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Summary

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. It contains highly toxic alkaloids and is one of the sources of the arrow poison curare – specifically 'tube curare', the name of which is derived from the name of the medicinally valuable alkaloid tubocurarine.

Chemistry and uses

Chondrodendron tomentosum is a botanical source of curare alkaloids. In 1943, Oskar Wintersteiner and J. D. Dutcher isolated crystalline d-tubocurarine from curare prepared from material of this plant species. They also isolated and characterized another alkaloid, which they named d-chondocurine.

Derivation of scientific name

The generic name is a compound of Greek χόνδρος ( chondros ) 'cartilage' / 'lump' / 'grain' and δένδρον ( dendron ) 'tree' – hence 'lumpy / gristly tree', while the specific name consists of the Latin adjectival form tomentosum 'covered in matted hairs'. The binomial in its entirety thus conveys the image of a rather large coarse plant.