up to 80% of the total alkaloid content (Pachter and Hopkinson 
1960). 
Significantly, the alkaloid content in the Sibundoy cultivars of 
Brugmansia aurea correlate closely with reports of their relative 
toxicity by the Indians of Sibundoy. Notwithstanding the great 
age of their hallucinogenic and medicinal usage, Brugmansias 
are still the subject of much botanical, ethnobotanical and 
phytochemical interest. 
Datura L. 
Datura has a long history an an hallucinogenic genus in both 
hemispheres (Hoffman 1968; Lewin 1927; Safford 1920, 1921; 
Schultes; Schultes and Hofmann 1979). The most intense use 
and the greatest concentration of species occurs in the American 
Southwest and adjacent Mexico, where four closely related 
species are known: D. inoxia Mill. (more commonly known as 
D. meteloides DC.), D. pruinosa Greenm., D. quercifolia HBK. 
and D. Wrightii Regel. Datura Stramonium L. is now generally 
believed to be of New World origin and appears to be the species 
formerly employed by the natives of eastern North America. 
There exists in Mexico an anomalous aquatic species, 
Datura ceratocaula Ort. which is so distinct that it is accommo- 
dated in a separate section of the genus. It was one of the most 
sacred hallucinogens of the Aztecs, who knew it as “sister of 
ololiuqui” (ololiuqui = the highly sacred morning glory, Turbina 
corymbosa). Modern Mexican Indians still revere it and call it 
torna-loco (“maddening plant”) (Schultes and Hofmann 1973). 
The most commonly employed species is D. inoxia, known 
today in Mexico as toloache; by the Aztecs as toloatzin. Many 
tribes in Mexico and the Southwest still value it as a magic 
plant. The Zuni use it as an hallucinogen and analgesic; the plant 
belongs to the rain priests who alone may collect it. They 
commune at night with the feathered kingdom to intercede with 
the gods for rain, putting the powdered root into the eyes. The 
Yuman take it to induce dreams and gain occult powers and 
predict the future. Yokut boys, at initiation, take it once in a 
lifetime, but youths studying to be shamans must use it once a 
year. The Tarahumara add D. inoxia to tesguino, a fermented 
magic drink, to make it stronger; they also take a drink prepared 
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