DATURA STRAMONIUM

Family and Genus:- See- SOLANACEAE

Common Names:- Thornapple, Jimsonweed.

Homotypic Synonyms:- Datura tatula.

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

Stramonium (Gr) From a name used by the Greek philosopher

Theophrastrus for the thornapple.

General description:- Large, foul-smelling, sparingly branched annual herb.

Stems:-

1) Generally 40-100 cm tall.

Leaves:-

1) 5-18(-21) x 4-15 cm, ovate to elliptical, acute, cuneate to subcordate margin

sinuate-dentate to lobed.

Flowers:-

1) Erect, infundibuliform, 50-100 mm long, solitary at the axils of the upper leaves,

sometimes in the forks of branches, short-petiolate.

2) Calyx, 30-50 mm, tubular, angled;

a) teeth, (3-)5-10 mm, unequal.

3) Corolla, twice as long as the calyx, with prominent ribs, folded and opening only

partially, white or pale lilac.

4) Stamens and style, included.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, (2·5-)3·5-7 x (2-)3·5 cm, ovoid, erect, dehiscing, regularly, densely

covered with ± equal, rather slender spines c. 10 mm

Key features:-

1) Corolla, not more than 10 cm.

2) Capsule, erect, dehiscing regularly; with rather slender, ± equal spines not more

than 15 mm, rarely smooth.

3) Calyx-teeth, usually 5-10 mm, unequal.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Coastal and ruderal habitats, fallow fields, gardens, olive groves. 0-700(-

1100) m.

Distribution:- Scattered scattered throughout Greece. - Probably native to N

America. Widespread across the Mediterranean. On Crete mainly confined to the

lowland arable areas.

Flowering time:- May-Aug, (later in irrigated areas).

Photos by:- Steve Lenton