Names | |||||||||
Family |
Malpighiaceae | ||||||||
Botanical Name |
Banisteriopsis caapi (Spruce ex Griseb.) C. V. Morton | ||||||||
Synonym(s) |
Banisteria caapi Spruce ex Griseb. (basionym); Banisteria quitensis Nied.; Banisteriopsis inebrians C. V. Morton; Banisteriopsis quitensis (Nied.) C. V. Morton. | ||||||||
English Name(s) |
Ayahuasca, Caapi, Soulvine, Vine of the soul, Yage. | ||||||||
Chinese Name(s) |
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Description | |||||||||
Size & Growth Habit |
Becomes a very large climbing vine. Often climbing to the canopy, or top of the fence as it may be, then spreading out. Can be grown as a shrub in containers, but often goes back into stretch mode sooner or later. | ||||||||
Leaves |
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Stems |
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Roots |
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Flowers |
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Fruits/Seed Pods |
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Seeds
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Winged seeds form in pairs, sometimes in trios. Resemble a maple tree seed in its winged shape. | ||||||||
Cultivars & Hybrids |
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Cultivation | |||||||||
By Seed
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Plant seeds with their actual seed in the soil and their wing sticking up out of the soil. We notice some rot issues sometimes and find using a light dusting with a cheap rooting hormone that has anti fungal activity greatly helps. Grow in a fairly light soil, not hard. Potting soils, peat, coco etc. Keep moist, above 20C and in medium light. Germinating may be slow at first, but usually within 6 weeks. Seeds must be fairly fresh, once the embryo dries it is most likely dead. 50% sprout rate should be considered pretty good. | ||||||||
By Cutting |
Fairly easy to strike cuttings. Semi hard wood cuts are made, stripped of all but the uppermost pair of leaves and lightly scratched on the bottom section. Place cuts in a non rich soil, we like coco coir, and keep slightly moist, partially shaded, 70%+ humidity and above 15C. Roots form from the stem, so burying a node is not required. Expect 3-10 weeks forroots to form. | ||||||||
Soil |
They seem to do better when young (cuts or seedlings) in light soils like peat/coco based soils When transplanting larger plants, they are not incredibly picky. When we transplant them to our farm, where th e soil is very heavy, we dig about a 2 cubic feet hole and fill with coco then plant in that, their roots spread into the harder soil easily, but this seems to greatly help them adjust to hard soils. This is probably not required, but has shown far better results here. | ||||||||
Water |
Our potted plants, and plants in the ground don't like to fully dry out for more than a day, wilting soon occurs. In the ground, it's a little more forgiving as the soil rarely really dries out underground. Potted plants should be watched more carefully. Our caapi have also survived minor flooding at our farm, but certainly do not appreciate it. Water loging should be avoided, as should totally dry dirt. | ||||||||
Feeding |
Once established and actively growing, B.caapi can be a fairly heavy feeder. A good heaping of compost every few months, or liquid fertilizers monthly can be used. Care must be taken with small plants not to over feed them. | ||||||||
Light |
Partial shade to full sun. Small plants are better in lower light, to induce stretching and their climbing habit. Once they take off, full sun will be automatically searched out. | ||||||||
Pruning |
Prune as needed, best to be done in active growing season. | ||||||||
Climate |
Tropical. They tolerate many fluctuations when mature, but not freezing temperatures. Potted plants are naturaly more prone to dehydration and over fertilizing. | ||||||||
Other |
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Other | |||||||||
Distribution |
Native to: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela. Cultivated in: Small quantities around the tropical world. | ||||||||
Related Species |
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Human Uses |
Is one of the classic ingredients to the hallucinogenic South American drink, Ayahuasca. Has also been studied for its chemistry, in areas like parkinsons research. | ||||||||
Chemicals/Activities |
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Links |
Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases | ||||||||
Pictures | |||||||||
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