Datura stramonium L.

Jimsonweed; Thorn Apple; Devil's Apple

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Jimsonweed is an introduced herbaceous annual in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae). It is believed to be native to Mexico, but now occurs in temperate and tropical areas worldwide. In Alabama it can be found throughout the state. Jimsonweed occurs in pastures, in feed lots, in fields, on roadsides, and in other disturbed habitats. It is an annual with a tap root. Stems are freely branched forming a rounded or flat-topped mound and are 3-4 feet in height. The stems are green or purple in color and glabrous. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to ovate in outline, with large teeth along the margins. The leaves are glabrous. Both the stems and leaves emit a foul odor when crushed. Flowers are solitary in the forks of branches. The flowers are tubular with 5 teeth. They are white in color with a purple throat, glabrous, and fragrant. The flowers open at night and last a single day. The fruit is an erect spiny capsule. All parts of the plant are toxic, containing the alkaloids atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. Jimsonweed is a corruption of the name Jamestown Weed. During Bacon’s Rebellion (1676), British soldiers sent to Jamestown Virginia to suppress the rebellion were fed boiled Jimsonweed and spent 11 days in altered mental states. Soldiers were reported to have walked around blowing feathers in the air; another soldier threw straw darts at the feathers; one kissed and fondled other soldiers; and several walked around naked or sat in corners grinning and laughing.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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