Duboisia leichhardtii
(F.Muell.) F.Muell.
Solanaceae
Anthocercis leichhardtii F.Muell.
Common Name: Corkwood
General Information
Duboisia leichhardtii is a tall shrub or small tree growing up to 12 metres tall.
An important source of tropane alkaloids, it is cultivated on a plantation-scale in Australia and Japan for the industrial-scale extraction of alkaloids[
]. Taken into culture together with Duboisia myoporoides; most tropane alkaloid production is from these two species and their hybrids[
].
Known Hazards
The plant is reported to be toxic to cattle, horses and humans.
The plant has been used to poison fish[
694- Title
- Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nicholson N. & H.
- Publisher
- Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
- Year
- 2007
- ISBN
- 9-78095894-3628
- Description
- Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
An infusion of the leaves is toxic to rats, dogs, cats, and frogs and, in larger quantities, to humans[
].
Botanical References
Range
Australia - Queensland.
Habitat
Found in fertile loam, often in softwood scrub and in disturbed sites.
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated |
Cultivation Details
Occurs naturally mainly in the subtropics, only just extending into tropical areas.
A hybrid between D. leichhardtii and D. myoporoides also yields tropane alkaloids and is cultivated commercially for hyoscine production.
Edible Uses
The leaves contain various alkaloids and have been used to make intoxicating drinks[
694- Title
- Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nicholson N. & H.
- Publisher
- Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
- Year
- 2007
- ISBN
- 9-78095894-3628
- Description
- Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
Medicinal
The leaves are a bitter, hypnotic herb that dilates the pupils, stimulates respiration and acts as a sedative[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
]. It contains duboisine, a mydriatic alkaloid[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The leaves contain various alkaloids and have been used to make intoxicating drinks[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
694- Title
- Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nicholson N. & H.
- Publisher
- Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
- Year
- 2007
- ISBN
- 9-78095894-3628
- Description
- Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
The plant is a rich source of tropane alkaloids[
]. These alkaloids are used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of a wide range of medicines including stimulants, antispasmodics and analgesics.
The leaves are used in homeopathy for the treatment of eye complaints[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The herb is subject to legal restrictions in some countries[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, it germinates freely if removed from the flesh of the fruit[
694- Title
- Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nicholson N. & H.
- Publisher
- Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
- Year
- 2007
- ISBN
- 9-78095894-3628
- Description
- Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
