Hippobroma

Hippobroma longiflora, also called Star of Bethlehem or madamfate,[1] is a flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae. It is the only species in the genus Hippobroma. It is endemic to the West Indies, but has become naturalized across the American tropics and Oceania.[2]

Hippobroma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Subfamily: Lobelioideae
Genus: Hippobroma
G.Don
Species:
H. longiflora
Binomial name
Hippobroma longiflora
(L.) G.Don
Synonyms
  • Isotoma longifa
    C. Presl
  • Laurentia longiflora
    Endl.
  • Lobelia longiflora

It is notable for its concentrations of two pyridine alkaloids: lobeline and nicotine. The effects of nicotine and lobeline are quite similar, with psychoactive effects at small dosages and with unpleasant effects including vomiting, muscle paralysis, and trembling at higher dosages.[3] For this reason, H. longiflora (and its various synonyms) is often referenced for both its toxicity and its ethnobotanical uses.

When uprooting this weed, it is important to wear gloves: the sap is an irritant which can be absorbed through the skin, and a small amount of sap in the eyes can cause blindness.

References
  1. "Hippobroma longiflora". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  2. "Hippobroma". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  3. Baldwin, Roger E. (1979) [1979]. Hawaii's Poisonous Plants (1 ed.). Hilo, Hawaii: The Petroglyph Press, Ltd. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-912180-34-2.


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