Cross-Reference of Common to Scientific Names of Psychoactives

Psychoactives
Common to Biological Names
compiled by Rendi and Justin Case

This is a list of psychoactive animals, fungi and plants in alphabetical order by their common, indigenous, folk, slang and street names followed by their biological names or their binomial nomenclature or (Latin taxa, etc.). See Psychoactives – Biological to Common Names, Binomial Nomenclature and Botanical Nomenclature in the same folder this document is located in.

We have found this list to be very useful as a quick reference for clarification. We hope this serves you as well.

This list is divided into four sections; Animals, Fungi, and Plants, and Preparations. In each section, the common name is given first and this is followed by the biological name. Normally, these biological names would appear in italics, but I do not have the time to go back and italicize every one of these words here in the forums.

In many cases, the potential list of folk names for a given plant goes on and on. We do not have time to list a few dozen folk names for every biological name so we have stuck to the folk names most commonly encountered in the west. If the reader would like more, Christian Rätsch gives many more folk names in his book The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants (see the references section) in addition to giving entries for many, many more psychoactive plants. At the time of this writing (2006) his book is by far the most complete encyclopedia on the subject and this list is no replacement for the exhaustive info Rätsch provides in his book.

When possible, the culture from which a name is derived is given in parentheses – EXAMPLE: (Hindu).

There are a few cases in which it is not certain as to what plant or fungus a given folk name applies to. For example, a sacred drink called soma was mentioned in the oldest religious literature of Vedism but its actual identity has been lost in the mists of time. Various scholars have asserted or suggested many different plants and fungi as the true identity of soma, but it is not yet known for certain. In cases such as this we have used brackets and used the word possibly to ensure that the reader is aware that the identification is uncertain – EXAMPLE: Soma (Vedic) - [possibly Amanita muscaria, Ephedra spp., Psilocybe spp.]

Alternate brackets have been used to when other biological names {synonyms} have been used in the past. Biological names are sometimes changed as species and genera are reclassified, divided, combined, etc. When called for, we have indicated which biological name is outdated and which is current. In some cases, there are far too many synonyms and the revisions are far too complex to list.

The abbreviation spp. means species plural. This is commonly used in biological literature to refer to multiple closely related species. The folk name liberty cap refers specifically to the species Psilocybe simelanceata but the common name shrooms refers to many species of Psilocybe. In an example like this it can be simply said that shrooms refers to Psilocybe spp.

This is list is culled from a few different sources given in the references section at the bottom of the list.

Any corrections, suggestions, additions, etc. can be submitted to us at Rendicase@gmail.com

Animals

honey bee - Apis mellifera

Sonoran desert toad – Bufo alvarius

European fire salamander - Salamandra salamandra

European fire salamander - Salamandra salamandra

Fungi

asumer - Amanita muscaria

big laughing jim (or big laughing gym) - Gymnopilus spp

blue meanies - Panaeolus spp.

blue pimernel

blue runner - Psilocybe azurecens

bolong gomba (Magyar) - Amanita muscaria

cubes - Psilocybe cubensis {synonyms: Stropharia cubensis}

cubies - Psilocybe cubensis {synonyms: Stropharia cubensis}

elf’s cap - Psilocybe semilanceata

ergot - Claviceps purpurea

ergot rust - Claviceps purpurea

ergot of rye - Claviceps purpurea

flying saucer mushroom - Psilocybe azurecens

fly agaric - Amanita muscaria

hongos – Psilocybe spp.

indigo psilocybe - Psilocybe azurecens

laughing mushroom - Gymnopilus spp

liberty cap - Psilocybe semilanceata

magic mushrooms – Psilocybe spp.

maitake – (Japanese, “dancing mushroom”) - Gymnopilus spp

mother of rye – Claviceps purpurea

narren schwamm (German) - Amanita muscaria

n’sheeto (or n’xito) – Psilocybe spp.

pangk (Siberian) - Amanita muscaria

panther cap - Amanita pantherina

Phrygian bonnet - Psilocybe semilanceata

pixie cap - Psilocybe semilanceata

pong pank (Siberian) - Amanita muscaria

pongo (Siberian) - Amanita muscaria

san isidro – Psilocybe spp.

