We were walking in Meeks Park the other day and saw this plant blooming.  I had seen tiny ones in our neighborhood, but never one showing flowers and fruit.  I thought you might like to see it.

 

It is Jimsonweed.  Datura stramonium.  It is in the Nightshade family:  Solanaceae.  There are 85 genera and 2,800 species in this family.  They can be found in tropical and warm temperate regions, especially in Central and South America.  Many are poisonous, like Jimsonweed, but others supply food like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes. Tobacco is in the family Solanaceae, as well as petunias and angel trumpet!  

 

Back to Jimsonweed.  Although it has many antispasmodic, painkilling, and narcotic properties, ALL parts of the plant are VERY POISONOUS!!   It can kill sheep or cattle grazing on it, and humans have died from eating the fruit (for its narcotic properties.)   Some people are even susceptible to dermatitis reactions from just touching the flowers or leaves.  The name comes from "Jamestown" where the colonists saw it growing near their homes in Jamestown, Va.  There is a story about soldiers sent to quell a rebellion in the Jamestown colony (1676) adding it to the cookpot, and spending the next 11 days in a state of incoherence.  YIKES!!!!

 

OK, we get it:  Look, but don't touch, and definitely don't taste!  Oh, yeah, it's also called Stinkweed.  That should be a clue to not touch or taste!   Consider yourself warned.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!