Posted on 12/23/2021 11:09:09 AM PST by Red Badger
Seeds from the morning glory (Convolvulaceae) family of plants contain LSD-like chemicals, which have the potential for treating everything from depression to Parkinson's disease, at least if studies are allowed.
Morning glories are tropical vines with flowers that only open in the morning. They thrive in disturbed forests and at river edges. More importantly, they form symbiotic relationships with highly specialized fungi of the Periglandula genus, and mother plants pass their fungus on through the seeds. The fungi in question are known to sometimes produce ergot alkaloids, a family of molecules that produce psychedelic effects in humans. Indigenous Mexicans have long taken advantage of this property and some of the molecules responsible, which were identified in 1960.
Professor Keith Clay of Tulane University decided to explore how widespread and diverse these molecules are. In Communications Biology, Clay and coauthors report 53 of the 210 species they tested had ergot-containing seeds, mostly in species where this had not previously been reported. However, sweet potatoes, the most famous morning glories (this one aside), showed no ergot alkaloid presence.
"The symbiosis and ergot alkaloids are specific to particular branches of the morning glory evolutionary tree, and each branch contains different ergot alkaloids and alkaloid mixtures," Clay said in a statement. That makes the morning glory family collectively represent a cornucopia of biologically active molecules to study.
For decades research into the effects of psychedelic drugs has been made nearly impossible by government restrictions. It remains extremely difficult, but the obstacles are being slowly loosened, and the findings are remarkable. Multiple studies have suggested that, taken the right way, ergot derivatives can have beneficial effects not only for depression but for conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
Since each version of the alkaloid molecules will show subtly, and sometimes dramatically, different effects, an abundance of natural examples offers researchers a better chance of finding those that match particular needs and have few side-effects.
"Our study is the first to show how highly coevolved morning glories and their symbiotic fungi are, and that coevolution is manifested by different mixtures and concentrations of ergot alkaloids across the morning glory evolutionary tree," Clay said. It is thought the molecules protect the seeds against those who would eat them – presumably indicating that beetles, which represent their greatest threat, are not keen on seeing god.
Seed mass was found to correlate with alkaloid concentration, although IFLScience would like to remind anyone inspired by this information that going in search of one's own, untested wild psychedelics is dangerous. Still, it's probably safer than the drugs with which “morning glory” is more frequently associated.
They are a virulent weed that is nearly impossible to
erradicate, once established. A very pretty virulent weed,
but a weed nonetheless.
Make sure that you REALLY like them before you decide to plant them.
Much like Honeysuckle
I had both in my yard.
My GF’s family raised tobacco back in the day. She said Morning Glory was hated with a passion for choking the field plants it grew on.
[[They thrive in disturbed forests]]
Where trees stand aroudn yelling at noone in particular, and barking like mad dogs
we had a friend die from psilocybin ... (son of a Senator, as it happened)
tragic
As we used to say back in the day: “Far out.”
Did you see, Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers are back?
Haven’t found out when, where or why, but have seen ads.
Remember Firesign Theater?
“Just remember that dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope.”
(I bought the Freak Brothers Omnibus a while back. Still funny, but not quite as funny without smoking dope.)
morning glory
honeysuckle
In western Oregon the plant pest is blackberry bushes / brambles.
Anywhere near a stream or river, blackberries can take hold, and
can grow Enormous. For a few years I lived on the north Umpqua
river on a dead end that ended at the river. Or rather in the mass
of 20 foot tall blackberry bushes.
It wasn't anyone's yard so they were innocuous.
Actually they were pretty cool. A few mornings I carried a colander,
a bottle of water and a spoon down to the end of the road and
picked the berries into the collander, rinsed them off and ate 'em with
spoon while standing in the middle of the dead end road, listening
to the birds chirping and gazing at the river. A more pleasant - not to
mention free - breakfast was hard to imagine.
But in Oregon blackberry brambles can take over hedges, other bushes,
entire trees - and kill them. They take no prisoners.
been thru many blackberry thickets, wear good boots to push the canes apart.
mighty good eatin!
Morning Glory is one of my favorite fall flowers! And no I do not try to eat them before anyone asks :0)
We did it with fuchsias, too.
Bindweed, the White-flowered morning glory native to Oregon is almost as bad as the blackberries, without the bonus of delicious berries.
Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds, anyone?
It's easy to tell the difference - the 'mock' ones look like the
little 'wild' ones - only they have no flavor whatsoever.
Why does everything have to be so complicated?
I used to pick blackberries by the bucket in SW Portland, 50 or more years ago. I’d take two long planks and lay them on the vines, moving them as needed to get around atop the thicket. Sometimes I’d be 10 or 12 feet off the ground. Falling off was not pleasant.
Then my sister would make pies and jam from the berries. Good stuff.
Honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica)
There was a massive one in the schoolyard, it had entwined itself in the chain link fence. It was a wall of flowers in bloom.
[singing] she’s my girl, and that’s where I went last night, off in a dream...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-6KbRi6mVE
Sounds good.
I never bothered to cook or bake with them. I just ate 'em.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.