Anyone know what this is please? It looks like something between a sow thistle and a triffid, although the white flowers have a touch of the convolvulus or bindweed about them. It's self sown and the flowers (which are rather handsome) only seem to last a day. I'm sure David and Sue or sister-in-law Judy will know. Should we remove itbefore it seeds?
10 comments:
Hi Mike,
I think you have a close relative of the Thorn Apple - Datura stramonium L. of the Solanacea family. Not a native herb but seen throughout the British Isles. As you may guess from the name it is poisonous and the spiky seed capsule/fruit should not be handled. The ones I know usually have a very pale violet flower. other wise they are very similar in their distinctive flower shape and leaf form. I'll e-mail you a picture for comparison.
LuvBruv.
Pootatu says 'acifirl' but I do not know that species?
PS The americans call it Jimsonweed.
PPS same family as the Black Nightshade - Solanum Nigrum L.
Pootatu is still trying to make sense of it all with 'digmiste'
I believe a digamist is a gardener with two spades!
Hello Carl. Thank you. David and Sue have already come up with the same identification and warning. Been having a look at illustrations Datura on Google, and I feel sure that you are right. I think we'll take it out. Thanks again, Mike.
P.s. Wonder how it got here??
I can tell you how it got there Mike...
One nice sunny day there was a Daddy Datura stramonium Lineaus and a mummy Dat...
er... hang on, I don't think it works exactly like that in plants...
But then it didn't work exactly like that in my experience either?
probably a cold dark night...
Jude's just had a look and said 'Angels Trumpets, Datura, can be white, pale yellow, pale pink or pale lilac. You're lucky to have it, they're beautiful. Don't use it in stews though!'
Apparently toxicity is widely variable from plant to plant by up to a factor of five -the higher dosage plants can be fatal.
Thank you Jude. It has a very elegant flower (although I think only one has actually opened full), and as we've no tiny grandchildren around to browse on it these days - youngest is eleven - I think we'll keep it, pro temp. anyway. Thanks Jude, I thought you two would be able to tell me about it. I don't know if I've ever introduced you to our friends Sue and David from the other end of town? I'd love to do so, the four of you are very knowledgeable indeed on plant life.
Something is stirring in the back of my mind about some jungle tribe using a datura extract on their blow-pipe darts, so that probably narrows its origins to the Amazon Basin of South America.
I can claim little horticultural expertise, but quite good research skills - Jude is just a natural gardener.
Personally, I favour your triffid theory.
It's beautiful whatever it is.
Post a Comment