Benzito

Ipomea Violacea is an invasive weed. I wouldn't worry too much about documenting temperatures and things. Basically if it has dirt, water, and sun it will grow. It's a totally undemanding plant. But, make sure you have at least 2-3m of lattice for it to climb! I didn't have enough, and now have a big 'bundle' of Morning Glory.

On a recent visit to the SAB nursery, I was speaking to one of the guys working there. Didn't catch his name though, unfortunately. He told me about a 20 year old peyote he had been caring for... Until some careless person threw dishwater, or detergent, on it. He didn't notice until it was a pile of mush a few days later. What a heartbreaking story.

Herbalistics sell Brugmansia Arborea seeds if you want to go that route. I've got some (hopefully) germinating right now.

Brugmansia's and Datura's used to actually all be classified as Datura until around the 1970's I do believe. (I wasn't actually alive then, so I can't be sure) Brugmansias were referred to as "tree Datura's" because of the larger sizes they grow to. Both plants have similar active compounds though. All you have to do is look at experience reports on erowid to see how dangerous these plants are. I think about 50% of them end up with the writer in hospital or a police station, with no idea how they got there! [ 24. February 2005, 19:22: Message edited by: Benzito ]

quote: Benzito - can I ask how long have you waited for harvest since you put seed to soil? I planted in the 1st month of spring, don't remember exactly when. Just that it was a few weeks after the frosts ended. So, it's been a good few months I've been waiting. Each flower only lasts 1 day, and then a seed pod begins growing where the flower was. But they started flowering about 10-12 weeks ago, so it's a long wait. Then eventually the seed pods go dark brown, and if left long enough they open up. I've been picking them before they open though, when they come off the vine with a gentle twist. quote: Also, do you need to kill the plant to harvest the seeds, or is the relationship with MG a long term one? It is an annual plant, it sprouts in spring and dies towards autumn. My plants have started dying off in the past 2 weeks with the stems going hard and brown (like twigs). I was actually worried they weren't going to set seed. But the amazing thing is that it is still growing at the other end of the vine! Even with the base of the plant hard and dry!

quote: My throat fully constricted a minute or so after merely biting on the leaf once and spitting it out What cause that effect? In regards to the differing effects of plants from different areas: "The plants(Duboisia Hopwoodii) of Western Queensland and Western Australia contain mainly Nicotine while those of South and Central Australia appear to contain mostly nor-nicotine." Barnard, 1952, The Duboisias of Australia So, it sounds like your bioassay is definitely based on fact.

Now I'm no botanist, and I haven't ever actually seen a live Kava plant. But, looking in a herb guide I have at home and this picture, it appears that the 'veins'(said I wasn't no botanist) on the leaves are more rounded and curved on Methysticum, whereas yours are straight. As well, the edges of your leaves look somewhat ragged, whereas methysticum has smoothed edges and a slight 'dome' shape to the outer edge of the leaf. If someone gives me a way to get a picture online, I'll scan the pic from my herb guide. It is actually a great picture for comparison purposes. BTW: How you liking that Kava I sent you Darcy? [ 07. March 2005, 16:58: Message edited by: Benzito ]

Yeah, I think you are talking about the same story as I've heard Torsten. Obviously you speak with a little more authority though. How's that, I searched for the link where I'd originally heard this story (couldn't remember which site exactly). It was this one! Shaman Australis - Fake Kratom

Yeah, they are definitely MG. Buuuuut, if those seedlings are that size right now, I don't like your chances of them surviving until next season. Annual plant - Winter approaching. My MG seed pods have just started going brown over the past week, so it's harvest time now. I've got about 80 seeds in the past 2 days, and there are a whole buttload more to come! :D

My understanding was that all the seeds that have been sold previously, were actually another Mitragyna species. And most weren't viable anyway. I have never seen Kratom seeds available online. But there are plenty of things I haven't seen.

A LOT of plants have a LOT of uses that humans have either forgotten, or just don't know about. There are two plants that the West Australian Aborigines used to use to cure "skin cancer". (I'm at work, so I don't have my references, can't give species right now.) There is debate as to whether it was skin cancer, or other curable skin conditions, but that sounds like a great plant to me! Has there been any thorough research though? Well, it's hard for a pharm. company to patent a plant, so you work it out. UPDATE: The plants I'm talking about are Euphorbia Australis and Euphorbia Coghlanii. Also of note, Dioscorea Transversa, which inhabits coastal regions of NSW, QLD & NT has also been used by Aborigines to treat 'skin cancer'. What is reported as skin cancer in texts, could simply be warts, etc. But it is something that needs to be reviewed thoroughly IMO. [ 24. February 2005, 18:18: Message edited by: Benzito ]

How long will they take to germinate? I have read many different figures, from many different sources. Any real-world, and Australian, estimate? Weeks, months? I tried my first lot of lophophora seed germination last weekend. But, upon further reading, discovered I made a few mistakes. I used a store-bought cactus mix which was really just fine potting mix with about 5-10% sand, so I think that is one stuff up. I didn't realise it was so 'organic' until I got the bag home and opened it. Plus, I forgot to sterilise the mix in my excitement. So, I'd like to know when I can decide that it was a failure? Cause nothing has popped up so far. [ 24. February 2005, 19:37: Message edited by: Benzito ]

Cool, thanks guys. What if you were using cow-dung that wasn't colonised. Or, at least, you couldn't guarantee it. I'm just thinking, if you bought bags of cow manure from your local farmer and kept raking it into the soil for months, would cubes set themselves up there eventually? Besides cow-dung and moisture, what kind of environment do they like to grow in? Raised areas, slight depressions, under trees, etc?

Hey dude, You want an Aus. Post money order? What name should it be made out to?