Psychotria viridis – Chacruna ‘UDV’ (seed)

Description

A member of the Rubiaceae family from South America, traditionally used in the healing Ayahuasca brew. The word Chacruna derives from the Quechua word chaqruy which means ‘to mix’. It is added to Ayahuasca brews to increase the light and changes the style, visions are often in richer colours, different than when only Banisteriopsis caapi is used alone.

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 spp. contain DMT), often only as trace amounts. In Psychotria viridis it is found in the leaves at concentrations varying from 0.1 – 0.61% with traces of other tryptamines (Ratsch 1998)

UDV is a Psychotria viridis selection used by the UDV (uniao de vegetal, which translates to English as ‘Union of the Vine’) either in Brazil or by members in Australia. It has a more rounded and lanceolate leaf, the fruit are much larger on maturity and the seeds generally larger than the Shipibo.

Care and Cultivation of Psychotria viridis ‘UDV’

Sow Psychotria viridis seeds just under the surface of a well drained seed raising mix. Keep moist but not overly wet. Keep in a warm place. Seedlings will emerge in 2-6 months and can be potted up once crowding starts.

Relatively fast growing, Psychotria viridis prefers a shady, moist, well-drained site. Should be grown in warmer conditions, however we find Chacruna to be quite tolerant of temperatures in the single digits. Grows 1 – 2 metres tall and in width. Fertilise regularly over the warmer months.

Psychotria viridis ‘UDV’ is a relatively medium to fast growing plant if kept in a warm position. Prefers a shady, moist, well-drained site and a rich loam soil with adequate fertiliser. Psychotria viridis is not particularly cold tolerant, depending on micro-climate, preferring tropical/subtropical regions, but can survive further south if protected over the colder months.

10 seeds per packet or choose other options