DATURA INNOXIA

Family and Genus:- See- SOLANACEAE

Common Names:- Prickly-burr

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Datura (L) From an Indian vernacular name dhartura.

Innoxia (L) Without prickles, harmless.

General description:- An erect, hairy annual 2m tall, though often only 30-50cm.

Stems:-

1) 2m tall, though often only 30-50cm.

Leaves:-

1) 5-16 x 3·5-11 cm, ovate, unequally truncate to cuneate, margin entire or sinuate.

Flowers:-

1) Calyx, 60-95 mm;

a) teeth, 11-25 mm, unequal, linear-triangular, acute.

2) Corolla, 11-19 cm, tubular, white, sometimes with a violet tint.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 5·5-6·5 cm diam, ovoid, nodding, dehiscing, irregularly, with long,

slender spines.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, at least 11 cm.

2) Capsule, nodding, dehiscing irregularly.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Fallow and harvested fields, ruderal habitats, ditches. 0-400 m.

Distribution:- Locally naturalised in the Med - Iberian Peninsula, S France and

Italy, perhaps elsewhere. (Central America). Occurs in Crete as a casual.

Introduced.

Flowering time:- Mainly Aug-Nov

Photos by:- Steve Lenton