Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Aristotelia serrata (Elaeocarpaceae) appears in the USDA Duke inventory with historical reports of burns and rheumatism.
Also known as: Aristotelia serrata
Accepted name in the GBIF Backbone; its identifier is retained for reconciliation with the existing herbarium. This compatibility taxonomy does not necessarily represent the latest nomenclatural consensus. The source name is retained among the synonyms. Species and plant parts are not interchangeable. A photograph is insufficient for identification before consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Reported use: burns
USDA ethnobotanical record 8503, under the name Aristotelia serrata, reports burns. Its country field reads ‘New Zealand’; this is not a statement of native range. The entry does not identify a plant part or a clinically established dose. It demonstrates neither efficacy nor safety. The original publication is cited by the inventory and was not read independently.
Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.
Read the sourceReported use: rheumatism
USDA ethnobotanical record 40965, under the name Aristotelia serrata, reports rheumatism. Its country field reads ‘New Zealand’; this is not a statement of native range. The entry does not identify a plant part or a clinically established dose. It demonstrates neither efficacy nor safety. The original publication is cited by the inventory and was not read independently.
Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- Historical record only. Do not prepare or consume this plant on the basis of this profile.
- The inventory does not establish a complete clinical list of contraindications. Missing information does not mean absence of risk.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions with medicines have not been systematically assessed in this historical inventory. Compatibility with a treatment cannot be asserted.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- The historical inventory does not provide a complete assessment of adverse effects.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established here. No medicinal use is recommended.
Children & adolescents
No paediatric preparation or dose is validated by this record. Do not extrapolate historical adult use to children.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- USDA — ETHNOBOT #40965 — Uphof, J.C. Th. 1968. Dictionary of economic plants. 2nd ed. Verlag von J. Cramer.Accessed on 09/10/2026
- GBIF Backbone — Aristotelia serrata (J.R. & G.Forst.) W.R.B.Oliv.Accessed on 09/10/2026