shrooms – Psilocybe spp. (usually Psilocybe cubensis {synonyms: Stropharia cubensis})

strophana – Psilocybe cubensis {synonyms: Stropharia cubensis}

toadstool - Amanita muscaria

teonanacatl (Aztec, “flesh of the gods”) - Psilocybe spp. (mostly Psilocybe mexicana and a few other spp. of the area of the Aztec civilization)

wapaq (Koryak) - Amanita muscaria

waritake (Japanese “laughing mushrooms”) - Gymnopilus spp

wavy cap - Psilocybe cyanescens

witchs’ cap - Psilocybe semilanceata

Plants

achuma – Trichocerues pachanoi

agave – Agave spp.

agua-colla – Trichocerues pachanoi

alstonia - Alstonia scholaris

Amazonian tree datura - Brugmansia versicolor

angel’s trumpet - Brugmansia spp.

angel’s trumpet tree - Brugmansia spp.

areca nut - Areca catechu

ashwagandha – Withania somnifira

ava - Piper methysticum

ava pepper - Piper methysticum

awa - Piper methysticum

ayahuasca - Banisteriopsis caapi (main ayhausca brew ingredient) (the name ayahuasca refers to both this plant and the brew made from it along with other plants)

Aztec dream grass - Calea zacatechichi

baby Hawaiian woodrose (or Hawaiian baby woodrose) - Argyreia nervosa

badoh negro - the seeds of Ipomoea spp. {formerly classified as Rivea corymbosa}

badungas - the seeds of Ipomoea spp.

bang - Cannabis spp. (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica, also to a drink made with the herb)

bejuco de san Pedro - the seeds of Ipomoea spp. {formerly classified as Rivea corymbosa}

bhang - Cannabis spp. (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica, also to a drink made with the herb)

bhanga - Cannabis spp. (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica, also to a drink made with the herb)

bladderpod - Lobelia inflata

belladonna – Atropa belladonna

betel nut - Areca catechu

bitter bark - Alstonia scholaris

buffalo sallow wattle - Acacia spp.

bundle flower – Desthmanthus illinoensis

bundle weed – Desthmanthus illinoensis

bachh (Hindu) - Acorus clamus

beer hops - Humulus lupulus

beewort - Acorus clamus

big drunk bean – Sophora secundiflora

bitter grass – Tabernanthe iboga

blue lily - Nymphaea caerulea

blue lotus - Nymphaea caerulea

blue water lily - Nymphaea caerulea

Brazilian cocoa - Panela supana {syn. Paullinia cupana}

brigham weed - Ephedra navadensis

ca’api – Banisteriopsis caapi (main ayhausca brew ingredient) (the name ca’api refers to both this plant and the brew made from it along with other plants)

cacao – Theobroma cacao

calamus - Acorus clamus

canary reed grass - Phalaris arundinacea

canna - Sceletium tortusum

canna root - Sceletium tortusum

cannabis – Cannabis spp.

catnip - Nepeta cataria

cenil - (snuff made from) Anadenanthera colubrine

century plant - Agave spp.

chacruna - Psychotria viridis

channa - Sceletium tortusum

chat - Catha edulis

chatim - Alstonia scholaris

charas - (Hindi, referring to balls of resin from Cannabis indica)

cardon grande – Trichocereus terscheckii

charras - (Hindi, referring to balls of resin from Cannabis indica)

cheeba - Cannabis spp.

chiric sanango - Brunfelsia spp.

chocolate bean – Theobroma cacao

chupalla - Agave spp.

