Abuta rufescens is a species of flowering plant in the family Menispermaceae. It is a climbing plant with large yellow flowers.
The species is native to South America, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It has a wide distribution, and is of least concern.
Abuta rufescens has traditionally been used in medicine, and for the production of curare. The species' current name was first published in 1775.
Distribution Abuta rufescens is native to the wet tropical biome of South America. It is present in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Within Brazil, the species is present in Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro. Within Colombia, it is present in the departments of Amazonas, Cauca, and Putumayo.
Abuta rufescens is present at elevations of . Its estimated area of occurrence is .
Taxonomy The species' current name was first published in 1775, by Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet.
Description Abuta rufescens climbs from the rainforest canopy. The inflorescences are woolly, and have large yellow flowers. The leaves are long, and wide.
Ecology Abuta rufescens is a host of the fungus Lembosia decalvans.
Conservation In 2018, the IUCN assessed Abuta rufescens as of least concern, due to its large population, wide distribution, and a lack of major threats.
Uses Abuta rufescens has medicinal uses. It is traditionally used to treat angina, malaria, snake bites, intermittent fever, indigestion, and flatulence.
Indigenous people also used the plant in the preparation of curare.
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