Heimia myrtifolia 'Small Sinicuiche'

Lythraceae: 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. Heimia is a genus of flowering plants in the loosestrife family. It contains two or three species of closely related shrubs commonly known as sun opener or shrubby yellow-crest. They are native to the Americas, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas). 

USES: 

The plants have a history of medicinal use in a variety of American cultures. Several pharmacologically active alkaloids have been detected in the plants. The generic names honours German physician Ernst Ludwig Heim (1747–1834).

An intoxicating and euphoric drink is made by crushing the wilted leaves in water and leaving the liquid in a sunny position for three days to ferment. In large quantities it is said that it can induce hallucinations and produces a vision that is typically overcast in yellow.

The leaves are antispasmodic, hallucinogenic and sedative, also an infusion serves to stabilize the blood pressure and relieve anxiety.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Surface sow seeds, keep warm, moist and bright, germinates easily in a week or two. Easy. I have a plant growing in my garden that gets cut back by the cold each winter but regrow and flower each year.

HARVESTED: 2024

APPROX. 100+ SEEDS