Corkwood Tree

OTHER NAME(S): Boacouillo, Boanco, Palo Corcho, Pituri, Duboisia myoporoides, cork wood, Alcornoque, Bois de liège

Overview

Corkwood tree (Duboisia myoporoides) is native to Australia. It's grown as a source of certain chemicals, including scopolamine and atropine, which are used as drugs.

The chemicals in corkwood tree can affect the central nervous system and cause serious side effects. The cured and rolled leaves (quids) are sometimes chewed.

People use corkwood tree quids for hunger, pain, tiredness, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. It might also be unsafe.

Don't confuse corkwood tree with phellodendron, which is sometimes called cork tree. These are not the same.

References
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Pellowe E, Poncia HD. Duboisia ingestion: an unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning. Emerg Med Australas 2013;25(3):268-70.