Cross-Reference of Scientific to Common Names of Psychoactives

Psychoactives :
Biological to Common Names
compiled by Rendi and Justin Case

This is a list of psychoactive animals, fungi and plants in alphabetical order by their biological names or their binomial nomenclature (otherwise known as their “scientific names”, Latin taxa, etc.) followed by their common, indigenous, folk, slang and street names.

We have found this list to be very useful as a quick reference for clarification when conducting research into natural psychoactives. We hope this serves you as well.

This list is divided into three sections; animals, fungi and plants.

In each section, the biological name is listed first in italics (as is the commonly accepted practice). This is followed by the various common names. When possible, the culture from which a name is derived is given in parentheses – Example: (Chinese).

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 at the bottom of this document) in addition to giving entries for many, many more psychoactive plants that are too obscure and numerous to list here. At the time of this writing (2007) 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.

There are a few cases in which it is not certain as to what plant or fungus a given folk name applies to (pipiltzintzintli, for example, is an Aztec word that may have been their name for Salvia divinorum, though this is not certain and still debated). 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: Salvia divinorum - [possibly pipiltzintzintli (Aztec)].

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 When called for, we have indicated which biological name is outdated and which is current.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.

If you are aware of any corrections that can be made or if you have any suggestions, additions, etc. please e-mail us at Rendicase@gmail.com.

Animals

Apis mellifera – Honey Bee

Bufo alvarius – Sonoran desert toad

Salamandra salamandra – European fire salamander, fire salamander

Fungi

Amanita muscaria – asumer, bolong gomba (Magyar), fly agaric, narren schwamm (German), pangk (Siberian), pong pank (Siberian), pongo (Siberian), toadstool, wapaq (Koryak), [possibly: amrita (Aryan) and possibly soma (Aryan)]

Amanita pantherina – panther cap

Claviceps purpurea – ergot, ergot of rye, ergot rust, mutterkorne, mother of rye [possibly the active ingredient of the sacred drink kykeon of the ancient rites of Eleusis]

Copelandia spp. {synonyms: many of the Copelandia spp. have been reassigned to the Panaeolus spp.}

Gymnopilus spp. – big laughing jim, gym, laughing mushroom, maitake (Japanese, “dancing mushroom”), waritake (Japanese, “laughing mushroom”)

Panaeolus spp. – blue meanies, inky cap

Psilocybe azurecens – blue runner, flying saucer mushroom, indigo psilocybe

Psilocybe cubensis {synonyms: Stropharia cubensis} – cubes,

Psilocybe cyanescens – wavy cap

Psilocybe semilanceata – elf’s cap, liberty cap, Phrygian bonnet, pixie cap, witch cap

Psilocybe spp –hongos (Mazatec), magic mushroom, n’sheeto (Mazatec), san isidro, shrooms, strophana, teonanacatl (Aztec, “flesh of the gods”)

Plants

Acacia spp. {synonyms – “Many species of the genus Acacia were formerly assigned to the genera Mimosa, Pithecolobium, Senegalia and Racosperma. In addition, some species previously described under the genus name Acacia have now been reclassified as Anadenanthera and Mimosa” – Ratsch 2005} – buffalo sallow wattle, maiden’s wattle, wattle

Acorus clamus - bachh (Hindu), beewort, calamus, racha (Vedic), shih-ch’ang pu (Chinese), sweet flag, sweet myrtle, sweet sedge

Agave spp. – agave, century plant, chupalla, henequen, maguei, maguey, mescal plant, pita

Alstonia scholaris – alstonia, bitter bark, devil’s tree, dita, chatim (India), pale mara

Anadenanthera colubrine – cenil, vilca NOTE: these names for the plant are usually used for the snuff made from it

Anadenanthera peregrina – cohoba, yopo, vilca

Anhalonium lewnii {synonyms – currently called Lophophora williamsii} – peyote, peyotl

Anhalonium williamsii {synonyms – currently called Lophophora williamsii} – peyote, peyotl

Areca catechu {synonyms - Areca guavaia nom. Nud.} – areca nut, betel nut, pinang (Hindu), ping lang (Chinese), siri (Hindu), Supari (Hindu)

Argemone mexicana – Mexican prickly poppy

Argyreia nervosa – baby Hawaiian woodrose, bastantri (Sanskrit), Hawaiian baby woodrose, silver morning glory, wooly morning glory

Ariocarpus fissuratus – dry whiskey, false peyote, living rock

Artemesia absinthium (main absinthe ingredient) - devil’s liquor, green ginger, green muse, wormwood

Arundo donax – Colorado river reed, donax cane, giant reed, giant reed grass

Atropa belladonna – belladonna, deadly nightshade, devil’s cherries, nightshade

Banisteriopsis caapi (main ayhausca brew ingredient) - ayahuasca (referring to both this plant and the brew made from it and other plants), ayahuasca vine, ca’api, huasca (referring to both this plant and the brew made from it and other plants), natem pinde, yage

