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Can DMT be found naturally in certain plant species?
Executive summary
Yes — multiple peer-reviewed studies, scientific reviews and science journalism report that N,N‑dimethyltryptamine (DMT) occurs naturally in many plant species, including well‑documented sources used in ayahuasca brews such as Psychotria viridis and Mimosa (Mimosa hostilis / M. tenuiflora), and in genera like Acacia and Phalaris; analytical work has quantified DMT in brews and plant material [1] [2] [3] [4]. Coverage notes variability in which species contain measurable DMT, seasonal and tissue differences, and that only some plants contain levels high enough to be practical sources for extraction [5] [3].
1. How widely does DMT occur in plants? — A surprising botanical reach
Researchers and reviews report DMT has been formally identified in dozens of plant species across multiple families; Wikipedia notes DMT has been found in at least fifty plant species belonging to ten families, and popular botanical summaries extend the list further to genera such as Psychotria, Mimosa, Acacia and grasses like Phalaris [3] [4] [5]. Science journalism points out that DMT and related tryptamines turn up in geographically and taxonomically diverse plants — from South American legumes to Australian acacias and Eurasian/US ornamental grasses — suggesting the compound is more widespread than many lay readers expect [4].
2. Which plants are repeatedly documented as DMT sources? — The familiar names
Analytical chemistry papers and reviews repeatedly cite the same core list: Psychotria viridis (chacruna), Mimosa hostilis (also cited as M. tenuiflora or M. tenuiflora/hostilis), Diplopterys cabrerana, and several Acacia species are named as reliable DMT‑containing plants; laboratory studies have specifically measured DMT in ayahuasca brews made from those plants [1] [2] [3]. The academic ayahuasca analysis (DART‑HRMS and LC/MS work) explicitly lists Mimosa hostilis, Psychotria viridis and Diplopterys cabrerana among measured DMT sources used in traditional preparations [1].
3. How certain are those identifications? — Analytical methods and limits
Quantification and identification often require mass spectrometry or validated chromatographic methods because plant matrices are complex; a 2020/2021 analytical study developed validated UHPLC‑MS and DART‑HRMS methods for detecting DMT and related alkaloids in plant material and brews, showing DMT is detectable but that concentrations vary by species, plant part, and preparation [6] [1]. A methodological note from Metrohm demonstrates lab techniques (SERS, Raman) can detect DMT in extracts and that extractable DMT in plant materials often exceeds trace thresholds used in forensic/routine testing [7].
4. Not every plant in a named genus is a DMT source — important caveats
Botanical surveys and databases warn against overgeneralizing: some species within Acacia or other genera lack validated references for DMT content, and extraction attempts have failed for certain claimed species, suggesting either the compound is absent or present only in very low concentrations that can vary with season, tissue, or analytical method [5] [3]. A forensic pilot screening of Western Australian Acacia phyllodes found DMT in some species but not uniformly across the genus, underscoring intra‑genus variability and the need for specific testing [8].
5. Why do plants make DMT? — Evolutionary and ecological context
Commentary in science reporting and review articles frames tryptamines like DMT as plant secondary metabolites likely tied to defense against herbivores or pathogens, produced variably across lineages as the outcome of long evolutionary “arms races.” Authors note that the pattern — closely related species sometimes having radically different alkaloid profiles — is not fully understood and is the subject of ongoing phytochemical research [4].
6. What the archaeological and ethnobotanical record shows — long histories of use
Chemical analyses of archaeological artifacts and ethnobotanical literature document that indigenous peoples have used DMT‑containing plants for ritual and medicinal purposes for centuries, with residues of bufotenine and DMT detected in ancient bundles and with multiple Amazonian species traditionally employed in ayahuasca and snuff preparations [9] [1]. Modern laboratory work confirms those same species as chemically active sources today [1] [2].
7. Bottom line and reporting gaps — what remains unclear
Available sources agree DMT is naturally present in many plants and identify several well‑validated species and genera, but they also stress variability in concentrations, incomplete genus‑level coverage, and the need for rigorous, validated analytical data for each claimed species [1] [5] [8]. Sources do not provide a single, definitive catalog of every DMT‑containing plant worldwide; comprehensive, standardized surveys remain limited [4] [3].
If you want, I can summarize the most reliably documented species and the peer‑reviewed measurements for each (with citations), or produce a short guide to how scientists test plant material for DMT and the analytical caveats to keep in mind.