| Ipomoea violacea | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: | Ipomoea |
| Species: | I. violacea |
| Binomial name | |
| Ipomoea violacea L. |
|
Ipomoea violacea is a perennial[1] species of Ipomoea (morning glory) that occurs throughout the tropics, growing in coastal regions. It is most commonly called 'Beach Moonflower' or 'Sea Moonflower' as the flowers open at night.[2] The seeds of Ipomoea violacea contain several indole alkaloids with an action similar to—but weaker than—that of LSD, and for this reason have long been used by the natives of Central America for preparing hallucinogenic infusions.[3]
Contents |
Ipomoea violacea is found in tropical coastal regions of Africa, South and Central Americas, Asia and Polynesia, including the Caribbean, western and southern Mexico, Guatemala, Ghana, Kenya, Seychelles and Tanzania. It grows in the wild at the altitudes up to 100 meters,[1] and is also cultivated in gardens for its seeds.[4]
The flowers of Ipomoea violacea have a trumpet-like shape and various colors, including white, red, purple and blue.[4] The leaves are heart-shaped, with the nearly equal length and width of 8–16 cm. They are attached by a thin, about 10 cm long petiole to a fleshy, hairless stem. Flowers are usually solitary and about 10 cm long. The peduncle is 0.7–7 cm long the pedicels is 1.5–3 cm long. The seed capsule is 2–3 cm long, oval-shaped and is two-celled. It opens up into four valves, releasing four pubescent, elongated, edgy black seeds, about 1 cm long.[5][6] The seeds have a narrow ridge and 3–6 mm long hair.[1]
The plant requires much light, water and a warm climate. The seeds develop in May and germinate within 6–14 days after sowing; the optimal temperature for germination is 18 °C. The flowering season is from July to October.[6]
The seeds of Ipomoea violacea had been valued as a potent hallucinogen by the Zapotec peoples living in the present-day Oaxaca and Veracruz regions of Mexico. The seeds were called piule by Chinantec and Mazatec people, badoh negro by the Zapotechs and tlililzin by the Aztecs. They were ground and used to make an infusion which had strong hallucinogenic properties. The condition of trance induced by drinking the infusion was used by local shamans to communicate with spirits "for the purpose of divination and diagnosis". The Spanish colonizers of Mexico suppressed this practice, but it was continued in the mountainous regions.[4]
The seeds of Ipomoea violacea contain various ergoline alkaloids, the most active being the amides of D-lysergic acid and D-iso-lysergic acid (ergine and isoergine). These amides are closely related to the lysergic acid diethylamide commonly known as LSD and are about one twentieth the potency of LSD. Other alkaloids present in the seeds include elymoclavine, lysergol, ergometrine and chanoclavine.[7] The alkaloid content varies between the plants; it is typically about 0.05% but can reach 1%. The alkaloids are produced not by the plant itself, but by fungi associated with it, and are transmitted to the plant via its seeds.[8]