The genus occurs in the tropics and subtropics of both 
hemispheres and comprises some 100 species. 
Rhynchosia Lour. 
The ancient Mexicans may have valued several species of 
Rhynchosia as narcotics. Modern Oaxacan Indians refer to the 
toxic seeds of R. pyramidalis (Lam.) Urb. and R. longeracemosa 
Mart. & Gal. by the same name, piule, which they also apply to 
the seeds of hallucinogenic morning glories. The black and red 
Rhynchosia beans, pictured together with mushrooms, have 
been identified on Aztec paintings, thus suggesting hallucino- 
genic use (Schultes 1937b, 1965, 1969a). An as yet uncharacter- 
ized alkaloid has been isolated from R. pyramidalis (Ristic and 
Thomas 1962). 
This genus comprises some 300 species of tropical and 
subtropical plants, especially of Africa and America. 
Lycoperdaceae 
Lycoperdon Pers. 
Puffballs, Lycoperdon marginatum Vitt. and L. mixtecorum 
Heim, have been reported as hallucinogens utilized by the 
Mixtecs of Oaxaca in Mexico at 6000 feet altitude or higher 
(Heim et al. 1967). There are more than 100 species of Lyco- 
perdon, native mostly to the temperate zone in moss-covered 
forests. 
The Mixtec call Lycoperdon mixtecorum, gi-i-wa (“fungus of 
first quality”) and L. marginatum, which has a strong odor of 
excrement, gi-i-sa-wa (“fungus of second quality”). These two 
hallucinogens do not appear to occupy the place as divinatory 
agents that the mushrooms hold among the neighboring Maza- 
tec. The most active species, L. mixtecorum, causes a state of 
half-sleep one-half hour after ingestion of one or two specimens. 
Voices and echoes are heard, and voices are said to respond to 
questions posed to them. The effects of the puffballs differ 
markedly from those of the hallucinogenic mushrooms: they 
may not induce visions, although definite auditory hallucina- 
tions do accompany the intoxication. There is as yet no phyto- 
chemical basis on which to explain the intoxication from these 
two gastromycetes, but there seems to be every indication that 
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