cimora – Trichocerues pachanoi

Circe’s palnt - Mandragora officianarum {Synonyms - Atropa mandragora}

coatlixihuitl (Aztec) - the seeds of Ipomoea spp. {formerly classified as Rivea corymbosa}

coca – Erythroxylum coca

coca bush - Erythroxylum coca

coco - – Theobroma cacao

coffee – Coffea arabica

cohoba - (snuff made from) Anadenanthera peregrina

coleus – Solenostemon scutellaroides {formerly Coleus blume}

Colorado river reed – Arundo donax

compass plant - Lactuca virosa

dagga - Cannabis spp. (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica, also to a drink made with the herb) To clear up confusion, some people have been calling Leonotis leonurus dagga. This is incorrect. Dagga refers to Cannabis and wild dagga refers to Leonotis leonurus.

damiana – Turnera diffusa

deadly nightshade – Atropa belladonna

desert tea - Ephedra navadensis

devil’s apple - Datura spp.

devil’s cherries – Atropa belladonna

devil’s eyes - Hyoscyamus spp.

devil’s liquor - Artemesia absinthium (main absinthe ingredient)

devil’s tree - Alstonia scholaris

dita - Alstonia scholaris

diviner’s sage - Salvia divinorum

donax cane – Arundo donax

dudaim - Mandragora officianarum {Synonyms - Atropa mandragora}

dream herb - Calea zacatechichi

dry whiskey - Ariocarpus fissuratus

dwarf morning glory - Convolvulus tricolor (morning glory being Ipomoea spp.)

Egyptian lotus - Nymphaea spp.

ebena – Virola spp.

epena – Virola spp.

false whiskey - Ariocarpus fissuratus

Gabriel’s trumpet - Datura spp.

gagaroot - Lobelia inflata

galangal root - Kaempferia galanga

ganja - (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica, now also used in Jamaica referring to Cannabis spp. in general)

ganjah - (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica, now also used in Jamaica referring to Cannabis spp. in general. Notice that this alternate spelling has the suffix jah, which is also the Rastafarian word for Jahova)

gat - Catha edulis

giant reed – Arundo donax

giant reed grass – Arundo donax

grass – Cannabis spp.

green ginger - Artemesia absinthium (main absinthe ingredient)

green muse - Artemesia absinthium (main absinthe ingredient)

guarana – Paullinia cupana {syn. Panela supana}

guarana ubano - Panela supana {syn. Paullinia cupana}

guayasa - Ilex guayusa

harding grass - Phalaris aquatica

harmal – Peganum harmala

harmel - Peganum harmala

Hawaiian baby woodrose (or baby Hawaiian woodrose) – Argyreia nervosa

henbane – Hyoscyamus niger

henequen - Agave spp.

hierba de la pastora – (Mazatec) Salvia divinorum

hops - Humulus lupulus

hojas de la pastora – (Mazatec) Salvia divinorum

huanaco - Erythroxylum coca

iboga – Tabernanthe iboga

ice plant - Mesembryanthemum spp.

Illinois bundle weed – Desthmanthus illinoensis

India root - Kaempferia galanga

Indian tobacco - Lobelia inflata

intoxicating mint – Lagochilus inebriens

intoxicating pepper - Piper methysticum

Jamestown weed - Datura spp.

Jimson weed - Datura spp.

jeruma – Mimosa hostilis

johimbe - Corynanthe yohimbe

kanna – Sceletium tortuosum

kava (or kava kava) – Piper methysticum

ketum - Mitragyna speciosa

khat – Catha edulis

kola nut - Cola nitida

kougoed - Sceletium tortusum

kowa (or kowa kowa) - Piper methysticum

kratom – Mitragyna speciosa

la’aja - the seeds of Ipomoea spp.

leaf of god – Tabernanthe iboga

lettuce opium - Lactuca virosa

lily of the Nile - Nymphaea spp.

lion’s tail – Leonotis leonurus

living rock - Ariocarpus fissuratus

lopium - Lactuca virosa

love apple - Mandragora officianarum {Synonyms - Atropa mandragora}

maguei - Agave spp.

maguey – Agave spp.

ma-huang - Ephedra sinica

manaca - Brunfelsia spp.

mandrake – Mandragora spp.

mapacho - Nicotania rustica

maraba - Kaempferia galanga

maracuja - Passiflora spp.

marijuana – Cannabis spp.