Brugmansia spp. – angel’s trumpet, angel’s trumpet tree

Brugmansia versicolor – Amazonian tree datura, tree datura

Brunfelsia spp. – Manaca, chiric sanango

Calea zacatechichi – Aztec dream grass, dream herb, zacatechichi

Cannabis spp. – bang, bhang or bhanga (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica, also to a drink made with the herb), charas or charras (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica), dagga (as opposed to wild dagga which refers to Leonatus leonurus or lion’s tail) ganja or ganjah (Hindi, referring to Cannabis indica, now also used in Jamaica referring to Cannabis spp. in general), grass, hemp, Indian hemp (referring to Cannabis indica), marijuana, mary jane, pot, reefer, tea, weed [possibly canna, channa, or kanna refers to Cannnabis spp. and possibly kanubu does as well]

Catha edulis – chat, khat, miraa, qat

Cola nitida – kola nut

Coleus blumei {now called Solenostemon scutellaroides} - coleus

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

Corynanthe yohimbe – johimbe, pausinystalia, yohimba, yohimbe, yohimbehe

Datura spp. – angel’s trumpet, devil’s apple, Gabriel’s trumpet, Jamestown weed, jimson weed, moonflower, stinkweed, thorn apple, yerba del Diablo

Desmanthus illinoensis – bundle flower, Illinois bundle weed, prairie bundle flower

Ephedra navadensis – brigham weed, desert tea, mormon tea, popotillo, squaw tea, teamsters tea

Ephedra sinica – ma-huang

Erythroxylum coca – coca, coca bush, cocaine tree, huanuco

Heimia salicifolia – shrubby yellowcrest, sinicuiche or sinicuichi, sun opener

Humulus lupulus – hops, beer hops

Hyoscyamus spp. – devil’s eyes, henbane

Ilex guayusa – guayusa

Ilex paraguariensis – mate’ bush

Ipomoea spp. - badoh negro (referring to the seeds), badungas, la’aja shnash, morning glory or morning glory vine, tliltliltzen (Aztec)

Kaempferia galanga – catarrh root, China root, colic root, galangal root, India root, maraba

Lactuca virosa – compass plant, lettuce opium, lopium, wild lettuce

Leootis leonurus – lion’s tail, wild dagga (as opposed to dagga which refers to Cannabis)

Leonurus sibricus {synonyms - Leonurus artemesia} – Siberian motherwort

Liriosma ovata – muira-puama

Lobelia inflata – bladderpod, gagaroot, Indian tobacco, vomitroot

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

Mandragora officianarum {Synonyms - Atropa mandragora} – Circe’s plant, Dudaim, love apple, mandrake, Satan’s apple

Mesembryanthemum spp.– Ice Plant

Mimosa spp. - jeruma

Mitragyna speciosa – ithang, ketum, kratom, thom

Myristica fragrans - nutmeg

Nepeta cataria – catnip

Nicotania rustica – mapacho

Nymphaea spp. – Egyptian lotus, lily of the Nile, lotus, water lilly, (Nymphaea ampla = white water lily or white lotus, Nymphaea caerulea = blue lily, blue water lily, blue lotus, etc.)

Papaver somniferum – mawseed, opium poppy, plant of joy, poppy

Passiflora spp. – apricot vine, maracuja, maypop, passion flower, passion fruit, passion vine

Panela supana {syn. Paullinia cupana} – Brazilian cocoa, fruits of youth, guarana, uabano

Paullinia cupana {syn. Panela supana} – Brazilian cocoa, fruits of youth, guarana, uabano

Pausinystalia yohimba – yohimbe tree

Peganum harmala – harmal, harmel, Syrian rue

Phalaris arundinacea – canary grass, reed canary grass, reed grass

Phalaris aquatica – harding grass

Piper methysticum – ava, ava pepper, awa, intoxicating pepper, kava or kava kava, kowa kowa, yagona, wati

Psychotria viridis - chacruna

Rivea corymbosa {synonyms: this species has been reclassified as Turbina corymbosa}

Salvia divinorum – diviner’s sage, hierba de la pastora (Mazatec), hojas de la pastora (Mazatec), sage of the seers, sally-D, ska Maria pastora (Mazatec), yerba de Maria (Mazatec)[possibly: pipiltzintzintli (Aztec)]

Sceletium tortusum – canna, canna-root, channa, kanna, kougoed

Scuttellaria laterfoli – blue pimpernel, hoodwort, mad dogweed, skullcap

Solanum spp. – deadly nightshade, nightshade

Solenostemon scutellaroides {formerly Coleus blumei} - coleus

Sophora secundiflora – big drunk bean, mescal bean, Texas mountain laurel

Tabernanthe iboga – bitter grass, eboga, iboga, leaf of god, thie-pelakano

Theobroma cacao – chocolate, cacao, cocoa

Trichocereus peruvianus - Peruvian torch

Trichocereus pachanoi {synonyms: Echinopsis spp.} – Achuma, agua-colla, cimora, san pedro

Trichocereus terscheckii – cardon grande

Turbina corymbosa {synonyms: Convolvulus spp., Ipomoea spp. (this plant is similar to Ipomoea spp. in appearance and their seeds have analogous effects but the two plants do not belong to the same genera), Rivea corymbosa (a name used until about the middle of the 20th century)} – badoh (referring to the seeds), badoh blanco (seeds), bejuca de san pedro, coatlxihuitl (Aztec), ololiuqui (Aztec), ololiuqui vine, semillas de la virgen

Turnera diffusa – Damiana, Mexican Damiana

Valeriana officinalis – valerian, valerian root, vandal root

Virola spp. – ebena, epena, nyakwana, parica, parika

Withania somnifira - ashwagandha

References

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

Hofmann, Ratsch & 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