Jimsonweed
June 12, 2015
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EmailDatura stramonium L. Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Life cycle
Erect, branching summer annual.
Jimsonweed plant.
Leaves
Cotyledons are long and narrow with a prominent midvein. Leaves are alternate, oval to eggshaped, 3 to 8 inches long, smooth with long petioles. First leaves are entire; later leaves have large, coarsely and unevenly toothed margins. Damaged leaves will emit a foul odor.
Jimsonweed seedling (left) and leaf (right).
Stems
Erect and branching, up to 5-foot-tall stems are hollow, generally smooth and green to purple. Damaged stems emit a foul odor.
Flowers and fruit
Flower petals are large, white to purple and fused into a 2- to 5-inch-long tube. Fruit are very spiny, egg-shaped capsules with four valves. Each valve contains numerous flat, dark brown to black, round to kidney-shaped seeds.
Immature jimsonweed fruit (left) and mature jimsonweed fruit (right).
Reproduction
Seeds.
Toxicity
All plant parts are toxic to animals.
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