this species (Schultes: Bot. Mus. Leafl., Har- 

 vard Univ. 26(1978)234). 



POTALIACEAE 



Potalia Amara Aublet. Hist. PI. Guian. Fr. (1773) 394, t. 151. 



Peru: Depariamento de l.oreto, Provincia Maynes, Rio Yaguasyacu, affluent 

 of Rio Ampiyacu, Brillo Nue\o and vicinity. ''Shrub 2 m. tall in forest, name: 

 okajikahpuu{Bov'd).^' A[^v\\ 12, 1977. Plowman, Schultes et TrM'^r 6803 (Alpha 

 Helix Amazon Expedition 1967-1977, Phase VII). 



The Boras, who know this plant as okaji-kahpuu, chop fresh 

 leaves in water and take it internally for snakebite or against any 

 poisonous animal (raya, isula). It is said to calm the body and 

 eliminate pain. 



Notwithstanding the extensive medicinal use of Potalia Amara 

 throughout the Amazon, the chemistry of this genus is, according 

 to Gibbs, "too poorly known to justify discussion''(Gibbs: Che- 



\f Flowering Plants, McGill-Q 



M 



Apocynaceae 



RhigospiraquadranguIaris(A/w^//.-/lr^.) Miers, Apocyn. S. Am. 

 (1878)68. 



Colombia: Comisaria del Vaupes, Rio Macaya. "Slender tree, 50 feet tall. Very 

 abundant thick, white latex similar to hut not that of juansoco. Bark thin, 

 smooth with black-grey patches." April 1-7, 1943. Schultes 5357. 



According to Zarucchi, this collection, reported as Neocouma 

 Duckei (Schultes in Acta Bot. Neerl. 15 (1966) 182), is now 

 correctly identified as Rhigospira quadrangularis. It is used, 

 under the local name caimo morado, to adulterate the latex of 

 Couma macrocarpa Barb.-Rodr. in the upper Rio Apaporis basin 

 of Colombia. The tree is called palo de leche or caimo morado in 

 the region. 



269 



