Medicine vine
Hippocratea volubilis

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

A liana or creeper. It can be 20 m long. The leaves are opposite. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves. There are usually many flowers in groups 3-12 cm long. These are branched. The fruit is a capsule divided into 3 sections that are spread out. These are attached to a swollen stalk. The capsules are 4.5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide and 0.3 cm thick. There are 5-6 seeds. The seeds are 2 cm long by 0.5 cm wide.

There are about 100 Hippocratea species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest especially along the edges of rivers. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, North America, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten. The seeds are used to extract oil.

Edible parts

Seeds, seeds - oil, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Canoa waska, Charapillo, Fava-de-arara, Omentakam, Omentakayebo, Ominika, Ominikame, Tecolote

Synonyms

Hippocratea anafensis Urb.; Hippocratea ovalifolia Miers; Hippocratea ovata Lam.; Hippocratea plumieri Miers; Hippocratea scandens Jacq.;