Latin Name
Silene capensis, Silene undulata
Psychoactive Effects
induce vivid, lucid dreams (Sobiecki 2008), oneirogen effect
Medicinal Benefits
vomiting, also referred to as emesis therapy; purge the body of surplus mucus and water (Sobiecki 2012)
Dosage
200 - 250 mg to induce lucid dreaming
1/2 tsp of dried S. capensis powder + half a cup of water in the early morning before breakfast
1 tbsp of dried S. capensis powder + 2 cups of water frothed, drink until “full” feeling (DreamHerbs 2011)
Federal Schedule
presumed legal
Common Names
gunpowder plant, campion, unozitholana, ubulawu, undlela zimhlophe, kleinwildetabak
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Native Region
South Africa: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape (von Staden 2014)
Olfactory Identification (smell)
N/A
Gustatory Identification (taste)
N/A
Indigenous Tribe Use
Xhosa
Species Distribution
widespread across South Africa and Lesotho (von Staden 2014)
Plant Type
perennial
Petal Count
10
Time of Year Plant Flowers
late spring/early summer, mid-summer
Time of Year Plant Becomes Optimally Useful
root can be harvested after the second year
Dormant in Their Rhizomes
N/A
Time of Year to Plant
sown in the spring or fall in a seed box or the ground, but soil must be kept slightly moist
Plant Hardiness Zone
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)