Tabernanthe iboga
Tabernanthe iboga
Safety & Hazards
Toxic doses of the plant may produce convulsions, paralysis and death from respiratory arrest[1]. In the 1980's, Iboga became popular in the United States and Europe as a non-addictive interrupter of drug dependency, but soon thereafter it was classified as a hallucinogen and dangerous substance in the United States, where it is therefore illegal to buy, sell, or possess it without a licence. Its possession is also prohibited in Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden and Australia. There has been renewed interest in iboga since the late 1990's[1]. The latex is mixed with Periploca nigrescens and/or Strophanthus spp., and then used as arrow poison[1].
Cultivation Details
Newly planted young shrubs can reach a height of about 60cm after 3 years[1]. If produced from cuttings, they can commence flowering in just 4 months[1]. Plants often flower and produce fruit all year round[1]. Plants can be cut back into the old wood, resprouting well from the trunk[1].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe because after a few months the seed coat dries out, making it difficult for the seedling to emerge[1]. Sow the seed in a semi-shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers[1]. Germination is slow and irregular, ranging from a few weeks to a few months. Scarification prior to sowing increases the germination rate considerably[1]. Young plants can be transplanted to their final location after 2 - 3 months, when the root has become twice as long as the stem[1]. Cuttings of about 25 cm long and 1 cm in stem diameter root easily in humid soil.[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tabernanthe+iboga>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.