Botanical Monday
PAST August 30, 2004 NEXT
* Datura Inoxia *

Okay, here's the scoop on this "Night Flower". This picture, here is a shot of one of the seed pods. These eventually dry up and break open, exposing the seeds inside. If you refer to the previous two weeks where I posted pictures of these flowers, in bloom, you can see how very attractive they are. 

As I stated before, they only bloom at night and have flowers of about 20 centimeters. They are a type of Angel Trumpet. Other common names are;  Jimson Weed, Devil's Apple, Thorn Apple, Stinkweed, Mad Apple, Devil's Weed, Malpitte, Moonflower, Witch's Thimble

Now for the bad news. 
These flowers have very strong hallucinogenic properties. But before you go out and try to find some to get all "pumped up" on, I suggest that you do a little more research on these dangerous plants. They can be fatal. Many people have been hospitalized for the effects, as well as coma, and even death.

I have read that even the fragrance of the flower can cause a person to become a little light headed, dizzy and somewhat intoxicated.

Just yesterday, since these things have really grown like crazy around my place here, I cranked up the weed eater and mowed some of them down and restrained them back to the confines of the flower garden. I am still dealing with a slight headache today, just from being around them.