Little Psycho Wild Coffee Plant - Psychotria nervosa - Seminole balsamo
Wild coffee is a native shrub distinguished by its beautiful evergreen foliage and bright red berries. Its conspicuous veins give the plant a textured look. It is found in shell ridge hammock understories with filtered sunlight and beneath cabbage palms. Early settlers in Florida brewed a coffee substitute drink from the seeds of this plant. It holds great shamanistic value and can be welcomed into a religious ceremoney known as Ayahuasca which is common in South and Central America. Indigenous cultures throughout the plant's home range have a myriad of medicinal uses and the plant played an important part in the healing systems of dozens of cultures. The most widely varied uses come from the Huastecs of Mexico who are descendants of the Maya. The myriad of medicinal usages amongst the inhabitants of the plant's home range would point to the presence of alkaloids though this has never been confirmed. Grown in a 4" pot.