Botanical atlas
Coguil (Voqui Negro)
Lardizabala biternata
In the cool rainforests of Chile's Araucania and Los Lagos regions, coguil has long been valued less as a remedy than as a resource for daily life. The tough, pliable young stems, known locally as voqui, have been split and woven by Mapuche and Chilote artisans into baskets, cordage, and fish traps for generations, a craft still practiced and prized today. The dark, sausage-shaped fruit ripens in autumn and has traditionally been gathered and eaten out of hand by rural families and foragers, prized for its sweet, mild pulp. Unlike many entries in this atlas, coguil carries little documented history as a medicinal herb, its legacy is one of basketry and quiet forest foraging rather than the apothecary shelf.
In tradition.
In the cool rainforests of Chile's Araucania and Los Lagos regions, coguil has long been valued less as a remedy than as a resource for daily life. The tough, pliable young stems, known locally as voqui, have been split and woven by Mapuche and Chilote artisans into baskets, cordage, and fish traps for generations, a craft still practiced and prized today. The dark, sausage-shaped fruit ripens in autumn and has traditionally been gathered and eaten out of hand by rural families and foragers, prized for its sweet, mild pulp. Unlike many entries in this atlas, coguil carries little documented history as a medicinal herb, its legacy is one of basketry and quiet forest foraging rather than the apothecary shelf.
The tradition we can stand behind has no household remedy for this plant, so we list none. If that changes as the library grows, this page will grow with it.
Safety.
Only the fully ripe, dark fruit of this vine is traditionally eaten; unripe fruit and other parts are not used and should be avoided. As with any wild fruit, confirm identification before tasting, since it has not been studied for internal medicinal use.
Our sister app HerbLens identifies coguil (voqui negro) from a photo and keeps its full botanical portrait: growing guide, harvest notes, and look-alike warnings.
View on HerbLensAsk HerbSense how coguil (voqui negro) is traditionally used and what to know before trying anything at home.
Ask about Coguil (Voqui Negro)HerbSense shares traditional herbal knowledge for education, not diagnosis or treatment. Herbs can interact with medicines and conditions. Speak with your doctor before acting on anything here, and seek care promptly for anything severe, sudden, or worsening.