Cojoba, Yopo, Wilca, and Cebil: Ancestral Entheogens of the Americas from the Genus Anadenanthera

The genus Anadenanthera encompasses some of the most culturally and ecologically significant entheogenic trees of the Americas. With a long history of ritual use, these leguminous trees—closely related to Acacia and Mimosa—are native to the dry forests and savanna biomes of South America. Species such as A. peregrina (Yopo, Cojoba) and A. colubrina (Wilca, Cebil) have been implicated in ancient visionary practices and may even play a role in the early development of the ayahuasca complex.

From the overstory of Trichocereus (San Pedro) cactus communities in the Andes to their ceremonial use across Venezuela, the Caribbean, and the Southern Cone, Anadenanthera trees have left a botanical and cultural footprint across the continent. At Chavín de Huántar, a major ceremonial center in the Peruvian Andes, archaeological evidence suggests Anadenanthera seeds were ritually used in conjunction with huachuma (Echinopsis pachanoi), and they continue to appear in the mesa traditions of San Pedro curanderismo.

Seeds of these trees traveled vast distances through pre-Columbian trade routes, reaching as far north as the Basin of Mexico and as far south as Tierra del Fuego, reflecting their deep significance in Indigenous medicine, spirituality, and landscape ecology.

In this richly illustrated and story-driven presentation, ethnobotanist Neil Logan takes participants on a journey from the Caribbean coast to the Chaco forests of northern Argentina, exploring the evolutionary history, ethnobotanical uses, and biocultural importance of this powerful tree of knowledge.