A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Datura wrightii
Spiny seed capsules. Fruit is a nearly round capsule about 1 1/2 in. across, covered with spines.
This plant is growing in part shade under a Cedar Elm.
Night opening flowers are very fragrant. Whole plant is poisonous.
Spotted on May 12, 2012
Submitted on May 12, 2012
1 Comment
The name "Jimson weed" derives from "James-Town weed" named after an event in that former British colony of Virgina settlement, where British soldiers imbibed Datura stramonium as a salad, and reportedly underwent an "insane" hallucinogenic *trip* lasting 11 days! http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/beverle... Datura wrightii is sometimes called "western Jimson weed" because of its resemblance to Datura stramonium. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_wrig... Datura spp have been used traditionally in religious rites in India and the Americas but the powerful hallucinogens can be deadly. D. stramonium is a common agricultural weed where I hail from.