Carapichea ipecacuanha

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Carapichea ipecacuanha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Genus:	Carapichea
Species:	C. ipecacuanha
Binomial name
Carapichea ipecacuanha (Brot.) L.Andersson
Synonyms
Callicocca ipecacuanha Cephaelis ipecacuanha Evea ipecacuanha Psychotria ipecacuanha Uragoga ipecacuanha

Carapichea ipecacuanha is a

Ipecacuanha is a slow-growing plant, which reduces its commercial appeal as a crop plant.^[citation needed] It is seldom cultivated in South America but it has been cultivated in India and elsewhere.^[2]

The root of ipecacuanha has been used in preparation of the medicament, the syrup, is simple or divided into a few branches, flexuous, and composed of rings of various size.^{[citation needed]} It is somewhat fleshy when fresh, and appearing as if closely strung on a central woody cord.^{[citation needed]} The different kinds known in commerce (gray, red, brown) are all produced by the same plant, the differences arising from the age of the plant, the mode of drying, etc.^{[citation needed]} Various other plants can be used as substitutes for it.^{[clarification needed][citation needed]}

History

Ipecacuanha was known to Europe by the mid 17th century.

In the 19th century, women prisoners at the Cascades Female Factory, Tasmania, were routinely given "a grain or so of ipecacuanha" as a precaution, especially "upon ladies with gross health and fiery temperaments."[5]

Chemical constituents

Ipecacuanha contains the alkaloids

References