If you grow tired of the mix of grease-burned carne asada, urine, exhaust and rotting garbage that hovers in the air under your nostrils as you walk through our fair neighborhood, take a chance on Pearl Street and enjoy a whiff of these big yellow suckers. These things are so smelly! And it’s completely intoxicating. To smell, perchance to dream.
UPDATE: Lizzy tells us they’re also hallucinogenic! Bonus! But! Please don’t cut off your penis!
By sniffing those flowers, you’re putting hummingbirds out of a job.
Hey human, there’s enough for everyone!
I love those plants! I always stop to smell them. They are all over the city. What are they called…? Anyone?
Angels’ Trumpets or Datura! They’re supposed to be hallucinogenic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia#Uses
The experience reports on Erowid don’t make this drug sound too appealing:
http://www.erowid.org/experiences/subs/exp_Brugmansia.shtml
Who knew hummingbirds were into hardcore hallucinogens?
They are called “Angel’s Trumpet” and are really toxic and a hallucinogen. The flowers contain Scopolamine and Atropine. Both hallucinogenic compounds, both are extremely toxic, and will kill you. Also the experience of ingesting the Angel’s trumpet is supposed to be horrifying. Read the Wiki entry here…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia
where a man reportedly cut off his own penis after drinking tea made from the stuff. So it is the worst trip imaginable, and then you die from the toxicity. I first learned about them at a lecture at the academy of sciences.
Do Not Take These As A Hallucinogen!
We used to call them Hells Bells. I’ve heard TERRIBLE things.
A friend of mine was working on one of these on South Van Ness, and accidentally rubbed her eye free of sweat. Hours later, one eyeball was dilated and the hospital thought she had a concussion. Her eyes returned to normal but it took a day. ALWAYS wear gloves when pruning them.
http://www.vice.com/vice-news/colombian-devil-s-breath-1-of-2
The substance is Scopolamine. Colombians use the substance to commit crimes.
There are, however, other plants that look very similar.
DEVILS BREATH
http://www.vice.com/vice-news/colombian-devil-s-breath-1-of-2