Curare: Chondrodendron tomentosum

This webpage was created as part of an assignment for Organismal Biology 203 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. It contains information about curare, but in particular the plant Chondrodendron tomentosum, the main plant species used in the South American blend of curare. Curare is, by definition, black resin obtained from certain tropical South American trees, especially Chondrodendron tomentosum , acting on the motor nerves to cause muscular paralysis: used medicinally as a muscle relaxant and by South American Indians as an arrow poison. It is used in the U.S. today as an anesthetic, as well as in South America as an herbal remedy for many conditions. More about its medical uses in the Interactions section. After this slide, curare is meant to describe the Chondrodendron tomentosum and they will be used interchangeably.

Photo Provided By: Wikimedia Commons

For a more in-depth description of Chondrodendron tomentosum and many pictures of the vine, check out National Tropical Botanical Garden Website

Last Updated: 4/14/11