About Brunfelsia grandiflora D.Don
Brunfelsia grandiflora D.Don is a flowering shrub that belongs to the nightshade family, native to South America. Its common English names are royal purple brunfelsia, kiss-me-quick, and yesterday-today-and-tomorrow. In Peru, it is called chiricsanango, a name that combines Spanish and Quechua. This shrub can grow up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide, with dense foliage made of alternately arranged leaves, each reaching up to 12 inches in length. Its fragrant flowers are white or come in various shades of purple, and they bloom nearly year-round. Within its native range, this species is used in traditional medicine to treat fever, rheumatism, syphilis, and arthritis. It is sometimes included as an active plant additive to contribute to the hallucinogenic effects of the South American drink ayahuasca. Laboratory tests have found that extracts from this plant are active against the protozoa that cause leishmaniasis, particularly against Leishmania major. Brunfelsia grandiflora is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant, for example for use in landscape design.
