epithet caapi-pinima (‘‘painted caapi’’) alludes not to 
‘‘painted leaves but to the unusual yellowish hue of the 
drink prepared from it; and (2) the tentative identifica- 
tion as ‘‘possibly Tetrapterys’’ of the sterile material 
sent to Kew by Wyndham from the Caqueta of Colom- 
bia would seem to be strengthened by the employment, 
even at such a distance, of a species of T'etrapterys in the 
elaboration of a drink with proven narcotic properties. 
SUMMARY 
1. The narcotic drink known in the western Amazon- 
ian regions as caapi (Brazil and Colombia), yayé (Colom- 
bia) and ayahwasca (Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia) is made 
basically from the same or closely related plants of the 
Malpighiaceae. It is probable that the Indian names 
natema, nepe and pinde are synonymous with the three 
more commonly used names mentioned above. 
2. The most widely employed species are members of 
the genus Banisteriopsis. The species most frequently 
used in Brazil, easternmost Colombia and much of the 
Amazon basin of Peru and Bolivia is Banisteriopsis 
Caapi, but B. Rusbyana seems also to be utilized in 
easternmost Colombia. In the westernmost fringe of the 
Amazon basin, along the Andean foothills of Colombia, 
Keuador and Peru, Banisteriopsis quitensis, B. mebrians 
and B. Rusbyana seem to be the species most preferred. 
3. The closely related genus Tetrapterys is employed 
in Brazil and possibly in Colombia. The only species of 
Tetrapterys definitely identified as the source of the nar- 
cotic caapi is T. methystica. 
4. Mascagnia psilophylla var. antifebrilis has been in- 
dicated as one possible source of ayahuasca, but this re- 
port is open to very serious doubt. 
[ 41 ] 
