Urmenetea

Urmenetea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Subfamily:	Mutisioideae
Tribe:	Onoserideae
Genus:	Urmenetea Phil.
Species:	U. atacamensis
Binomial name
Urmenetea atacamensis Phil.
Synonyms
Onoseris atacamensis (Phil.) Hoffmann

Urmenetea is a genus of South American plants in the family Asteraceae.[1][2][3]

Species

The only known species is Urmenetea atacamensis, native to northern Chile (Antofagasta, Atacama) and northern Argentina (Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta).[4][5][6]

Uses

According to "Enzyklopädie der Psychoaktiven Pflanzen", natives of the atacama desert use the plant for its psychoactive properties. When chewing the leaves, Dr.phil Christian Rätsch reported a sensation of local anestesia and a general feeling of euphoria and stimulation, akin to the effects of chewing coca leaves. Smoked injestion may result in both narcotic and stimulant effects. "Enzyklopädie der Psychoactiven Pflanzen" lists 0.3g of dried leaves as a sufficient dosage. Nothing is known about the chemical properties of the active ingredient and its dangers.

References

1. Philippi, Rudolf Amandus. 1860. Florula Atacamensis seu enumeration page 26
2. Tropicos, Urmenetea Phil.
3. Philippi, Rudolf Amandus. 1860. Viage al Desierto de Atacama 201
4. Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
5. Cabrera, A. L. 1978. Compositae. 10: 1–726. In A. L. Cabrera (ed.) Flora de la provincia de Jujuy. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Buenos Aires.
6. Marticorena, C. & M. Quezada. 1985. Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Chile. Gayana, Botánica 42: 1–157