Chondodendron tomentosum (Chondodendron tomentosum)
Description
Chondrodendron tomentosum is one of six accepted species in the small genus Chondrodendron, belonging to the Moonseed family Menispermaceae. It is a large tropical liana native to Central and South America contains highly toxic alkaloids and is one of the sources of the arrow poison curare - specifically 'tube curare', from the name of which is derived the name of the medicinally valuable alkaloid tubocurarine. Chondrodendron tomentosum is a woody climbing plant with stems that can reach 10cm in thickness at the base and which can climb up to 30 metres into the rainforest canopy. The large, glossy, cordate leaves are densely clothed beneath with a silky white pubescence - whence the common name 'Velvet Leaf'.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Ranunculales
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Family: Menispermaceae
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Genus: Chondodendron
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