maté - Ilex guayusa

maté bush - Ilex guayusa

mawseed - Papaver somniferum

mescal bean – Sophora secundiflora (not to be confused with mescal plant)

mescal plant - Agave spp.(not to be confused with mescal bean)

Mexican damiana – Turnera diffusa

Mexican prickly poppy - Argemone mexicana

mimosa – Mimosa hostilis

miraa - Catha edulis

marijunana (Mexican slang) - Cannabis spp.

maypop - Passiflora spp.

muira-puama - Liriosma ovata

moonflower - Datura spp.

mormon tea - Ephedra navadensis

morning glory – Ipomoea spp.

natem pinde - Banisteriopsis caapi (main ayhausca brew ingredient)

nightshade – Atropa belladonna

nutmeg – Myristica fragrans

nyakwana – Virola spp.

ololiuqui (Aztec) – - the seeds of Ipomoea spp. {formerly classified as Rivea corymbosa}

ololiuqui vine - Ipomoea spp. {formerly classified as Rivea corymbosa}

opium poppy - Papaver somniferum

pale mara - Alstonia scholaris

parica – Virola spp.

parika – Virola spp.

pausinystalia - Corynanthe yohimbe

passion flower – Passiflora spp.

passion fruit – Passiflora spp.

passion vine - Passiflora spp.

Peruvian torch – Trichocereus peruvianus

peyote - Lophophora williamsii {synonyms – this cactus was formerly called Anhalonium lewnii and also Anhalonium williamsii etc.}

peyotl - Lophophora williamsii {synonyms – this cactus was formerly called Anhalonium lewnii and also Anhalonium williamsii etc.}

phalaris grass – Phalaris spp.

pinang (Hindu) - Areca catechu

ping lang (Chinese) - Areca catechu

pita - Agave spp.

pituri – Duboisia hopwoodii

plant of joy - Papaver somniferum

popotilo - Ephedra navadensis

poppy – Papaver somniferum

pot (English, slang) - Cannabis spp.

prarie bundle flower - Desmanthus illinoensis

racha (Vedic) - Acorus clamus

reed canary grass - Phalaris arundinacea

reed grass - Phalaris arundinacea

sage of the seers - Salvia divinorum

San Pedro – Trichocerues pachanoi

Saint John’ wort (or St. John’s wort) – Hypericum perforatum

Sally D – (new English slang) Salvia divinorum

san pedro – Trichocereus spp. (more specifically Trichocereus pachanoi)

Satan’s apple - Mandragora officianarum {Synonyms - Atropa mandragora}

semillas de la Virgen (Spanish) - the seeds of Ipomoea spp. {formerly classified as Rivea corymbosa}

shih-ch’ang pu (Chinese) - Acorus clamus

shrubby yellowcrest - Heimia salicifolia

sinicuiche - Heimia salicifolia

sinicuichi - Heimia salicifolia

sleepy grass – Stipa robusta

siberian motherwort - Leonurus sibricus {synonyms - Leonurus artemesia}

silver morning glory – Argyreia nervosa

sinicuichi – Heimia salicifolia

siri (Hindu) - Areca catechu

ska Maria pastora - Salvia divinorum

sun opener - Heimia salicifolia

supari (Hindu) - Areca catechu

squaw tea - Ephedra navadensis

St. John’s wort (or Saint John’ wort) Hypericum perforatum

stinkweed - Datura spp.

sweet flag - Acorus clamus

sweet myrtle - Acorus clamus

sweet sedge - Acorus clamus

Syrian rue – Peganum harmala

tea – Camellia sinensis

tea (English, slang) - Cannabis spp.

teamster’s tea - Ephedra navadensis

Texas mountain laurel – Sophora secundiflora

Thie-pelakano – Tabernanthe iboga

thom - Mitragyna speciosa

thorn apple - Datura spp.

tlitltliltzen (Aztec) - the seeds of Ipomoea spp.

