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virola
Scientific Name: Virola calophylloidea
Family: Myristicaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Virola: An Overview
Virola is a genus of medium to large-sized trees belonging to the Myristicaceae family, which also includes nutmeg. These trees are primarily found in the South American rainforest.
Considerations for Pets
- The bark, leaves, and roots of Virola trees contain alkaloids.
- Some Virola species produce a red resin from the inner bark.
Scientific Name
The scientific name for this genus is Virola. Several species are mentioned including Virola rufula, Virola theidora, Virola calaphylla, Virola sebifera, Virola surinamensis, Virola carinata, Virola glaziovii, Virola nobilis, and Virola calophylla Warb., and Virola callophylloidea.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Virola
- Family: Myristicaceae
- Major Group: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
- Synonyms: Myristica surinamensis, Palala surinamensis
Distribution and Habitat
Virola trees are native to the South American rainforest. Specifically, Virola surinamensis is noted as one of the most common trees in lowland Suriname, found in almost all forest types.
Traditional Uses and Cultural Significance
- Resin from some Virola species contains N,N-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT and has a long history of use.
- Resin is mixed with edible lime (Calcium Hydroxide) to make snuff active.
- Virola theidora is considered a very important tree to native Colombians, where the resin is considered a gift of the sun god due to its hallucinogenic properties.
- The bark of the Virola plant is used by tribal people in the Amazon basin as part of their religious practices.
Morphological Characteristics
- Virola are medium to large trees.
- Some species produce a red resin from the inner bark.
- Virola exhibits a wide range of exine sculpturing patterns.
- Virola wood is lightweight (about 28 lbs/cubic ft), pinkish-tan, works easily, and has a generally straight grain.
Quirky Facts
- The resin of Virola theidora is considered a gift from the sun god by native Colombians due to its hallucinogenic properties.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Virola pollen exhibits a wide range of exine sculpturing patterns.
- Factors affecting seedling Virola surinamensis survival and growth have been investigated on Barro Colorado Island, Panama.
Further Information
- The PLANTS Database, maintained by the National Plant Data Center, NRCS, and USDA, contains reference information for Virola.
- Multimedia resources for Virola can be found on Wikimedia Commons.
- Virola sebifera has records in the Arizona State University Herbarium.