sacred datura (Maricopa Native Seed Library)

sacred datura

Datura wrightii

Summary ⁷

Datura wrighti, or sacred datura, is the name of a poisonous perennial plant and ornamental flower of southwestern North America. It is sometimes used as a hallucinogen. D. wrighti is classified as a deliriant and an anticholinergic.

Description ⁸

It is a vigorous herbaceous perennial that grows 30 cm to 1.5 m tall and wide. The leaves are broad and rounded at the base, tapering to a point, often with wavy margins. The flowers are the most striking feature, being sweetly fragrant white trumpets up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long, sometimes tinted purple, especially at the margin. Five narrow points are spaced symmetrically around the rim. The plants often can be seen as a ground vine in habit, growing close to the ground and spreading in a very exposed environment with full direct sunlight (cleared roadside). D. Wrightii, blooms from April through October. In clear weather, flowers open in the morning and evening and close during the heat of the day (depending on water availability); in cloudy weather, they may open earlier and last longer.

The seeds are borne in a spiny, globular capsule 3 to 4 cm in diameter, which opens when fully ripe.

Distribution and habitat ⁸

Datura wrightii is found in northern Mexico and the adjoining southwestern U. S. states, as far north as southern Utah, in open / disturbed land and along roadsides with well-drained (sandy) soils. It is also commonly planted as an ornamental, especially in xeriscapes due to its ruderal characteristics.

In Australia, it has been recorded as a garden escapee in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

Toxicity ⁸

All parts of Datura plants contain dangerous levels of anticholinergic tropane alkaloids and may be fatal if ingested by humans, livestock, or pets. In some places, it is prohibited to buy, sell or cultivate Datura plants.

Fontes e Créditos

(c) Rikky Mocha, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Rikky Mocha
(c) Tony Iwane, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tony Iwane
(c) Dan Rademacher, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), uploaded by Dan Rademacher
(c) tsoleau, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/23535767@N04/14310277481/
Sem direitos reservados, https://www.flickr.com/photos/55368994@N06/15277736406/
Sem direitos reservados, uploaded by Jane Packard
Adaptado por Jeny Davis de uma obra de (c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_wrightii
(c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_wrightii