Rhaphithamnus

Rhaphithamnus
R. venustus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Rhaphithamnus
Miers[1]
Species

Rhaphithamnus spinosus
Rhaphithamnus venustus

Synonyms[1]

Poeppigia Bertero

Rhaphithamnus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Verbenaceae.

Traditionally, it has been considered by the locals that the berries of this genus of plants are toxic or poisonous, so their consumption is not recommended.

Species

Use in Chilean folk medicine

In the Los Lagos Region of southern Chile, R. spinosus is one of three plant species believed in local folk medicine to be antidotes to the anticholinergic poisoning caused by the dangerous hallucinogenic plant Latua pubiflora (Solanaceae). It is used by the shamans of the indigenous Huilliche people who employ Latua to enter trance in machitun healing rituals.[3][4][5][6]

  • Rhaphithamnus spinosus in flower.
    Rhaphithamnus spinosus in flower.
  • Spiny twigs of Rhaphithamnus spinosus.
    Spiny twigs of Rhaphithamnus spinosus.
  • Mid-shot of fruiting specimen of R. spinosus in Chilean planting at Logan Botanic Garden.
    Mid-shot of fruiting specimen of R. spinosus in Chilean planting at Logan Botanic Garden.
  • Close-up of striking, bluish-purple fruits of Rhaphithamnus spinosus.
    Close-up of striking, bluish-purple fruits of Rhaphithamnus spinosus.

References

  1. ^ a b "Genus: Rhaphithamnus Miers". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  2. ^ "GRIN Species Records of Rhaphithamnus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  3. ^ Murillo, A., 1899 Plantes Medicinales du Chile. Exposition Universelle de Paris, Section Chilenne pp. 152–155.
  4. ^ Mariani, Ramírez C., 1965 Temas de Hipnosis pub. Editorial Andrés Bello, Biblioteca de Estudios Médicos, Santiago. page 336.
  5. ^ Sparre, B. ( Curator of Museum of Natural History, Stockholm in early 1950s ) 1970. Letter to the authors of the Harvard Botanical Museum Leaflet on Latua : Plowman, Gyllenhaal and Lindgren.
  6. ^ Plowman, Timothy, Gyllenhaal, Lars Olof and Lindgren, Jan Erik Latua pubiflora magic plant from southern Chile Botanical Museum Leaflets Harvard University Vol. 23, No. 2, Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 12, 1971

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