Scopolia Carniolica Jaq. Joannes Antonius Scopoli & Scopolamine

Transcription

1 Scopolia Carniolica Jaq. Joannes Antonius Scopoli & Scopolamine MIKE GALSWORTHY and MAJDA ZOREC KARLOVSEK Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Corresponding author:

2 A plant grows in the hills of this area

3 Matthioli describes the plant in 1569

4 Matthioli describes the plant in 1569

5 And finds it to be between two plants that he knows Solanum somniferum (Hyosciamus niger) (Black henbane)? Solatrum maius (Atropa belladonna) (Deadly nightshade)

6 so calls it an other form of a plant he knows. Solanum somniferum (Hyosciamus niger) (Black henbane) Solanun somniferum alterum Solatrum maius (Atropa belladonna) (Deadly nightshade)

7 The plant has had many changes in name since Solanum somnificum alterum Atropa 2 Hyosciamus Scopolia L. Litophyla carniolica Scopola carniolica. Jacq. 1821, Utrecht, at the international congress of plant nomenclature as Scopolia carniolica.

8 But these names tell an interesting story Solanum somnificum alterum Atropa 2 Hyosciamus Scopolia L. Litophyla carniolica Scopola carniolica. Jacq. Scopolia carniolica of a brilliant naturalist, Scopoli, who worked in this region of Carniola.

9 But these names tell an interesting story Solanum somnificum alterum Atropa 2 (Scopoli s first name for the plant) Hyosciamus Scopolia L. Litophyla carniolica (Scopoli s second name) Scopola carniolica. Jacq. Scopolia carniolica of a brilliant naturalist, Scopoli, who worked in this region of Carniola.

10 Johannes Antonius Scopoli ( )

11 State exam in the court of Maria Theresia (1753)

12 Scopoli was sent to the Idrija mine in Carniola where mercury had been poisoning workers for centuries

13 But despite tragedy, produced several great publications De Hydrargyro Idriensi (1761) Flora Carniolica (1760) Entomologia Carniolica (1763) Annus historico-naturalis ( ) Deliciae Flora et Fauna Insubricae ( )

14 Flora Carniolica put him in touch with Linnaeus

15 >30 letters written and sent over great distances

16 and one plant of Scopoli s fascinated Linnaeus Linaeus to Scopoli, Letter 3 ( ) Most of all, I would like to see your 288 Atropa 2, because it seems to me a completely paradoxical and singular species. If You possess its seeds or even a dried specimen, please, send it to me in a letter. so Linnaeus named it after Scopoli, and it is still in Linaeus garden today

17 it is also the plant from which scopolamine was first isolated a psychoactive chemical that has since been found to link many of the ancient witchcraft and shamanic plants:

18 Scopoli s association with Linnaeus cost his reputation for years in 1813,(25 years after Scopoli s death) Charles Nodier praised Scopoli. Ljubljana biologists rejected him. Slovenia was part of the Ilyrian Provences of the French Empire.

19 but the association has finally paid off

20 and the correspondence between the two great men is recorded In Latin

21 and the correspondence between the two great men is recorded In Latin and English

22 and the correspondence between the two great men is recorded In Latin and English and Slovene!

23 and the correspondence between the two great men is recorded In Latin and English and Slovene! In a fascinating book by Darinka Soban

24 END