Scientific Name
Datura stramonium
Common Name
Jimsonweed, Jamestown weed, thorn-apple, stinkweed, datura

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Solanaceae
Plant Description
Annual herb, stem green to purplish, ill-scented, with alternate, simple, coarsely toothed leaves; flower solitary, large, tubular with 5 shallow lobes at top, white or lavender; fruit a spiny capsule with many seeds.
Origin
Asia.
Distribution
Naturalized and weedy, cultivated.
Where Found
Weedy in disturbed areas, along roadsides, old fields, pastures, waste places; landscape as weed in gardens.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
All parts, mainly seeds and leaves.
Symptoms
Hot, dry, and flushed skin, hallucinations, pupil dilation, headache, delirium, rapid and weak pulse, convulsions, and coma.
Toxic Principle
Tropane alkaloids.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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