Christmas Vine (Ipomoea corymbosa (L.) Roth Convolvulaceae)

The dried and ground seeds of Ipomoea corymbosa have been used for religious, ceremonial, and healing purposes since the Aztecs. The plant is a perennial woody climbing vine native to Central and South American rainforests, with white trumpet-shaped flowers and brown pubescent seeds. The seeds contain the alkaloid d-lysergic acid amide (LSA), structurally similar to LSD but with less potent psychedelic properties, which is presumably responsible for their hallucinogenic effects, making the seed a common entheogen.

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Abstract

The dried and ground seeds of Ipomoea corymbosa (along with I. violacea and I. tricolor) have been consumed for religious, ceremonial, and healing purposes since the Aztecs. The plant belongs to the Solanales order and the Convolvulaceae (bindweeds or morning glories) family and was previously classified in the now dissolved plant genus Turbina under the name of Turbina corymbosa (L.) Raf. The plant or the seeds are known as Christmas vine, Christmas pops, Christmas wreath, snakeplant, coaxihuitl, ololiúqui, xtabentún, hiedra, bejuco, quiebraplatos, semilla de la Virgen, aguinaldo blanco, corona de novia or badoh. Christmas vine is native to the rainforests of Central and South America, but it was also introduced as an ornamental plant to parts of North America, Australia, and Europe. It is a perennial, woody climbing vine. The leaves have slender petioles and cordate blades. The white flowers have trumpet shaped corollas with a red, purple, or brown throat and greenish radiating stripes. The ellipsoidal capsules contain one brown, pubescent seed. The seed contains d-lysergic acid amide (LSA or ergine) alkaloid, similar in structure to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), but has less potent psychedelic properties. LSA and other ergoline alkaloids are presumably responsible for the hallucinogenic experience, making the seed a common entheogen.