Argyrea nervosa / Hawaiian Baby Woodrose / Convolvulaceae (Bindweed family)
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Other Names
Baby Hawaiian Woodrose, Baby Woodrose, Cordon Seda, Coup D'Air, Elephant Creeper, Liane A Minguet, Liane D' Argent, Samudrasokh, Silver Morning Glory, Woolly Morning Glory, Vridha daraka, Samudra Shokha, Bijarka, Samudra phool, Vriddadaru, Samudar sokh, Kadarpalai.
Description
Hawaiian Baby Woodrose (Argyreia nervosa), not to be confused with the Hawaiian woodrose (Merremia tuberosa), is a perennial climbing vine, also known as Elephant Creeper and Woolly Morning Glory. Native to the Indian subcontinent and introduced to numerous areas worldwide, including Hawaii, Africa and the Caribbean, it can be invasive, although is often prized for its aesthetic value. The seeds of the plant contain ergot alkaloids, including the hallucinogenic LSA (ergine), which is a chemical analog of LSD. Hawaiian Baby Woodrose seeds are sometimes used as a legally obtainable psychedelic, though the legality of consuming the seeds is ambiguous in some jurisdictions.(1)
Contents
The seeds of Argyreia nervosa contain about 0.3% ergot alkaloids, including chanoclavine, lysergol, ergotmetrine and ergine. These are all derivatives of Lysergic acid and most are collectively named lysergic acid amides (LSA). LSD (Lysergic Acid Diiethylamide) is also a lysergic acid amide and although resembling the natural lysergic acid amides both in structure and and pharmacological activity, it has not been found in nature.
Historical
Hawaiian Baby Woodrose seeds have been used ethnobotanically in the Pacific Islands by certain high priests to induce communication with the spiritual world. The plant is a rare example of a hallucinogenic herb, the properties of which have only recently been discovered. While its cousins in the Convolvulaceae family, such as the Rivea corymbosa (Ololiuhqui) and Ipomoea violacea (Tlitliltzin or Morning Glory) were used in shamanic rituals of Latin America for centuries, the Hawaiian baby woodrose was not traditionally recognised as a hallucinogen. Its properties were first brought to attention in the 1960s, despite the fact that the chemical composition of its seeds is near identical to those of the two species mentioned above, and in fact contain the highest concentration of psychoactive compounds in the entire family. The hallucinogenic properties of the seeds became known mainly through their use in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, where impoverished members of the population would consume the seeds, seeking a "cheap buzz" as an alternative to alcohol. A sample made its way to Albert Hofmann, the discoverer of LSD, who confirmed the effects and analysed its chemical composition.
Health Warnings
The "furry" outer skin of the seeds purportedly contains cyanogenic glycosides, also found in the pits of most fruit, such as apples and apricots, the ingestion of which is the likely cause of nausea reported by those who have eaten the seeds. Many of the ergot alkaloids can cause constriction of bloodvessels, which may result in necrosis of the tissue and gangrene in humans and animals in excessive doses.
Plant Description
Beautiful woody, flowering vine that grows well in full sun on a trellis. The leaves are large, downy and have velvety white hairs. The flowers are purple on the inside fading lighter at the ends. The seed pods dry into woody "roses" which hold one to four seeds.
Hawaiian Baby Woodrose has a very tough seed coat and nicking aids in germination a lot. Take very sharp scissors and make a shallow snip away from the germ eye, just piercing the seed coat. Alterinateivly you can take a file a file away a bit, again away from the germ eye. Some people recomend pouring boiling water over the freshly nicked seeds, and to let them sit over night, but this is not nessecery. Plant in free draining soil (HBWR is somewhat susceptible to rot). In any event if the seeds are good germination should occur in less than a week.
The plant does not like a lot of light when it is young. Put the seedlings in direct light every day until they show some signs of wilting, then take them out. This way the seedlings are getting the maximum amount of sunlight they can handle and soon adapt to it and pump out as much growth as possible. Alternitively you can start them off outside in pots in full sun. This way they will adapt to lots of light very quickly, again take them out of the sun when they show signs of wilting.
Keep soil moist but not wet. Still make sure to water regularly. If they remain dry to long they will start to wilt and appear to have gotten too much sun. It is, unlike its close relative Morning Glory, a very slow grower, and can take up to two years to even reach a foot tall. Feed the plants regularly with fertilizer (20,20,20), which they seem to respond well to. Any fertilizer will do. Also worm castings is reccomended when younger. Whatever you use just make sure to start off with half the recomended strength.
Good luck with it if you dont live in a tropical climate. The most important factor in getting them to flower is ensuring enough space for the roots. HBWR gets potbound very easily after its first year or so of growth... you think shes barely growing but it seems to focus its energy on growing roots.
Legal Remarks
While ergine is listed as a DEA Schedule III substance in the United States, Hawaiian baby woodrose is not controlled. Thus, while possession of any part of the plant is legal, an ergine extraction is prosecutable by US law. The plant is not monitored as a major controlled substance precursor, since a synthesis of LSD from ergine, while possible, is impractical.
This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries.
Click on the country link for further information.
References
(1) Wikipedia
Erowid Herb Vault
Articles
Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites,
is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be
interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.
Ergot
Lysergic acid
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