Solanaceae FAMILY

Datura stramonium

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & Hazards

All members of this genus contain narcotics and are very poisonous, even in small doses[ 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 stramonium is an erect, often much-branched, annual to short-lived perennial plant that can grow 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. ]. Thorn apple is a popular traditional medicine with a long history of use. It is harvested from the wild, both as a medicine and also as a source of materials. It is cultivated commercially as a medicinal plant, mainly to supply active compounds for the pharmaceutical industry[ 57 Title Plants for Man. Publication Author Schery. R. W. Publisher Year ISBN Description Fairly readable but not very comprehensive. Deals with plants from around the world. , 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. ]. The plant often self-sows when well sited[ 1 Title RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Publication Author F. Chittendon. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1951 ISBN - Description Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]). ]. It can become a weed in suitable conditions and is subject to statutory control in some countries[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ]. Control is difficult because the plant is resistant to most commonly used herbicides.

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.

HabitatDry waste ground and amongst rubble or the ruins of old buildings[ 7 Title Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Chiej. R. Publisher MacDonald Year 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Description Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs. , 204 Title Flora of Canada Publication Author Livingstone. B. Publisher National Museums of Canada Year 1978 ISBN 0-660-00025-3 Description In 4 volumes, it does not deal with plant uses but gives descriptions and habitats. ]