Abuta

Abuta is a genus in the flowering plant family Menispermaceae, of about 32 species, native to tropical Central and South America.
Description.
It consists in dioecious climbers or rarely erect trees or shrubs ("Abuta concolor") with simple leaves. Flowers in composed panicles. Male flowers: sepals 6, in 2 whorls, petals absent, stamens 6, connate or free, introrse, anthers with a longitudinal or transverse dehiscence. Female flowers: sepals and petals as in male, staminodes 6, carpels 3, drupes ovoid, endocarp woody, condyle septiform, endosperm ruminate, embryo curved, cotyledons appressed.
It is in the tropical rain forest.
Taxonomy.
"Abuta" is usually classified in the tribe Anomospermeae Miers, together with "Anomospermum" Miers.
Synonymy.
The genera "Anelasma" and "Batschia" have been brought into synonymy with "Abuta".
Uses.
"Abuta" is one of the components of the arrow poison curare of some indigenous tribes of South America (especially "Abuta imene" from Colombia). Roots of "Abuta rufescens" are used as medicinal in diseases of the urogenital tract, but it is dangerous.
The dichloromethane extracts of "Abuta grandifolia" and "Minthostachys setosa" (Labiatae) demonstrated high larvicidal activity against "Aedes aegypti", the most active being the dichloromethane extract of "A. grandifolia".