''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized
trees native to the
South American
rainforest
Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...
and closely related to other
Myristicaceae, such as
nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green
leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
and clusters of tiny yellow
flowers, and may emit a pungent odor.
Traditional use
Several species of this genus have been used to create
hallucinogenic
snuff powders.
Chemical constituents
The tops of ''
Virola oleifera
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
'' 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 crypto ...
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'' starting as low as 10 micrograms.
Species
About 76 species, including:
*''
Virola aequatorialis''
*''
Virola albidiflora''
*''
Virola araujovii''
*''
Virola atopa''
*''
Virola bicuhyba''
*''
Virola boliviensis''
*''
Virola brachycarpa''
*''
Virola caducifolia''
*''
Virola calophylla'' (Spruce) Warb.,
*''
Virola calophylloidea''
*''
Virola carinata''
*''
Virola coelhoi''
*''
Virola crebrinervia''
*''
Virola cuspidata''
*''
Virola decorticans''
*''
Virola divergens
''Virola divergens'' is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae. It grows to about 25m tall.
The fruits are ellipsoidal and subglobular, 18–38 mm long and 16–33 mm in diameter, grouped 4 to 8.
Distribution
''Virola dive ...
''
*''
Virola dixonii
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola duckei
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola elliptica
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola elongata
''Virola elongata'' (syn. ''Virola theiodora '' ) is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae. The tree is native to Panama, Guyana, Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia and Roraima), Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. ...
'' (syn. ''V. theiodora'')
*''
Virola flexuosa
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola gardneri
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola glaziovii
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green Le ...
''
*''
Virola glycycarpa
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola guatemalensis
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola guggnheimii
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola incolor
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola koschnyi''
*''
Virola kukachkana
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola kwatae
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola laevigata
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''
Virola lepidota
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green Le ...
''
*''Virola lieneana''
*''Virola lorentensia'' (or ''V. loretensis'')
*''Virola macrantha''
*''Virola macrocarpa'' A.C. Sm.,
*''Virola malmei''
*''Virola marlenei''
*''Virola megacarpa'' A.H. Gentry
*''Virola melinonii''
*''Virola merendonis''
*''Virola michelii'' Heckel,
*''Virola micrantha''
*''Virola minutiflora''
*''Virola mocoa''
*''Virola mollissima''
*''Virola multicostata'' Ducke
*''Virola multiflora'' (Standl. ) A. C. Sm.,
*''Virola multinervia''
*''Virola mycetis''
*''Virola nobilis''
*''Virola obovata''
*''Virola officinalis''
*''
Virola oleifera
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
''
*''Virola panamensis''
*''Virola papillosa''
*''Virola parvifolia''
*''Virola pavonis''
*''Virola peruviana''
*''Virola polyneura''
*''Virola reidii''
*''Virola rufula''
*''Virola rugulosa''
*''Virola schultesii''
*''Virola schwackei''
*''Virola sebifera''
*''Virola sessilis''
*''Virola steyermarkii''
*''Virola subsessilis''
*''Virola surinamensis'' (Rol. ex Rottb. ) Warb.,
*''Virola theiodora''
*''Virola urbaniana''
*''Virola venezuelensis''
*''Virola venosa'' (Benth.) Warb.
[
]
*''Virola villosa''
*''Virola warburgli''
*''Virola weberbaueri''
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 plant, ornamental purposes, growing, selling or possessing ''Virola'' spp. is prohibited by Louisiana State Act 159.
See also
*''Myristica'' — some species of this genus have been reclassified into ''Virola''.
* Ayahuasca
* Entheogen
* Psychedelic plants
References
Notes
General references
* Jonathan Ott – ''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
Virola,
Myristicaceae genera
Flora of South America
Entheogens
Herbal and fungal hallucinogens
Medicinal plants of South America
Psychedelic tryptamine carriers