E. novo history in Australia.

[sobriquet]

Hi all,

Reading far and wide it appears that there have at various times been specimens of this interesting species within Australia. I realise that there may not be any concrete or verifiable information in relation to any of what I am writing but I'm thinking that this species surely can't be extinct in this country.

Here are some examples of what I've discovered:

1. Pre-WWII cultivation of E. novo in northern Queensland; possibly in the Atherton tablelands. Possibly survives in escaped wild populations.

2. Sydney Botanical Gardens. Had a specimen plant of E. novo or another related species. Original location uncertain but greenhouse or herbarium type environment likely. Reports of this plant suffering a death by defoliation once discovered. Whether this plant still exists or its offspring might still exist is uncertain.

3. Controversial but commercial specimens from Northern NSW on sale for some time before being stopped. How many of these were sold or survived is unknowable, but perhaps some specimens survive?

I guess my point is that E. novo and coca are not equivalent to the contained alkaloid. Many who grow these probably couldn't bear to injure or damage the plant, being fragile in this environment as it is. It is unfortunate that they are prohibited to cultivate in this country but that's the situation.

I don't know why any law is needed to stop the cultivation of this species when Australia's climate itself is already a formidable adversary. I'm hoping that the laws might change in the future towards a more enlightened view about these issues.

Hypothetically speaking, surely if some of the examples of this plant survive somewhere. Is it likely that these plants, if they in fact survive somewhere will be producing seed by now? It appears to me from reading material on its cultivation that this is a tremendously difficult plant to grow in Australia by any standards.

Does anybody have any information or even anecdotes to share about the history of E. novo in Australia, and specifically in relation to the three related above. There's probably little real information and that's cool but I think it's somewhat interesting to share these anecdotes and speculations.

Maybe my post is akin to searching for Bigfoot in the Great Dividing Range or some such, but I'd love to hear people's stories and speculations on this.

Cheers.

[mr b.caapi]

...could be the botanical version of "Lasseters Reef" ..

[Tripitaka]

I spoke to a grissled mountain grower from Peru that snapped this interesting image in the ealy 70's.

One River by Wade Davis is well worth reading for interesting botanical scrutiny of the Erythroxylum comples in South America.

Edited August 31, 2006 by Tripitaka

[sobriquet]

I spoke to a grissled mountain grower from Peru that snapped this interesting image in the ealy 70's.

One River by Wade Davis is well worth reading for interesting botanical scrutiny of the Erythroxylum comples in South America.

lol. That's cute Well I guess that's the trick then. You have to find the Yeti to find the plants

I knew I was onto something with Bigfoot ;)

[Tripitaka]

Erythroxylum novogranatense also made an appearance in Indonesia and grown commercialy I believe.

Would be interesting to see what form the plant has taken and if any varients have presented themselves. I would imagine that seed would have naturalised the surrounding areas.

Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense

Colombian coca

The Coca of the more tropical lowlands north into colombia. It is self fertile as supposed to be evolved from the parent species E coca

It has a peculiar taste like wintergreen oil

Percentage content varies from 1 to 2.5% in some selected strains like javanese coca. mix of cocain and ecgonine. This is the common variety sold y almost all seedsellers

Edited August 31, 2006 by Tripitaka

[Torsten]

Many nice buildings in Amsterdam were built from the vast amount of money the dutch made by coca cultivation in java, so tropical cultivation is certainly possible and profitable.

I was given the location of the plant at RGB sydney by an ex staff member who remembers it from about 15 years ago. I searched that bed very thoroughly and could not find the plant. Apparently RBGS never had a legal exemption to grow it. It probably doesn't exist anymore.

[woof woof woof]

novo will do good in the tropics something tells me. I believe though that the novo cultivated on java by the dutch were grown at higher altitudes in the rich fertile volcanic soils......

the dutch also made considerable $$ with opium i vAguely remember hearing from a friend..... will look into that.

[Stonehenge]

Luckily we are not prohibited in growing that one in the states. It seems to be a not too hardy species that needs certain tropical conditions to do well. I've seen it spelled novagranatense as many times as with the "o"

[sobriquet]

I've seen it spelled novagranatense as many times as with the "o"

Sorry I couldn't resist... but I've seen 'spelled' as 'spelt' (British/Australian) also

But it's a good tip, certainly gives one some more hits on the world's favourite search engine to explore.

