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Brugmansia aurea

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(Redirected from Borrachero tree)

Brugmansia aurea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Brugmansia
Section: Brugmansia sect. Brugmansia
Species:
B. aurea
Binomial name
Brugmansia aurea
Lagerh.
Synonyms[2]
  • Datura arborea var. aurea (Lagerh.) J.Fraser & Hemsl.
  • Brugmansia affinis (Saff.) Moldenke
  • Brugmansia pittieri (Saff.) Moldenke
  • Datura affinis Saff.
  • Datura aurea Lagerh.
  • Datura pittieri Saff.

Brugmansia aurea, also known as golden angel's trumpet,[3][4] is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae that was native to Ecuador and Colombia,[2] but is now Extinct in the Wild.[1][4] Despite being declared extinct in its native range, Brugmansia aurea is a popular ornamental and is widely cultivated, like the other members of its genus.

Description

[edit]
Brugmansia aurea cultivated in the Meise Botanic Garden

Vegetative characteristics

[edit]

Brugmansia aurea is an up to 8 m tall shrub or small tree[5] with spreading or drooping, almost smooth branches and smooth, grey bark.[6] The leaves are glabrous or nearly glabrous.[7]

Generative characteristics

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The axillary, tubular, pendent, sulphur yellow to golden yellow, pleasantly fragrant, nectariferous flowers have 7–8 cm long, smooth pedicels.[6] The tubular, 13–16 cm long calyx with a pubescent outer surface is divided into 2–5 lobes at the apex.[6] The yellow, 15–18 cm long corolla bears five 5–6 cm long,[6] recurved teeth.[7] The stamens are 14.5 cm long.[6]

Taxonomy

[edit]

Brugmansia aurea Lagerh. was published by Nils Gustaf Lagerheim in 1893.[6][8] However, Brugmansia aurea Harrison had already been published by Harrison in 1837, making the later publication of Brugmansia aurea Lagerh. illegitimate.[9] As Brugmansia aurea Lagerh. had been widely used, it was proposed to conserve it against Brugmansia aurea Harrison.[9] It is placed in the section Brugmansia sect. Brugmansia.[10]

Etymology

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The specific epithet aurea means "golden".[11]

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

It was native to the Andes from south-central Ecuador to northeast Colombia at elevations of 2000–3000 m above sea level.[1] It grew mainly in Andean cloud forests and damp ravines with a subtropical mountainous climate, characterised by high humidity, moderate temperatures and frequent fog.[5] It has been introduced into Italy,[5][2] Rwanda,[2] France (Southern Corsica), and Spain.[5]

Ecology

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The very fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds.[12] The flowers are pollinated by the hummingbird Ensifera ensifera.[6] The floral tube is very often pierced by short-billed, nectar robbing hummingbirds.[6]

Conservation

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No natural wild populations are known and Brugmansia aurea is now Extinct in the Wild.[1] It is threatened by introgressive hybridisation with Brugmansia versicolor, via the hybrid Brugmansia × candida.[1]

Cultivation

[edit]
Two Brugmansia aurea seen from below

Brugmansia aurea is cultivated as an ornamental plant.[12] Several cultivars exist, notably 'Grand Marnier' with peach-coloured flowers. As with other members of its genus, it cannot handle temperatures below 5 °C (41 °F), but in colder climates can be placed outside in a sheltered spot during the summer months.[13][14]

Toxicity

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All parts of the plant are poisonous.[15]

Uses

[edit]

It is used as a hallucinogen. Its most potent cultivar is Culebra Borrachero, which has a high concentration of the psychoactive scopolamine.[16] It has also been used as a truth serum.[17] Borrachero loosely translates to "get-you-drunk", and scopolamine is also known as Devil's Breath[18] and burundanga.[19]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hay, A. (2014). "Brugmansia aurea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014 e.T38124A58906215. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T38124A58906215.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Brugmansia aurea Lagerh. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved May 30, 2026, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:37434-2
  3. Brugmansia aurea Lagerh. (n.d.-b). Catalogue of Life. Retrieved May 30, 2026, from https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/NFCP
  4. 1 2 Holmes, B. (n.d.). Brugmansia aurea Lagerh. (1893:33). The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database. Retrieved May 30, 2026, from https://recentlyextinctspecies.com/solanales-tomatoes-potatoes-eggplants-nightshades-etc/brugmansia-aurea
  5. 1 2 3 4 Giardi, L., & Fried, G. (2026) Brugmansia aurea Lagerh., a newly introduced species in Southern Corsica. Carnets botaniques Article n° 304 – 13 mai 2026
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lagerheim, N. G. (1893). Eine neue, goldgelbe Brugmansia (B. aurea Lagerh.). Gartenflora (Vol. 42, p. 33).
  7. 1 2 De Lorenzo Cáceres, J. M. S. (2003). Las especies del género Brugmansia cultivadas en España. Arboles Ornamentales. Retrieved May 31, 2026, from https://www.arbolesornamentales.es/Brugmansia.htm
  8. Brugmansia aurea Lagerh. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved May 31, 2026, from https://www.ipni.org/n/37434-2
  9. 1 2 Hay, A. (2021). (2802) Proposal to conserve the name Brugmansia aurea Lagerh. against B. aurea Harrison (Solanaceae). Taxon, 70(1), 212-213.
  10. Hay, A., & Gottschalk, M. (n.d.). Arten. GdS-Fachgruppen Dahlien, Fuchsien Und Kübelpflanzen. Retrieved April 25, 2026, from https://www.ddfgg.de/brugmansien/brugmansien_arten.php
  11. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1-84533-731-5.
  12. 1 2 Laface, V. L. A., Musarella, C. M., Cano Ortiz, A., Quinto Canas, R., Cannavò, S., & Spampinato, G. (2020). Three New Alien Taxa for Europe and a Chorological Update on the Alien Vascular Flora of Calabria (Southern Italy). Plants, 9(9), 1181. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091181
  13. "Brugmansia aurea 'Grand Marnier'". RHS. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  14. "Angel's Trumpet, Brugmansia". Wisconsin Horticulture. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  15. "Angel's Trumpet," The Better Homes and Gardens Plant Encyclopedia.
  16. Pratt, Christina (2007). "Brugmansia Aurea". An Encyclopedia of Shamanism. Rosen Publishing. pp. 68–70. ISBN 978-1-4042-1040-0.
  17. House, Robert E. (1931). "The Use of Scopolamine in Criminology". The American Journal of Police Science. 2 (4): 328–336. doi:10.2307/1147361. ISSN 1547-6154. JSTOR 1147361.
  18. Draper, Lucy (September 3, 2015). "Does the 'Devil's Breath' Drug Really Exist?". Newsweek. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  19. Cotroneo, Christian (September 3, 2013). "The World's Scariest Drug". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 13, 2017.