Paullinia is a genus of flowering shrubs, small trees and lianas in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae and typical of tribe Paullinieae.

Plants of the World Online includes:[1] Several uses are recorded.

The fruit of several species are edible, with P. cupana (Guaraná) being the most popular.

The sap of some species, notably P. cururu is highly toxic, and is used as an arrow poison by Native American tribes in South America.

Similarly, the long flexible stems of Paullinia pinnata are used to poison fish in shallow pools, as described by the English naturalist Henry Walter Bates in his book The Naturalist on the River Amazons.