auditory hallucinations and a general removal from a sense of 
reality (Robichaud et al. 1964, 1965). 
Alkaloids were first reported from Heimia salicifolia in 1964; 
the major psychoactive one appears to be cryogenine (vertine) 
(XXI) (Blomster et al. 1964; Douglas et al. 1964; Kaplan and 
Malone 1966; Robichaud et al. 1964, 1965). Differing from the 
usual quinolizidines in having the quinolizidine as part of a 
larger system of rings, cryogenine has been found only in the 
Lythraceae. 
The genus Heimia comprises three hardly distinguishable 
species and ranges from southern United States to Argentina. 
7. TROPANES 
Solanaceae 
Atropa L. 
The belladonna or deadly nightshade, (Atropa Belladonna L.) 
was utilized as an hallucinogen in Europe in medieval witches’ 
brews. Its principal active constituent has long been known to be 
scopolamine (XXII); additional minor tropane alkaloids are 
also present (Wagner 1969). 
There are four species of Atropa, distributed in Europe, the 
Mediterranean area, and from Central Asia to the Himalayas. 
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