Brunfelsia chiricaspi
Plowman
Solanaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Brunfelsia chiricaspi is a few-branched, evergreen shrub or a small tree with a crown of lax, spreading branches; it generally grows 1 - 3 metres tall. The short bole is around 5cm in diameter[
717- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 23
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of botanical articles. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].
The plant is a favoured hallucinogenic plant for several native tribes in the Amazon, and is often harvested from the wild for this purpose[
929- Title
- A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
- Author
- Plowman T.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Known Hazards
Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most plants in the family Solanaceae also contain poisonous alkaloids. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Botanical References
929- Title
- A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
- Author
- Plowman T.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
S. America - Ecuador, Colombia.
Habitat
An understorey shrub in humid, primary forests at elevations of 325 - 500 metres, occasionally persisting after cutting of the forest[
717- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 23
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of botanical articles. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 2.50 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Grows best in a position with partial shade - when growing in full sun the foliage may scorch and drop[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a loamy, fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Many species in this genus grow wild in alkaline soils and, in non-alkaline soils, all members of the genus can benefit from the addition of some ground limestone[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The specific name of this plant is taken from one of its vernacular names: chiricaspi, meaning 'cold tree' in Quechua. This word refers to the physiological effect of chills or tingling produced upon ingestion of the bark. This plant, as well as other species of Brunfelsia, is used by various tribes of southern Colombia as an admixture to the hallucinogenic Banisteriopsis. It is reputedly the strongest of the intoxicating Brunfelsias and is preferred over the commonly cultivated Brunfelsia grandiflora schultesii[
717- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 23
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of botanical articles. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - it has a short period of viability and does not tolerate dessication. Sown fresh, it germinates within 2 - 4 weeks[
929- Title
- A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
- Author
- Plowman T.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Layering[
929- Title
- A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
- Author
- Plowman T.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