[-bijanto-]

Guys,

It's so exciting to know that some of these plants have been conserved at some botanical gardens down there. I have a few friends working at several Indonesian plant research institutions so if there's any Australian botanical gardens require donation of these seeds, they are welcome to contact me, at least I can act like an interface or give them some information. I guess botanical gardens and research institutions have certain 'immunity' to import these seeds...?

I remember some years ago, someone sent a post somewhere that he received his novo seeds ordered from Ethnogarden Botanicals in Canada, but the seeds were actually shipped from Australia..!! I think it's back in 2000 or 2001. Later on there were some problems and next thing I know, they stopped selling these seeds.

There are a couple of plants in Java, cultivated at various altitudes. I know that there are about 5 mature E. novogranatense var Novogranatense plants at the Research Center for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Bogor. These plants share common characteristics of the E.novo var Novo: pale green, long, slender leaves with two marked lines parallel to the midrib on the underside of the leaf. The fruits are slender as well.

The two E. novogranatense plants cultivated at Bogor Botanical Garden are different, though. The name plates have been lost, so I don't know their exact names but as written in a book containing list of plants cultivated at the BBG (published for their internal purpose), the plants refer to: "E. novogranatense var. Huanuco". These two plants are big, almost 2 meter tall, they both look very similar in appearance: pale green leaf (general characteristic of E.novogranatense var Novogranatense) with marked underside parallel lines. The only difference that I can see is that the fruits are almost perfectly round. Bogor is a warm place, the temperatures of which never get below 20C and most of the time it's very humid. Bogor is situated around 400 m of elevation.

There are about 4 E.novogranatense var. Novogranatense plants cultivated by the Research Center of Medicinal and Aromatic plants in Lembang, North of Bandung, at an altitude of around 1400 m. Here they also grow some Eucalyptus species like Melaleuca bracteata (correct me if I'm wrong), and also Macadamia integrifolia trees that actually produce delicious fruits!!!. The novos grow happily there in the cool and comfortable mountain area, where I know the night and morning temperatures can get as low as 14-15 C.

I've never come across any P. somniverum plant in West Java. I know BBG don't have it. When I check in their plant catalogue, I've also seen Argyreia nervosa listed but when I check to the location, the plant doesn't exist anymore (thank you DC for the HBWR seeds). I'm sure there are a lot of plants in my collection that they don't have as well. For example they have Psychotria viridiflora, not P. viridis (thank you Ferret for the little plant, it's big now), also I have a big B. caapi which they don't (thank you planthelper for the cutting). They don't have any collection of Catha edulis, T. iboga and M. speciosa!! (they only grow M. parvifolia). What I'm trying to say, is that some botanical gardens are probably lack passion, they can't do it alone. They need us, plant society. Someone who love plants, not just grow them.

Here are the novo plants in Lembang:

Edited September 1, 2006 by -bijanto-

[Rev]

Mt coot tha bot gdns had it listed in their index in the late 90's

i doubt it was in the public area

[sobriquet]

Mt coot tha bot gdns had it listed in their index in the late 90's

i doubt it was in the public area

Hi Rev. I saw a plant many months ago at the gardens towards the conifer side and upper parking area that had erythroxylum type leaves and small red berries. The inflorescences were kind of 5 petalled and I suspected that it might be a native species but there being no classification tags I couldn't be certain.

I'll photograph it if I go sometime. Which private areas are there in the gardens anyhow?

I know they have a caged off section with the large cacti etc, and some shed type enclosures around the fern shadehouse and bonsai collection, but I didn't notice any largescale private areas, but I wasn't looking hard.

I'd gone for birdwatching predominantly and in fact was lucky enough to spot a Koel pair and the large Channel Billed Cuckoo the largest bird of the parasitic cuckoos, that day.

Never know, it could be there somewhere. There's so many little areas here and there it would take a determined search party to find it.

[_e_]

Bijanto,

just wondering if you might have an idea what time these plants flower and seed as i have a friend living and working in Banten province at the moment.

Also, i believe both of these varients made it to australia at some time or another as i seem to remember someone mentioning 'highland/mountain novo' as being a more sort after varient in the 70's.

thanx for your very informative post!

great thread by the way

[sobriquet]

-bijanto- I think the biggest credit to places like Indonesia is that it is not under the same influence of the West to blind US views of eradicating plant species from the face of the Earth.

