This species has reportedly been an alternate source of ipecac, which is usually derived from Carapichea ipecacuanha. As currently circumscribed Ronabea emetica may include more than one species, but few specimens are available for study. This species is sometimes confused with Carapichea ipecacuanha; both are low rhizomatous shrubs of forest understory, but Carapichea ipecacuanha can be recognized by its stipules that are divided into several narrow lobes and its inflorescences that are terminal or pseudoaxillary (i.e., produced 1 per node) with well developed peduncles and bracts; vs. narrowly triangular stipules and axillary inflorescences (i.e., produced in both axils of the node) that are subsessile with reduced bracts.

Neotropics: lowland wet forests, Nicaragua to western Ecuador.