Several uses are recorded. The
fruit of several species are edible, with
P. cupana (Guaraná) being the most popular. Other species, notably
P. yoco (Yoco), are used as
herbal medicine for various treatments. The
sap of some species, notably
P. cururu is highly
toxic, and is used as an
arrow poison by
Native American tribes in
South America. Similarly, the long flexible stems of
Paullinia pinnata are used to poison fish in shallow pools, as described by the English naturalist
Henry Walter Bates in his book
The Naturalist on the River Amazons. ==References==