Tetrapteris methystica R.E. Schultes in Bot. Mus. Leafl., Harvard Univ. 16 
(1954) 202. 
Tetrapteris mucronata Cavanilles, Diss. 9 (1790) 434, t. 262. 
SOLANACEAE 
Latua Philippi 
There is an unusual and rare spiny shrub or small tree — 
apparently a strict endemic of the coastal mountains of central 
Chile — which has long been used as a virulently toxic plant 
capable of producing delirium, hallucinations and, occasion- 
ally, permanent insanity. The genus is monotypic, consisting of 
a single species: Latua pubiflora (Griseb.) Baillon. 
Although the identification of this hallucinogen has been 
available for more thana century, little, until recently, has been 
known of its use and properties. 
Latua pubiflora was first described by the German botanist 
August H.R. Griesbach in 1854 as a species of Lycioplesium. 
Later, in 1858, the Chilean botanist R. A. Philippi described the 
plant as representing a new genus, Latua, giving it the name 
Latua venenosa (Philippi, 1858). It was not until 1888 that the 
French taxonomist Henri E. Baillon made the correct combi- 
nation, assigning the currently accepted name of Latua pubi- 
flora. 
The narcotic use of Latua pubiflora — known locally as latue 
or arbol de los brujos (*‘sorcerers’ tree’’) — was first associ- 
ated with the plant in 1858 by Philippi: **. . . the native Indians 
posses a secret to madden a person by means of a vegetable 
poison’’. He related several cases of intentional and accidental 
intoxication (Philippi, 1858). 
A few collections of Latua pubiflora have been made during 
the past 120 years, but a thorough survey of the plant, and its 
use, following extensive field work, has only recently been 
published (Plowman, Gyllenhaal and Lindgren, 1971). The oc- 
currence and use of latue is still a closely guarded secret sur- 
rounded by superstition, as it is utilized in magico-medical rites 
by shamans and sorcerers. 
Species indicated in the foregoing discussion: 
Latua pubiflora (Griseb.) Baillon, Hist. Plant. 9 (1888) 334. 
328 
