The use of Brugmansia among other Indians of the upper Amazon is not uncommon, but, in general, its role is secondary to that of yage’ (Banisteriopsis spp.), and it is often combined with the latter (Calella, 1944). In many tribes, its usage is restricted to the shaman. This is true of the Shipibo Indians on the central Rio Ucayali in eastern Peru. Among the Shipibo, the drug is called toe’, and its preparation is the same as among the Jivaro. The Spaniards accepted many of the medicinal uses of Brugmansia, such as in the treatment of rheumatism, infections, and asthma; it was as omamentals, however, that they truly adopted the Brugmansias, or floripondios as they generally are called. Jose de Acosta, writing about the New World in 1590, was the first to call attention to the beauty and fragrance of Brugmansia flowers. He stated that they were called floripondios, and were grown in the gardens of the Viceroy Francisco Toledo in Lima. Cobo (1890), writing in 1653, also mentioned their beauty and fragrance, but related that the smell of the flowers can cause headaches. This belief was substantiated during the course of my field work. The idea that the fragrance of Brugmansia induces sleep is still common among many people in southern Colombia. In this same region, it is related that some villages once had allees of floripondios through which people would walk in the evenings if they suffered from insomnia. The idea that Brugmansias are bad or dangerous is still prevalent among many people in South America and is due probably to its former widespread association with witchcraft. Ruiz (1940) reported the belief that sleeping in the shade of Brugmansia sanguinea would induce insanity. In spite of these beliefs, Brugmansias are still widely cultivated and appreciated for their beauty. As population density and land use has increased in the Andes, many plants such as Brugmansia are decreasing in total numbers. A more specific problem related to the decreasing number of Brugmansias in the Andes is the introduction of bee-keeping. The belief is widely held that honey made from the flowers of Brugmansia is toxic and has resulted in the destruction of all the plants in some villages. If current trends continue, it is most likely that many interesting clones will be destroyed, and the range of many species will become more restricted.