''Hippobroma longiflora'', also called Star of Bethlehem or madamfate, is a flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae. It is the only species in the genus ''Hippobroma''. It is endemic to the West Indies, but has become naturalized across the American tropics and Oceania. It is notable for its concentrations of two pyridine alkaloids:

lobeline Lobeline is a pyridine alkaloid found in a variety of plants, particularly those in the genus ''Lobelia'', including Indian tobacco (''Lobelia inflata''), Devil's tobacco (''Lobelia tupa''), great lobelia (''Lobelia siphilitica''), ''Lobelia chin ...

and

nicotine Nicotine is a naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and ''Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As a pharmaceutical drug, it is used fo ...

. The effects of nicotine and lobeline are quite similar, with psychoactive effects at small dosages and with unpleasant effects including vomiting, muscle paralysis, and trembling at higher dosages. For this reason, ''H. longiflora'' (and its various synonyms) is often referenced for both its toxicity and its ethnobotanical uses. When uprooting this weed, it is important to wear gloves: the sap is an irritant which can be absorbed through the skin, and a small amount of sap in the eyes can cause blindness.

References

Lobelioideae Monotypic Campanulaceae genera Entheogens {{Campanulaceae-stub