Skip to content
Medicinal, culinary and unusual botanicals from Australia and around the world

Banisteriopsis caapi var. Tucunaca (plant)

5.0 (1 review)

$55.00

Out of stock

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 plant parts contain these alkaloids in varying concentrations.

This variety is commonly called Tucunaca and is from Brazil.

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 Tucunaca clone has been professionally and legally analysed and was found to contain: 4.20mg/g THH (tetrahydroharmine): 0.65mg/g Harmaline: 9.21mg/g Harmine.

Care and Cultivation of Banisteriopsis caapi var. Tucunaca

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. Banisteriopsis caapi 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

1 review for Banisteriopsis caapi var. Tucunaca (plant)

  1. looklisten5

    Arrived quickly in great condition. Have grown this variaty before. Needs a little water regularly but otherwise is tough. grows quick and large here in the tropics. Can be cut back hard often.

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

Cart
Back To Top
Search