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expansumKANNA (Mesembryanthemum expansum and M. tortuosum)is the common name of two species of SouthAfrican plants. There is strong evidence \hat one or bothwere used by the Hottentots of southern Africa as visioninducingnarcotics. More than two centuries ago, it wasreported that the Hottentots chewed the root of kenna,or channa, keeping the chewed material in the mouth,with these results: "Their animal spirits were awakened,their eyes sparkled and their faces manifested laughterand gaiety. Thousands of delightsome ideas appeared,and a pleasant jollity which enabled them to be amusedby simple jests. By taking the substance to excess, theylost consciousness and fell into a terrible delirium."Since the narcotic use of these two species has notbeen observed directly, various botanists have suggested44