Guys,

It's so exciting to know that some of these plants have been conserved at some botanical gardens down there. I have a few friends working at several Indonesian plant research institutions so if there's any Australian botanical gardens require donation of these seeds, they are welcome to contact me, at least I can act like an interface or give them some information. I guess botanical gardens and research institutions have certain 'immunity' to import these seeds...?

Import for scientific purposes comes under a different category to other imports. Even CITES Appendix I specimens are relatively straightforward to import for bona fide scientific purposes.

I think it's uncertain whether any botanical gardens have these anymore. And if they do, they must be outside of public view. Sydney has some of the best botanical gardens in the country with at least two satellite gardens to extend what they can grow to other types of climates and give more 'floor space'.

I have been to the Melbourne gardens too and while they have extensive grounds they don't really seem to have a big program like Sydney does with its main and satellite sites.

I have yet to see Canberra's national gardens, but they have a great website compared to others. I'm totally ignorant as to the quality of other gardens in other capital cities.

I remember some years ago, someone sent a post somewhere that he received his novo seeds ordered from Ethnogarden Botanicals in Canada, but the seeds were actually shipped from Australia..!! I think it's back in 2000 or 2001. Later on there were some problems and next thing I know, they stopped selling these seeds.

This may have been the north NSW coast operation which seems to have gone on for some time. I vaguely remember a 'blue background' type website many years ago with novo seedlings on sale for ridiculously (in my opinion) exorbitant prices.

There are a couple of plants in Java, cultivated at various altitudes. I know that there are about 5 mature E. novogranatense var Novogranatense plants at the Research Center for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Bogor. These plants share common characteristics of the E.novo var Novo: pale green, long, slender leaves with two marked lines parallel to the midrib on the underside of the leaf. The fruits are slender as well.

The two E. novogranatense plants cultivated at Bogor Botanical Garden are different, though. The name plates have been lost, so I don't know their exact names but as written in a book containing list of plants cultivated at the BBG (published for their internal purpose), the plants refer to: "E. novogranatense var. Huanuco". These two plants are big, almost 2 meter tall, they both look very similar in appearance: pale green leaf (general characteristic of E.novogranatense var Novogranatense) with marked underside parallel lines. The only difference that I can see is that the fruits are almost perfectly round. Bogor is a warm place, the temperatures of which never get below 20C and most of the time it's very humid. Bogor is situated around 400 m of elevation.

There are about 4 E.novogranatense var. Novogranatense plants cultivated by the Research Center of Medicinal and Aromatic plants in Lembang, North of Bandung, at an altitude of around 1400 m. Here they also grow some Eucalyptus species like Melaleuca bracteata (correct me if I'm wrong), and also Macadamia integrifolia trees that actually produce delicious fruits!!!. The novos grow happily there in the cool and comfortable mountain area, where I know the night and morning temperatures can get as low as 14-15 C.

This last exampe would be a good candidate variety to grow in colder climates where it was legal. Would be great for many subtropical areas in Australia even if it was legal to cultivate.

I've never come across any P. somniverum plant in West Java. I know BBG don't have it.

I've seen several papers relating the growing of this in Java by the Dutch in colonial times. So the climate is not a problem I don't think. As to cultivation of P. somniferum, in the UK it is legal to grow these plants whereas it is illegal in the USA. Unfortunately our government has adopted the illogical US view.

I think some of the time the illegality of these plants stems from direct commercial interests. For example the growing of tobacco which is legal to consume is controlled or made impossible by home gardeners for various 'official' reasons but the truth is that these prohibitions are designed to keep the tobacco business in the hands of commercial interests.

Same for poppy growing in Australia. The real underlying reason for making them illegal to grow is that a "Poppy Advisory Board/Council" controls the growing of this plant. It is not in their interests to lose the lucrative profits of this business to other startups. Currently this crop is grown only in Tasmania and the vested interests would not want this business to spread to other competing areas. Whereas the truth is that if poppy cultivation took the place of irrigation intensive (and stupid for our climate) crops like cotton then Australia would easily become the world's biggest producer of opium. The climate is ideal here for this crop.

Other crops like hemp could also easily substitute for the stupid cultivation of cotton in this climate at far greater benefits to us, but there are vested interests that won't allow this to happen.

