Psychotria viridis
Ruiz & Pav.
Rubiaceae
Palicourea viridis (Ruiz & Pav.) Schult.
Psychotria glomerata Kunth
Psychotria microdesmia Oerst.
Psychotria trispicata Griseb.
Uragoga glomerata (Kunth) Kuntze
Uragoga microdesmia (Oerst.) Kuntze
Uragoga trispicata (Griseb.) Kuntze
Uragoga viridis (Ruiz & Pav.) Kuntze
Common Name:
General Information
Psychotria viridis is a slender, evergreen shrub or small tree with a spreading or flat crown; it can grow from 1.5 - 5.4 metres tall[
453- Title
- Woods of Northeastern Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Williams L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum Press; Chicago.
- Year
- 1936
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
710- Title
- Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Llamas K.A.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Oregon.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0-88192-585-3
- Description
- A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
]. The bole is straight and slender, often unbranched for more than half its height[
453- Title
- Woods of Northeastern Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Williams L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum Press; Chicago.
- Year
- 1936
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The leaves are harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; Caribbean - Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti; C. America - Panama to Mexico.
Habitat
Moist or wet thickets, or an understorey plant in dense or moderately dense rainforest, often on limestone soils, at elevations up to 150 metres[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
453- Title
- Woods of Northeastern Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Williams L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum Press; Chicago.
- Year
- 1936
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
710- Title
- Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Llamas K.A.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Oregon.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0-88192-585-3
- Description
- A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in full sun and in partial shade[
710- Title
- Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Llamas K.A.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Oregon.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0-88192-585-3
- Description
- A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
]. Prefers a well-drained soil on the alkaline side[
710- Title
- Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Llamas K.A.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Oregon.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0-88192-585-3
- Description
- A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The leaves are often added to the hallucinogenic drink 'Ayahuasca', (which is prepared from Banisteriopsis Caapi and B. inebrians in the western Amazon) in order to 'strengthen' and 'lengthen' the effects of the drink. The leaves contain the compound N,N,-dimethyltryptamine, and this has been shown to enhance the action of the β-carboline alkaloids harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine that are found in the Banisteriopsis[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
717- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 23
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of botanical articles. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].
Other Uses
The pinkish or pale brown is straight or wavy grained; uniformly fine-textured; of medium weight, compact, tenacious and durable. It takes a smooth polish[
453- Title
- Woods of Northeastern Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Williams L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum Press; Chicago.
- Year
- 1936
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives information on the properties of the wood of well over 1,000 species of woody plants from northeastern Peru. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
