snakewort
Dorstenia contrajerva L.
Dorstenia contrajerva L., a species in the Moraceae family, is native to northern South America and Central America. It is cultivated in other regions. The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 and is the type species of the Dorstenia genus. The specific epithet is derived from the Spanish name 'contrahierba,' used for plants treating poisoning and venomous bites. The rootstocks are used in folk medicine.
Description
Dorstenia contrajerva L. is a member of the Moraceae family, commonly known as snakewort. It is found in regions including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and others in northern South America and Central America. The species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The name 'contrajerva' is a Latinized form of the Spanish 'contrahierba,' a term for plants used in treating venomous bites and poisoning. The rootstocks of this plant are used in traditional medicine. The name has a complex taxonomic history, including the use of illustrations by Houstoun as original material. Varietal and specific name issues have been discussed, with D. alexiteria L. (1759) proposed as a nomen novum for D. contrajerva var. houstonii L. (1753).
Other common names
Tusillasnakewort
Distribution
Atlántico: Finca El Palomar, Bolívar: Hacienda El Ceibal · Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Caldas, Cesar, Chocó, Magdalena, Meta, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca · Subregiones: Norte · Piojó · Santuario de Flora y Fauna Los Colorados | Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona | Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena | Parque Nacional Natural Tinigua · BR · Girón · IN · Antioquia, Bolívar, Caldas, Cesar, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Meta, Santander, Tolima · SV · HN · GT · conterminous 48 United States · Belize · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · Florida · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · India · Jawa · Leeward Is. · Mexico Central · Mexico Gulf · Mexico Northeast · Mexico Northwest · Mexico Southeast
Synonyms
Dorstenia alexiteriaDorstenia contrajerva var. houstoniiDorstenia contrajerva var. maculataDorstenia contrajerva subsp. tenuilobaDorstenia contrajerva var. tenuilobaDorstenia houstoniiDorstenia maculataDorstenia palmataDorstenia quadrangularisDorstenia quadrangularis var. integrifoliaDorstenia quadrangularis var. pinnatifidaDorstenia quadrangularis var. sinuataDorstenia contrajerva var. houstoniiDorstenia contrajerva var. contrajerva
