Recent screening of South African Conium species for alkaloids as part of taxonomic studies has yielded γ-coniceine, coniine, methylconiine, conhydrine and a new alkaloid N-methylpseudoconhydrine. The relative stereochemistry of N-methylpseudoconhydrine was ascertained by 1H NMR decoupling experiments. This latter alkaloid was found in significant amounts in the leaf and stem of some plants investigated and was the major alkaloid along with conhydrine in the leaf and stem of one group of high altitude plants. These plants also contained significant amounts of volatile oil, the major monoterpene being myrcene. © 1981.