Hi Nexians!

I was just reading the Nexian interview with Dr Dennis Mckenna, and one question struck me.



Especially the last sentence of the question. Why is it that so many of the DMT containing plants are in the Fabaceae genus? Does the nitrogen-fixing ability of these plants have anything to do with it?

I wonder.

Anyways, what do you guys think?

That was my question for the good doctor. So I suppose I should field this one.

On the simple surface of it, alkaloids are formed from nitrogen. Tryptamines and beta-carbolines are pretty simple molecules, so it's not really that large of a step to go from a plant in a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria to a significant presence of simple alkaloids (especially at the root level). These could be a byproduct or intermediary in the synthesis of moar complex alkaloids, or just part of the plants normal metabolic processes, or even performing simple roles as anti-oxidants or cellular transmitters.

Since these are repairative species, their presence in human disturbed areas is not all that surprising either. These plants need to come in and cultivate colonies of bacteria which will add nitrogen to the soil so that other species can move in and flourish and eventually create complex and diverse ecosystems.

Where it gets weird is the effect these alkaloids have on our consciousness and the curious fact that when we do disturb a thriving ecosystem, nature immediately moves in with the exact chemicals that cause such a profound effect in our nervous system. Dennis did a great job of covering that aspect and it's possible implications in the interview, so I won't rehash it here.

But yeah, that's kinda the long and short of it.

P.S. - For those who may not be familiar with the interview it can be read here.

The link is indeed thought-provoking.



Funny thing though is that another plant family besides the Fabaceae that is particularly noted for production of tryptamines and β-carbolines is the Graminae/Poaceae, home of maize/corn, wheat, barley, rice... The implications of this, if their indeed are any, I have yet to fathom.

And considering the triumvirate of maize/beans/squash, what might the Curcurbitaceae perhaps have to offer?

Something else I find interesting is that many plants in this genus are used extensively by humans in a variety of ways, including the species that are known to contain significant amounts of DMT.

Acacias and Mimosa Hostillis are used for their wood, for fodder, and for healing various ailments. Desmanthus species are also used for fodder. I'm sure these plants are used in other ways, these are all the uses I can think of off the top of my head.