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Jimsonweed

Datura stramonium L.

Photo by Tiz
Published on Project Noah
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-26.2153, 32.0044

Field Notes

Description:

The area where this plant grows, it was water just six months ago. It has much vigor to it. All parts of the plant, and the seeds in particular, are poisonous if ingested by humans or livestock. Origin: Tropical America
Growth Form: Herb (up to 1,5 meters)

Habitat:

Dry river bed. The seed is thought to be carried by birds and spread in their droppings. Its seeds can lie dormant underground for years and germinate when the soil is disturbed.

Notes:

All parts of Datura plants contain dangerous levels of the tropane alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine which are classified as deliriants, or anticholinergics. There is a high risk of fatal overdose amongst uninformed users, and many hospitalizations occur amongst recreational users who ingest the plant for its psychoactive effects. The amount of toxins varies widely from plant to plant. There can be as much as a 5:1 variation across plants, and a given plant's toxicity depends on its age, where it is growing, and the local weather conditions. Datura stramonium has been used as a mystical sacrament which brings about powerful visions (lasting for days) and opens the user to communication with spirit world.

Species ID Suggestions

Datura

Datura sp.
FlorianMeier
1

Comments (6)
Tiz
Oh bananas :) This is so very interesting and scary! It is so fantastic that thanks to the PN-members and the setup of this page, a quite "boring" plant can become something completely different! Thanks Florian for that additional information :) Tina
FlorianMeier
Datura has a very powerfull apperance. Mexican brujos call datura inoxia yerba del diabolo and use it for enchantments and "black magic". Only very "skilled" shamanes use it on themselfs to gain more power. The highst concentrations are found in the roots and the seeds. The leaves smoked are sayed to enhance the libido esp. of women. In medieval it was added to the food of women secretly to make them will-less.....
Tiz
Some plants catch my eye, and this one turned out to be very interesting in so many ways! :)
Sckel
Ahaa, you photographed a plant. I love poisonous plants, you need to know how the plants work, for not get burned. Star of Bethlehem, for example, I have this weed in my backyard, it can leave you blinded. I found Argemone mexicana by the dusty road, I did not know that it is toxic, tried to uproot the plant, to plant in my backyard, was full of thorns. Learned a very painful lesson that day. :))
Tiz
Thank you Florian! Will look into that suggetion! Have a great day!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Herbs & Spices – Source Plants
Mission
Fruiting Bodies of the World
Mission
Mlawula Nature Reserve

Tags

Photographed
PublishedOctober 28, 2013

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