Monday 30 April 2012

Khat (catha edulis)

                           Catha Edulis (khat) Red variety.

Grown from seed here at the-mush-room, red Khat is rare as a grown plant in the UK.
It is usually chewed by North African peoples and those residing in the UK.
 (Khat foliage is illegal in most countries in the world except North Africa and England!)
This is the Red Variety, with wider, fatter leaves than the others and an obvious red stem.
Chewing the leaves produces an amphetamine like high.
All varieties of Khat take a long time to grow. They like lots of sunshine and seem to respond well to infrequent watering. (although not so infrequent as to dry them out completely!)

Salvia divinorum 'Blosser'


                             Salvia Divinorum, Blosser strain.

Originally we brought this strain into the UK from the USA in 2010. As far as I know we were the only people selling Blosser here for quite a while. Most of the Blosser available now in the UK originated from our mother plant.
Blosser is said to be the 'palettable' strain, although after tasting it I would disagree! Its as bitter as any other.
Much slower growing and slower to root than the Wasson and Hoffmaan strain we also have.
Blosser is not common in the UK or Europe at all, more common in the USA.
Leaves tend to have more of a serrated edge to them and white central veins on the leaves.
The Blosser above has been trimmed to look more like a bush than a standard tall Salvia.

Kratom krazy.

 Maeng Da Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa),
Doing very well in our greenhouse. Cuttings seem to take much longer than expected to root and grow. I dont surpose the current poor weather in the UK is helping very much either.
We have quite a long waiting list for Kratom cuttings, but please be patient, nature only goes as quickly as she wants!
We got the original cuttings from a chap in the Carribean a year ago. Despite looking like they were on death's door, a couple survived.
Still waiting for this one to send out some side shoots though.














                                                                                  

                  Welcome to the-mush-room's blog!


We will post pictures of all the ethnobotanical wonders we have in our greenhouses and keep you posted about interesting developments here in (not so) sunny Cornwall (South West UK)

                                         Multi-headed Peyote (lophophora Williamsii) caespitosa
                                           (clumping variety) Must be at least 50 years old now!