the root of a brazilian rubiaceous herb (cephaelis ipecacuanha), largely employed as an emetic; also, the plant itself; also, a medicinal extract of the root. many other plants are used as a substitutes; among them are the black or peruvian ipecac (psychotria emetica), the white ipecac (ionidium ipecacuanha), the bastard or wild ipecac (asclepias curassavica), and the undulated ipecac (richardsonia scabra).