Rattle Tree

The genus Thevetia is composed of nine species,

known as rattle trees or tropical oleander (Anzeneder et al. 1993,61*). The peels of the fruits

are hard and are used to make rattles and clappers

for Indian dances.

One species whose identity has not been clarified

is known in Colombia and the surrounding

regions as cabalonga blanca. It is considered a

weaker relative of the true cabalonga. Cabalonga

blanca is said to have magical powers and psychoactive

effects and is used as an ayahuasca additive.

In Mexico, Thevetia thevetioides (H.B.K.) K.

Schum. is known as yoyotl and is used in folk

medicine as a cardiac stimulant and analgesic (Jiu

1966, 252*). Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) Schum.

[syn. T. neriifolia Juss.], known as yellow oleander,

is originally from Peru but is now cultivated as an

ornamental in all tropical zones of the world, and

it is the species whose chemical makeup is best

known. The seeds are rich in cardiac glycosides,

e.g., peruvoside (Steinegger and Hansel 1972,

193*). Eight to ten seeds is reportedly the lethal

dose for an adult (Roth et al. 1994, 699*). In the

Mexican state of San Luis Potosi, Thevetia peruviana

is known as palo de San Antonio, "tree of St.

Anthony" (Aguilar Contreras and Zolla 1982,

196*). The name may very well be derived from a

psychoactive effect (see Claviceps purpurea). On

the Gulf Coast of Mexico, in the territory of the

Huastec, the plant is known as cabalonga de la

huasteca (Aguilar Contreras and Zolla 1982, 196*).