When I check in their plant catalogue, I've also seen Argyreia nervosa listed but when I check to the location, the plant doesn't exist anymore (thank you DC for the HBWR seeds). I'm sure there are a lot of plants in my collection that they don't have as well. For example they have Psychotria viridiflora, not P. viridis (thank you Ferret for the little plant, it's big now), also I have a big B. caapi which they don't (thank you planthelper for the cutting). They don't have any collection of Catha edulis, T. iboga and M. speciosa!! (they only grow M. parvifolia). What I'm trying to say, is that some botanical gardens are probably lack passion, they can't do it alone. They need us, plant society. Someone who love plants, not just grow them.

If they could just understand this. That many if not most of the people who grow these plants love them and are a resource against these very rare plants from becoming lost due to human stupidity (and spraying and biological programs) the USA is hell bent on imposing on the rest of the world.

[Tripitaka]

I think that the donation of plants to Botanical Gardens or alternative host sites provides a suitable idea for maintaining plant popualations.

From expereince and what I have seen the great majority of members usually live in an environment where the growing of plants reaches its restrictive limits after several years, i.e.plants are often in pots and in less that ideal locations in being able to provide the "least restrictive" environment. This often causes frustration once said popualtions outgrow balconies or small suburban blocks.

What I have also noticed is that growers will tend to hang on to plants well after their initial pot phase has expired.

Being able to access a site where plants can be looked after and their growth and upkeep is ensured means that the larger species such as Anadanenthera, Mimosa, Ilex, Acacia etc. can be planted out and produce seed which can then be used to establish new colonies.

Nurseries provide a valuable and integral role in nurturing species into the world and the rate of attritition is often steep when outside these specialised environments.

Establishing gardens is the only way to maintain these species with in Australia. We are lucky here that there are several very compotetent people that are doing just this.

[-bijanto-]

Bijanto,

just wondering if you might have an idea what time these plants flower and seed as i have a friend living and working in Banten province at the moment.

E, the plant flowers and seeds all year long. He might not be able to find the plant there unless he has a good lobbying skill with the staff

[Tripitaka]

Make with the Linky. Lots of varients discussed!

[Tripitaka]

from here

The spread of the Dutch rise to predominance in world coca and cocaine trades took the world by surprise, especially the Peruvians, who in 1900 still felt they enjoyed a natural (Incan) birthright to the global coca market. In 1904 Dutch Java (now of Indonesia) exported only 26 tons of coca leaf; this soared to 800 in 1912 and a mass industrial supply of 1,700 tons in 1920, to a glutted world market. The Dutch built an especially productive and integrated industrial cocaine regime, yet it was also dismantled by decree almost as quickly as it arose.

Dutch scientific-commercial interest in coca dates to the 1850s, but plantings began in the mid- 1880s when such botanical experiments spread among the European colonial powers. One advantage was accidental: the abnormally high-alkaloid coca-bush Javan planters got from the colonial botanical gardens at Buitenzorg descended from one strand of Peruvian Erythroxylon novogranatense, originally from Kew. It contained twice (up to 1.5%) the cocaine content of quality Huanuco leaf but in a tricky to refine ecgonine crystallized form, practically useless for herbal coca products. Given Peru's rapid move into crude cocaine in the 1885-1900 era, not much interest was evinced in Javan coca, though small lots reached European markets.

After 1900, several factors suddenly focused Dutch interest in coca/cocaine, spurred on by national botanical specialists like de Jong and Reens. One was establishment in 1900 of Amsterdam's large state-bank subsidized "Nederlandsch Cocainefabrieck (NCF), based on copying advanced German patents for ecgonine-cocaine extraction. The second were steady investments in plantation productivity and quality. Cheap Chinese field labor, four-crops yearly, economies of scale and technical rationalization, inter-cropping with colonial rubber and tea projects, all made Javan plantation efficiency dwarf the haphazard peasant-style coca culture of the Andes. By 1911 they captured a capture of the world market, filtered through Amsterdam into a high-margin fully-integrated cocaine industry. World War I spurred further European reliance on this coca corridor. Dutch industrial-grade coca also made it to Japan, Belgium, France and even to United States; in the 1920s, impressed by its reliable quantity, New Jersey Merck acquired its own Javan plantation, which performed well into the 1930s. Three world "cores" of cocaine now existed: Darmstadt, northern New Jersey and Amsterdam, with an enlarged NCF the biggest single producer. Together, they dramatically reduced prospects for Peruvian coca (wiped off of European markets from 1908-15) and crude cocaine (confined to a now struggling German sector). Peruvian coca/cocaine export values dropped by some 95% by the 1920s. Peruvians watched these developments helplessly, without the time, capital or technical expertise to respond.

