Datura wrightii

Datura wrightii Regel

by Josh David, Native Plants Class 2002
Common names: Tolguacha, Jimsonweed, Sacred Datura.
Family: Solanaceae
Synonymy: Datura inoxia P. Mill. ssp. quinquecuspida (Torr.) Barcl., Datura meteloides auct. p.p. non Dunal, Datura metel L. var. quinquecuspida Torr., Datura (Carolus Linnaeus).(1)
Etymology: Genus Datura derived from Sanskrit: dhattura, which is an old common name of the plant in Asia.(1)

Identification
Growth form: Two to five feet tall, and several feet wide. The leaf blades, green above and grayish hairy beneath, are 3 to 10 more inches long, the edges wavy toothed and the tip pointed.(2)
Roots: The large tuberous roots are very long, thick and whitish with many small rootlets.(1)
Stem: The coarse grayish stems are erect but spreading, branched from the base, 2 to 3 feet high, and often the same in diameter.(2)
Leaves: The large eggshaped leaves are alternate, on stout grayish stalks 1 to 5 inches long.(2)
Inflorescence/flowers: The large showy flowers are white or pale lavender, short stalked, and very fragrant.(3) The flowers are perfect (i.e. male stamens and female pistils are found in each flower). The calyx is tubular and composed of 5 yellowish green sepals. The corolla flares out from the calyx tube, is trumpet shaped, and is composed of 5 fused white petals. The whole flower is about 6 inches long and is perfectly symmetrical when viewed directly from the open end. There are 5 stamens, and a single pistil.The numerous flowers are borne singly in the forks of the stems, open early in the evening and close sometime before noon of the next day. Flower most heavily in late summer.(1)
Fruit: The spiny, golf-ball-sized fruit contains numerous disk-shaped seeds.(1)
Similar species: Datura stramamonium differs in that seed pods are erect, hairless, and few spined. (3)

Ecology
Life history: Herbacious perennial herb.(2)
Native/introduced: Native (1)
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology:
Distribution: Jimson weed occurs from central California to Texas and Mexico and into northern South America.(2)

Uses
Medicinal: Jimsonweed is a poisonous narcotic and a powerful hallucinogen with peculiar side effects. Used properly externally, it is a valuable and useful medicine. Used improperly internally, it will quickly send you to an institution, or kill you. Standard medicines are made by carefully collecting and drying the leaves, although the roots and seeds have also been employed. There are four primary medicinal uses. First, the drugs hyoscyamine and atropine produce a quick and long lasting mydriasis or dilation of the eye muscles and pupils. Consequently, they, or their pharmaceutical derivatives, are the principle active ingredients in the eye drops used in optometry exams. Second, jimsonweed is a very effective external analgesic or pain killer and a sedative. The leaves and the flowers, sometimes combined with tobacco, are made into a strong bath for acute arthritic pain, pain from falls, sports injuries, or over work. However, it is advisable to leave the bath before becoming too relaxed. Third, a salve or ointment is produced by soaking the leaves in lard. This can be applied externally to relieve muscle pains, rheumatism, and neuralgia. It can also be applied to inflamed hemorrhoids, abscesses, boils, carbuncles, and other similar hot acute skin swellings or inflammations. Fourth, jimsonweed has also been used in medicinal cigarettes for severe asthma attacks. The drug atropine temporarily relaxes the endings of the pulmonary branches. A few puffs can quickly alleviate bronchial spasms. Jimsonweed smoking mixtures have included various combinations of tobacco, cubeb berries, mullein leaves, wild sage, and belladonna. The effect, as with any drug, becomes less pronounced with continued use, but in an emergency this plant has no equal.(1,4)

References
1. Brady, J.D. Plant Profiles:Jimson Weed (Datura). http://www.spiritearth.net/chrystallinium/plantArticles/datura.html

2. Dimmitt, M.A. Solanaceae (nightshade family). http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd?solanaceae.html

3. The University of Arizona Press. 1972. An Illustrated Guide to ARIZONA WEEDS. http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/online.bks/weeds/datura.htm

4. Moore, M. 1989. Medicinal plants of the desert and canyon West: a guide to identifying, preparing, and using traditional medicinal plants found in the deserts and canyons of the West and Southwest. Museum of New Mexico Press.

5. Bohnam, C.D. and S.E. Mack. 1990. Root distributions of Eurotia lanata in association with two species of Agropyron on disturbed soils. Bot. Gaz. 151:522-527.

