Hawaiian Woodrose

Seeds: 20  / Botanical name: Argyreia nervosa

Also known as silver morning glory, this heart-shaped climbing plant has many leaves

This impressive climbing plant winds its way high into the sky, reaching heights of up to 10 meters. Equally impressive are its lush, violet blossoms and its deep green leaves, which can grow up to 30 cm long and are silvery-hairy on the underside, resembling the shape of an elephant's ear. These characteristics have earned it the nicknames Silver Bindweed or Elephant Bindweed. Its berries contain up to four hard seeds. In its native India, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. The root is particularly well-documented in this context. It is used as a nerve tonic, an aphrodisiac, and to treat arthritis, coughs, nervousness, and much more. Among the indigenous Hawaiian population, it was popular as a stimulant and love potion. The psychoactive properties of the seeds were discovered later and used as a recreational drug. The active ingredient responsible for these properties, ergine, is said to have effects similar to LSD.

Natural habitat: Despite its name, the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose originates from India but arrived in Hawaii early on. Today they can be found in Africa, India, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Australia and Sri Lanka.