I've just moved to East Africa (Rwanda) - anyone able to tell me what sort of entheogenic shrubs we have here? I've seen what looks like the bright purple Morning Glory here and there but other than that I'm woefully ignorant of the local flora. It's a long way from home :P
Sorry, don't know about the local flora. But you should be able to grow most anything there.
I'm thinking that Khat shrubs may grow where you are at.
Erowid Khat vault; http://www.erowid.org/plants/khat/khat.shtml (http://www.erowid.org/plants/khat/khat.shtml)
Now that's interesting, thanks DrYRHead. I saw something that looked just like that a couple of days ago - a Rwandese friend asked me if I knew what it was and I didn't :P
I've heard of its prolific use in other countries, but to be honest I haven't seen it here at all thus far. It's a very Catholic country - many people don't drink either. I'm sure, if it's here, it'll be in use but rather under cover in comparison to some countries I'd suspect.
Ya, it can be quided or made into a tea just like coca. However, it is best used fresh, as the main active cathinone converts to the much weaker PPA(phenylpropanalamine) upon drying.
Another plant native to Africa is Tabernanthe iboga. http://www.erowid.org/plants/iboga/iboga.shtml (http://www.erowid.org/plants/iboga/iboga.shtml) However, it grows west of where you are at.
Khat can be grown outdoors in many parts of the usa. It can be grown outdoors and taken in during the winter in other parts.
Catha grows very well in north central Florida. In fact it tolerates the freezes we get in the winter.
It is tolerant of drought and some degree of freezing.
In north central florida freezes don't typically last very long. It got down to 20 degrees one night a week ago and Catha seemed ok.
( Im sure Stonehenge remembed that?)
Im guessing it might do well as far north as Atlanta?
Catha is definately subtropical.