Envoy at 04:58, 8 July 2007

2007-07-08T04:58:10Z

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:''For the orchid genus, see [[Myoxanthus]].''
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Duboisia
| image = Koeh-055.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Duboisia myoporoides''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| phylum = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Solanales]]
| familia = [[Solanaceae]]
| subfamilia = Cestroideae
| tribus = Anthocercideae
| genus = '''''Duboisia'''''
| type_genus = ''Duboisia myoporoides''
| type_genus_authority = [[Robert Brown|R.Br.]] 1802
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
*''Duboisia arenitensis'' <small>Craven, Lepschi & Haegi</small>
*''[[Duboisia hopwoodii]]'' <small>(F.Muell.) F.Muell.</small>
*''Duboisia leichhardtii'' <small>(F.Muell.) F.Muell.</small>
*''Duboisia myoporoides'' <small>R.Br.</small>
}}

==Description==
'''''Duboisia''''' (commonly called '''Corkwood Tree''') is a [[genus]] of small perennial shrubs to trees about 14 m tall, with extremely light wood and a thick corky bark.

They are native to [[Australia]] and [[New Caledonia]].

The alternate, glabrous [[Leaf|leaves]] are narrow and elliptical. The [[inflorescence]] is an open cymose panicle of apically small white [[flower]]s, sometimes with a purple or mauve striped tube. They flower profusely in spring.
The [[fruit]] is a small, globular, black, juicy [[berry]].

The leaves of ''Duboisia leichhardtii'' and ''Duboisia myoporoides'' contain the pharmaceutically important ingredients [[scopolamine]] and [[hyoscyamine]] and some other accompanying minor [[alkaloid]]s. A derivative of scopolamine is the main active ingredient of the drug [[butylscopolamine]], a potent [[antispasmodic]] and [[analgesic]]. These trees are commercially grown for the [[pharmaceutical industry]].

==Indigenous Australian pituri preparation==
It is used by Australian aboriginals as trade between themselves and the [[Torres Strait]] Islanders. Australian [[Indigenous Australians|Aborigines]] chew the [[nicotine]]-containing dried leaves of ''[[Duboisia hopwoodii]]'', mixed with ash from ''[[Acacia]]'' species. They call this ''pituri''. The [[paleontologist]], Dr. Gavin Young, named the fossil agnathan ''[[Pituriaspis doylei]]'' after pituri, as he thought he may have been hallucinating upon viewing the fossil fish's bizarre form.

List of plant species used to make ashes for Indigenous Australian pituri preparation:<ref>[http://www.entheology.org/edoto/anmviewer.asp?a=47 Duboisia hopwoodii - Pituri Bush - Solanaceae - Central America]</ref>
*''[[Acacia aneura]]''
*''Acacia calcicola''
*''[[Acacia coriacea]]''
*''Acacia eutrophiolata''
*''[[Acacia ligulata]]''
*''[[Acacia pruinocarpa]]''
*''[[Acacia beauverdiana]]''
*''[[Acacia salicina]]''
*''Casuarina decaisneana''
*''[[Eucalyptus coolabah]]''
*''Grevillea stenobotrya''
*''Grevillea striata''
*''Senna artemisioides helmsii''
*''[[Ventilago viminalis]]''
*''[[Hakea]] species''

There is not much information regarding what if any [[psychoactive]] alkaloids might be present in the ash itself, since combustion tends to destroy or evaporate away alkaloids. The ash is said to be an important component in pituri preparation.

''Duboisia arenitensis'' is a new Australian species, described in 1995.

Duboisia is used in [[homeopathy]] to treat problems with the mind, imbalance, conjuctivitis of the eye, dry cough and numbness of the extemities. <ref> [http://homeoint.org/books/boericmm/d/dubo-m.htm Homeopathic Materia Medica] </ref>

== Footnote ==
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== External links ==
*[http://www.buscopan.com/com/Main/buscopan/duboisia/origins/index.jsp Worlds leading grower of Duboisia]

[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Flora of New Caledonia]]
[[Category:Australian Aboriginal bushcraft]]
[[Category:Australian Aboriginal words and phrases]]
[[Category:Opioids]]
[[Category:Poisonous plants]]

Duboisia - Revision history

Envoy at 04:58, 8 July 2007