Psychotria cv. ‘DW10’ (plant)

Description

Psychotria cv. DW10 is cross between ‘Nexus’ and Psychotria viridis ‘UDV’; bred by Darren at Herbalistics. Psychotria cv. Nexus is the pistillate parent and Psychotria viridis ‘UDV’ is the staminate parent. DW10 is fast growing, has a wonderful habit and narrow lanceolate leaves. This is probably the first Psychotria hybrid released that contains genes of both Psychotria viridis types, one from Peru and the other Brazil, and also P. carthagenensis. Our mother plant has not flowered yet, a trait of delayed flowering perhaps more akin to the UDV father.

Psychotria viridis and P. carthagenensis are used in the traditional psychoactive medicine Ayahuasca; a brew of Banisteriopsis caapi (occasionally alone but most often with Psychotria viridis) as the base and other plants are sometimes added, depending on the problems and conditions of the patient that need to be examined.

Psychotria viridis contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychoactive substance found across the plant kingdom in many family, genera and thousands of species (large numbers of Australian Acacia species and other natives contain DMT), often only as trace amounts. DW10 has not been specifically analysed and the contents are unknown. Smell test of aged leaves would suggest a similar level to Nexus.

Care and Cultivation of Psychotria cv ‘DW10’

DW10 achieves a good growth rate when compared to Nexus, Psychotria viridis and is as fast or faster than Psychotria carthagenensis. Psychotria cv. DW10 prefers a part shade, moist, well-drained position in the garden and a rich loam soil with adequate fertiliser. DW10 has performed well in our subtropical climatic extremes experienced here in SE QLD, ranging from low to high humidity, temperatures from 0-43°C over the year. It will have minimal frost tolerance and is about as drought tolerant as the parents, please share your cultivation experiences with us by posting a review.

1 plant