Sleepy Grass

Various species of the genus Stipa are found from

Texas to Guatemala. In the White Mountains of

the region of the Rio Grande, Stipa vaseyi Scribn.

[syn. Stipa robusta (Vasey) Scribn.] is known by

the name popoton sacaton, which is probably of

Aztec origin (Emboden 1979, 191 *). This grass is

said to have inebriating effects and in Guatemala

supposedly is used as a sleeping agent. A related species, Stipa viridula, is purported to have a

narcotic effect (Emboden 1976, 161*). It has

recently been claimed that another species native

to the American Southwest, Stipa robusta, exhibits

strong psychoactive effects. This sleepy grass lives

in a symbiotic relationship with a fungus (Acremonium)

that is thought to produce the ergot alkaloid

D-Iysergic acid amide (cf. Turbina corymbosa) in

the seeds. It has been claimed that a dosage of nine

seeds will produce LSD-like effects (DeKorne

1995,127*). Ethnographic evidence for any psychoactive

use is lacking.