Uncaria Tomentosa

Common names Garabato, Rangaya, Unganangui, yellow Garabato, Tua juncara, Water Bejuco, Samento (Ashánika), Kug Kukjaqui (Aguaruna, Huambisa, Jibaros), Paotati-mosha (Shipibo-Conibo), Gatura, Gatuna, Toront, Tambo huasca, ox tooth, Willca Cora (sacred plant), Garabato casha. Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D.C., known commonly as catís claw, is a large climbing shrub (approximately 20 meters high), belonging to the Rubiaceae family. The young branches have asquare shape. The branches have strong, 2 cm. long by 0.4 cmto 0.6 cm wide, woody thorns that point down, not entwined. Its fruits are brownish and fuzzy, the first leaves are reddish. It has two growing stages, in its first year it goes through the first stage, being a grassy plant, climbing but not helicoidal (it supports itself to other plants by means of its "claws" only). The claws are in clusters of three and born in the base of the leaves (bud). These claws begin to surge when the roots, in form of a rhizome have stored sufficient quantities of moisture and nutrients to survive in a warm environment. At this time the leaves have a short life span, they are oblong, but wide enough to have an elliptic shape, from 6 to 12 cm long. Here the claws are considered unicidulade acillars earrings in number of three and are similar to a cat¥s claw. After the second or third year, the plant becomes woody and the trunk shows a characteristic twisted appearance. This species grows forming frequent entangled vines in the thickness of the jungle, thus first described as Nauclea aculeata HBK, with more than 60 species (J. Soukup), growing in the edge of the high Amazon (high forests with abundant sunlight between 300 and 800 m.a.s.l. in the Perené valley, the Paucartambo rivers and in the Salt Hill) . According to some authors, there are three varieties of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D.C., but have no major differences between one another. These differences can be observed looking at the color of the recently cut bark and the color of the root. This way we can distinguish the three kinds, according to the color of fresh Liber (milky fiber), with gray ñwhitish, brown- yellowish and dark red. BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION TRUNK: Clearly distinguished by the pink color of its bark. Its bark can be yellowish when it is fresh; golden reddish yellow when it is dry. LEAVES: The primary ones are reddish, of short duration, with an oblong shape, so wide that it can be called elliptic, measuring from 6 to 12 centimeters in length, simple, of opposite disposition and with stipules of varied aspect that can be velvety and sometimes fuse each other. Sometimes they reach the same size as the older leaves forming "foliate verticiles". The claws born in the base of the leaves are considered "unicidulade acilary" earrings, similar to a catís claw. The topside is opaque, dark yellowish green and the underside is fuzzy or with a venous appearance, oblong and a membranous flat surface. FLOWERS: Hermaphrodite, fragrant, they can be "sessiles" or "peduncle", solitary or grouped in clusters, forming "capilated" inflorescence. The flowers are actinomorphes in the first period and then cigomorphes. Tubular chalice or toothed infundibuliform . Smooth/hairless corolla, with four or five white lobules, obtuse, very fuzzy. The stamen is inserted in the throat of the corolla Genie with infero ovary, bilocular, bicarpelar, multiovular. FRUIT: Brownish color, fuzzy and dry, 3,5 to 4 centimeters long, fusiform, bivalve.The seeds have meaty albumen, cartilaginous or corneous, sometimes rudimentary or reduced in size. POPULAR USES Inflammatory processes of different kinds in organs and/or systems: arthritis (indistinctly without any specific classification), dermis inflammations as well as in the urinary tract. Asthma Contraceptive Diabetes Various tumors Degenerative diseases: cancer (e.g. of the female genital tract, Bronco pulmonary and/or of the gastric tract) Viral processes Irregularities of the menstrual cycle Convalescence and general weakness Gonorrhea Dysentery Gastrointestinal disorders stomach and duodenal ulcers Allergies Source:http://www.cfsn.com/catsclawtea.html

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