Banisteriopsis caapi var. Caupuri (plant)

Description

Banisteriopsis caapi is the vine from which the South American hallucinogenic and healing brew ayahuasca is made. Family Malpighiaceae. Ayahuasca is a Kechua term for the drink made from this vine and translates to ‘Vine of the Soul’, referring to the freeing of the spirit. Also called yage, Caapi or Vine of the Dead. Banisteriopsis caapi stems are used in the preparation of a drink called Ayahuasca in South America and they contain beta-carboline alkaloids such as harmaline, harmine and tetrahydroharmaline. All parts of the plant contain these alkaloids.

Caupuri is a variety of Banisteriopsis caapi with swollen/enlarged nodes, the vine sections look like a knotted rope.

According to experienced individuals in the UDV, two different varieties of B. caapi are recognized; mariri caupuri and mariri tucunaca. The caupuri grows near the equator while the tucunaca thrives in the cooler climes of southern Brazil. Botanically speaking, they are consid­ered to be the same species. These two varieties are morphologically distinct and impart different sensations to the body and mind from the resulting teas. From the analytical results, a slight trend was observed towards higher levels of all harmala alkaloids in the caupuri samples, but this trend was not statistically significant. The subjective difference in teas from these two varieties is still a mystery (Phytochemical Analyses of Banisteriopsis Caapi and Psychotria Viridis J. C. Callaway et al. 2011. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kuopio, Finland b Centro de Estudos Medico da Uniāo do Vegetal, Sāo Paulo, Brazil).

Our Caupuri clone has been professionally and legally analysed and was found to contain: 1.65mg/g THH (tetrahydroharmine): 0.25mg/g Harmaline: 5.54mg/g Harmine.

Care and Cultivation of Banisteriopsis caapi var Caupuri

Banisteriopsis caapi likes humus rich, moist soil in part shade to full sun. A fairly robust plant, Banisteriopsis caapi will drop leaves in dry times and may need to be irrigated until established. It can deal with colder temps but is best grown in subtropical or tropical climates where it can be planted in the ground. Warm and cold temperate climate growers may need to protect their vines over the colder months by bringing inside or providing a warmer microclimate. Beautiful pink flowers in early spring on parts of the plant receiving lots of sun.

A vigorous climber that will cover a fence or tree in a matter of seasons and should be kept pruned as desired. It covers a boring old fence quickly!

1 plant (seed grown)