Sanchezia thinophila Leonard in Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harvard 
Univ. 16(1953)94. 
COLOMBIA: Comisaria del Amazonas, Trapecio Amazonico, Rio Loreto- 
yacu. October 20-30, 1945. R.E. Schultes 6607. — Puerto Narino, near mouth 
of Rio Loretoyacu. September 13-15, 1966. R.E. Schultes, R.F. Raffauf et D. 
Soejarto 24121. 
The Tikuna Indians of the Trapecio Amazo6nico prepare a 
decoction of the inflorescences of Sanchezia thinophila which 
is used as a wash to bathe the heads of girls who undergo the 
ritual adolescent initiating ceremony so characteristic of this 
tribe. The hair is forcefully pulled out, leading to profuse bleed- 
ing. 
It is possible that this use is related to a kind of ** Doctrine of 
Signatures’’ connection with the large, showy, blood-red 
bracts of the plant. 
Little is known of the chemistry of Sanchezia. No biody- 
namic constituents have been reported for the genus, but may 
have a high tannin content. The leaves of Schultes, Raffauf et 
Soejarto 24121 were alkaloid-negative with Dragendorff rea- 
gent. 
Teliostachya lanceolata Nees var. crispa Nees in Martius, FI. 
Bras. 9(1847)72. 
PERU: Departamento de Loreto, Iquitos and vincinity. ““Toé negra. Culti- 
vated. Flowers white with violet. 0.5 - 1 m. in height.’ July 15, 1967. R. 
Martin, T. Plowman et C. Lau - Cam 1638. 
The Kokama Indians use this plant as an hallucinogen and as 
an admixture in a narcotis preparation. Teliostachya seems not 
to have been phytochemically investigated. 
