The main psychoactive plants

 

 1. Poppy (Papaver somniferum) is a herbaceous flowering plant from whose seed opium is obtained. It contains several active ingredients with psychoactive properties: morphine (from which heroin is also extracted), codeine and others.

2. Hemp (Cannabis sativa), also improperly called marijuana, is a shrubby plant, native to South Asia, which possesses alkaloids with well-defined psychoactive properties. Hashish is extracted from it and the flowers and leaves are used for smoking.

3. Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a cactus whose most important active ingredient is mescaline. Peyote grows in the arid zones of subtropical North America.

4. The theonanacatl (Psilocybe mexicana and Stropharia cubensis) is made up of several species of psychoactive fungi that grow in the mountains of Mesoamerica (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guatemala). They contain psilocybin and psilocin

 5. The fly swatter (Amanita muscaria) is a psychoactive mushroom that grows in the northern and temperate mountain forests of Eurasia. Contains muscarine and muscimol.

6. Ayahuasca is an infusion prepared from a vine that grows in the Amazon region. This vine, called Banisteriopsis caapi, contains harmine13 (C13H12N2O), an alkaloid with strong psychoactive properties.

7.  The ergot or ergot (Claviceps purpurea) is a fungus that parasitizes rye, wheat and other grasses. It is strongly psychoactive. Its toxicity can be eliminated in its preparation. Of Eurasian or North African origin. It contains several psychoactive lysergic acid alkaloids, related to LSD-25 (d-lysergic acid diethylamide), the well-known psychedelic synthetic compound.

8. The ololiuhqui (Turbina corymbosa), also called "virgin seeds" is a vine found in Mexico whose seeds have visionary properties. Like ergot, it contains lysergic acid alkaloids, strongly psychoactive.

9. The aguacolla, also called San Pedro or gigantón (Trichocereus pachanoi) is a large cactus (5 to 8 meters high) that grows in the central and northwestern Andes of South America (Ecuador, Peru). Contains mescaline.

10. Coca is a shrub plant typical of the Andean foothills in South America whose leaves contain numerous alkaloids, including cocaine.

11. Tobacco is a native shrub of American origin cultivated in most native societies. It has several alkaloids, mainly nicotine.

12. The henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is an herb of the nightshade family characteristic of Europe and the Mediterranean region. It contains tropane alkaloids, in particular hyoscyamine and scopolamine (with visionary properties).

13. Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) is a herbaceous plant of the nightshade family, European origin, contains several tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine and scopolamine.

14. The mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is a herbaceous-bearing nightshade plant of European origin with thick and irregular roots with an anthropomorphic appearance. With tropane alkaloids: hyoscyamine, scopolamine, atropine and mandragorin.

15. The iboga (Tabernanthe iboga) is a shrub from Central Africa whose roots are used for its visionary properties. From the apocinaceae family, made up of shrubs and trees characterized by its simple leaves, colorful flowers and a milky juice. Contains ibogaine and 11 more indole-alkaloids.

16. The Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) is a small shrub native to the desert areas of the Eastern Mediterranean. Contains beta-carboline alkaloids such as harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydro-harmine that have visionary properties.

17. The toloache (Datura inoxia) is a perennial herb that can reach more than 1 m in height that grows in Mexico. The root, the seeds and to a lesser extent the leaves are used. Contains scopolamine and hyoscyamine.

 Reproduced from the book "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents" by D.Antón, Piriguazú Ediciones.