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Brunfelsia

 

 
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Brunfelsia
 
 
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Brunfelsia is a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of about 40 species of neotropical shrubs and small trees.

The leaves are alternate and simple, with shapes generally elliptic to ovate. The flowers are large and tubular, with five broad petals. Typical habitat is light woodland and thickets. Species in cultivation include Brunfelsia americana ("lady of the night") and Brunfelsia pauciflora
Brunfelsia pauciflora

Brunfelsia pauciflora is a species of plant native to the woodlands of Brazil, and cultivated for its flowers....
. Linnaeus named the genus for early German herbalist Otto Brunfels
Otto Brunfels

Otto Brunfels was a German theologian and botanist. Carl von Linn? listed him among the "Fathers of Botany".After studying theology and philosophy at the University of Mainz, Brunfels entered a Carthusian monastery in Mainz and later resettled to another Carthusian monastery at K?nigshofen near Stra?burg....
 (1488-1534).






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Brunfelsia is a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of about 40 species of neotropical shrubs and small trees.

The leaves are alternate and simple, with shapes generally elliptic to ovate. The flowers are large and tubular, with five broad petals. Typical habitat is light woodland and thickets. Species in cultivation include Brunfelsia americana ("lady of the night") and Brunfelsia pauciflora
Brunfelsia pauciflora

Brunfelsia pauciflora is a species of plant native to the woodlands of Brazil, and cultivated for its flowers....
. Linnaeus named the genus for early German herbalist Otto Brunfels
Otto Brunfels

Otto Brunfels was a German theologian and botanist. Carl von Linn? listed him among the "Fathers of Botany".After studying theology and philosophy at the University of Mainz, Brunfels entered a Carthusian monastery in Mainz and later resettled to another Carthusian monastery at K?nigshofen near Stra?burg....
 (1488-1534). The cultivated plant is commonly called "yesterday, today, and tomorrow" due to its color changes.

Many members of this genus contain toxic and medicinal alkaloid
Alkaloid

Alkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds containing base nitrogen atoms. The name derives from the word alkaline and was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base....
s. Brunfelsia grandiflora is used by curandero
Curandero

A curandero is a traditional folk healer or shaman in Hispanic America, who is dedicated to curing physical or spiritual illnesses....
s in South America as an additive to ayahuasca
Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is any of various psychoactive infusions or decoctions prepared from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, usually mixed with the leaves of the Psychotria bush....
 and contains the psychoactive alkaloid scopoletin. Brunfelsia hopeana contains the alkaloid hopeanine.

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