Palicourea rigida
StarPalicourea rigida
Synonyms: Palicourea rigida var. strepens, Uragoga rigida, Palicourea diuretica, Palicourea rigida f. microphylla, Palicourea rigida var. paraguariensis, Palicourea rigida var. stenophylla, Palicourea aurata, Palicourea rigida f. brevistyla, Palicourea rigida subsp. hirtella, Palicourea rigida var. hirtibacca, Palicourea rigida f. longistyla, Psychotria rigida var. strepens, Psychotria rigida, Psychotria rigida var. intermedia, Psychotria rigida var. oligoneura, Psychotria rigida var. genuina, Palicourea rigida var. amazonica, Psychotria rigida var. hirtella, Palicourea rigida f. angustior, Psychotria rigida var. aurata, Palicourea rigida var. aurata, Palicourea strepens, Psychotria byrsophylla, Palicourea sonans
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Brazilian folk medicine of the cerrado, decoctions of Palicourea rigida leaves and roots are used as a diuretic and for urinary disorders (Lorenzi & Matos, Plantas Medicinais no Brasil: Nativas e Exóticas, 2008). The plant is locally called 'douradinha-do-campo' or 'bate-caixa'. Phytochemical studies have isolated iridoid glycosides and triterpenes from the species (Conserva & Ferreira, 2012).
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Botanical Description
Palicourea rigida, the douradinha-do-campo or 'erva-de-bugre', is a small, stiff-stemmed evergreen shrub of the Rubiaceae characteristic of the Brazilian cerrado and Llanos savannas of northern South America. Plants reach 0.5–2 m with thick, corky, deeply fissured bark on the underground xylopodium and stout, erect aerial stems that are often unbranched. Leaves are opposite, decussate, coriaceous, broadly elliptic to obovate, 8–20 cm long and 5–12 cm wide, with a rounded to subcordate base and a sharply mucronate apex; the upper surface is glabrous and the lower surface is glaucous with prominent reticulate venation. Interpetiolar stipules are persistent and bilobed. Inflorescences are large terminal panicles 10–20 cm long with bright yellow-orange, tubular, slightly curved corollas 1.5–2.5 cm long that are pollinated by hummingbirds. The fruit is a small drupe 5–8 mm in diameter, ripening from green through orange to deep blue-black, with two pyrenes. Flowering occurs mainly in the dry season (July–October).
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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