Solandra of the Nightshade Family
Solandra grandiflora (Solanaceae)
Location: Tropical and Warm Regions of Mexico, Central and South America
The two species of Solandra are easy to find and are often regarded as beautiful plants. Their flowers are elegant, a sort of “upward trumpet” with folded-aback petals. The flowers are usually cream, green, or yellow colored and up to 8 inches in diameter. The flowers smell great and open up a few more inches during complete maturity. Although Solandra is technically a shrub, it can have a commanding presence.
Solandra, also known as Chalice Vine, has been used in Mexico as a hallucinogen for centuries. There are several drinks that can be made from the plant that are strongly intoxicating. Solandra has been well-known to be used as a hallucinogen by the Aztecs (who called it Tecomaxochitl or Hueipatl). It is still used as an intoxicant in many places. Solandra contains many tropane alkaloids, including: cuscohygrine, hyoscyamine, nortropine, scopolamine, and tropine.
