crinane-type characteristic of many amaryllidaceous alkaloids, 
but differ in having an open ring (Popelak and Lettenbauer 
1967). There are about 1000 species of Mesembryanthemum, 
sensu lato, in the xerophytic regions of South Africa. About two 
dozen species have been split off into a group often recognized 
as a distinct genus, Sceletium. 
OCH, 
CH,0 
Amaryllidaceae 
Pancratium L. 
The Bushmen of Dobe, Botswana, consider Pancratium tri- 
anthum Herbert, a bulbous perennial known locally as kwashi, 
to be psychoactive (Schultes 1970a). Rubbing the bulb over 
incisions on the head is said to induce visual hallucinations. 
Nothing is known of any possible psychotomimetic constituents, 
although toxic alkaloids of the tazettine type are characteristic 
of the genus (Amico et al. 1972). Some of the I5 species of 
Pancratium, mainly Asiatic and African, possess toxic princi- 
ples, chiefly alkaloids. Some species are employed in folk 
medicine; others are potent cardiac poisons. 
175 
