Vol. 49 | No. 9 
BULLETIN 
OF THE 
TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB 
SEPTEMBER, 1922 
New species of trees of medical interest from Bolivia 
H. H. Russy 
The botaincal work of the Mulford Biological Exploration of 
1921-22 was directed specially toward the investigation of 
medicinal plants. The distinctly pharmacological features of 
these plants will be discussed in the medical and pharmaceutical 
literature, but such unknown species as are encountered should 
be cited in botanical publications. Two problems of exceptional 
interest were connected with the botanical origin of the two 
drugs, “‘coto” and ‘‘cocillana” or “‘guapi,” and their spurious 
substitutes. 
It has never been known what trees yield the coto and paracoto 
barks, although evident that they pertain to the Lauraceae. 
For many years, no genuine bark of either has reached our 
markets, and the use of their worthless substitutes has resulted 
in destroying the medical reputation of these valuable drugs. 
Through the careful work of my associate, Dr. O. E. White, of 
the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, it is now possible to describe the 
genuine coto tree, as well as its principal substitute, and to provide 
for the supply of the genuine drug in future. The bark of a 
second substitute, with leaf-bearing branches, was also collected, 
but the species cannot be determine d from this material, though 
undoubtedly pertaining to the genus Nectandra. 
Of cocillana or guapi bark, I collected not only the genuine’ 
species, but also the only substitute that has as yet been seen in 
commerce, besides two other species which, for special reasons, 
are liable to so appear in future. 
The BuLLetin for August (49: 223-258) was published August 31, 1922. 
259 
