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Psychotria alba

Page Contents 1. Names 1.1 Taxonomy 2 Methods of Use 3 The experience 4. Toxicity 5. Chemistry 6. Distribution 7. Photos 8. Related Pages 9. Referrences

1. Names: Back to top

Family: Rubiaceae

Subfamily:

Tribe:

Botanical Name: Psychotria alba Ruiz & Pav.

Extensions: N/A

English Name(s):

Synonyms: Uragoga alba (Ruiz & Pav.) Kuntze, Mapouria alba (Ruiz & Pav.) Mull.Arg.

Related Species:

First Published in: Flora Peruviana

Author(s): Ruiz Lopez, Hipolito & Pavon, Jose Antonio

Publisher: Typis Gabrielis de Sancha , Madrid

Date Published: 1798-1802 (3 volumes)

1.1. Psychotria alba Taxonomy: Back to top

It is believed by some that Psychotria alba is a synonym of Psychotria carthagenensis. We share this belief. This page is here because there is doubt in some researchers opinion that these are one in the same. Regardless, there is little doubt that P. alba and P. carthagenensis are very much a similar appearing plant.

Psychotria alba R. & P. Fl. 2: 58. pl. 205, f. a. 1799. Mapouria alba Muell. Arg. Flora 59: 458. 1876. Uragoga alba Kuntze, Rev. Gen. 1: 299. 1891.

A shrub or tree, 2-6 meters high, the branchlets glabrous or nearly so; stipules large, brown, obtuse, caducous; leaves short-petiolate, the blades mostly 7-16cm. long, elliptic-oblong to obovate, acute or acuminate, acute or attenuate at the base, glabrous or sometimes sparsely puberulent beneath, usually darkening when dried; inflorescence usually pedunculate, ovoid or rounded, little if at all longer than the leaves, with opposite or verticillate basal branches, the bracts minute, deciduous; flowers short-pedicellate; calyx minutely denticulate; corolla white, 4 mm. long, minutely puberulent or glabrate; fruit subglobose, 4mm. long, red or blackish.

Ayacucho: Carrapa, 1,000 meters, wooded hillside, Killip & Smith 22497.-Cajamarca: Tambillo, Jelski 371.-Huanuco: Decribed from Posuso, Muna, and Chinchao (fragm. seen, ex hb. Berol.). Cochero and Pampayacu, in forest, Poeppig 1342.-Junin: La Merced, 1,000 meters, Werberbauer 1841. Above San Ramon, 1,400-1,700 meters, forest, Killip & Smith 24685.-Loreto: Balsapuerto, 220 meters, Klug 2929. Florida, 180 meters, Klug 2341. Fortaleza, 140 meters, Klug 2815, 2768. Rio Masana, Williams 42. Balsapuerto, dense forest, Killip & Smith 28411. Rio Ucayali, Tessmann 3377, 3290. Mouth of Rio Santiago, Tessmann 4507.-San martin Juan Guerra, in forest, Williams 6848. San Roque, in forest, Williams 7219, 6959, 7071. Tarapoto, Williams 6506, 6623. Lamas, Williams 6358. Rumizapa, Williams 6811. Generally distributed in South America, and perhaps even more widely.

"Ucumi micuna." This species and P. carthaginensis are closely realted and separable only by artificial characters. It seems probable that ultimately it will be necessary to combine them. [2]

2. Method of use : Back to top

In Ayahuasca

As an ornamental

Many Psychotria species are used ornamentally. Though P. alba does not have a particularly showy appearance, it is a very lovely, lush green plant that is quite tolerable of peoples negelect. This plant should be grown as a tropical or indoors.

3. The experience: Back to top

4. Toxicity: Back to top

5. Chemistry: Back to top

Please note: Some chemicals may not be listed and some may or may not be toxic. Do not consume plants based on this table, it only gives a general idea of *some* of the chemicals this plant contains.

6. Distribution : Back to top

7. Photos: Back to top

8. Related Pages: Back to top

Rubiaceae Family

Buy Psychotria

9. Referrences: Back to top

[1]Ayahuasca: alkaloids, plants & analogs : Assembled by Keeper of the Trout

[2] Flora of Peru. J. F. By Macbride (1936). 13 (6/1) Pages 182-183.

[3] Flora of Panama. By Robert E. Woodson et. al. (1980). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 67, Number 1.

[4] A revision of Mesoamerican Psychotria subgenus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) (1989). By Clement W. Hamilton. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 76, Number 1. Pages 67-111.