One of my two VA's has started to bloom. I've been told that they are self fertile but usually do not set any seed the first few times they flower. Both the plants are about 5 or 6 years old, maybe 7, not sure. If I get any seedpods it'll be a couple months or so before they are ripe. Fresh VA seed is supposed to sprout easily.
The flowers are about 1.5" to 2" across and have a sweet flowery scent.
(//http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg77/Stonehenge1/VAfricana.jpg)
Very cool, good luck with the seeds!!! :)
Good for 'ya!! makes me wish I had a green thumb 'fer sure.....Good luck on the seeds.
Does anybody have any experience with usage of this plant?
Beautiful, how much cold can they take, and how long do the seeds stay viable?
Thanks, everybody. Freezing will hurt them but they have been outside for a few years now. I took them in the first few years when it froze but they weathered it ok the last couple times. I'm in zone 9.
The seeds are used, they contain voacanine (sp?) and a number of other substances. I've been told that the leaves can be smoked for effect. No one I knew very well has told me the leaves were good so I never tried it. I think it's mostly the seeds. They may have a little bit of ibogaine in them too. I should look up the pharmacology.
I did a little digging and found that not only the seeds but also the bark and rootbark are used. It's related to T. Iboga and may have a tiny bit of ibogaine in it. It can produce hallucinations.
yay stoney for a good bit of scholarly info!
any experience reports available?
There are lots of reports out there. I haven't used it myself. I grow a lot of stuff but use very little. I heard that the leaves can be smoked with effect. Possibly they can be eaten as well. The seeds and bark are said to be the main parts used, usually the seeds are eaten.
any reliable vendors known>?
Hey folks my voacanga have set seed so hang in there stoney maybe next year. I have a bunch of pups popping up around the base too. They have been in the ground for 6 er so years now. my 2 cents peace
Quote from: "IOPan"Hey folks my voacanga have set seed so hang in there stoney maybe next year. I have a bunch of pups popping up around the base too. They have been in the ground for 6 er so years now. my 2 cents peace
That's great! I didn't even know you were growing this plant. I've heard that the first two or three flowerings usually do not lead to seeds being set. Have you done any hand pollenating? A photo would be nice.
There are lots of vendors out there.
Lets hope you get lucky and they set seeds this time. :D
Hey IOPan, are any of those seeds or pups available?
Congrats on the blooms...beautiful plant! Awesome picture, too, Stoney :)
these photos aren't that great but here you are some links for you guys
http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 066sy0.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p3070066sy0.jpg)
http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 067to2.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p3070067to2.jpg)
http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002495de9.jpg (http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002495de9.jpg)
http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 101fo6.jpg (http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p3160101fo6.jpg)
hope you all like em I'll get better ones in the future
Peace Pan
Those are very nice, IOPan. I particularly liked the last one and I presume the first couple are of a seed pod? I haven't gotten that far yet. In the last photo, are all those trees VA? Or is it on the right or left?