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Other Names: Brazilian cocoa, Cupana, Cipo-guarana
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Related To:
[Sapindaceae] Longan, Akee, Lychee
Main Uses:
Medicinal; Psychoactive
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Mature Height/Spread:
Guarana is a vine-like climbing shrub, capable of exceeding 30' in ideal circumstances.
Flowering/Pollination:
Small, white flowers on clustered panicles. Pollinated naturally by many small insects.
Tolerance:
Soil/Nutrition:
Light:
Shade to part sun.
Wind:
Temperature:
Dangers:
Diseases Prone:
Bearing Age:
Fruit:
Tradition dictates that the fruits of a plant are not to be picked until the first "eye" (fruit) has opened naturally.
History/Origin:
Pronounced "hwa-ran-uh." Native to central Amazonia, which remains one of the few tropical areas where it thrives to a point of being produced on a commercial scale.
Species Observations:
Propogation:
Though Brazil has outlawed the export of viable seeds, plants have nonetheless found their may into arboretums, private collections and specialty nurseries. Cuttings can be taken and rooted during active growing periods.
Container Culture:
Medicinal Uses:
Primary use is as a psychoactive stimulant. Guarana has three times the caffeine content of coffee. The caffeine is bound to tannins (an impure form of caffeine once called "gauranine"), prolonging the release of the alkaloid. The attendant alkaloids, theophylline, and theobromine also help to make the psychoactive experience different from that of coffee.
Nutritional Information:
Preparation / Food:
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