Heimia
Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox
Heimia is a genus of flowering plants in the loosestrife family, Lythraceae. It contains two or three species of closely related shrubs commonly known as sun opener or shrubby yellowcrest. They are native to the Americas, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas). The leaves are 2–5 cm long and 1 cm broad, entire, and variably arranged alternate, opposite or whorled on the stems. All species produce five-petaled yellow flowers.Template:Citation needed The plants have a history of medicinal use in a variety of American cultures. Several pharmacologically active alkaloids have been detected in the plants.<ref name="Malone"/> The generic names honours German physician Ernst Ludwig Heim (1747–1834).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
SpeciesEdit
The genus contains three species. They are similar to the extent that expert knowledge is required to differentiate between specimens of the different species.<ref name="Malone"/> The alkaloid contents of specimens of all three species has been studied, and although similar, they have been found to be chemically distinct.<ref name="Rother1990">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Heimia myrtifoliaEdit
Heimia myrtifolia is a shrub growing to 1 m tall. The yellow flowers are 5 petaled and 1 cm in diameter. The leaves are approximately 5 mm wide by 2–3 cm long.Template:Citation needed
Heimia salicifoliaEdit
Heimia salicifolia, commonly known as Sinicuichi, is a shrub growing to 3 m tall. The yellow flowers are 5 petaled and 2–3 cm in diameter. The leaves are approximately 1 cm wide and 3–5 cm long.Template:Citation needed
Heimia montanaEdit
Secondary metabolitesEdit
The alkaloid content is similar between the species in the genus.<ref name="Malone"/> The following substances have been detected in Heimia salicifolia:
AlkaloidsEdit
- 9-beta-Hydroxyvertine<ref name="Rumalla">Template:Cite journal</ref>
- (2S,4S,10R)-4-(3-Hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-quinolizidin-2-acetate<ref name="Rumalla"/>
- Lythrine<ref name="Rumalla"/>
- Dehydrodecodine<ref name="Rumalla"/>
- Lythridine<ref name="Rumalla"/>
- Cryogenine<ref name="Rumalla"/>
- Heimidine<ref name="Rumalla"/>
- Lyfoline<ref name="Rumalla"/>
- epi-Lyfoline<ref name="Rumalla"/>
- Sinicuichine<ref name="Malone"/>
- Nesodine<ref name="Malone"/>
- Abresoline<ref name="Malone"/>
- Anelisine<ref name="Malone"/>
- Lythridine (sinine) <ref name="Malone"/>
HistoryEdit
Heimia myrtifolia and Heimia salicifolia are often reported to have hallucinogenic effects. This controversial attribution of effects appears to be traceable back to a publication by J. B. Calderón in 1896 who wrote that it was said to possess a "curious and unique physiological action ... people drinking either a decoction or the juice of the plant have a pleasant drunkenness ... all objects appear yellow and the sounds of bells, human voices or any other reach their ears as if coming from a long distance."<ref name="Malone">Template:Cite journalErowid references</ref><ref name="Calderon">Estudio sobre el arbusto llamado sinieuichi. Anales del Instituto Médico Nacional 2, 36–42</ref>
Calderón actually tested the plant and did not experience any noticeable effects. Through a series of exaggerating and dramatizing citations, especially by Victor A. Reko in the first half of the last century, the plant became known as a hallucinogen despite that psychoactive properties of the plant have never been demonstrated. The mildly psychoactive effects described in the original publication have therefore been attributed to a sedative principle or unknown other contents of the brew or, simply, to its alcohol content.<ref name="Malone"/>
In 1926, Reko observed that the native people of Mexico also called the stem and bark of Erythrina coralloides, the bark of Piscidia erythrina, and the seeds of Rhynochosia praecatoria by the name of sinicuichi,<ref name="Reko">Template:Cite journal</ref> which may have contributed to the scientific confusion.<ref name="Malone"/>
CultivationEdit
The species make attractive ornamental plants, flowering in late summer. Although only growing as a shrub in subtropical climates, it can also be grown as a herbaceous perennial in colder areas where the above-ground growth is killed by winter cold. The plants produce very many tiny seeds which are easily cultivated. Both species prefer well-drained soil with a good supply of water.<ref name="Grubber">Template:Citation</ref>
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Wikispecies-inline Template:Commons category-inline