Paradoxically, almost as quickly as it arose the Dutch cocaine network receded. By 1920, Java coca could basically satisfy full world cocaine demand of 12 tons; prices plummeted and profits zigzagged throughout the 1920s. The NCF even began making Novocaine, cocaine's latest synthetic substitute. Price controls emerged to manage the surplus. Assisted by the League of Nations itself (interested mainly in drug-control formulas) a new formal European cocaine syndicate (no puns on Colombian "cartels") was formed in 1924 with eight firms: "The European Convention of Cocaine Producers." It included the NCF and the three largest German makers (only domestic French, British, German and Russian firms stayed apart). At first, this meant more directed purchases from Java but also steadily declining cocaine quotas. A Dutch national "Association of Coca Producers" also formed, which soon worked to downsize itself and diversify into alternative crops. In the late 1920s, Dutch production shrunk systematically. From 1929-31, the Netherlands, in contradictory political moves, opted to comply fully with the coca-cocaine export controls of the League's Geneva Manufacturing limitation agreements (dispite disagreements with U.S. anti-drug strategies and with a fiscal favoritism for colonial opium farmers). With a tiny home market, NCF output withered to 250-300 kilos annually. Japan's World War II invasion of Java mortally disrupted the corridor and the subsequent U.S. occupation led to the (mandated) destruction of remaining coca plantings in Java. It had been a brief but spectacular political marriage of colonialist state, industry and planter. (And a reminder today that coca could easily escape the Andes for other tropical realms if enough pressure is applied).

[-bijanto-]

Before I am considered offensive etc, I feel I have to explain here that I am not offering to supply the seeds, that is not my intention.

I'm aware that this is a public forum and we know the owner of this forum prefers to keep the posts on track. I just see that there might be an opportunity for Aust. botanical gardens - which has some legal exemption - that they might be able to import the seeds as a favor in terms of conservation.

[Torsten]

bijanto, while most botanic gardens do not in fact have special permits for these types of plants, ther eis stilla legitimate reason for you to offer such seeds here as we have plenty of non-australian members. it just has to be made clear in any offers that YOU are not in australia, that Erythroxylum seeds are legal where YOU are, and that only people from outside australia (or those with permits) should order from you. This should preclude any misunderstandings about potential illegal activity.

[-bijanto-]

Torsten I was referring MYSELF HERE IN THIS POST as to possible "interface" or "information provider", between 2 parties - only if both are equipped with legal exemption. Certainly you have stated accurately what I should write to avoid misunderstandings, thank you.

This is a subject to be discussed. Is it possible that most police units actually let their personnels hold a weapon without permission? Torsten I somewhat doubt your statement that MOST botanic gardens do not have such permit. If those gardens don't have any permission then why do they grow the plant and have it listed in their catalogue? For example the institutions I mentioned above, they have their garden (including this plant) open to public, so everyone can see what they grow, although they wouldn't let the visitors pick the seeds.

Edited September 2, 2006 by -bijanto-

[Torsten]

The single convention on narcotic drugs clearly states that it prohibits the cultivation of the listed plants FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE DRUG. Technically no country that is signatory to the single convention is required to interfere with the cultivation of such plants if there is no intent to manufacture the illegal drug. In fact, the licensing of poppy cultivation by the state is clearly permitted under the convention.

Most countries have chosen to take the single convention further than it was intended. The result is that many countries now have laws that prohibit the posession of any part of these plants regardless of whether they contain the drug or not, and regardless of whether the intent of cultivation if for non-drug purposes.

Switzerland is one country that has not bowed to the US pressure. In some districts of switzerland it is 100% legal to grow cannabis without license, as long as the intent is clearly not for drug purposes. Thus switzerland produces large amounts of essential oil and hemp flavours extracted from the flowers, but without any drug value. These materials are used in beer brewing and the aroma industry.

Other countries may permit similar cultivation, but this is usually done under a state controlled licensing scheme. This strict control was never part of the single convention.

Neither was the use of these plants for traditional purposes every classified by the convention. This means that it can't be used to justify limiting the use of peyote by indians, or limiting the use of ayahuasca by brazilians. Countries that chose to create these limitations do so at the behest of the USA, not because of the wording of the single convention.

