A strong dose of morning glory takes around 250 seeds. A strong dose of Hawaiian baby woodrose takes around 8. Both contain the same psychoactive compound, both belong to the same plant family, and both have been used for centuries. The gap comes down to concentration per seed, and knowing that number matters before you decide which packet to open.
Two vines from the same family
Morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor, cultivar Heavenly Blue) and Hawaiian baby woodrose (Argyreia nervosa) both belong to the Convolvulaceae, the bindweed family. Beyond that shared ancestry, they look and grow very differently.
Morning glory is an annual climbing vine that rarely exceeds four metres. Its trumpet-shaped flowers are a distinctive sky blue; its seeds are small (about 3 mm), black, and light. A single seed weighs roughly 0.025 g. The cultivar Heavenly Blue, originally from Mexico, is the one reliably containing ergoline alkaloids. Aztec priests knew these seeds as tlitlitzin and used them in ceremonial contexts centuries before European contact.
Hawaiian baby woodrose is a perennial woody vine native to the Indian subcontinent. Its heart-shaped leaves can span 30 cm, and its seeds are much larger: 8 to 10 mm across, brown, with a distinctive fuzzy coating. A single HBWR seed weighs about 0.5 to 1 g. The plant was first described botanically in 1837, but Western awareness of its psychoactive properties only came in the 1960s, decades after Albert Hofmann had identified LSA in the related Rivea corymbosa.
LSA: the compound both seeds share
The main psychoactive substance in both seed types is d-lysergic acid amide (LSA, also called ergine). If the name sounds familiar: LSA is a chemical relative of LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide). The two compounds share the same ergoline backbone, but LSD is roughly eight times more potent per milligram because of its diethylamide group. The average psychoactive dose of LSA is around 0.5 to 1 mg; for LSD, it is 0.1 mg.
Besides LSA, both seed types contain other ergoline alkaloids: iso-LSA (a less active isomer) and LSH (lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide), which may contribute to the overall experience. In morning glory seeds, a symbiotic fungus called Periglandula ipomoeae is the actual producer of these alkaloids. The ratio of alkaloids varies not just between species but between individual seeds, which is why potency can differ noticeably even within the same packet.
The dosage gap in numbers
HBWR seeds contain roughly 10 to 50 times more LSA per seed than morning glory seeds. In practice, the ranges reported in ethnobotanical literature and user surveys look like this:
A threshold experience takes about 20 to 50 morning glory seeds, but only 1 to 3 HBWR seeds. A common experience takes 100 to 250 morning glory seeds versus 5 to 7 HBWR seeds. A strong experience takes 250 to 400 morning glory seeds versus 7 to 12 HBWR seeds.
The arithmetic is straightforward. HBWR seeds are physically 20 to 40 times heavier than morning glory seeds, and they carry a higher alkaloid concentration per gram of seed mass on top of that. One HBWR seed can hold as much LSA as 50 to 100 morning glory seeds.
At Avalon Magic Plants, a packet of Morning Glory Heavenly Blue contains 10 grams (roughly 300 to 400 seeds). A packet of Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Madagascar contains 10 seeds. Both are untreated seeds sold for ethnobotanical purposes.
How the experiences differ
Despite sharing LSA as their primary compound, users consistently report somewhat different experiences from each seed type.
Morning glory experiences tend to be described as lighter and more visual. The onset is typically slow (90 to 120 minutes when seeds are chewed) and the peak has a dreamlike quality. Some users compare the headspace to a gentle LSD experience with less stimulation. Duration is usually 6 to 8 hours.
Hawaiian baby woodrose experiences tend to be more sedating and physically pronounced. The body load is heavier, and the mental effects are described as deeper and more introspective, sometimes compared to a low-dose psilocybin experience. Duration can run from 6 to 10 hours, with residual sedation lasting longer.
Both produce significant nausea. This is the most consistently reported side effect across all user reports, clinical case studies, and ethnobotanical literature. The nausea comes from two sources: the seed material itself (which contains fats, waxes, and cyanogenic glycosides) and LSA's own effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Preparation: reducing the nausea
Eating raw seeds maximises nausea. Removing the seed material through extraction leaves most of the stomach-irritating compounds behind, although LSA itself can still cause discomfort.
The most common method is a cold water extraction. Grind the seeds finely, soak the powder in cold distilled water (never chlorinated tap water, which degrades alkaloids) for 4 to 24 hours in the dark, then filter through a coffee filter. Discard the solids and drink the liquid. Wrapping the container in foil during soaking protects the LSA from light degradation.
Fresh ginger before or during the experience may further settle the stomach. Fasting for four to six hours beforehand also helps, because it reduces the workload on a digestive system that is already under strain. For a more detailed walkthrough, see our article How do you use LSA seeds?
Safety: what to know before choosing
LSA causes vasoconstriction: a narrowing of blood vessels that can produce tingling, cold fingers and toes, and muscle tension. This effect is dose-dependent and generally temporary, but anyone with cardiovascular conditions should avoid these seeds entirely.
Alkaloid content varies between batches. A 2016 analytical study in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry confirmed that alkaloid concentration can differ significantly between individual seeds, even from the same packet. Starting with a low dose from a new batch is not caution but common sense.
HBWR seeds in particular have documented cases of severe adverse reactions. A 2011 study in Forensic Science International administered equal body-normalised doses to four subjects and had to stop the trial when three developed serious effects, including cardiovascular instability and a psychosis-like state. All recovered within 9 hours, but the unpredictability is a clear warning.
One practical point: never use commercially treated garden seeds. Many ornamental morning glory seeds are coated with fungicides that are toxic when ingested. Seeds sold for consumption, like those available at Avalon Magic Plants, are untreated.
Both morning glory and HBWR seeds are legal to buy and possess as ethnobotanical products in the Netherlands and most EU countries. Extracting pure LSA from them may cross legal boundaries depending on local law.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine morning glory and HBWR seeds?
There is no established safe practice for this. Since alkaloid content already varies per individual seed, combining two variable sources makes dosage harder to predict. Most experienced users recommend choosing one type per session.
Which is better for someone who has never tried LSA?
Neither is objectively better. Morning glory requires eating far more seeds, which increases stomach discomfort. HBWR requires fewer seeds, but the experience tends to be heavier and less predictable. A cold water extraction with a low test dose of either type is the most cautious starting point.
How long do the seeds keep their potency?
Stored cool, dark, and dry, both seed types retain their alkaloid content for at least one to two years. Exposure to light, heat, or moisture degrades LSA. Keep them in a sealed container away from sunlight.
