Jimson Weed, Datura wrightii
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| Jimson Weed, Datura wrightii. Plant. Photo Taken June 13, 2003. |
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| Sacred Datura, Jimson Weed | Datura wrightii |
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| Sacred Datura Seed Pod | Datura wrightii Seed Pod |
Jimson Weed A Dicot. This large, shrub-like, herbaceous perennial grows 3-4 ft. high & just as broad. Enormous, white, 8" trumpet flowers bloom in the evening, often lasting until the next morning. Very fragrant. A truly stunning plant! Blooms in summer. Tolerant of poor soil. Native to the Four Corners region, Texas & California. Datura is a genus of narcotic plants, often called "toloache," that has been widely used by native tribes in the Southwest and Mexico, in Central America, and in western South America. Jimson weed contains substances such as atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine which interfere with one of the chemical messengers (acetylcholine) in the brain and nerves. WARNING!! All parts of Datura are toxic! Do not use it! Almost every year, someone tries it and ends up in the hospital or dead! In November of 1995, 5 idiots ended up in the hospital for several days. The Arizona Republic reported the case of the "brilliant" young men who tried chewing the seeds. They were all rushed to the hospital with symptoms which persisted in three of the victims for more than two days. Their intense hallucinations included the thoughts that bugs were crawling all over their bodies, that they were dead, and that their body parts were strewn all over the intensive care unit in which they were hospitalized. Most other animals, such as donkeys, horses, & cows are smart enough that they won't eat it! When will some people ever learn?
Height: Height to about 3 - 4 feet.
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