Cat’s Claw grows in the tropical Amazonian rainforest in an area extending from northern Bolivia through Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela to Honduras and Belize.
description
Uncaria tomentosa or cat's claw is a woody perennial vine or tropical liana of the
Rubiaceae family. This plant can grow up to 30 m (100 ft) tall, climbing by
means of hook-like thorns. The leaves are elliptic with a smooth edge, and
grow in opposite whorls of two. The stems of this huge woody climbing shrub
frequently reach a length of up to one hundred meters with a diameter of
over 20 cm.
The plant climbs up the trunks of its supporting trees and
spreads out into their crowns in the forest canopy. The roots grow out
horizontally along the boundary layer between loose organic material and
firm clay soil at a depth of a few centimeters below the surface. In the
sunlight the plant produces whip-like shoots on which the oval leaves are
arranged in pairs at intervals of 10 – 15 cm. The leaf axils bear slightly
curved, sickle-shaped thorns.
During the blossoming period Uncaria tomentosa
produces panicles of yellow flower heads approx. 2 cm in diameter in place
of the thorns.
common names & nomenclature
Cat's claw is so-named because the plant, which can reach up to 100
feet in height, has curved thorns that resemble a cat's claws.
Also known as:
cat's claw, uña de gato, paraguayo, garabato, garbato casha, samento, toroñ, tambor huasca, uña huasca, uña de gavilan, hawk's claw, saventaro, pot hook, sparrowhawk nail
