Technical Brief
Processing
Cats Claw
57
1. Description
Uncaria tomentosa is a liana (a climbing plant) or vine that grows
on flat land that is technically defined as hydrophilic, meaning that
they flood in rainy seasons. They often occupy the upper canopy
where the trees act as hosts.
It is recognised by its heart shaped leaves, its cats-claw shaped
thorns, and its flowers and seeds. On being cut it also squirts
thirst-quenching water.
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