Datura wrightii Regel by Josh David, Native Plants Class 2002 Common names: Tolguacha, Jimsonweed, Sacred Datura. Family: Solanaceae Synonymy: Datura inoxia P. Mill. ssp. quinquecuspida (Torr.) Barcl., Datura meteloides auct. p.p. non Dunal, Datura metel L. var. quinquecuspida Torr., Datura (Carolus Linnaeus).(1) Etymology: Genus Datura derived from Sanskrit: dhattura, which is an old common name of the plant in Asia.(1) Identification Growth form: Two to five feet tall, and several feet wide. The leaf blades, green above and grayish hairy beneath, are 3 to 10 more inches long, the edges wavy toothed and the tip pointed.(2) Roots: The large tuberous roots are very long, thick and whitish with many small rootlets.(1) Stem: The coarse grayish stems are erect but spreading, branched from the base, 2 to 3 feet high, and often the same in diameter.(2) Leaves: The large eggshaped leaves are alternate, on stout grayish stalks 1 to 5 inches long.(2) Inflorescence/flowers: The large showy flowers are white or pale lavender, short stalked, and very fragrant.(3) The flowers are perfect (i.e. male stamens and female pistils are found in each flower). The calyx is tubular and composed of 5 yellowish green sepals. The corolla flares out from the calyx tube, is trumpet shaped, and is composed of 5 fused white petals. The whole flower is about 6 inches long and is perfectly symmetrical when viewed directly from the open end. There are 5 stamens, and a single pistil.The numerous flowers are borne singly in the forks of the stems, open early in the evening and close sometime before noon of the next day. Flower most heavily in late summer.(1) Fruit: The spiny, golf-ball-sized fruit contains numerous disk-shaped seeds.(1) Similar species: Datura stramamonium differs in that seed pods are erect, hairless, and few spined. (3) Ecology Life history: Herbacious perennial herb.(2) Native/introduced: Native (1) Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Distribution: Jimson weed occurs from central California to Texas and Mexico and into northern South America.(2) Uses Medicinal: Jimsonweed is a poisonous narcotic and a powerful hallucinogen with peculiar side effects. Used properly externally, it is a valuable and useful medicine. Used improperly internally, it will quickly send you to an institution, or kill you. Standard medicines are made by carefully collecting and drying the leaves, although the roots and seeds have also been employed. There are four primary medicinal uses. First, the drugs hyoscyamine and atropine produce a quick and long lasting mydriasis or dilation of the eye muscles and pupils. Consequently, they, or their pharmaceutical derivatives, are the principle active ingredients in the eye drops used in optometry exams. Second, jimsonweed is a very effective external analgesic or pain killer and a sedative. The leaves and the flowers, sometimes combined with tobacco, are made into a strong bath for acute arthritic pain, pain from falls, sports injuries, or over work. However, it is advisable to leave the bath before becoming too relaxed. Third, a salve or ointment is produced by soaking the leaves in lard. This can be applied externally to relieve muscle pains, rheumatism, and neuralgia. It can also be applied to inflamed hemorrhoids, abscesses, boils, carbuncles, and other similar hot acute skin swellings or inflammations. Fourth, jimsonweed has also been used in medicinal cigarettes for severe asthma attacks. The drug atropine temporarily relaxes the endings of the pulmonary branches. A few puffs can quickly alleviate bronchial spasms. Jimsonweed smoking mixtures have included various combinations of tobacco, cubeb berries, mullein leaves, wild sage, and belladonna. The effect, as with any drug, becomes less pronounced with continued use, but in an emergency this plant has no equal.(1,4) References 1. Brady, J.D. Plant Profiles:Jimson Weed (Datura). http://www.spiritearth.net/chrystallinium/plantArticles/datura.html 2. Dimmitt, M.A. Solanaceae (nightshade family). http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd?solanaceae.html 3. The University of Arizona Press. 1972. An Illustrated Guide to ARIZONA WEEDS. http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/online.bks/weeds/datura.htm 4. Moore, M. 1989. Medicinal plants of the desert and canyon West: a guide to identifying, preparing, and using traditional medicinal plants found in the deserts and canyons of the West and Southwest. Museum of New Mexico Press. 5. Bohnam, C.D. and S.E. Mack. 1990. Root distributions of Eurotia lanata in association with two species of Agropyron on disturbed soils. Bot. Gaz. 151:522-527.