in adjacent parts of southern Venezuela. It is known locally in 

 Spanish as barbasco and is one of several species employed as a 

 fish poison. 



Caryocar microcarpum Ducke in Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio Jan. 4 

 (1925) 133. 



Colombia: Comisaria del Vaupes, Rio Vaupes, Miraflores. February 

 1944, Gutierrez et Schultes 828.— Cano Guaracu. February 21, 1944, 

 Gutierrez et Schultes 867.— Rio Apaporis, Soratama. "Small tree along inun- 

 dated bank." June 17, 1951, Schultes et Cabrera 12646. — Rio Kuduyari, 

 lowermost rapids. "Tree 60 feet. Flowers white; stamens pink. Leaves will 

 paralyze leaf-cutting ants." October 10, 1966, Schultes et Raffauf 24390. — Rio 

 Kuduyari. "Tree 10 m. tall, overhanging river. Inundated terrain. Fruit green 

 in a terminal cluster. Seed coat spiny, imbedded in a white pulp." January 26, 

 1975, Zarucchi 1328.— Same locality . "Tree 12 m. tall, along river, inundated. 

 Barbasco." August 4, 1975, Zarucchi 1 469. —Same locality. "Tree 12 m. tall 

 along river. Specimens collected at 10 p.m. (flowers open after dark and fall 

 before morning). Flowers with calyx and corolla pale greenish white; stamens 

 bright pink, fragrant. Barbasco del no " November 10, 1946, Zarucchi 2207. 



The distribution of C. microcarpum is very extensive and 

 probably as a result of its wide range, the species is unusually 

 variable. It occurs in the Amazon and in Venezuela and the 

 Guianas. However, we have been unable to find reference to its 

 ichthyotoxic use except in the northwestern sectors of Brazil and 

 Colombia. The Kubeo Indians of the Vaupes call this tree kuri- 

 kuj and ku'. The Spanish names of the species are barbasco and 

 barbasco del rio, referring undoubtedly to the riparian distribu- 

 tion of the species. 



Preliminary chemical studies have been carried out on the 

 leaves of C. microcarpum (Schultes et Raffauf 24390). The 

 results are summarized briefly here; experimental details will be 

 published elsewhere. The collection gave a negative spot test for 



mate 



mixture 



cuticular wax. Subsequent extraction with alcohol and appro- 

 priate partition of the extract followed by lyophilization gave 

 about 40% of a powder rich in tannins of the ellagic/ gallic acid 

 type and triterpene saponins with the basic oleanane skeleton. 

 This chemistry is certainly consonant with the native use of the 

 leaves; saponins are known to be insecticidal and ichthyotoxic 



251 



