Paullina spp
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Paullina spp
- From: t*@eddy.u-net.com (Tim Longville)
- Date: Wed, 01 Dec 1999 22:44:21 GMT
Sean -
I've no personal experience of any of this bunch. My (scanty) info.
comes from DJ Mabberley, The Plant Book.
Who says: Family Sapindaceae. 194 spp, mostly in tropical America.
All have 'watch-spring' tendrils and contain high concentrations of
alkalines inc caffeine and theobromine.
Your P. cupana, the guarana, isn't only medical: alcohol made from the
seeds + cassava is apparently the principal drink in the Matto Grosso!
P. pinnata (in Am. and also Africa) produces a poison used both on
arrows and to catch fish; and its stems are used for cordage.
P. yaco from Colombia produces a caffeine-high drink called yoco.
This last sp. was appar. described orginally by the great R.E.
Schultes: I suspect his publications would give you more of the
low-down on these babies than would anyone/thing else, tho' prob. more
from an ethno-botanical than a horticultural angle.
That's it, I'm afraid. Mabberley doesn't go into the details of
foliage.
Have you tried looking up the Tropicos data-base? That would seem a
likely source of further info. Unless Nick T. is listening in, in
which case no doubt....
Sounds as though as a bunch the Paullinas are perhaps more
'interesting' than lovely? Certainly Mabberley gives no indication
that they've been used to any extent in gardens. At least, not yet!
I've always said this list was at the cutting edge...!
Best from the Solway Firth in the UK where it is (surprise!) wet,
warm'n'windy -
Tim
Tim Longville
