Virola is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as epená, patricá, or cumala. They have glossy, dark green leaves and clusters of tiny yellow flowers, and may emit a pungent odor. Traditional use Several species of this genus have been used to create hallucinogenic snuff powders. Chemical constituents The tops of Virola oleifera have been shown to produce lignan-7-ols and verrucosin that have antifungal action regarding Cladosporium sphaerospermum in doses as low as 25 micrograms. Lignan-7-ols oleiferin-B and oleiferin-G worked for Cladosporium cladosporioides starting as low as 10 micrograms. Species About 76 species, including: Virola aequatorialis Virola albidiflora Virola araujovii Virola atopa Virola bicuhyba Virola boliviensis Virola brachycarpa Virola caducifolia Virola calophylla (Spruce) Warb., Virola calophylloidea Virola carinata Virola coelhoi Virola crebrinervia Virola cuspidata Virola decorticans Virola divergens Virola dixonii Virola duckei Virola elliptica Virola elongata (syn. V. theiodora) Virola flexuosa Virola gardneri Virola glaziovii Virola glycycarpa Virola guatemalensis Virola guggnheimii Virola incolor Virola koschnyi Virola kukachkana Virola kwatae Virola laevigata Virola lepidota Virola lieneana Virola lorentensia (or V. loretensis) Virola macrantha Virola macrocarpa A.C. Sm., Virola malmei Virola marlenei Virola megacarpa A.H. Gentry Virola melinonii Virola merendonis Virola michelii Heckel, Virola micrantha Virola minutiflora Virola mocoa Virola mollissima Virola multicostata Ducke Virola multiflora (Standl. ) A. C. Sm., Virola multinervia Virola mycetis Virola nobilis Virola obovata Virola officinalis Virola oleifera Virola panamensis Virola papillosa Virola parvifolia Virola pavonis Virola peruviana Virola polyneura Virola reidii Virola rufula Virola rugulosa Virola schultesii Virola schwackei Virola sebifera Virola sessilis Virola steyermarkii Virola subsessilis Virola surinamensis (Rol. ex Rottb. ) Warb., Virola theiodora Virola urbaniana Virola venezuelensis Virola venosa (Benth.) Warb. Virola villosa Virola warburgli Virola weberbaueri Gallery Legal status United States Louisiana Except for ornamental purposes, growing, selling or possessing Virola spp. is prohibited by Louisiana State Act 159. See also Myristica — some species of this genus have been reclassified into Virola. Ayahuasca Entheogen Psychedelic plants References Notes General references Jonathan Ott – Shamanic Snuffs or Entheogenic Errhines (2001) Richard Evans Schultes – Plants of the Gods (1992) Erowid Virola Vault External links Sura.ots.ac.cr: Virola koschnyi — photos and info. Gardening.eu: Info on Growing Virola Myristicaceae genera Flora of South America Entheogens Herbal and fungal hallucinogens Medicinal plants of South America Psychedelic tryptamine carriers