tobacco – Nicotiana tobacum or Nicotiana rusticum

tree datura - Brugmansia versicolor

valarian – Velariana officinalis

valarian root – (root of) Velariana officinalis

vandal root – (root of) Velariana officinalis

vilca – (snuff made from) Anadenanthera colubrine or (snuff made from) Anadenanthera peregrina

virola – virola theidora

vomit root - Lobelia inflata

wati - Piper methysticum

weed (English, slang) - Cannabis spp.

white lotus - Nymphaea ampla

white water lily - Nymphaea ampla

wild dagga – Leonotis leonurus (as opposed to dagga which refers to Cannabis)

wild lettuce – Lactuca virosa

wooly morning glory – Argyreia nervosa

wormwood - Artemesia absinthium (main absinthe ingredient)

yagé - Banisteriopsis caapi (main ayhausca brew ingredient) - (yagé refers to both this plant and the brew made from it and other plants)

yagona - Piper methysticum

yerba del Diablo - Datura spp.

yerba de Maria - Salvia divinorum

yerba mate – Ilex paraguariensis

yohimba - Corynanthe yohimbe

yohimbe – Corynanthe yohimbe

yohimbe tree - Pausinystalia yohimba

yohimbehe - Corynanthe yohimbe

yopo - (snuff made from) Anadenanthera peregrina

zacatechichi – Calea zacatechichi

Preparations

amrita {synonyms: soma} Basically, amrita was the divine counterpart to the earthly soma

anhalonium – a preparation of Lophophora williamsii (peyote) made when it was classified as Anhalonium lewenii.

ayahuasca {synonyms: daime, hoasca, la purga, yage’ and many other indigenous names throughout the Amazon river basin} usually Banistiriopsis spp. combined with a DMT containing plant such as Psychotria viridis

charas - (Hindi, referring to balls of resin from Cannabis indica)

charras - (Hindi, referring to balls of resin from Cannabis indica)

daime – see ayahuasca

haoma – homa, chaoma (Avestan)
The identity of the active ingredient(s) of soma was forgotten or deliberately erased from history but a variety of hypothetical candidates have been proposed including:
Amanita muscaria,
Cannabis indica
Ephedra spp.
Hyoscyamus niger
Mandragora spp.
Peganum harmala
Punica granatum
Ruta graveolens
Vitis vinifera

hoasca – see ayahuasca

homa – see haoma

kykeon – (Greek) It seems almost certain that kykeon contained a powerful psychoactive ingredient. Like the rites in which it was served, the active ingredient or ingredients have been kept secret but a variety of hypothetical candidates for the secret active ingredient have been proposed including: Amanita muscaria
Claviseps paspali (ergot)
Claviceps purpurea (ergot)
Convolvulus tricolor
Lolium temulentum
Panaeolus spp.,
Papaver somniferum
Peganum harmala
Psilocybe spp.,

la purga – see ayahuasca

laudanum – a tincture of opium

soma {synonyms: amrita} (Sanskrit) – The identity of the active ingredient(s) of soma was forgotten or deliberately erased from history after the times in which the Vedas were written but a variety of hypothetical candidates have been proposed including:
Amanita muscaria
Argyreia nervosa
Claviceps spp.
Ephedra spp.
Peganum harmala
Psilocybe spp.
Over time, it seems that the original source of soma’s power became scarce. The following may have been used as post-Vedic substitutes:
Andropogon sp.
Cannabis indica,
Ephedra geradiana
Ficus religiosa
and others

vilca – (snuff made from) Anadenanthera colubrine or (snuff made from) Anadenanthera peregrina

yage’ – see ayahuasca

References

Erowid, The Vaults of Erowid, http://Erowid.org

Hofmann, Rätsch & Schultes, 2001 Plants of the Gods : Their Sacred, Healing, and Hallucinogenic Powers, Healing Arts Press

Miller, Richard Allen 1985, 1992 The Magical and Ritual Use of Aphrodisiacs, Destiny Books

Miller, Richard Alan, 1983, 1993 The Magical and Ritual Use of Herbs, Destiny Books

Ott, Jonathan 1993 Pharmacotheon : Entheogenic Drugs, Their Plant Sources and History, Natural Products

Rätsch, Christian 2005 The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants, Park Street Press