''Virola'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

nutmeg Nutmeg is the seed, or the ground spice derived from the seed, of several tree species of the genus '' Myristica''; fragrant nutmeg or true nutmeg ('' M. fragrans'') is a dark-leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two spices derived from its fru ...

family,

Myristicaceae The Myristicaceae are a family of flowering plants native to Africa, Asia, Pacific islands, and the Americas and has been recognized by most taxonomists. It is sometimes called the "nutmeg family", after its most famous member, '' Myristica fragr ...

. It includes medium-sized

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

s native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

and clusters of tiny yellow

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s, and may emit a pungent odor.

Traditional use

Several species of this genus have been used to create

hallucinogenic snuff A hallucinogenic snuff, or psychedelic snuff, is a powder prepared from plants containing psychedelic alkaloids and insufflated (snorted) to produce hallucinogenic effects. Hallucinogenic snuffs have been used as entheogens by indigenous peop ...

powders.

Chemical constituents

The tops of '' Virola oleifera'' have been shown to produce lignan-7-ols and verrucosin that have

antifungal An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as ...

action regarding ''

Cladosporium sphaerospermum ''Cladosporium sphaerospermum'' is a radiotrophic fungus belonging to the genus ''Cladosporium'' and was described in 1886 by Albert Julius Otto Penzig from the decaying leaves and branches of ''Citrus''. It is a dematiaceous (darkly-pigmented ...

'' in doses as low as 25 micrograms. Lignan-7-ols oleiferin-B and oleiferin-G worked for ''

Cladosporium cladosporioides ''Cladosporium cladosporioides'' is a darkly pigmented mold that occurs world-wide on a wide range of materials both outdoors and indoors. It is known for its role in the decomposition of organic matter and its presence in indoor and outdoor en ...

'' starting as low as 10 micrograms.

Species

71 species are accepted. *''

Virola aequatorialis ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola aguarunana ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola albidiflora ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola allenii ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola alvaroperezii ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola amistadensis ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola bicuhyba ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola bombuscaroensis ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola caducifolia ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola calimensis ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola calophylla ''Virola calophylla'' is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae. It is native to Central America and South America, namely Panama, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia ( Department of Amazonas, Department of Vaupés), Ecuador ( Na ...

'' *''

Virola calophylloidea ''Virola calophylloidea'' is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae The Myristicaceae are a family of flowering plants native to Africa, Asia, Pacific islands, and the Americas and has been recognized by most taxonomists. It is sometime ...

'' *''

Virola carinata ''Virola carinata'' is a New World, tropical evergreen tree in the family Myristicaceae that is indigenous to Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil ( Amazonas and Rondônia Rondônia () is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the northern subdi ...

'' *''

Virola chrysocarpa ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola coelhoi ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola cogolloi ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola crebrinervia ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola cumala ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola cuspidata'' *'' Virola decorticans'' *'' Virola divergens'' *'' Virola dixonii'' *'' Virola duckei'' *'' Virola elongata'' *''

Virola flexuosa ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola fosteri ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola gardneri ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola guatemalensis'' *''

Virola guggenheimii ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola koschnyi ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola kwatae'' *'' Virola laevigata'' *'' Virola lieneana'' *''

Virola loretensis ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola macrocarpa ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola malmei'' *''

Virola marleneae ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola megacarpa'' *''

Virola michelii ''Virola michelii'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Myristicaceae The Myristicaceae are a family of flowering plants native to Africa, Asia, Pacific islands, and the Americas and has been recognized by most taxonomists. It is som ...

'' *'' Virola micrantha'' *'' Virola minutiflora'' *''

Virola mollissima ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola montana ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola multicostata ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola multiflora'' *'' Virola multinervia'' *''

Virola nobilis ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola obovata'' *'' Virola officinalis'' *''

Virola otobifolia ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola parkeri ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola parvifolia ''Virola parvifolia'' is a species of plant in the family Myristicaceae. It is endemic to Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, cons ...

'' *'' Virola pavonis'' *'' Virola peruviana'' *''

Virola polyneura ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola reidii'' *'' Virola rugulosa'' *''

Virola sanguinea ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola schultesii'' *''

Virola sebifera ''Virola sebifera'' is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae, from North and South America.Markus Wiesenauer, Suzann Kirschner-Brouns: Homöopathie - Das große Handbuch, Gräfe & Unzer Verlag, 2007, Description ''V. sebifera'' is a t ...

'' *''

Virola sessilis ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola steyermarkii ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *'' Virola subsessilis'' *''

Virola surinamensis ''Virola surinamensis'', known commonly as baboonwood, ucuuba, ucuhuba and ''chalviande'',Americas Regional Workshop (Conservation & Sustainable Management of Trees, Costa Rica, November 1996). 1998''Virola surinamensis''.The IUCN Red List of Thr ...

'' *'' Virola theiodora'' (synonym '' Virola rufula'' ) *''

Virola tuckerae ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola urbaniana ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

'' *''

Virola venosa ''Virola venosa'' is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae. It is found in Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil (in Amapá, Amazonas, Pará and Rondônia). It grows tall. The fruits are ellipsoidal to subglobular, long and in diameter. ...

'' *'' Virola villosa'' *'' Virola weberbaueri'' *''

Virola yasuniana ''Virola'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nutmeg family, Myristicaceae. It includes medium-sized trees native to rainforests of the tropical Americas, ranging from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. Species are known commonly ...

Gallery

File:Virola elongata fruit.jpg, ''Virola elongata'' fruit File:Virola elongata seeds.jpg, ''Virola elongata'' seeds File:Virola carinata embryo.jpg, ''Virola carinata'' embryo File:Virola sebifera.jpg, ''Virola sebifera'' File:Virola surinamensis 2.jpg, ''Virola surinamensis''

Legal status

United States

Louisiana

Except for

ornamental Ornamental may refer to: *Ornamental grass, a type of grass grown as a decoration *Ornamental iron, mild steel that has been formed into decorative shapes, similar to wrought iron work *Ornamental plant, a plant that is grown for its ornamental qua ...

purposes, growing, selling or possessing ''Virola'' spp. is prohibited by

Louisiana State Act 159 Signed into law June 28, 2005, and effective August 8, 2005, Louisiana State Act No 159 found in, Louisiana RS 40:989.1, outlawed the cultivation, possession or sale of 40 named plants defined as hallucinogenic in the state of Louisiana, US. House ...

References

Notes

General references

Jonathan Ott Jonathan Ott (born 1949 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an ethnobotanist, writer, translator, publisher, natural products chemist and botanical researcher in the area of entheogens and their cultural and historical uses, and helped coin the term "' ...

– ''Shamanic Snuffs or Entheogenic Errhines'' (2001) * Richard Evans Schultes – ''Plants of the Gods'' (1992)
Erowid Virola Vault

External links

*
Sura.ots.ac.cr: ''Virola koschnyi''
— ''photos and info''.
Gardening.eu: Info on Growing ''Virola''
{{Authority control Myristicaceae genera Flora of Southern America Entheogens Herbal and fungal hallucinogens Medicinal plants of South America Psychedelic tryptamine carriers Taxa named by Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet

Traditional use

Chemical constituents

Species

Gallery

Legal status

United States

Louisiana

See also

References

Notes

General references

External links