Solanaceae FAMILY

Datura metel

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

All members of this genus contain narcotic compounds and are very poisonous, even in small doses[ 147 Title A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Publication Author ? Publisher Running Press; Philadelphica. Year 1977 ISBN 0-914294-92-X Description A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods. , 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ].

Botanical Description

Datura metel is an erect, often much-branched, annual to short-lived perennial plant growing up to 2 metres tall[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. Although toxic, thorn apple is a popular traditional medicine and is commonly harvested from the wild for local use. It is sold in markets, both for traditional use and as a source of compounds for the pharmaceutical industry. The plant is also used as a pesticide and repellent. It is often grown as an ornamental in tropical to temperate areas of the world, particularly types with double flowers and purple flowers[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , 302 Title Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide Publication Author Whistler. W. Arthur. Publisher Timber Press Inc. Oregon. Year 2000 ISBN 0-88192-448-2 Description An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses. ]. Plants often become naturalized in waste areas in the tropics[ 302 Title Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide Publication Author Whistler. W. Arthur. Publisher Timber Press Inc. Oregon. Year 2000 ISBN 0-88192-448-2 Description An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeOriginally native to the Americas, it is now found in many areas of the world, from the warm temperate zone to the tropics.

HabitatWaste places, river sands etc in sunny positions[ 147 Title A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Publication Author ? Publisher Running Press; Philadelphica. Year 1977 ISBN 0-914294-92-X Description A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods. , 192 Title Narcotic Plants Publication Author Emboden. W. Publisher Studio Vista Year 1979 ISBN 0-289-70864-8 Description A lot of details about the history, chemistry and use of narcotic plants, including hallucinogens, stimulants, inebriants and hypnotics. ]