Psychotria viridis is a perennial shrub of the Rubiaceae family. In the Quechua languages it is called chacruna or chacrona. In Quechua, chaqruy is a verb meaning "to mix". P. viridis is a close relative of Psychotria carthagensis (aka samiruka or amiruca) of Ecuador. Whether P. viridis and P. carthagensis are not actually the same species is a matter of dispute. In Ecuador, the name chacruna refers to Diplopterys cabrerana.