BOTANICAL MUSEUM LEAFLETS VoL. 26, No. 9-10 
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1978 
EVOLUTION OF THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE 
MAJOR SOUTH AMERICAN NARCOTIC PLANTS 
RICHARD EVANS SCHULTES!,? 
There are usually two events to consider in the identification 
ofa narcotic: 1) the first description or reference to its use in the 
literature or some other evidence — such as archaeological — 
of its use: and 2) the earliest botanical collection or identifiable 
illustration definitely associating the plant with its utilization as 
an inebriant. 
It should be then at once obvious that the basic step in our 
understanding of any hallucinogen or other psychoactive plant 
must necessarily rest upon a correct identification. Clearly no 
chemical or pharmacological studies can be carried out on a 
sound basis, until certainty concerning the vegetal source be 
established: and anthropological or sociological investigations 
likewise must suffer from lack of full and accurate botanical 
determination of the source plant. The exact Latin binomial, 
ideally backed up with a voucher specimen filed away ina 
recognized botanical institution, is almost always essential to 
progress in understanding any drug. 
Contrary to widespread belief, the botanical identification of 
medicinal. toxic and narcotic plants is not an easy task. Often 
frustratingly slow, it frequently demands years of field work. 
Sometimes — though fortunately not often — aboriginal users 
oppose study by outsiders of their sacred plants. More fre- 
quently, however, obfuscation resulting from careless, hasty 
or incompetantly gathered or interpreted data by well meaning 
but untrained investigators clouds the issues for many years. 
There are sundry instances where, even today, we are beset 
with doubts about the true and complete source of hallucino- 
genic preparations. 
'Delivered at the conference Hallucinogens in Native American Shamanism and 
Modern Life, San Francisco, California, September 30, 1978. 
2Paul C. Mangelsdorf Professor of Natural Sciences, Harvard University; Director, 
Botanical Museum of Harvard University. 
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