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Written by The Wraith
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Tuesday, 21 December 1999 |
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Page 6 of 16
Diplopterys
The 20 species of Diplopterys are tropical American lianas. Only D. cabrerana (q.v.) appears to have been chemically investigated: tryptamines have been reported from this species, the first indication of this kind of alkaloid in the Malpighiaceae (Der Marderosian, 1968; Schultes, 1970).
Diplopterys cabrerana (Cuatr.) Gates, Brittonia 31 (1979) 109.
Banisteriopsis rusbyana (Ndz.) Morton, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 21 (1931) 487. SC 17297, 15588; G-B 4652a, 14321a; C 10597; MV 18
yajé-oko (Koffán); oco-yajé (Taiwano); chagropanga (Inga); yajé-oco (Siona)
In the westernmost Colombian Amazonia the leaves are often used as additives in the preparation of caapi from the bark of a species of Banisteriopsis (q.v.); the hallucinogenic drink then contains tryptamines and beta-carbolines (McKenna, 1984).
The Sionas use this species to “enhance the visions” to “bring them into focus and bring about longer duration” The Tikuna-Tetete of Ecuador use B. caapi (Kvist, 1987) as do the Jivaro (Naranjo, 1953). The Shuar Indians use it mixed with the leaves of B. longialata (MV 18).
The term oko in all Tukanoan languages means “water”. This plant was formerly known as Banisteriopsis rusbyana.
Taken from:
“The healing forest, medicinal and toxic plants of the northwest Amazonia”, by Richard Evans Schultes and Robert F. Raffauf. Discordia Press. Historical, Ethno- & Ecoonomic Botany Series Volume 2.
ISBN 0-931146-14-3
BANISTERIOPSIS (AYAHUASCA)
C.B. Robinson et Small
B. Caapi (Spruceex Griseb.) Morton
Malpighiaceae Tropical zones of N-S America, W. Indies
These giant forest lianas are the basis of an important hallucinogenic drink ceremonially consumed in the western half of the Amazon Valley and by isolated tribes on the Pacific slopes of the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes.
The bark of Banisteriopsis caapi and B. inebrians, prepared in cold water or after long boiling, may be taken alone, but various plant additives -especially the leaves of B. rusbyana, known as Oco Yaje, and of Psychotria viridis- are often used to alter the effects of the hallucinogenic drink.
Both species are lianas with smooth, brown bark and dark green, characterous, ovate-lanceolate leaves up-to about 7 in. (18 cm) in length, 2-3 in. (5-8 cm) wide. The inflorescence is many-flowered.
The small flowers are pink or rose colored. The fruit is a samara with wings about 13/8 in. (3.5 cm) long. B. inebrians differs from B. caapi mainly in its thicker ovate, more attenuate leaves and in the shape of the samara wings.
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