/-Jo [ 1288 ]
DATURA Stramonium.
Common Thorn-apple.
PENTANDRIA Monogynia.
G en. C har. Cor. funnel-shaped, plaited. Cal. tubular,
angular, deciduous. Capsule superior, of 2 cells
and 4 valves.
Spec. Char. Fruit spinous, ovate, erect. Leaves ovate,
smooth.
Syn. Datura Stramonium. Linn. Sp. PI. 255. Sm.
FI. Brit. 254. Huds. 92. With. 251. Hull. 51.
Relh. 90. Curt. Bond. fasc. 6. t. 17.
Solanum porno spinoso oblongo, flore calathoide, Stramonium
vulgo dictum. Rail Syn. 266.
L i k e the Borage, and a few other plants that thrive on
dunghills, the Thorn-apple, though originally exotic, is now
naturalized amongst us. It often occurs about London, and
wherever there are any curious gardens in the neighbourhood.
Mr. Curtis observes that it is sure to spring up from American
earth. ' When once introduced into a garden, it comes up
every year like the Great Persicaria.
As an ornamental plant it has not much to recommend it,
though the flowers have a very sweet smell; but its whole habit
is rank and cumbersome, and its narcotic dangerous qualities
make it still less desirable.
The root is annual. Herb smooth, foetid, about two or
three feet high, flowering from July to October. Stem much
branched, forked, spreading. Leaves from the forks of the
stem, which seems rather peculiar to the plants called lurid,
on foot-stalks, ovate, acute, sinuated, unequal at their base.
Flowers axillary, solitary, on short stalks, upright, white. Cal'
x smooth, breaking off above the base. Fruit ovate, with 4
furrows, very spinous, of 2 cells when ripe, each containing
many black rugged seeds on a double receptacle.