Lianas are the woody vines that so important to the rainforest. They are the links that tie individual treetops into the canopy ecosystem and they provide food for animals. They are also an important resource for forest peoples, offering food, fibers and a wide range of medicines. We admire these roles and also like the fact that Liana has a single meaning in both English and Spanish.

A few of the best known lianas include:

Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi), the hallucinogenic plant used by shamans of most Amazonian cultures to enter the spirit world;

Barbasco (Tephrosia toxicofera) a legume used traditionally to stun fish to catch them and the source of the biodegradable pesticide rotenone;

Curare, used as a poison on blowgun darts for hunting and, more recently, as an anesthetic and to relax muscles for surgery.

Uña de gato (Uncaria tormentosa), a traditional medicine of the Ashaninka and other Amazonian peoples.