Polypody

The Spanish botanist Hipolito RUlz (1754-1816),

who traveled through South America in the

eighteenth century, provided the first descriptions

of many plants and returned with extensive

collections of botanical materials. In his Relaci6n,

he reported a number of experiences and provided

ethnobotanical notes from Peru and Chile

(Schultes 1980, 89*). RUlz described a polypody

known as cucacuca, incapcocam, or coca del Inca

under the binomial Polypodium incapcocam

(nomen nudum), whose botanical identity even

Richard E. Schultes was unable to determine. RUlz

noted that the Indians had informed him that the

Incas used the leaves of this plant instead of coca

(see Erythroxylum coca). Moreover, the powdered

plant was said to be used (how?) in place of

tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) in order to "clear the

head" (Schultes 1980,89*).

Whether Polypodium does indeed have psychoactive

effects remains to be seen, although it is

possible. Interestingly, the root of one species of

the genus Polypodium whose identity has not been

specified is ingested orally together with the seeds

of Anadenanthera colubrina. It may contain

MAO-inhibiting J3-carbolines (or other substances

with the same effects). The root of the

common polypody (Polypodium vulgare 1.), also

known as sweet angel, contains small amounts of

an essential oil, tannin, bitter principles, and

sweet-tasting saponins (Pahlow 1993, 119*).

It is quite possible that there are other

psychoactive ferns; even German folklore contains

tales of filices, "ferns" (e.g., the worm fern, Aspidium

filix-mas)-also called irrwurz ("confused

root")-that have magical powers, make the devil

appear, and can make one invisible (Marzell 1964,

33f£.*; Schopf 1986, 84f.*). There are also ferns

that were added to beer. In Mexico, a fern known as itamo reaP36 (Pellaea cordata J. Sm.) is said to

have inebriating effects (Diaz 1979,93*).