Hi there, denizens of SP,
I just received a handful of Psychotria ipecacuanha seeds, and was curious if there was anyone interested in adding this oddity to their collection. This is the plant that's used as an emetic in Ipecac syrup -- in other words, it induces vomiting. The Psychotrias never fail to amaze me in their uses.
I can't vouch for their viability, as I haven't planted any yet, but they do come from a reputable source and I'm confident of their proper identification.
I'd love to trade for something unusual, but I'm especially interested in finding seeds or plants of the following:
Galbulimima baccata and G. belgreveana
Voacanga thouarsii
Pausinystalia yohimbe
Kaempferia galanga
Duboisia myoporoides and D. hopwoodii
Caesalpinia sepiaria
Cyperus articulatus
Scirpus atrovirens
Please send me a PM if you're interested.
CP
Can you actually drink this plant as tea or smoke it without puking? Let me know, I might be interested in some seeds...
Jamison Schuetz
Jamison,
I believe that the roots are the parts usually used as an emetic medicine, in cases of poisoning (though it should NOT be used for petroleum distillate or corrosive poisoning). I really don't know whether a tea or smoke made from the flowers, leaves, or seeds will make you puke. It's worth noting that anything that causes such a dramatic body reaction should be used cautiously. It appears even obtaining syrup of ipecac demands a talk with your local pharmacist; though I don't think it's prescription, I've read that it's one of those medicines often kept 'behind the counter'.
That said, it's a nice looking plant, like all of the Psychotrias. Definitely a cool one for the collection!
I don't have any of the particular plants your looking for but I do have a bunch of interesting stuff! Including rare clones of salvia, psychotria, trichocereus, etc.
email me at farfromhere001@aol.com if you want to trade, im very interested in p. ipecac plants or seeds!