Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 4,
Discussion
J. W. Nowicke (1968) called plants with “4-hooked” fruits var. alliacea, those with “3- or 6-hooked” fruits, var. tetrandra (Gomez) Nowicke. This distinction fails in the flora area.
The leaves of Petiveria alliacea have an alliaceous odor when crushed. The plant taints the milk and meat of animals that graze on it and may also induce abortion. In some areas of tropical America, it serves as a vampire repellent of unrecorded efficacy.