Duboisia myoporoides – Corkwood (plant)

Description

Duboisia myoporoides is a member of the Solanaceae family, native to eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. It is reported that Aboriginals used this species as a narcotic. Holes were made in the trunk of the tree and filled with water. The following day, the liquid was drunk, producing a stupor. The leaves contain scopolamine (hyoscine) and this species is grown commercially for extraction of this alkaloid for use in pharmaceuticals for sea-sickness and stomach ulcers.

Chemical variation is noted in Duboisia myoporoides, Nicotine being the major compound in plants from PNG, Anabasine from Central QLD and Scopolamine from Northern NSW.

Care and Cultivation of Duboisia myoporoides

Duboisia myoporoides grows mainly in areas of high rainfall (although it has a good drought tolerance), on the edges of rainforest and on sandy soils behind sand dunes near the coast. Full-sun. Flowers in late winter/spring. Drought hardy.

1 plant