Milkberry

Chiococca alba

Family: Rubiaceae Genus: Chiococca Species: alba

Synonyms: Lonicera alba, Chiococca anguifuga, Periclymenum racemosum, Chiococca trisperma, Chiococca brachiata var. subrhombea, Chiococca latifolia, Chiococca brachiata var. conjungens, Chiococca brachiata var. valida, Chiococca parvifolia, Chiococca brachiata var. acutifolia, Chiococca bermudiana, Chiococca racemosa var. cubensis, Chiococca racemosa var. jacquiniana, Chiococca brachiata var. densifolia, Chiococca pubescens var. peninsularis, Chiococca racemosa var. scandens, Chiococca alba f. pilosa, Chiococca parviflora, Chiococca alba var. micrantha, Chiococca brachiata var. intercedens, Chiococca micrantha, Chiococca brachiata var. genuina, Chiococca brachiata var. petiolaris, Chiococca racemosa var. longifolia, Chiococca racemosa var. yucatana, Chiococca brachiata var. lanceolata, Chiococca trisperma var. angustifolia, Chiococca brachiata var. tenuifolia, Chiococca macrocarpa, Chiococca anguifuga var. trinitensis, Chiococca brachiata var. biformis, Chiococca anguifuga var. pubescens, Chiococca petensis, Chiococca alba subsp. parvifolia, Chiococca capitata, Chiococca racemosa, Chiococca brachiata var. acuminata, Chiococca brachiata, Chiococca densifolia var. cubensis, Chiococca pinetorum, Chiococca racemosa var. floridana, Chiococca densifolia, Chiococca floridana, Chiococca brachiata var. rigidula, Chiococca brachiata var. grandifolia, Chiococca brachiata var. diplomorpha, Chiococca racemosa var. laxiflora, Chiococca brachiata var. microphylla, Chiococca brachiata var. intermedia, Chiococca alba var. parvifolia

Milkberry (en)

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:

alterativediureticbitter

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Botanical Description

Chiococca alba, the milkberry or cainca, is an evergreen woody vine or scrambling shrub of the coffee family (Rubiaceae) reaching up to 6 m in length as it climbs over surrounding vegetation. The opposite, simple leaves are elliptic, ovate or lanceolate, 5–11 cm long, glossy dark green and leathery, with interpetiolar stipules typical of the family. Small bell-shaped yellow flowers about 1 cm long appear year-round in axillary racemes or panicles of six to eight, and are followed by the distinctive shiny white drupes 4–7 mm in diameter (giving the species its name alba) that usually contain two dark brown seeds. It is native to a broad range from Florida and southern Texas through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the Galápagos and tropical South America, growing in hammocks, coastal thickets and disturbed woodlands.

Native Region: Argentina Northeast, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Florida, French Guiana, Galápagos, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Texas, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

The root of Chiococca alba (cainca, raíz de cainca) has long been used in Caribbean and Brazilian folk medicine as a purgative, diuretic and emetic, and was prepared as a depurative remedy for snakebite, dropsy and venereal complaints; the dried root was sufficiently valued to be exported commercially to Europe and the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries as 'caincae radix' (Standley, 1928; Lorenzi & Matos, 2008).

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

224296

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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