Thorn Apple
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Botanical Name |
Datura stramonium |
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Family |
Solanaceae |
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Other Names |
Apple of Peru, datura, devil’s apple, devil’s trumpet, ghost flower, herb of the devil, Jamestown weed, jimson weed, love will, mad apple, mad herb, manicon, nightshade, north star caughboontjil, stamonium, shrinkwort, sorcerer’s herb, stinkweed, toloache, witches herb, zombies cucumber |
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Habitat |
Waste ground, road sides |
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Description |
Annual up to 1m/3ft in height hairless, coarse, branched Root: large, fibrous Stem: erect, stout Leaves: petiolate, alternate, ovate, toothed, veined up to 25cm long, 15cm wide, sinuous-dentate irregular teeth Flowers: white or purple tubular or trumpet shaped June – October Fruit: green spiny. Unpleasant smell |
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Native to |
Worldwide |
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Parts Used |
Leaves, flowering tops, seeds |
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Actions |
Anodyne, anti-asthmatic, anticholinergic, antispasmodic, hynotic, narcotic, spasmolytic |
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Constituents |
Trophane alkaloids (0.2-0.45%): hyoscyamine and hyoscine, atropine With traces of malic acid and essential oil |
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Other Notes |
It is said to enhance the perception of the spirit world It is said that the plant is the descendents of a boy and girl who eavesdropped on the spirit council, when they told their parents the spirit was so angry they turned them into the plant It was a sacred plant of the Aztecs Although used in witchcraft it could cause spells to backfire The flowers attract hawkmoths Planet: Jupiter Element: Water |