SafePlants

Arrabidaea chica

Arrabidaea chica, also known as Puca panga, Chica, Crajiru, and Cricket-vine (Portuguese common name: Crajir), is a plant with a rich history of medicinal use.

Considerations for Pets

• Arrabidaea chica is a liana, sometimes described as a scrambling shrub, that can climb up to 10 meters.

Considerations for Children

• Arrabidaea chica is a liana, sometimes described as a scrambling shrub, that can climb up to 10 meters.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) B. Verl. or Arrabidaea chica (HBK) Verlot
• Family: Bignoniaceae
• Synonyms: Fridericia (Arrabidaea) chica (Bonpl.) L.G.Lohmann
• Arrabidaea corallina is listed as a synonym for Fridericia dichotoma.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to tropical America, particularly the Amazon basin.
• Endemic to almost all of Brazil.
• Also found in Puerto Rico and St. John.

Morphological Characteristics

• Described as a liana or scrambling shrub, capable of climbing up to 10 meters.
• Branches are terete (circular in cross-section).
• Leaves have two leaflets and usually a tendril. Leaflets are obovate, typically 3.5-10.5 cm long and 2-7 cm wide.
• Pseudostipules are leafy, 0.6-4.2 cm long and 0.4-2 cm wide.
• Flowers can be mauve, pink, or white.

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

• Widely used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory and astringent.
• Used to treat anemia, hemorrhage, inflammation, intestinal colic, and skin diseases.
• Used in Brazil to treat inflammation, skin diseases, and leukemia.
• The leaf extract has been used as a remedy for intestinal colic.
• The plant's extracts have staining properties and various biological activities.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Used in studies related to snake venom induced edema.

Resources and Further Information

• The Plant List includes information on Arrabidaea species.
• Raintree's database contains information on important rainforest medicinal plants, including Arrabidaea chica.
• Taxonomic Serial No.: 34330.