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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Student's Newspaper. Volume 31, Number 7. April 23 1968

Students Take To Leaf Power

Students Take To Leaf Power

A small, but growing number of students are engaged in the unusual practice of chewing begonia leaves.

One of the students stated that "chewing begonia leaves resulted in a feeling of elation and had a definite stimulatory effect."

At cult members' insistence, I also tried chewing begonia leaves and found them unusual but not unpleasant.

To the uninitiated, begonia leaves taste bitter at first but about 15 minutes later a feeling of light-headedness and carefree abandon results.

Tests conducted by a senior biochemistry student revealed that begonia leaves contained "several unidentified substances, possibly stimulants".

Further tests are not being carried out in an attempt to positively identify the substances.

Opinions differ as to whether the practice is habit-forming but another senior student admits that since being introduced to begonia leaves by a close friend, she finds it increasingly difficult to do without them.

A problem is posed whether or not begonias will now be classified as narcotics.

According to personal reports, not all species of begonia have the same properties.

The common garden or bedding begonia is the most suitable and leaves of the more showy hiberous type less satisfying.

It is not known yet what the official attitude to chewing begonia leaves will be. Cult members appear unlikely to be perturbed by any possible outcome.

In the words of one of them: "It's cheap, harmless and stimulating-some of us have been doing it for years and we won't be stopped now."