The bark of the root is astringent and after softening in water it is chewed by the natives to treat sores in the mucuous membranes of the mouth. The inner structure of the basal swellings of the petiole inhabited by ants, and called domatia was studied by ROTH (1 9 76) . Two species, T. guian ensis va r. orinoc ensis and Tococa macrophys ca were investigated. The swellings form as double structures and are hollow; the cavities are lined with a special tissue in which glandular hairs as well as ramified and sclerified hairs prevail. The content of the glandular hairs gives the reaction of vanillina. The glands are apparently eaten by the larvae of the ants. The chemistry of the genus is only little studied. Some of the species are very ornamental.

South American medicinal plants : botany, remedial properties, and general use / I. Roth, H. Lindorf. Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2002. -- p. 492.