In regards to Erythroxylum seeds, you will find that quite a few countries do not prohibit them at all. There are also some countries that prohibit them, but where the EU laws of human rights prohibit a penalty that is disproportinate to the harm caused by the offence (ie no jail for seeds).

There are many botanic gardens who can grow illegal plants, not because they have special permits, but because they have a bona fide case that they do not grow the plants for drug purposes. In australia this probably does not apply.

Erythroxylum australe is only illegal in NSW as far as I know, but is indeed legal in other states. This is becasue it does not contain cocaine. Coca seeds proably also do not contain cocaine, or at least not enough to be criminalised in most countries (except australia, which has no minimum limits).

There are many possible uses for coca seeds that do not require breaking the law in most countries, such as analysis, botanical sample, food, beads, etc

[Torsten]

Torsten I somewhat doubt your statement that MOST botanic gardens do not have such permit. If those gardens don't have any permission then why do they grow the plant and have it listed in their catalogue? For example the institutions I mentioned above, they have their garden (including this plant) open to public, so everyone can see what they grow, although they wouldn't let the visitors pick the seeds.

Sorry, I should elaborate on this some more.

In australia a research institution can only hold an S9 substance (such as coca) if the authorities are satisfied that no one unauthorised can get access to the material. This usually means the material has to be kept in a well secured space, such as a safe or a securely fenced and gated area. There is NO WAY a botanic garden in australia would get permission to grow an S9 plant in any public access area such as a garden's bed. However, this is exactly where these plants used to be.

It is possible that these plants are still grown in secured areas and under license, but I doubt that most gardens here would have the inclination to do this. I have found the gardens management to be quite conservative folks who would have no interest in ruffling feathers with this sort of stuff.

[-bijanto-]

There are many botanic gardens who can grow illegal plants, not because they have special permits, but because they have a bona fide case that they do not grow the plants for drug purposes. In australia this probably does not apply.

I can't see why not. The 1961 Convention states to limit the possession, use, import/export of drugs exclusively to medical and scientific purposes. So the door of possibility should be wide open for botanic gardens (as scientific institutions) to import or possess these plants under a license from the Government. Besides, botanic gardens are usually owned by government.

http://www.incb.org/incb/convention_1961.html

Article 4: GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

The parties shall take such legislative and administrative measures as may be necessary:

A. To give effect to and carry out the provisions of this Convention within their own territories,

B. To co-operate with other States in the execution of the provisions of this Convention,

C. Subject to the provisions of this Convention, to limit exclusively to medical and scientific purposes the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution of, trade in, use and possession of drugs.

Article 30: TRADE AND DISTRIBUTION

1.

A.The Parties shall require that the trade in and distribution of drugs be under licence except where such trade or distribution is carried out by a State enterprise or State enterprises.

B. The Parties shall: (i) Control all persons and enterprises carrying on or engaged in the trade in or distribution of drugs, and (ii) Control under licence the establishments and premises in which such trade or distribution may take place. The requirement of licensing need not apply to preparations.

C. The provisions of subparagraphs A and B relating to licensing need not apply to persons duly authorized to perform and while performing therapeutic or scientific functions.

[edit]

Edited September 3, 2006 by -bijanto-

[Torsten]

Not sure if you agreeing or disagreeing with me here, but just to clalrify, at not point did I mean to say that botanic garden CAN'T get a license to grow these plants. All I said is that in australia they simply do not bother. At least not for S9 plants as these need to be kept under lock and key. They do for example usually have licenses to grow tobacco plants etc.

However, australia is quite different to the rest of the world in this respect. Until a few years ago the botanic gardens were mostly designed for horticultural research, not for botanical reseach. As such there was little interest in plants that require red tape, or plants that might be 'abused'. In european gardens there is a strong tradition of ethnobotanical research and it would be unthinkable for a government to interfere with bona fide scientific plant research there.

I can't see why not.

The convention is not law! Nations make laws based on their obligations under the convention, where the convention is the minimum basis of the law required. That does not mean nations can't go well beyond the requirements of the convention. This is the case in australia, where the regulatory framework does not provide for a presumption of innocence. ie, in australia (as in USA) there is no provision in the law for blanket exemptions for scientific institutions. This means the government does not have to prove intent, it just has to prove possession.

So yes, the conventions and our national laws allow exemptions for scientific study, but these are not automatic and hence need to be applied for. The drug hysteria culture in australia means that such applicatiosn are difficult, costly and highly policed.