Datura inoxia (thorn-apple, downy thorn-apple, Indian-apple, moonflower, sacred datura, toloatzin, devil’s trumpet or toloache)

[J.M. Garg]

Growing in a waste place in Hyderabad on 21/3/09.

Some extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures/ more details, pl. click on the link): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_inoxia

Datura inoxia (thorn-apple, downy thorn-apple, Indian-apple, moonflower, sacred datura, toloatzin, or toloache) is a species in the familySolanaceae. It is native to Central and South America, and introduced in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. The scientific name is often cited as D. innoxia. The plant was first described in 1768 by English botanist Philip Miller. The name Datura metalloides was for some time erroneously applied to some members of the species, but that name has now been abandoned.

Datura inoxia is an annual shrubby plant that typically reaches a height of 0.6 to 1.5 metres. Its stems andleaves are covered with short and soft grayish hairs, giving the whole plant a grayish appearance. It has ellipticentire-edged leaves with pinnate venation.^[1] All parts of the plant emit a foul odor similar to rancid peanut butter when crushed or bruised, although most people find the fragrance of the flowers to be quite pleasant when they bloom at night.^{[citation needed]}

The flowers are white, trumpet-shaped, 12–19 cm long. They first grow upright, and later incline downward. It flowers from early summer until late fall.

The fruit is an egg-shaped spiny capsule, about 5 cm in diameter. It splits open when ripe, dispersing the seeds. Another means of dispersal is by the fruit spines getting caught in the fur of animals, who then carry the fruit far from the mother plant. The seeds have hibernation capabilities, and can last for years in the soil. The seeds, as well as the entirety of this plant, are also hallucinogenic, but have a high probability of overdose.

 All parts of Datura plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans and other animals, including livestock and pets. Some municipalities prohibit the purchase, sale, or cultivation of Daturaplants.^[1]

 Datura inoxia is quite similar to Datura metel, to the point of being confused with it in early scientific literature. D. metel is a closely related Old World plant for which similar effects were described by Avicenna in eleventh century Persia. The closely related Datura stramonium differs in having smaller flowers and tooth-edged leaves, and Datura wrightii in having wider, 5-toothed (instead of 10-toothed) flowers.

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With regards,
J.M.Garg
"We often ignore the beauty around us"
Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1
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