The discovery of the botanical components of this South American hallucinogenic drink, in certain respects, parallels the discovery of the plants which make up the South American arrow poisons of curare. Curare was once described collectively by the container in which it was found: "pot curare", "tube curare" and "calabash curare". The narcotic beverage discussed in this paper has been referred to by the collective terms ayahuasca, caapi, and yajé, although we now realize that we are dealing with a number of problems, several of very major importance, which can be resolved only through properly identified botanical voucher specimens.